Mayhem in March benefits youth boxing program
Youths train for Mayhem in March to be held March 7 at the DuBois Country Club. — Courtesy photo
March 7 event features 16 bouts on the ticket
By Andy Stine
astine@altoonamirror.com
DUBOIS — The Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League (WPAL) is a non-profit organization that prevents juvenile crime by fostering positive relationships between children and first responders through sports, boxing, and educational programs.
The organization and Team 814, a youth boxing team based in DuBois, are holding Mayhem in March at the DuBois Country Club on March 7.
Aaron Beatty, the executive director of WPAL, said this is the 14th event that DuBois has held. The club usually holds one event a year, but has done two in the past.
“They work so hard for the opportunity every day in the gym,” Beatty said. “We have a lot of first-time fighters at this event. This is a year or two of training just to get this opportunity. It really is electric.”
Beatty serves as an assistant coach for Team 814, while Randy Strickland is the head boxing coach.
The setup for events like Mayhem in March are similar to a professional boxing event. Volunteers all wear tuxedos, while ring girls go around the ring before each round.
“We really take pride in the fact that this is something you can dress up for and attend with a certain level of pride,” Beatty said. “It’s pretty unique to a lot of amateur shows and the way we present it.”
Mayhem in March will host 16 fights for the night. There will be a fight between two youngsters that are both 12 years old, while the oldest in the event will be a 28-year-old fighting a 25-year-old.
The youngest age anyone can compete is eight years old, while the senior division is for ages 19-40.
There are no females booked for Saturday, although there is typically a couple fights for girls.
“Sometimes we get a little bit younger. We tend not to get much older,” Beatty said. “We’re really a youth-focused program. Our events are mostly youth, but we do have some adults around our program.”
Beatty said there are boxers registered in gyms all throughout Pennsylvania, plus in other areas including Ohio, Detroit, MI, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and New York.
The fights will all be three rounds. Most fights will be two minutes for each round, while some of the younger kids will have 1-minute rounds.
Boxers and coaches are given a meal after weigh-ins before the event, and boxers get a drawstring bag filled with gifts.
“Boxers and coaches at this amateur level — there’s no compensation for it, but everyone works just as hard,” Beatty said. “We like to make sure everyone feels that appreciation.”
Tickets for the event are $30 dollars for general admission and are available at team814.org. VIP Gold Ringside tickets, which include a complimentary pre-party, are $100 dollars.
Proceeds from the event benefit Team 814.
The event will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the DuBois Country Club.