G-Force brings the ‘Mayhem’ to Monessen
Saturday’s local boxing showcase a was success for local gym and its fighters
The event featured nine fights at Monessen High School that featured numerous local boxers.
G-Force Athletic Club brought mayhem to Monessen Saturday afternoon in the form of its amateur boxing show, featuring nine bouts in front of a packed crowd at Monessen High School.
Club owner and coach George Galis was excited about the event as spectators came from around the Mon Valley to view the Mayhem in Monessen, including Monessen’s own and former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Michael Moorer.
“I was very heartened by the turnout for the event,” Galis said. “I like to see Mon Valley folks turn out for things like this, and I thought it went really well.”
The weekend ticket featured nine fights, pitting amateur boxers from the area against each other including four fighters representing G-Force.
Xoren and Dragan Radusewicz headlined the event as boxers from the home gym while Marco Bassett and Collin Schragl also fought. Luke Ripepi and Mason Yeschenko were also scheduled to fight, but unfortunately their opponents did not make it.
Regardless, visitors were treated to nine exciting fights, starting with Schragl taking on Dallas Strus of Sanctuary Boxing Club. Sanctuary Boxing Club featured three fighters in the card as they went undefeated on the day.
Strus overcame a strong start from Schragl to earn a victory by unanimous decision.
Chello McClintock won the second fight of the day over Valentino Hupe in another unanimous decision.
Bassett’s fight was third as he energized the crowd with an impressive showing, managing to knock his opponent to the canvas in the second round before a win by split decision.
Katie Kerecz and Katherine Boyko battled in a match that ended in a unanimous victory for Kerecz before Zack Schubert defeated Connor Bollinger to take things to intermission.
Wyatt Croney of Sanctuary Boxing Club dominated Jordan Bell of Boards Boxing on his way to a unanimous victory to open things back up.
Then, G-Force’s Dragan Radusewicz fired the crowd up with a strong showing against Darren Hildebrand of Butler Cubs. The home favorite earned a win by unanimous decision.
“I thought there was a lot of talent here today,” Galis said. “Dragan Radusewicz, that was a rematch of a fight he lost in the Golden Gloves. He left no doubt today.”
In the eighth fight of the day, Mike Crooms II dominated Benjamin Liu en route to a unanimous win before Xoren Radusewicz stepped up for a big fight against Murad Taha.
In a hard-fought battle to end the event, Taha was declared the winner by split decision.
“In that last fight with Xoren, I thought that was a robbery,” Galis said. “He won that fight, but they gave it to the other guy.”
Overall, the event offered local boxing fans a chance to take a look at various talented fighters throughout the area.
As for Galis and G-Force, Mayhem in Monessen was a success.
“This was a valuable event because other kids will come to the gym and learn about us,” Galis said. “It also raises some funds for the gym. I don’t charge anybody to use our gym or go to fights or anything like that, so getting some money from things like this helps.”
