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Putting on an all-female Fight to Unite boxing showcase for breast cancer awareness

By Kelcey Norris Mahoning Matters

October 12, 2023 6:47 AM

Next Friday, check out Fight to Unite, an all-women boxing event for breast cancer awareness month. Youngstown Salem Boxing Gym

At Fight to Unite, women boxers are testing their new skills for a good cause.

Alecia and Rocky DeFrank at Youngstown Salem Boxing Gym organized Fight to Unite. They invited the women in the gym’s boxing class to compete in the event.

Fight to Unite boxers

The event features these local and out-of-state boxers in 18 matches at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at Stambaugh Auditorium.

“In March, they all came in the gym and signed up for my women’s exercise boxing class that I was having. As I started training, we (considered) putting on an all-female fun show. I asked them, “Would you guys want to try it out?” said Alecia, a former boxer who coaches the athletes.

Alecia said the group is made up of diverse women, like a 19-year-old who graduated from Cardinal Mooney. Another boxer is also a teacher in Girard schools.

“Another participant, Lauren [Mohler], found the sport of boxing to help her get really strong during things that she was going through. Individually, that was tough for her and so she found this as an outlet to help her get through that,” said Alecia.

She explained that the group was inspired by fellow Valley women who have battled breast cancer to put on the awareness event this month.

“I also was inspired by a girl that I go to school with, and she actually is in remission right now. She ended up having breast cancer and she was battling with that but still continuing her nursing education. That was really inspiring, and she’s actually going to be like speaking at intermission at the event.”

The husband and wife business partners are putting on the event themselves. They are looking for sponsorship to help cover costs.

Athletes from the surrounding areas like Boardman and Cleveland, Canada, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania will participate in the event.

The event features these local as well as out-of-state boxers in 18 matches at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at Stambaugh Auditorium. Rocky DeFrank

Ministry of boxing

In addition to running the gym, Rocky DeFrank is the pastor at Beautiful Feet Ministry Outreach in Youngstown.

“Alecia is the first lady of the church,” said Rocky. “With the boxing club inside there, it’s basically a ministry we open so we can reach people out there and have them come into a family environment where they can have some hope. We can establish hope in their life so that they can know that there are places that they can go that are safe environments. We want to be a blessing to everybody that we come in contact with.”

You can buy tickets on the Stambaugh Auditorium website or at (330) 747-5175.

Anyone interested in sponsoring can contact Alecia at afoutz@kent.edu or by calling 234-600-4415.