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Former champ James 'Buster' Douglas and amateur boxing coming to Hall of Fame Village

ed balint, the repository
·2 min read
In this Feb. 11, 1990, file photo, James "Buster" Douglas, right, hits Mike Tyson with a hard right in the face during their world heavyweight title bout at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo. Douglas, a Columbus native, is scheduled to attend the Brawl at the Hall of Fame Village boxing event in Canton on March 11.
In this Feb. 11, 1990, file photo, James "Buster" Douglas, right, hits Mike Tyson with a hard right in the face during their world heavyweight title bout at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo. Douglas, a Columbus native, is scheduled to attend the Brawl at the Hall of Fame Village boxing event in Canton on March 11.

CANTON − First, there was the Rumble in the Jungle.

Then, the Thrilla in Manila.

And now the Brawl at the Hall.

The Hall of Fame Village will host an amateur boxing event March 11 featuring special guests James "Buster" Douglas and Ronnie Harris.

The Brawl at the Hall of Fame Village will showcase three-round amateur fights with boxers wearing headgear. The United Boxing Club in Canton is presenting the event. Mark Bigsbee of the Bigsbee Group is organizing the event with Keith E. Green of KEG Group.

Matches start at 6 p.m. at the Center for Performance, 1901 Champions Gateway, on the campus of the Hall of Fame Village, which is next to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Brawl at the Hall of Fame Village in Canton is an amateur boxing event on March 11 at the Center for Performance. Former heavyweight champion James "Buster" Douglas is scheduled to be at the event with fighters whom he trains in Columbus.
The Brawl at the Hall of Fame Village in Canton is an amateur boxing event on March 11 at the Center for Performance. Former heavyweight champion James "Buster" Douglas is scheduled to be at the event with fighters whom he trains in Columbus.

Doors open at 4 p.m. The event also will feature a health and wellness fair and fitness demonstrations in Zumba, yoga and extreme hip-hop. Mental health awareness is the event's theme.

"The event is more than just boxing," Bigsbee said.

Proceeds go to United Boxing Club and the Men of Canton, Bigsbee said. Established In 2021, Men Of Canton oversees a directory meant to promote and connect minority businesses in the region.

Douglas, famous for defeating Mike Tyson in 1990 in an historic upset to win the heavyweight title, is scheduled to bring boxers whom he trains in his hometown of Columbus.

Canton Olympian Ronnie Harris, who won the gold medal in boxing in 1968, is shown training during his fighting days. Harris will be honored with a special presentation at the Brawl at the Hall of Fame Village boxing event on March 11 in Canton.
Canton Olympian Ronnie Harris, who won the gold medal in boxing in 1968, is shown training during his fighting days. Harris will be honored with a special presentation at the Brawl at the Hall of Fame Village boxing event on March 11 in Canton.

More boxing:1968 Olympics: Canton boxer grabs the gold

Harris, a Canton native and 1968 lightweight Olympic boxing gold medalist, will be honored. Also being recognized is the late Marion Conner, a Canton native and Golden Gloves champion.

Jerry Page, a 1984 Olympic gold medalist boxer from Columbus, also is scheduled to bring fighters whom he trains.

Front page of The Columbus Dispatch for Feb. 11, 1990. Buster Douglas knocks out Mike Tyson.
Front page of The Columbus Dispatch for Feb. 11, 1990. Buster Douglas knocks out Mike Tyson.

Markees Watkins, who owns United Boxing Club and is lead trainer, expects about 15 amateur bouts.

Fighters will range in age from 9 to 40, he said. Length of the rounds will vary based on the experience level of the boxers, Watkins explained. Amateur fighters include the highly-ranked Tyshawn Denson of Akron, who has won multiple Junior Olympics titles.

Boxer Ronnie Harris was the first of a trio of Stark County athletes to win gold medals in three consecutive Summer Olympics in 1968 in Mexico City.
Boxer Ronnie Harris was the first of a trio of Stark County athletes to win gold medals in three consecutive Summer Olympics in 1968 in Mexico City.

More amateur boxing:For Junior Olympics champion Tyshawn Denson, boxing is in his blood

Up to 1,000 people are expected to attend the event in the sports dome facility at the Hall of Fame Village.

"I would encourage people to come and see what boxing is all about," Watkins said.

General admission tickets cost $20 and are available online at https://brawlatthehall.ticketleap.com/brawlatthehall. Table tickets are sold out. A limited number of ringside seats were still available as of late last week. They are available by calling 330-313-4883.

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com

On Twitter @ebalintREP

In this Feb. 11, 1990, file photo, James "Buster" Douglas is shown in the ring after defeating Mike Tyson in a stunning upset to win the heavyweight title at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo. Douglas, a Columbus native, is scheduled to attend the Brawl at the Hall of Fame Village boxing event in Canton on March 11.
In this Feb. 11, 1990, file photo, James "Buster" Douglas is shown in the ring after defeating Mike Tyson in a stunning upset to win the heavyweight title at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo. Douglas, a Columbus native, is scheduled to attend the Brawl at the Hall of Fame Village boxing event in Canton on March 11.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Buster Douglas, Ronnie Harris to highlight Hall of Fame Village event