From basketball to boxer?

Joel Rehm, a 2004 Butler High School graduate and former Golden Tornado point guard, has been making the transition from playing the point to pinpointing punches, from boxing out to boxing an opponent.

But only temporarily.

Rehm just completed two years as point guard for the Butler County Community College basketball team. He improved to 2-0 as an amateur boxer by scoring a decision over Shawn Hoborek of West Allegheny Saturday night as part of a fight card at the Butler Cubs Hall.

"I'm not going to become a professional boxer or anything,"Rehm said. "I'm still hoping to move on in my basketball career.

"Of all the workout regimens I've tried to get stronger as an athlete, this (boxing) is the best. Between sparring, hitting the heavy bag, jumping rope, running ... you use every inch of your body at some point."

Rehm hopes to walk on in basketball at Slippery Rock University and had talked to coach John Marhefka about doing so.

Marhefka has since resigned and been replaced on an interim basis by assistant coach Jamal Palmer.

"I'm not sure what's going to happen with me there now,"Rehm said. "I'm still hopeful."

In the meantime, he's been working out at the Cubs Hall three or four days a week and he runs two to four miles per day.

And he plans to get back in the ring again.

"I'd love to fight again in another couple of months,"Rehm said. "That's all up to Mr. (Don)Spinetti. I'm in his hands and he's the best."

Spinetti is director of the Cubs boxing program.

"Joel is very athletic and his basketball skills help him in the ring,"Spinetti said. "He moves in there well and his footwork comes from basketball."

Rehm knocked down his opponent with a straight right hand in the second round, forcing him to receive a standing-eight count.

Rehm had been working out in the Cubs boxing gym during the basketball season, though the BC3 coaches wouldn't allow him to spar until the season ended.

"He jumped rope, worked the heavy bag. Sparring was out,"Spinetti said.

During his first amateur fight at the Cubs Hall last year, Rehm relied on his left jab to win by decision.

"Now that I scored a knockdown, maybe I'll get a little more respect from the other guys in the gym,"he said, laughing.

Cubs boxing trainer Billy Wolfe, who has had a couple of professional fights, was impressed by Rehm's performance Saturday.

"Joel has some skills and he's putting them together,"Wolfe said. "He was more aggressive in the ring this time. He showed a lot of hand speed in there."

By the middle of the third round, Rehm was admittedly showing fatigue. His amateur fight lasted six minutes, as opposed to a 40-minute college basketball game.

"It's not just the constant movement that wears on you, it's the fact you always have to defend yourself,"Rehm said. "You miss a jump shot in basketball, you forget about it and play on.

"Make a mistake in boxing and you can wind up on your butt."

"I know I'll never be a pro athlete. But if I can use sports to help me get my degree in physical education, I'm fine with that," Rehm added.

Butler Cubs boxers have won more than 80 different championships since 1976, including local and Western Pennsylvania, regional, state and national titles.

Butler Cubs Fight NightJune 3 resultsSean Cusick (Carrick BC)dec. Jimmy Emrick (Butler Cubs) 0-2, 60 poundsJustin Emrick (Butler Cubs)3-0 dec. Jonathan George (Carrick BC), 60 poundsDalaun Carroll (Altoona)dec. Jason Erdos (Butler Cubs)1-3, heavyweightTravis Zaborowski (Butler Cubs)1-1 dec. Alex Rodriguez (Lower Eastside Erie), 112 poundsChris Pahlman (James 5:16) TKOover Devin Parker (Butler Cubs)0-1, :44 of 1st round, 178 poundsJoel Rehm (Butler Cubs)2-0 dec. Shawn Hoborek (West Allegheny), 152 poundsLou Zicherelli (James 5:16)dec. Kirk Bergbigler (Butler Cubs) 1-6, 156 poundsDave Cook (Butler Cubs)5-3 dec. Jonathan Billings (Carrick BC), 165 poundsSeth Bartmas (Butler Cubs)9-3 TKOover Jason Redfield (West Allegheny), 1:18 of 3rd round, 132 poundsKPPeth (Butler Cubs)26-8 dec. Ryan Covert (Butler Cubs)30-9, 178 pounds