Molding Clay Into Another Pittsburgh Champion
By Smokin' Jim Frazier

When Monty Meza-Clay fights, a who's who of Pittsburgh sports stars come out to watch. Former Pittsburgh Steelers greats L. C. Greenwood and John Banaszak, and current Steelers Casey Hampton, Joey Porter, Chris Hope, Deshea Townsend and Ricardo Colclough all sat at ringside to watch the next local super star of boxing win the IBA Super Featherweight Title in late December.

Clay, who fights like a Tasmanian devil, used a crouching bob and weave style to hammer out a 12-round unanimous decision over Brooklyn's Shamir Reyes.

"That's the matrix," Clay said of his style in the ring. "Ali had the rope-a-dope. I have the matrix. Everybody has got their own move."

Professional boxing in western Pennsylvania has been rejuvenated, and trainers like Tommy Yankello and Faith Wolfley are putting together a well trained army of prize fighters. Yankello is the lift beneath the wings of Clay, Brian "The Beast" Minto, Calvin Brock and Verquan Kimbrough. Wolfley's gym features Leslee "Long Play" Perella, a Bon Air native now living in Baldwin.

The former state Golden Gloves champion Perella fought to a draw with Kentucky native Terri "Road Warrior" Blair.

"I would have liked a split decision win," said Perella's trainer, Rob Strauss. "But getting a draw against Terri Blair, the third ranked light welterweight in the world? What more can you ask for?"

Other action included 2004 Olympian Devin Vargas winning a four round majority decision over Ed Perry, and heavyweight contender Brian "The Beast" Minto raising his record to 23-1 with a crushing third round knockout of Troy "Country Boy" Weida.