Two Butler Cubs boxers will be on the card for the Western Pennsylvania Regional Finals of the 2022 Pennsylvania Golden Gloves Tournament Saturday night in Monroeville.

Butler resident Leland Panosetti, 12, of the Cubs will be fighting in the 80-pound division against Niko Wilson of Team 412 WPAL. Cubs boxer Paul Zalus Jr., 19, of Tarentum, will compete at 165 pounds against Mustafa Jones of 3rd Ave. WPAL. Both will be up against more experienced opponents.

Leland is making his amateur boxing debut against Wilson, who has had three fights.

“We were supposed to be getting an opponent who was also making his debut, but that kid pulled out,” Cubs boxing manager Don Spinetti said. “Leland has been doing a lot of sparring. We’ve brought guys in from DuBois, Punxsutawney and Wexford the last couple of nights to give our guys a different look.

“Leland has looked good in the ring, but when you fight in front of a crowd for the first time ... Some kids handle that better than others.”

Leland has been training in the Cubs gym for nearly eight months.

“He’s a nice little boxer,” Cubs trainer Bill Wolfe said. “He has good head movement and a good jab. Yeah, we’re giving up experience and that’s a little concerning, but if you want to fight in this (Golden Gloves) tournament, this is what you have to do. You get what you get.”

Zalus Jr. is the son of a former Golden Gloves boxer, Paul Zalus. The elder Zalus has had a few pro fights.

Zalus Jr. is 3-2 and has been fighting out of the Cubs gum for the past 18 months. Jones is 6-2.

“I understand Jones is a pretty tough fighter,” Wolfe said. “He’s a slick boxer. Normally, if these fights were at our place, we may not take them. But (the match-ups) are out of our hands.

“Again, this is how this tournament is. We’ll show up and do our best. We’re not conceding anything. I think both of these fights are 50-50.”

The fight card is being hosted by the Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League (WPAL) and takes place at Pro Sports Monroeville. There are 10 bouts on the card.

The bouts begin at 6 p.m. Winners may or may not move on to Philadelphia for the Pa. Golden Glove Finals April 30.

“Because our fighters are in the sub-novice (Panosetti) and novice (Zalus) categories, we have to wait and see if they’ll have an opening for them in the finals (should they win),” Spinetti said. “They’re not guaranteed a spot there.”

Brian Mowry (2020) is the last Cubs boxer to win a Pa. Golden Gloves title.

Tickets are available by calling or texting 412-576-9285.