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boxing, women's boxing

Gionta Management brings Pittsburgh area its first women’s world title fight Mary Casamassa preparing to become only the second women’s world boxing champion from Western Pennsylvania @ “Brawl at the Hall” this Saturday in Harmony, PA

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PITTSBURGH (March 26, 2022) – Gionta Management will present the first women’s world boxing championship match in Western Pennsylvania history this Saturday night (March 30) as Mary Casamassa battles Olivia Gerula in the 10-round main event for the vacant Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) Super Middleweight World title at Steamfitters 449 Union Hall in Harmony, Pennsylvania.

“Brawl at the Hall,” presented by Gionta Management, will be streamed live on www.CombatSportsNow.com for $19.99.

“I’m excited to hold a fight of this magnitude here in Pittsburgh for the first time,” promoter Derek Gionta said. “Female boxing is gaining popularity and there are a number of phenomenal female fighters out there to thank for that.

“Olivia Gerula is battle tested and she recently went eight rounds with a very solid boxer, Olivia Curry. Mary will be at her best and we expect the same from Olivia.”

Casamassa (4-0, 1 KO), a 24-year-old southpaw from Pittsburgh, plans to join Jill Emery as the only female world boxing champions in Pittsburgh’s rich boxing history. Emery captured the International Boxing Association (IBA) Welterweight World Championship on June 12, 2008, with a dominant 10-round decision over Angelica Martinez at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.

“I am very excited to be headlining this card, and I am looking forward to the challenge of fighting someone with as much experience as Olivia,” Casamassa commented. “It’s a great opportunity for me and I can’t wait.”

Gerula (19-20-3, 3 KOs) is a veteran Canadian boxer who is a former World Boxing Council Super Featherweight World Champion. She has fought in nine world championship matches and her opponents’ list is a virtual Who’s Who of women’s boxing: Amanda Serrano, Mia. St. John, Kathy Collins, Jaime Clampitt, Jennifer Han, Maureen Shea, and Jelena Mrdjenovich, who Gerula defeated to capture her world title.

“Training camp is running smoothly,” Gerula noted. “I am focused on fighting a southpaw for the first time in my 26+ years. I’m so excited for this fight. I moved from Winnipeg to Las Vegas in 2020 with the singular goal of winning my next World Title – March 30th is THE DAY! All talk aside, I will let my hands do the talking from the first bell to the very last.”

Past WIBA world champions include Laila Ali, Holly Holm, Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, Ann Wolfe, Sumya Anani, Chevelle Hallback, Melida Cooper, Jeannine Garside and Mary Jo Sanders.

In the co-featured event, Pittsburgh’s unbeaten, popular super middleweight “Pretty” Richie Cantolina (7-0-1, 3 KOs) faces Jonathan Ryan Burrs (4-8-1, 1 KO) in a six-round bout.

Another undefeated local fighter, Aliquippa (PA) super welterweight Paul Palombo (6-0, 1 KO), throws-down with Devonte Jones (3-1, 3 KOs) in a six-rounder.

Also scheduled to fight on the undercard in four-round bouts is West Virginia super middleweight Tyler Aincough (2-1, 1 KO) vs. TBD,  Pittsburgh featherweight Michaelangelo Turner (0-5) vs. Tyquan Johnson (0-1), and Ambridge. PA junior middleweight Tre Craycraft (6-0, 1 KO) vs. TBD.

Card subject to change.

Priced at $50.00 (general admission), $75.00 (reserved) and $125.00 (ringside), tickets are available to purchase online at www.eventbrite.com (“Brawl at the Hall”) or by calling 1.412.759.0407.

INFORMATION:

Facebook: /DerekGionta

Twitter:  @DGionta

Instagram: @d_p_g1

LinkedIn: DerekGionta-GiontaManagement

boxing

Matt Conway notches 20th career win, Stops Rodolfo Puente in second round “Murrysville Madness” results from Pennsylvania

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“Murrysville Madness” results from Pennsylvania

MURRYSVILLE, Penn. (September 21, 2021) – Pittsburgh junior lightweight Matt “Sweet Child” Conway, the reigning IBA Intercontinental Junior Lightweight Champion, notched his 20th career victory in this past Saturday night’s “Murrysville Madness” non-title main event against dangerous Colombian puncher Rodolfo “El Tsunami” Puente (20-8-2, 16 KOs).

