ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The much-anticipated debut of Superior Sports Promotions’ “Terror in the Hills” is three days away as a trio of championship bouts headline the 12-fight card inside downtown Wheeling’s WesBanco Arena on Saturday night. Doors open at 6 p.m., with professional boxing, kick boxing and mixed martial arts action beginning 90 minutes later.
“We’ve got more fights and more local talent than we had before,” Promoter Dr. Troy Balgo, who is also the Belmont County Coroner, said Monday during a luncheon at Outback Restaurant. “There were a few snags we hit with our previous date, but we’re ready to go Saturday night.
“It was definitely a learning curve … without a doubt,” he admitted of his first venture which was slated for mid-July at the James E. Carnes Center. “Now we’ve a bigger venue, bigger card, bigger fights and more title fights.”
Headlining the event is local favorite Travis “The Terror” Clark who will be fighting for the World Boxing Foundation’s North American Heavyweight title. Another championship fight has East Liverpool’s “Sugar Shi” Shianne Gist competing for the West Virginia Women’s Welterweight title belt. The W.Va. Cruiserweight title is also up for grabs.
Clark, who is an impressive 13-1, will meet W.Va. native Dell Long, who is a 27-year-old, two-time Toughman champion who is 5-3-2 with three of his victories coming by knockout. The bout is scheduled for 10 three-minute rounds.
Clark, who retired earlier this year and will be making his return to the ring, last fought Jan. 20 when he scored a unanimous decision over Matt Garrettson inside the former W.Va. State Penitentiary in Moundsville. His lone loss came in Paris to Olympic gold medalist Tony Yoka inside Palais des Sports Porte de Versailles, on June 2, 2017.
In his 10 bouts, Long has gone 36 rounds. His last fight was May 26 when he was knocked out by Efe Agagda at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Miss. His last win came Nov. 17, 2017, when he scored a unanimous decision over Bill Yates inside the Boyd County Community Center in Catlettsburg, Ky.
“There was a rule instituted last week that stated if a boxer lost a fight due to a TKO or knockout, you were not allowed to fight for the W.Va. state title,” Clark explained of the switch from the bout being for the vacant W.Va. state heavyweight title. “It so happens that in Long’s last fight he was KO’d. That put a stop on that title, but we were asked to fight for another belt, and to represent their league so we’re definitely excited about fighting for the WBF.”
According to Jerry Thomas of W.Va. Sports Promotions, who is serving as matchmaker and in an advisory role, Long is a third generation fighter from the Beckley area.
Balgo said the WBF is based in Australia.
Gist is 3-0-2 in her five professional bouts, including a knockout of her opponent — Bethesda’s Crystal “CoCo” Byers (0-3) — on Saturday night. That came June 24, 2017, inside the former W.Va. State Penitentiary. However, she is not at all taking Byers for granted.
“I know she is training really, really hard for this rematch,” Gist said. “I’m not underestimating her one bit. I’m excited to fight her and put a good show on for everyone.
“I’m super excited to get back in the ring. Training camp has been perfect,” the Beaver Local grad, who is trained by veteran Joe Board, said. “My weight is perfect. I feel perfect. I’m strong and really excited to fight again. It will be a different venue than I’m used to and I’ll be fighting in West Virginia. I love fighting over here. The people are great.”
The fight is set for six rounds.
Six other Ohio Valley fighters will be in action. They include:
∫ Weirton’s Branko Busick (1-1) in a professional MMA heavyweight bout against Matt Comer (2-2) from Columbus scheduled for 3 rounds.
∫ Moundsville’s “King” Caleb Fields (7-0) in a four-round professional lightweight kick boxing match against Parkersburg’s “Razor” Raymond Davila (5-1).
∫ Bellaire’s Richie Lowe will fight Wesley Roberts of Charleroi, Pa., in a three-round amateur welterweight bout.
∫ St. Clairsville’s Abhay Horvath, Clark’s stepson, will make his amateur ring debut against Michael Garretty of Washington, Pa., in a three-round middleweight division fight.
∫ Steubenville’s Ryan Logsdon meets Aaron Cable, of Lumberport, W.Va., in a three-round amateur heavyweight bout.
∫ St. Mary’s Corey Stewart faces Taylor Bohrer, of Cumberland, Md., in a amateur cruiserweight bout scheduled for three rounds.
Other professional fights have Grafton’s “Iron” Mike Snider (13-4-3) meeting Pablo Velez, Jr. (7-2-1), of Durham, N.C., in a six-round super middleweight bout; Buckhannon’s Dakota “Lone Wolfe” Linger (9-0-2) facing Marklin Bailey (6-1), of Charlotte, N.C., in a six-round super lightweight fight; Columbus’s Mike Glasscox (6-1-2) and Oak Hill, W.Va. native Shawn Laughery (8-3) squaring off in a six-round cruiserweight bout; and Clarksburg’s Brock Willis (1-0) meeting Matt Wright (1-0), of Masontown, W.Va., in a four-round super middleweight fight.
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