Southside Rumble IV set for tonight
Fights set for the Armory
PARKERSBURG — Dawghouse Promotions’ Mike Sheppard used just two words to describe tonight’s card for the Southside Rumble IV set for the West Virginia Army National Guard Armory — “great matches.”
The scheduled 16-bout card is expected to get underway at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m.
Five pro bouts are on tap and that includes the main event — an ABA Northwest super middleweight title fight — between Zack Kuhn of Welch and Parkersburg’s Donnie Miller.
George Brown of Elizabeth is set to face Noah Sias of Gallipolis as Brown attempts to defend his Dawghouse Promotions (DP) light welterweight amateur boxing title. The other DP title fight on the card is a 130-pound showdown between Parkersburg’s Shawn Miller and Ronald Harrison of Coal Grove, Ohio.
Making his return to the ring after an extended absence is Dustin Echard, who now resides in Belpre. Echard will put his 16-3 record on the line in a scheduled four-round 185-pound pro boxing match versus Portland Pringle of Kentucky.
“I know a little about Portland,” admitted Echard. “He’s more of an MMA style fighter than a boxer, but he gets in good shape and comes to fight.
“He beat a few people that I’ve fought and sparred before. He’s a respectable opponent.”
Echard, who has been training at the Dawghouse Gym, admitted “it’s been good. I figured I didn’t have too many years left boxing.
I’m 33 now and if I’m going to make a few more paydays then now is the time.
“I’ll only be in the squared circle a few more times in my life so I look forward to making the most of it. Boxing is the greatest sport in the world.”
The first scheduled pro bout features Ripley’s Joel Baker and Parkersburg’s John Bailey. Ryan MacIntosh of Indiana and Sam Wildenhaus of Ohio along with an all-Parkersburg showdown featuring Gage Bonnette and Chad Miller are the other pro boxing matches.
A pair of mixed martial arts battles are on tap and that includes Morgantown’s Kyle Midkiff and Tom Kizer of Fairmont. The other MMA fight is a women’s match with the Keystone State’s Jesse Cimino squaring off against Parkersburg’s Keisha Murphy.
Parkersburg South grad and current Ripley resident Michelle McCrady is expected to fight near the end of the card against Kindwood’s Selena Liken in an amateur boxing match.
There’s also another all-Parkersburg amateur boxing match set between Austin Crouch and Morrison Dailey.
Advance tickets are $25 and all tickets at the door are $30.
Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com
Fight card for today’s
Southside Rumble IV
at W.Va. Army National Guard Armory
Las Trancas (Black Corner) vs. Astorg Auto (Blue Corner)
AB: Jerel Sanders (Charleroi, Pa.) vs. Steve Walden (Parkersburg)
MMA (A): Kyle Midkiff (Morgantown) vs. Tom Kizer (Fairmont)
PB: Joel Baker (Ripley) vs. John Bailey (Parkersburg)
*AB: Ronald Harrison (Coal Grove, Ohio) vs. Shawn Miller (Parkersburg)
AB: Jacob Beach (Inwood) vs. Sam Kinker (Marietta)
PB: Portland Pringle (Lexington, Ky.) vs. Dustin Echard (Washington)
MMA (A): Jesse Cimino (Charleroi, Pa.) vs. Keisha Murphy (Parkersburg)
AB: Austin Crouch (Parkersburg) vs. Morrison Dailey (Parkersburg)
PB: Ryan MacIntosh (Guilford, Ind.) vs. Sam Wildenhaus (Kettering, Ohio)
PB: Gage Bonnette (Parkersburg) vs. Chad Miller (Parkersburg)
AK: Rich Muchacho (Wilkes Barre, Pa.) vs. Mikey Furnier (Portsmouth, Ohio)
AB: Gabe Lambert (Bridgeport) vs. Jose Garcia (Inwood)
*AB: Noah Sias vs. George Brown (Elizabeth)
AB: Emmanuel Towah (Charleroi, Pa.) vs. Ryan Walters (Parkersburg)
AB: Michelle McCrady (Ripley) vs. Selena Likens (Kingwood)
**PB: Zack Kuhn (Welch) vs. Donnie Miller (Parkersburg)
* Denotes Dawghouse Promotions title fight
** Denotes ABA Northwest super middleweight title fight
NOTES: All fights subject to change. Gates open at 6 p.m. today and first fight is 7 p.m. Advance tickets are $25 and $30 at the door. For VIP tables call 304-483-5503.