“Murrysville Madness,” presented by Gionta Management, was held at a nearly sold-out SportsZone Arena in Murrayville (PA).

This was our first time promoting at this venue and things went really well overall,” promoter Derek Gionta said.  “We will come back here, hopefully, in the near future.  This was our third show this year at two different venues and it’s great to remain consistent despite the difficult times we encountered earlier this year in regard to the pandemic.  The plan is to keep moving forward and building up these guys.”

“There were a number of intriguing fights.  Matt Conway had a monumental victory for his 20th win as a professional.  He will be come back January 15th in a big fight on our show in Cheswick, PA.”

Conway (20-2, 9 KOs) positioned himself for an IBA World title fight in January, which Gionta will promote at The Pittsburgh Shrine Center in Cheswick, PA.

Against Puente, Conway overcame Puente’s early aggression, but after the opening round, the Colombian did little more than hold. A Conway left hook dropped Puente in the second round and that marked the end of the fight and show shortly after from a referee stoppage.

The co-feature was the “Fight of the Night.”  Pittsburgh super middleweight Kiante Irving (9-0-1, 9 KOs), a 2018 National Golden Gloves Champion, and Antonio Louis Hernandez (5-11-3, 3 KOs), battled to an exciting 6-round split draw.

Irving won the first three rounds, primarily by using his stiff jab and landing solid rights to Hernandez’ body.  Hernandez, however, owned the last three rounds, controlling the action and landing power shots that hurt Irving on multiple occasions.  High drama filed the room as Irving proved a chin and heart to go along with his power.  Hernandez, sporting a deceiving record and at just 22 years old, has time to turn the corner and make up for early struggles against high quality opposition.  Both sides have expressed interest in a rematch. 

Ohio lightweight Ryizeemmion “The Humble Beast” Ford (6-1, 4 KOs) dominated Carlos “Jaguar” Jimenez (1-3-1), of Mexico, setting the pace until he landed a hard right that buzzed Jimenez.  A follow-up attack prompted the referee to halt the action  midway through the opening round.

Pittsburgh super middleweight Eric Lomax kept rollin’, setting the pace and blasting out Jacob Ikaika Martin (1-1) with only 9-seconds left in the fourth and scheduled final round. Lomax passed the test in impressive fashion as he boxed well and fought with explosiveness in spurts. 

Kyrgyzstan native Baszybek Baratov (5-1-2, 1 KO), who fights out of Monroeville (PA), defeated Buffalo featherweight debutant Joe Reed, winning a unanimous decision.  Scores were 40-36 x 2 and 39-37.  “Baz” was slippery on the defense, while picking shots from all angles while Reed stood conventional and had some success of his own at times. 

Pittsburgh super lightweight and Matt Conway’s brother, “Maverick” Mike Conway (4-2-1, 1 KO), joined his bro in the winner’s circle, pitching a “shutout” 4-round decision versus Joshua Zimmerman (0-4).  Conway worked his way inside to nullify Zimmerman’s height and length advantage and used a double hook several times.

In the first match of the evening, southpaw Paul Palombo won his pro debut when his opponent, middleweight Jabrandon Harris (0-7) of Texas was unable to continue after two rounds.  Palombo boxed well out of his southpaw stance and turned it up after a quiet opening round and picked his shots nicely on the inside. 

