Gloves and Glory Flag Day showdown

It was a successful return to Northeast Pennsylvania for Cahir Gormley.

The native of Maydown, Northern Ireland earned his second win in as many trips to the area with a victory on points over Demetress Wilson in front of 500 at the Gloves and Glory Flag Day Showdown at the Holiday Inn Scranton East on June 14.

Gormley also earned a win in his first visit in November 2024.

In the first round of his latest bout, Gormley did a good job of connecting and then backing out before his opponent could respond. He landed a solid straight right to the head and followed up with one to the body midway through the round.

Wilson, who represented the Buffalo, New York area in the National Golden Gloves tournament, came out aggressively in the second round and landed a good right upstairs. He then landed a hard right to the body but then Gormley ducked under a big right and landed a left to the body.

“He was definitely a game opponent,” Gormley said. “I'm an elite-level boxer so I want to be fighting elite-level competition. I wanted to prove myself that I'm one of the best. I started off good picking my shots. In the second round, he kind of came at me more aggressively and caught me but I handled it.”

In the third round, Wilson charged in and landed a combination to the head. He then backed Gormley into the ropes and landed a big right. Gormley then blocked a punch and countered with a straight right. The pair traded shots before Gormley landed a good left hook near the end of the round.

“In the third round, he was coming on strong but I think that's were my adaptability and just my defensive approach brought me over the line,” Gormley said. “All I do is eat, sleep and train and that's why I am where I am. And this is only the start of it. I want to push on. I have the right people behind me and I'm grateful to be in this position. People say it's a one-man sport but if I wasn't surrounded by great people I wouldn't be where I am.”

Loose and composed

With an aggressive opponent, hard puncher James Cortese stayed calm.

Nasheem Woodard pushed the pace and, even at one point, pushed Cortese across the ring and both boxers tumbled to the mat. But Cortese from Scranton's Irish Boxing Club controlled the bout and earned a victory on points.

In the first round, Cortese scored with a straight right to the body as Woodard charged in.

“I definitely should have used the jab more,” Cortese said. “He was telegraphing everything but so was I. I have to stop overreaching with that back hand. But what was really working was when he was coming in and I would throw that body shot counter. Definitely hit him a few times with that but other than that there's not really much I can say. I have to come back and get better.”

Cortese landed a right hook to the body in the second round but Woodard answered with an uppercut. Cortese then landed a left hook to the body and one to the head near the end of the round. He scored with a good short right in the third round and then a big left hook that forced Woodard to tie up.

“When you go into a fight you have to stay composed and loose,” he said. “Mike Tyson's coach always said the looser man wins. You are going to use a bunch of energy if you go in there all tensed up trying to throw everything so when I went in there I just stayed composed.”

Pro card announced

At the show, promoter Doug Long announced he will host a professional boxing card at the Holiday Inn Scranton East on July 26. It will be Long's first professional card since 2019.

The main event will be a return to Northeast Pennsylvania for Dunmore native Rocco Cordaro, who has competed exclusively in Colombia since turning pro.

“It's pretty surreal and, to be honest, I'm just really grateful that I got the opportunity,” Cordaro said. “And just thinking about it puts goosebumps on my arms so I'm really looking forward to putting on in my hometown. It will definitely be a packed show and I really appreciate all the support. With Dunmore, whether we're going to play a football game or basketball game, you just always have full stands and it just shows you how much the town appreciates their people.”

Cordaro has built a 5-0 record as a professional with four knockouts.

“Everything is just going really fast,” he said. “Sometimes I have to pull back and realize what's going on. It's going great and I look forward to continuing trying to do what I'm doing now and just keep winning.”

The card will also feature the first local professional bout for Anthony Muta of Newfoundland, who is scheduled to make his professional debut on June 27 in Colombia.

Results

Kimberly Zempoaltecatz def. Baylee Gray on points, 128 pounds

Abel Lucas def. Abass Rebo on points, 147 pounds

Chris Pantonjas def. Julio Tinoco by TKO in Round 3, 180 pounds

Martin Tinoco def. William Masteller on points, 160 pounds

Stefhan Caple def. Denny Buckley on points, 132 pounds

Ryan Baldwin def. Simeon Lockhart on points, 157 pounds

Jayden Aquino def. Luke Gray on points, 75 pounds

Joshua Snyder def. Adam Tizio by TKO in Round 3, 200 pounds

Ruben Espada def. Jarrod Thomas on points, 141 pounds

Cahir Gormley def. Demetress Wilson on points, 160 pounds

Jesse Burke def. Joey Salvia on points, 145 pounds

Zamier Roman def. Mikey DeMarco by TKO in Round 2, 140 pounds

James Cortese def. Nasheem Woodard on points, 156 pounds

Anthony Ruiz def. Onix Rodriguez on points, 147 pounds

Bishop Walker def. Matt Patyk on points, 152 pounds

Jimmie Legrand def. Kasim Lewis on points, 185 pounds