Submitted photo / Zion Hensley, front, poses with members of Kelly Pavlik’s gym. Hensley, along with Levi Williams, Isaac Johnson, Juan Jauregui, and Darius Harshaw are all participating in The Holiday Brawl on Saturday at the Maronite Center.
BOARDMAN — Boxing returns to the Maronite Center this weekend with The Holiday Brawl, put on by local champion Kelly Pavlik.
The card is headlined by six-time national champion Zion Hensley, squaring off with a national champion from Austin, Texas, Marlene Jaime.
“She’s a really good fighter,” Hensley said. “I know that she pressures a lot, so I normally have to move around that, and that’s pretty much all I know about her.”
As for the chance to represent the area again, the Western Reserve student relishes the opportunity.
“I love representing the valley,” Hensley said. “I’ve had a lot of support from everywhere. I’ve had so much support. And having a home fight is just so much fun. Plus I have a good walkout song that I’ve been wanting and planning. So it’s been amazing (getting ready to fight at home again.)”
While Hensley sits atop the card, there’s quality bouts all the way down.
Multiple fighters competing at the national level soon are on the card.
Levi Williams, Isaac Johnson, Juan Jauregui, and Darius Harshaw are all fighting at the Maronite Center as well.
“They just put so much work in,” Pavlik said. “They look forward to the tournaments. All of them are very inexperienced, and they’re going to be going against guys that are a lot more experienced than them. But for them, they’ve been working this hard, you know, not sparring, getting show fights, and they’re excited about it. To get outside of Ohio, and to go down there with their team. That’s the big part. But it’s also fun, though, when you travel with your team. It’s gonna be interesting to see a lot of talent, but we’re gonna see as far as learning going into these tournaments.”
But before nationals is the show fight on Saturday, giving these fighters a chance to showcase their skills in front of a local crowd.
“I’ve been working hard, putting in a lot of work, coming down in weight, bouncing back from a loss, and making sure my conditioning is top tier,” Williams said. “I’m ready to go put on a show.”
After his last bout, a defeat, Williams has been locked in on keeping his conditioning in check.
“Conditioning is key,” he said. “It doesn’t matter. You can have the skills of the greatest boxer of all time, but if you don’t have a tank, you don’t have the wind, you don’t have the breathing for it, it’s all gonna go out the window.”
Proceeds from Saturday’s fight will go toward the Kelly Pavlik Charitable Organization.
Pavlik’s organization has reached over 100 kids between two gyms in Boardman and Columbiana. Long-term goals include tutoring and counseling classes for kids.
Right now, giving kids somewhere to go has been the biggest thing.
“I’ll just use the boxing gym as an example. I get these kids in here after school for two hours, and that’s two hours that they’re not taking a chance outside,” Pavlik said. “Then as more funding comes in, I can start putting people in place, and it’s really going to be a great program. Between the Columbiana gym and here, I’ve got well over 100 kids.
“I’ve worked with ATG wrestling program, Lisbon Juvenile Court system and the kids on probation, I’m getting ready to work with Trumbull County Juvenile Court, the Youngstown Boys and Girls Club and Boardman schools, so it’s busy. I really want to put this all in place and make this program just a magnificent program for all the kids and all the fighters.”
Doors open at 6 p.m. on Saturday and fights begin at 7 p.m.
For tickets, call or text 3305658665.