BENGAL BOUTS 180 POUNDS - HEAVYWEIGTHS: The missile warns opponents to watch their ribs
By MIKE CONNOLLY
Sports Writer
Matt "Missile" Sarb has a few words of advice for his opponents: watch your ribs.
The senior football walk-on faces sophomore Tommy "Gun" Demko in the semifinals of the 180-pound weight class tonight. The taller Demko has a better jab and a more refined form but Sarb has blasted his way to the semifinals by pounding opponents' midsections.
"I was thinking about going for my nickname `watch your ribs' because I cracked a guys ribs at the beginning of the season and he can't fight any more," Sarb said. "But I didn't want to give away my strategy."
After his first two wins, Sarb's strategy is well known. He charges right into an opponent jab, taking hard shots to the face but he also slides underneath that punch to throw several shots to his opponents' body.
Demko said he will use a slightly more defensive style to counteract Sarb's charges.
"You've got to keep your hands in closer together," Demko said. "You have to keep your elbows tight to your body and see the punches and react."
Demko also plans to be a little more active in the ring so that Sarb will not be able to charge a stationary target.
"I am going to try to keep him away and move around the ring well," Demko said. "Footwork is going to be a key. That's probably the best way to work it. I fully expect him to come right at me."
In the other 180-pound semifinal, senior captain Mark "Bright Lights, Big City" Criniti continues his quest for three titles against senior Keith "Little Ball of Love" Arnold. Arnold, one of the hardest punchers in the division, overcame the reach advantage of Kevin Conoscenti in the quarterfinals to score a unanimous decision win.
In Criniti, he faces another taller boxer who throws punches nearly as strong as Arnold's. Arnold said he tries getting his opponents to lower their defenses so his hard rights do more damage. Against the better-conditioned Criniti, Arnold said he will try to be more conservative and look for open opportunities.
"I have to be economical because I am not in the greatest shape," he said.
Arnold will also have to adapt to Criniti's left-handed stance. He has yet to fight a left-handed fighter this year.
"Last year I practiced with one of my buddies who was left handed," Arnold said. "Hopefully I can work on some stuff so that I can stay away from his power."
190 pounds
John Lynk and William Zizic should both get a better challenge tonight when the two fighters meet in the semifinals of the 190-pound weight class. Lynk and Zizic both had their quarterfinal wins stopped early by the referee.
Zizic knows he will be in for a much tougher bout against Lynk, however.
"He is the greatest challenge I am going to face," Zizic said. "He is the most challenging fighter in our weight division. He is very athletic and has very strong punches."
Zizic has a reach advantage on the shorter Lynk and plans to use that, as well as his footwork to avoid Lynk's powerful punches.
"What you are going to see is a lot of dancing around the ring. It's not me running away from him," Zizic said. "I am a different style boxer than he is. I really have to use my length to win this fight."
Kevin "Hardcore" Brandl meets Joshua "The Flyin' Hawaiian" Kaakua in the other 190-pound semifinal. Kaakua has one of the most unique fighting styles in the entire tournament. The short, stocky fight stays far away from his opponent. He uses his quick hands to dart inside and attack his opponent before dancing back outside.
Staying outside plays into Brandl's plan to use his reach advantage but Kaakua's inside attacks worry Brandl.
"He's got those quick hands which is scary," Brandl said. "But the fact that he stays back plays a little bit into my advantage. I just can't let him use his quick hands to slip inside."
Heavyweight
The two heavyweight favorites step into the ring for the first time tonight.
Carlos Abeyeta and Stefan Borovina received byes into the semifinals and will face football walk-ons Jeffrey Campbell and Eric Nelson for a spot in Friday's finals.
"It's a little bit frustrating because you've see everyone fight," Borovina said. "The waiting is the toughest. You just want to get in the ring and go."
Borovina will have a height advantage against Nelson but Nelson said he is used to battling taller fighters since he is the shortest fighter in the weight class. What Nelson lacks in reach, however, he makes up for in toughness.
"He is a tough kid. He has a hard chin. He can really take a punch," Borovina said. "I am going to keep him away with my reach."
Abeyeta, the defending heavyweight champion, faces Campbell in the other semifinal. Campbell won his quarterfinal when the referee stopped the fight just 1:28 into the first round. Campbell said he expects a much tougher fight from Abeyeta.
"I just have to try to keep my punches straight and stay calm," he said.
All Sports Stories for Wednesday, February 27, 2002
