Mowry right on course for MMA, boxing career
PITTSBURGH — Steve Mowry now owns an amateur MMA heavyweight title.
The Knoch graduate is in no hurry to exchange it for a shot at the professional ranks — though that day is coming.
Mowry, 22, won the Amateur World Gladiators of Cage heavyweight crown two weeks ago at Stage AE in Pittsburgh, defeating Tebaris “Boom” Gordon of North Carolina.
“That series has been around since 2011. I worked security for its first show in Pittsburgh,” Mowry said. “They were looking for an opponent for Gordon and they called me.”
The MMA bout came on the heels of Mowry’s participation in the Pa. Golden Gloves championships in Philadelphia. The 6-foot-9, 230-pound Mowry defeated an opponent who stood 6-5, weighed 262 pounds and was 12-0 as an amateur boxer.
The fight was in the novice division, and Mowry was disqualified after the bout because both fighters had more than the amount of eligible amateur fights to compete in that division.
“That was a shame,” said Ryan Covert, one of Mowry’s corner men. “We drove all the way out there and Steve legitimately beat the guy. He’s a Golden Glove champion without the actual title.
“The guy is an absolute beast. The way he trains, the work he puts into this combined with his physical prowess ,.. Someone’s gonna have to catch him with an early knockout punch. It’s the only way anyone’s going to beat him.”
Mowry is 5-0 as a MMA fighter and 4-1 as a boxer. His lone defeat is a six-minute decision to Mike Shook of Tarentum at the Butler Cubs boxing show recently.
“I have to admit, I didn’t take the guy (Shook) very seriously,” Mowry said, “I wasn’t into that fight. I felt like I could just step in the ring and I’d win.
“By the time I woke up, it was too late. Six minutes isn’t much time when you’re trying to recover from a sluggish start. Hey, lesson learned. That won’t happen again.”
Covert said they wanted that fight to be nine minutes long, but Shook’s handlers refused.
“There’s no way the guy beats Mowry if that fight is another three minutes,” Covert said.
As for turning pro, Mowry says time is on his side.
“I’m not going to do it until I’m totally ready and prepared,” he said. “If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it right.
“I’ve already sparred against (Butler pro heavyweight) Brian Minto and with some pro MMA guys. I’m thinking another year to year and a half ... When I go pro, I’ll be ready.”
In the meantime, he’s looking to defend his Amateur World Gladiators of Cage title one or two times.
“I’ll stay active in both sports,” Mowry promised.
Covert believes Mowry will continue to excel in both as well.
“The work ethic’s there and Steve’s got such a tough body to get to,” Covert said. “He’s very patient when he fights and he’s about defense first.
“He’s got tremendous power and speed. He’s going about this the right way. He wants to excel in MMA and pro boxing. That’s the ultimate goal and he can get there.”
