Boxing event coming to Eastlake on Halloween weekend

Mark Podolski, The News-Herald, Willoughby, Ohio
·2 min read

Oct. 16—Get ready for a weekend of amateur boxing in Eastlake.

On Halloween weekend — Oct. 29 and 30 — Four Points Sheraton (35000 Curtis Blvd.) in Eastlake will be the venue for Production Plus Productions' "Cleveland vs. Anybody" boxing event.

Event organizer Doug Patterson — a Cleveland native and boxing referee — is dubbing the event "Can You Stand the Pain?"

The event will feature amateur fighters of all ages. The youngest division is set for 8-year-olds, the oldest a masters division for 55 and under.

"It's about bringing up amateurs so they know what to expect when they turn professional," said Patterson.

The weekend events are as follows:

—Oct. 29 will feature a meet-and-great event with boxing celebrities from 5 to 8 p.m. at Four Points Sheraton. Patterson said former champions from Youngstown Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini and Kelly Pavlik are scheduled to attend. Those wearing masks and costumes can win prizes.

—Oct. 30 is the day for boxing — all day. There will be two separate boxing shows featuring 18 bouts in each session. The first session starts at noon, the second starts at 6 p.m. Each session will feature ring girls and boxers and referees from across the nation.

Patterson said the goal is to have a fighter from the Cleveland area against another from out of state but logistics might not make that possible. Boxers from the likes of New York, Chicago, Pennsylvania and Canada are expected to compete. Rounds will vary from 2 to 3 minutes, depending on the competitors.

Having the event at Four Points Sheraton will be unique for boxing fans because it will be held inside a ballroom at the hotel. Patterson said the boxing ring will be a smaller 18 feet by 18 feet version. Seating will be configured to accommodate 300 to 400 fans.

This is Patteson's 12th boxing show in the region. Other events he's held have been at locations in the Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown and Ashtabula areas. This is his production company's first venture into Lake County.

"This is the launch," said Patterson. "We'd like to build this up to a pro-am event."

General admission tickets are $25, and $35 for ringside. For both sessions, general admission is $40, and $50 for ringside.

For more information about the event, call 216-200-9813 or visit pplusp.tickletleap.com.