If this was Ryan Covert's last amateur fight, he went out with a bang.

The Butler Cubs boxer was too much for Octavia Araujo, as the 178-pound fight was stopped late in the fourth and final round in the finale of 12 bouts Wednesday night at the Butler Cubs Hall.

Midway through the fourth round, Covert had trapped Araujo in a neutral corner with shots to the head and body.

The referee separated the two fighters and was halfway through a standing 8-count to Araujo when the dropped to his knees and doubled over on the canvas, ending the fight.

"That was the plan all along," said Covert, who now owns a 26-10 amateur record. "I wanted to make it a good fight and end it in the fourth round.

"That could very well be my last amateur fight," he added. "I think this performance proves I'm ready to turn pro."

The fight appeared even in the early going, but by the third round, Covert had taken control with solid combinations.

Araujo countered with several hooks, but was physically drained after three rounds.

"Ryan stuck with the game plan," said Covert's trainer Billy Wolfe. "He used his jab and did what he had to do. That's his best performance yet."

Araujo fights out of Renegade's Gym in Meadville. He entered the bout as the Allegheny Mountain Boxing Association's light heavyweight champion, but didn't put his title on the line.

"He must've known something," said Wolfe.

"(Araujo) told me he wouldn't put his belt on the line in my hometown," said Covert.

Covert is getting married August 13.

"I haven't turned down a fight in the last four years," Covert said. "I'm going to take a couple of months off."

Earlier in the evening, Joel Rehm made his Butler Cubs debut.

The Butler High School graduate saw his 150-pound bout with Lou Ziccarelli go the full three rounds, but Rehm was awarded the decision for his first career win.

"All the trainers here have taught me so much," said Rehm. "They kept telling me to go with my strength, which is my jab."

Rehm, who had a noticeable reach advantage on his opponent, used a quick left jab to keep Ziccarelli at a safe distance for the first two rounds.

"I spar against Ryan Covert all the time," added Rehm. "He's a great amateur fighter. And he's a bigger guy, so I have to work on keeping him at a distance."

The fight was stopped several times when the referee claimed Rehm was holding on to Ziccarelli.

"I thought I was just tying him up," Rehm said. "And he was holding on to me as well. I guess it's just one of those things I'll learn as I go along."

Rehm, who plays basketball at Butler County Community College, came to the Butler Cubs five months ago to work on his hoops game.

It wasn't long after that when he picked up boxing.

"Basketball is still number one with me," Rehm said. "Then comes boxing."

Butler Cubs boxers Josh Sychak (145 pounds) and Dave Cook (178) also won their respective bouts.

Steve Podobensky, a Cubs product who won the Western Pennsylvania Golden Gloves Cadet Title at 125 pounds earlier this year, was defeated in a three-round decision by Tri-State Boxing's Zack Smith.