Philippines, 01 Jun 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Pittsburgh’s Matt Conway Rebuilding Pittsburgh boxing tradition

PhilBoxing.com





“Winter Mayhem” streaming live on FacebookLive.com tomorrow night from Cheswick, PA

PITTSBURGH (January 14, 2022) – The journey continues tomorrow night (Saturday) for Matt “Sweet Child” Conway (20-2, 8 KOs) as he continues to bring boxing’s popularity back to what it was back in the glory days.

Conway headlines “Winter Mayhem,” which will be streamed live on www.facebooklive.com for $19.99 (at Cut ‘N’ Run Productions’ page), versus cross-state rival Avery Sparrow (10-3, 3 KOs), of Philadelphia, in the 12-round main event for the vacant International Boxing Association (IBA) Super Featherweight Championship, at the Pittsburgh Shrine Center in Cheswick, Pennsylvania.

While boxing in Pittsburgh will never be as popular as it once was during the glory years when local heroes Harry Greb (1913-26), Billy Conn 1934-48), and Charlie Burley (1936-50) were household names at the junction of 3 rivers, Conway hopes to make the sweet science more relevant than it has been there in many years.

“Fighting for a world title is a dream come true for me, especially bringing a title back to Pittsburgh,” said Conway, who has never been stopped in 22 pro fights. “Pittsburgh hasn’t been a big boxing town since Paul Spadafora (1995-2014) and Sammy Vasquez fought (2012-2017). I’d like to help bring boxing back here to that level.

“I’m really hoping to win the IBA World title to get my name out there so that this kid from Pittsburgh

gets more recognition and title fight opportunities. I want to continue the rich Pittsburgh boxing tradition. It’ll start when I bring the IBA title to Pittsburgh. There are a lot of talented, young fighters in Pittsburgh. We just need to fight and (promoter) Derek Gionta is doing that for me and other fighters. He’s really helping us.”

The 26-year-old Conway is fully prepared to face Sparrow, who’s notable victories have been against fellow Philly fighter 29-2-1 Hank Lundy (WMDEC10) and 19-1-1 Jose Lopez (WUDEC10).

“He’s a tough fighter who uses his jab and is able to move and box,” Conway said about Sparrow. “I’ll try to nullify his left hand and do what I do.”

Conway, who has never been stopped in 22 pro fights to date, has successfully bounced back from back-to-back losses in Reno and Las Vegas on the ESPN+ platform to, respectively, to 10-1-1 Francisco Esparza (SDEC8) and 17-0 Gabriel Flores, Jr. (UDEC8).

“It wasn’t difficult,” Conway talked about coming back from two straight losses after winning his first 17 pro fights. “I lost to a 17-0 guy in Las Vegas. I learned more from my two losses than I did in my 17 wins going into those fights. I’ve taken what I’ve learned from those fights and applied it to my last three fights (all wins). I’m hungrier!”

“Matt has done everything asked of him over the last year, going 3-0),” Gionta remarked. “This is a big fight for the region. Having a cross-state rival from Philly in the main event is huge. Sparrow is a very good boxer and anyone that knows anything about boxing knows that and how good of a match-up this is.

“Putting a belt on the line in a 12-rounder is enough to intrigue casual fans aside from our loyal boxing followers. A win against Sparrow will do a lot for Conway. Most importantly, it’ll show how much he developed over the past year or so and will line him up for bigger challenges down the road.”

In the co-featured event, Ohio lightweight Ryizeemmion “The Humble Beast” Ford (6-1, 4 KOs) faces Texan Charles Clark (3-8-1, 1 KO) in the 6-round co-featured event.

Scheduled to fight on the undercard in 4-round bouts are heavyweight Anthony Halloway (3-2-2, 3 KOs) vs. Thomas Hawkins (4-9-1, 1 KO), undefeated Portugal super featherweight Milton Jorge Andrade Jeremias (2-0, 2 KO) vs. David Boria (0-4), and super featherweight Alexander Castellano (5-1, 2 KOs) vs. Shawn Rall (1-4, 1 KO).

Card is subject to change.

Available tickets are priced at $50.00 (reserved seating, plus tables of 8 ($800) are available to purchase by calling 412.759.0407.

Doors open at 6 p.m. ET with the first bout starting at 7 p.m. ET.

INFORMATION:

Facebook: /DerekGionta
Twitter: @DGionta
Instagram: @d_p_g1
LinkedIn: DerekGionta-GiontaManagement




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Davao Chess Eagles in FIDE World Team Rapid & Blitz in Hong Kong
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 01 Jun 2026
  • Pido retains crown, Pulleda wins
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 01 Jun 2026
  • Juarez defeats Valle by split decision to retain WBC belt in El Paso,Texas
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 31 May 2026
  • Jose Sulaiman's 95th birthday is being celebrated with events around the world
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 31 May 2026
  • Filipino referee Danrex Tapdasan is now one of the IBF board of directors
    , Sun, 31 May 2026
  • Cavite Inter-Town Chess Tournament gets underway
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 31 May 2026
  • Lieutenant Delfin Boholst: Soldier, Boxing Coach, Mentor
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sat, 30 May 2026
  • O’Shaquie Foster vs Raymond Ford: Bad Blood Equals Good Fight
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 30 May 2026
  • WBC Issues Rules Clarification for Designating David Benavidez Mandatory Challenger to Noel Mikaelian External Inbox Andre Courtemanche -- Big Media Buzz
    , Sat, 30 May 2026
  • FOSTER VS. FORD – WEIGHTS AND THE FINAL WORD AHEAD OF TOMORROW NIGHT’S ACTION
    , Sat, 30 May 2026
  • AWE to Air Live the WBC World Title Rematch of Kevin Lerena v. Ryad Merhy this Saturday
    , Sat, 30 May 2026
  • Juego Todo exists in two powerful dimensions
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 30 May 2026
  • ‘The Homecoming’ Postponed in Vancouver
    , Sat, 30 May 2026
  • Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo to Defend Unified WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Titles Against the Philippines’ Joey Canoy
    , Sat, 30 May 2026
  • Canoy now trains at MP Davao for Collazo's fight
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 30 May 2026
  • Johann Chua claims Duya Airplay Sport 5800 Charity Cup Crown, pockets US$50,000 tops prize
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 30 May 2026
  • “While others debate governance, the IBA continues to deliver.” IBA CEO & Secretary General Chris Roberts OBE on the organisation’s resilience and global ambition
    , Sat, 30 May 2026
  • MP Pro Announces Signed Undefeated Prospects J'Hon Ingram, Amir Anderson, David Lopez, and Kayla Gomez to Compete on "Pugilist Revolution" June 19 in Long Beach, California
    , Sat, 30 May 2026
  • Canoy to challenge Collazo on June 20
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 29 May 2026
  • UNDEFEATED SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT RONNIE ALVAREZ RETURNS TO THE RING ON JUNE 13 IN GLENDALE, ARIZONA
    , Fri, 29 May 2026
  • 20 Matchups Set for 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, To Determine 2026 USA Wrestling World Championship Teams
    , Fri, 29 May 2026
  • RJJ Boxing & “RJJ Saving the Kids” Presents World Boxing Association International Middleweight Championship! Natasha “The Nightmare” Spence and Maricela “La Diva” Cornejo
    , Fri, 29 May 2026
  • Taguig boxing clinic starts
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 29 May 2026
  • Brico Santig Wins IBF “Most Active Promoter” Award
    , Thu, 28 May 2026
  • FOSTER AND FORD IN FIERY FACE-OFF IN HOUSTON
    , Thu, 28 May 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.