Local club owner trains Ukrainian with title in mind
Tri-State Sports & News Service
Trainer Mike McSorley trusted his eyes, his ears and his great boxing instincts in importing Lyubomyr “The Demolition Man” Pinchuk from Lviv, Ukraine, to Pittsburgh in January 2017.
Months later, a future star was born.
After a 250-bout amateur career that saw him capture two Ukrainian national championships, Pinchuk turned pro in March 2017, easily winning his debut bout. He has since increased his record to 5-1, with three of his four knockouts coming in the first round. His lone defeat came at the hands of two- time Uganda Olympian Kennedy Katende.
“Lyubomyr is a machine. Fearless,” said McSorley, a Central Catholic High grad and owner of the professional-only Conn-Greb Boxing Club in North Oakland. “We have worked hard on his punching power since he arrived here, and he’s cracking like the small end of a ball peen hammer. His work ethic is unparalleled. I’m proud of his sacrifice.”
Saturday night on the North Side, McSorley is hoping to see the 22-yearold boxer capture the vacant American Boxing Federation USA Cruiserweight title in the Grand Hall at the Priory.
Pinchuk faces Brooklyn native Lamont “Too Smooth” Capers (9-12-4, 1 KO) in one of six scheduled bouts, with the majority featuring local professionals. First bell is 7 p.m.
“It will be actionpacked,” said McSorley, who reports that Pinchuk prepared for this eightround title fight by sparring with two-time International Boxing Federation champ Steve “USS” Cunningham.
In a delicious twist, Pinchuk found McSorely, instead of the other way around. Pinchuk had been surfing the internet for a trusted trainer when he came upon McSorely, a boxing lifer who has been everything from a cutman to trainer to manager to promoter.
The two quickly hit it off. McSorely liked what he saw through video, and was even more impressed when he spoke to Pinchuk via Skype. As fortune would have it, those Skype interviews were translated by Anna Dasta, the wife of McSorley’s cornerman who is of Ukrainian descent.
There was only one catch: Pinchuk wanted to come to Pittsburgh with fellow countryman Oleg “The Ukrainian Pitbull” Dovhun, 24, he of the 347 amateur fights and five Ukraine national titles.
McSorely gladly accepted the two-for-one offer.
“Not only are these guys my fighters, they are like my sons,” said McSorley, who has been working with Gerald Sherrell, an undefeated local boxer who will be featured on the EPIX reality series, The Contender. “All the fighters in my stable are family.”
Oleg (5-0, 2 KOs) looks to remain undefeated Saturday night when he faces Anthony “Tiger” Taylor (4-2, 1 KO) of Youngstown in a sixround super-bantamweight bout.
“Oleg is a blood and guts warrior like an Arturo Gatti,” McSorley said of Oleg, whose bruising reputation has made it difficult to find willing opponents. “He can box beautifully, but he likes to brawl, too. He’s the most intense fighter that I have ever worked with. In the ring, he’s vicious.”
Other fights of note on Saturday’s card: North Side cruiserweight Michael Manna, who is donating his entire purse to Children’s Hospital, faces the South Side’s Marcus Williamson in the pro debut for each fighter; Springdale’s Jordan Zlacki faces Penn Hills’ J.T. Brackett (a former state Golden Gloves champ) in a super middleweight bout; Pittsburgh light heavyweight Sam “The Butcher” Suska (a firefighter with a record of 5-3, 4 KOs) faces 57-fight Pittsburgh veteran Rayco Saunders in an exhibition match.
Tickets to the event, promoted by Integrity Fighter Management, can be purchased online at https:// integrityproboxing. ticketleap.com/professionalboxing-or by calling 412-728-3409.