
NOVARIA TO COMPETE AT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Last year Justin “Teddy Bear” Novaria boxed his way to the National Championships of the Junior Olympics in his
first ever attempt only to fall short of the Olympic Gold. On Sunday the Zanesville Super Heavyweight made it official by
winning the Region 5 Championship senior division again and qualifying him for a second (and final) chance this year in June.
Novaria’s victory was over Daniel Smith of Michigan in the regional finals. The win was made even sweeter by
avenging a loss to Smith in January during the Silver Gloves regional tournament in Philadelphia that ended Novaria’s
participation in the SG National Tournament.
Smith came out with a height, weight and reach advantage over Novaria and learned quickly that skill and
conditioning is the primary requirements for winning in amateur boxing. The “Teddy Bear” applied constant pressure from
bell to bell in all three rounds working on the inside and outside weighting the score in his favor on judge’s decision.
The 235-pound, 16 year old Novaria attends Tri-Valley High School and is planning on attending the Mid-East
Ohio Vocational School this fall. He has boxed for three years from the Police Athletic League of Zanesville- Muskingum
County Boxing Team. He is the son of Pat and Tina Novaria.
David “Superman” Lightfoot made his debut in senior division regional competition and made it to the final round
meeting Meiko Bonner of Lake Erie Association. Lightfoot battled the taller Bonner with control of the match back and
forth several times. With about 20 seconds left Bonner was all done and Lightfoot began landing huge right hands without
any replies. It was too late though as the judges split 3-2 in favor of the hometown Bonner with the crowd in disbelief.
Lightfoot will be the alternate at welterweight for the regional team to the National JO Championship only competing
if Bonner is unable to represent. He will have another chance again next year as he will qualify by age for a second chance
as did his teammate. The 14 year-old Ohio State Champ and Region 5 runner-up is the son of Darrell and Stacey Elson and
attends Grover Cleveland Junior High. This is his second year in state, regional and national competition also boxing from
Zanesville PAL Boxing.
Novaria and Lightfoot already have a national title in common. Novaria won the Ohio State Fair National
Tournament in 2005 and Lightfoot grabbed his in 2006. Both are scheduled to make their last bid together as juniors for
national titles at the U.S. National Junior Golden Gloves Tournament in July at Mesquite, Nevada outside of Las Vegas.
Next year at 17, Novaria will move into the open Men’s Division.
Faith Starkey was unopposed in the Girl’s Intermediate 138-pound division at the regional tournament. Only senior
division regional champs advance to the national championships. The 14 year-old Starkey attends school in the Franklin
Local District.