Complete results below:
 
OFFICIAL RESULTS

MAIN EVENT – JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHTS
Matt Conway (20-2, 9 KOs), Pittsburgh, PA
WTKO2 (1:39)
Rodolfo Puente (20-8-2, 16 KOs), Barranquilla, Colombia

CO-FEATURE – SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Kiante Irving (9-0-1, 9 KOs), Pittsburgh, PA
D6 (58-56, 56-58, 57-57)
Antonio Louis Hernandez (5-11-2, 4 KOs), Kansas City, KS

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Eric Lomax (4-0, 3 KOs), Pittsburgh, PA
WTKO4 (2:51)
Jacob Ibaika Martin (1-1, 1 KO), Tacoma, WA

MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Paul Palombo (1-0, 1 KO), Buffalo, NY
WTKO2 (3:00)
Jabrandon Harris (0-7), Bryan, TX

SUPER LIGHTWEIGHTS
Mike Conway (4-2-1, 1 KO), Pittsburgh, PA
WDEC4 (40-36, 40-36, 40-36)
Joshua Zimmerman (0-4), Baltimore, MD 

LIGHTWEIGHTS
Ryizeemmion Ford (6-1, 4 KOs), Alliance, OH
WTKO1 (2:01)
Carlos Jimenez (1-3-1 (0 KOs), Saltillo, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico

FEATHERWEIGHTS
Baszybek Baratov (5-1-2, 1 KO), Monroeville, PA
WDEC4 (40-36, 40-36, 39-37)
Joe Reed (0-1, 0 KOs), Buffalo, NY

INFORMATION:
Facebook: /DerekGionta
Twitter:  @DGionta
Instagram: @d_p_g1
LinkedIn: DerekGionta-GiontaManagement
boxing

19-2 Matt Conway headlines “Murrysville Madness” on Sept. 18 in Murrysville, Pennsylvania

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PITTSBURGH (September 8, 2021) – Professional boxing returns to the Greater Pittsburgh area Saturday night, September 18, as Gionta Management presents “Murrysville Madness” at Murrysville SportZone in Murrysville, Pennsylvania.

An amateur show, co-promoted by Gionta Management and Kastle Boxing of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, will take center stage during the afternoon, starting at 12 p.m. with a separate admission of $20.00

“I hope to continue promoting shows here (30-minute drive from downtown Pittsburgh) in this region moving forward,” promoter Derek Gionta said.  “With another friend of mine promoting here, we can keep these guys busy, and look forward to moving them into bigger opportunities.”

Pittsburgh junior lightweight Matt “Sweet Child” Conway (19-2, 8 KOs), the reigning IBA Intercontinental Junior Lightweight Champion, will headline “Murrysville Madness” in the 8-round main event against an opponent to be finalized.

In the 6-round co-featured event, Pittsburgh super middleweight Kiante Irving (9-0, 9 KOs), a 2018 National Golden Gloves Champion, plans to keep his perfect pro record intact against Antonio Louis Hernandez (5-11-3, 3 KOs).

Ohio lightweight Ryizeemmion “The Humble Beast” Ford (5-1-0, 3 KOs) steps up in his first scheduled 6-rounder versus an opponent to be determined.

A 4-round featherweight match between Buffalo’s pro-debuting Joe Reed and Kyrgyzstan-native Baszybek Baratov (4-1-2, 1 KO), fighting out of Monroeville, PA, has the potential to steal the show.

2019 National Golden Gloves Champion Chatiqua “Tika” Hemingway (1-0), managed by Split-T Management, is slated to be in action against a female super middleweight to be determined.

Also scheduled to fight on the undercard in 4-round matches is Pittsburgh super middleweight Eric Lomax (3-0, 2 KOs) vs, Taurean Bogguess (0-2), Pennsylvania’s pro-debuting middleweight Paul Palombo vs. Jereiah Yeager (1-1, 1 KO), and Pittsburgh super lightweight and Matt Conway’s brother, “Maverick” Mike Conway (3-2-1, 1 KO), vs. Joshua Zimmerman (0-3).

Card is subject to change.

Tickets are priced at $125.00 ringside, $60.00 and $40.00 floor seating, and $50.00 reserved seating, and available to purchase by calling 412.759.0407.

Doors open at 6 p.m. ET with the first bout starting at 7 p.m. ET.

INFORMATION:
Facebook: /DerekGionta
Twitter:  @DGionta
Instagram: @d_p_g1
LinkedIn: DerekGionta-GiontaManagement