The COVID-19 pandemic rocked the world in March, a lot like a punishing left hook.
Boxing events like the return of the Pittsburgh Donnybrook and March Mayhem from Integrity Fighter Management and Conn Greb-Boxing Gym were canceled as the world dealt with the outcome.
Boxers from around the city have been staying ready for whatever and whenever the next opportunity will be coming.
Last time I was at Conn-Greb I talked to guys like Kel “Steel City” Smith, Lyubomyr ”The Demolition Man” Pinchuk and Oleh “The Ukraine Pitt-Bull” Dovhun. I did a phone interview with Johnny “TTG” Spell, in preparation for their fights in March and hopefully beyond.
A few weeks ago I went to the gym in Oakland to congratulate Mike McSorley and his two Ukrainian pugilists on getting a promotions deal with Star Boxing, based out of New York.
Oleh wasn’t at this session, but his fellow Ukrainian Lyubomyr was sparring today with Michael “The Pittsburgh Bull” Manna, who had a thrilling final fight last November.
Pinchuk was eying a move to the heavyweight division before the pandemic started, but a new look shaved head and a beard. He looks like a killer, though throughout the training session he jokingly said he was beautiful.
The two sparring opponents Pinchuk and Manna put on their gloves and went for a spirited two rounds.
It was good to see Manna spar again and with a fellow hard hitting heavyweight. Pinchuk was on the end of a bloddy nose at one point, but he continued his charging ways regardless. His shirt polka-dotted with blood he would catch Manna with a countering shot to the top of the head.
Manna would take a little bit of a break and Pinchuk would practice a little with McSorley before a couple rounds of sparring with another one of his trainers, Tom Dasta. Manna would come back to finish a few more sparring rounds to end the day.