Butler Cubs amateur boxing show: Leland Anderson looking for first home win, Mars junior making debut
One is a heavyweight, the other weighs nearly 118 pounds.
One’s heading to Westminster College to play football, the other plans to attend Grove City College to study pre-law.
One is male, the other female.
But Butler senior Leland Anderson and Mars junior Zoe Passarelli both discovered boxing the same way — by happenstance — and share the same goal as part of Saturday night’s Butler Cubs ASA Amateur Boxing Show in the Cubs gym.
Win.
Anderson and Passarelli are two of six Cubs boxers currently on the card. Riley McGee, Derrick Eggleton, Eric Hixon and Tanner Williams are the others. A seventh Cubs boxer, Tyler Laurent, may be added.
“I’m still trying to find opponents for Leland and Tyler,” Cubs boxing coach Bill Wolfe said. “I’m confident that will happen. We search the tri-state area for fighters, and that covers roughly 20 boxing clubs.”
Anderson, 18, played tackle and nose guard for the Golden Tornado football team. He was Butler prom king, as well. He’s been involved in Cubs boxing for five years and is a Pittsburgh Golden Gloves champion.
“My friends were doing it, and I was curious to check it out,” Anderson said of Cubs boxing. “At first, I liked it. I grew to love it.”
Anderson sports a 4-2 record as an amateur. Both of his losses occurred during previous Cubs boxing shows, including a split decision in his home gym last year.
“I really want to win one here,” he said. “I’m aware of my surroundings when I’m in the ring and I love the support, I need to make it happen.
“Once I go to college and get back into football, I’ll still train and work out here. But my boxing will have to go on hold for a while.”
Passarelli is not involved in athletics at Mars but does take part in speech and debate in high school. Her long-term goal is to attend law school.
She’s been involved with Cubs boxing for 13 months and will be making her amateur debut Saturday night.
“I’m feeling a little bit nervous, but excited at the same time,” Passarelli said of Saturday’s bout. Her opponent, Marsella Monataz of Ashtabula, Ohio, will be making her in-ring debut, as well.
“I’m well-prepared for this fight. I’m confident I’ll do well,” Passarelli said. “My mom’s co-workers have been in this gym. I came to check it out and got into it. Boxing is something I want to do in the future.”
Saturday’s show begins at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 7. Tickets are $20 and will be available at the door or by calling 724-496-6474.
There are 13 bouts scheduled now, all lasting a maximum of three rounds, though that’s subject to change. The fights are sanctioned by the Allegheny Mountain Association.
“You never know how someone will react to being in the ring for their first fight, especially here at home,” Wolfe said. “We have a few making their debuts. ... They may be nervous, calm, you just never know.
“Derrick’s fight is between two aggressive guys. That should be the slugfest of the night. This is our annual fundraiser, a one-time thing each year. This show is how we keep this program going.”
BUTLER CUBS AMATEUR BOXING SHOW
Fight Card
Eric Hixon (Butler Cubs) vs. Paul Agnew (Ellwood City), 80 pounds
Nate Rebovich (Boyce) vs. Phoenix Egolf (814), 90 pounds
Mason Flaherty (South Park) vs. Nick Majors (G Force), 105 pounds
Zoe Passarelli (Butler Cubs) vs. Marsella Monataz (Ashtabula), 118 pounds
Tyler Ennis (Foundation) vs. Kyle Hoffman (Boyce), 165 pounds
Shane Alawahani (Erie) vs. Mustata Jones (Formula 1), 165 pounds
Jake Adams (Prominence) vs,. Aiden Bollinger (Ellwood City), 145 pounds
Tanner Williams (Butler Cubs) vs. Donald Davis (Prominence), 102 pounds
Clayton Luketic (RSC) vs. Anthony Amarose (South Park), 165 pounds
Riley McGee (Butler Cubs) vs. Conner Bolinger (Ellwood City), 130 pounds
Allen Williams (Foundation) vs. Anthony Carlsano (Boyce), 145 pounds
Derrick Eggleton (Butler Cubs) vs. Damon Johnson (RSC), 199 pounds
Leland Anderson (Butler Cubs) vs. opponent to be determined, heavyweight
