Ali Diasse

He came from Philadelphia. He’s proud to represent Butler.

Such is the story of Ali Diasse, who grew up on the other side of the state and graduated from Slippery Rock University last year with a degree in Communications with a focus on digital media production. While at SRU, he was looking for a gym so he could do physical workouts.

“I went on Google to search gyms in this area,” the 25-year-old Diasse said. “I found the Butler Cubs gym and a friend at school told me how good the facility was. I went to check it out.”

Also dabbling in MMA fighting, he wound up joining the Cubs boxing program last year, joined the fight card for the Cubs’ annual amateur boxing show in 2021 and won. Recently, Diasse won the Pittsburgh Golden Gloves, then the Pa,. Golden Gloves title in the novice division.

He has a modest 6-3 record as an amateur boxer.

“To come that far in a short time is impressive,” Cubs boxing trainer Billy Wolfe said. “Ali is an unassuming guy who goes at it hard in the gym. I’m happy to work with him.”

Cubs boxing manager Don Spinetti said Diasse doesn’t care about self-recognition or glory.

“He didn’t even care if I called the newspaper after he won the state title,” Spinetti said. “It’s not a big deal for him. But it means a lot to us.”

Butler Cubs boxers have won more than 80 different championships since 1976. Many of them have come in the Golden Gloves division, though it’s been a few years since the program produced a state champion.

“What makes this mean a lot to me is that it brings recognition to the Cubs program,” Diasse said. “I’m proud to represent that organization and do well by it, because these guys have done so much for me.

“When I first came here, I was scared to death to get in the ring. Totally frightened. Billy Wolfe is the best coach I’ve ever had, MMA or otherwise. He got me over that fear and taught me how to box. I’m happy to be able to win this for him.”

Wolfe was a standout amateur who had a brief professional career in the ring.

“He’s an easy coach to listen to and take advice from. He’s done this,” Diasse said.

Diasse does social media work for a nonprofit youth organization in Pittsburgh. He still comes up to the Cubs gym four times a week, working out and practicing his boxing skills from 6 to 8 p.m.

Wolfe said getting a boxer to overcome fear in the ring “is a gradual thing. You get him used to the contact, then you push him to work at his skills, With Ali, that was no problem. He took right to this sport.”

Diasse plans to continue boxing and isn’t ruling out turning professional at some point. That’s not his goal, however.

“I’ll see where it takes me,” he said. “My plan is to get a few more amateur fights in, as many as I can. I enjoy it and I love fighting for the Cubs. If a pro opportunity develops, I may look at it. But that’s not why I’m doing this.”

“He’s such a laid-back, soft-spoken kind of guy,” Spinetti said. “But in the ring? He’s all business.”