Pill, Moran, Randolph Among Featured Fighters in March 30 U.S. Route 50 Rumble
By Julie Perine on March 11, 2019 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
No Holds Barr Promotions will host The U.S. Route 50 Rumble at Salem University March 30 and several local fighters will be in the ring.
Among area boxers competing are Samantha “Leggz” Pill, Heather “The Hurricane” Moran and Zachary Randolph, graduates of Lincoln, Grafton and Bridgeport high schools, respectively. Randolph will be making his debut as a pro fighter.
This will be Pill’s first fight since facing the world’s No. 2-ranked super middleweight pro Marcela Cornejo at the July 13 Golden Boy Boxing event at the Novo in downtown Los Angeles. She went into the fight ranked fourth in the U.S. and 10th in the world standings in the heavyweight division. After going three rounds with Cornejo in the ESPN-aired contest, the United Hospital Center nurse supervisor, wife and mother fell to Cornejo. But the experience, she said, was instrumental in her development as a pro boxer.
“In July, I was delivered my first loss, but I gained learning what stands between myself and the top ranks of the sport,” she said. “I know now that my offense needs to be more aggressive and what I needed on defense. With limited amateur experience and only three pro fights, I had never really been on the losing exchange of combinations. Within a couple weeks back home after that trip, we tuned up to exactly what I should be doing.”
Pill disciplined her diet, so she wouldn’t have to cut 15 pounds for short-notice fights. She started different strength and conditioning programs to gain power and is now in the best shape of her fighting career.
“I am so grateful for our community that supported me and watched my fight on ESPN, but I have a lot more left to show them,” Pill said. “To those who may not know much about boxing, it may have looked as it ended a little messy, but those that do saw the positives and potential of what I can and will be able to do from here on out.”
Pill said she is happy to get back into the ring and looks forward to executing all that she has learned in recent months. She is also excited to be fighting “back home” and in an event with others with whom she has trained. It will be exciting to support each other and feed off each other’s enthusiasm, she said.
Another local fighter – and one Pill has mentored and recently trained with - is Heather Moran. Her last fight was April 2018 when she faced Amber Brunty at Fairmont State University’s Joe Retton Arena. The heavyweight contest ended in Moran’s favor with a technical knockout in the second round.
“It was a tough fight,” Moran said. “Amber had knocked out all of her opponents. She is also a left-handed fighter which is a huge advantage. The first round was very tough, but when the second round came, my trainer told me what I needed to do.”
After that contest, Moran – who had also worked in nursing at UHC – moved to North Carolina, but she returned when the hurricane hit in late-summer.
It was hard living away from her boxing family, said Moran, who has since been training for her next match.
“Samantha and I did a little bit of traveling to spar and train at different places,” she said. “I look forward to March 30 to show off all the hard work we have put in since I’ve been home and shoe my fans what I can do!”
Randolph – who says, thanks to his grandfather, boxing is in his blood – captured the runner-up position in the heavyweight division of the 2018 Toughman Contest at Clarksburg’s Nathan Goff Armory.
His 2016 debut fight came just three months after he began training. He captured the Toughman championship that year and went on to gather more victories. The 2018 Toughman loss to Fairmont’s Gerald Kelly was his first. Holding a 10-1 record, Randolph said then that he would turn pro before the end of 2018. He vowed to stay in top physical and mental shape. He said it is the latter which is the most difficult.
“I try to stay in fighting shape year-round because I never know when I will get he call asking to fight,” he said. “…Mental shape is the hardest – to stay calm and relax all nerves the day before and the day of a fight.”
While attending BHS, Randolph was a 6’ 2” 195-pound tight end/linebacker for the Indian football team. He looks forward to his debut as a pro fighter.
Others to be featured March 30 are Haley Bishop, Madison Barnette and possibly three-time Toughman champion Gabe Lambert. Keith Barr, who has trained the featured fighters, will compete for the UBF North American Cruiserweight Title.
Reserved seating is $30 and general admission is $20. Salem University students with a valid ID, high school students and children under age 12 will be admitted for $10. Tickets can be purchased at various outlets, including Brickside Bar & Grille, or by calling 304-326-1561. Tables can also be reserved. Doors open at 6 p.m. Fighting starts at 7:30 p.m. The event is sanctioned by the WV Athletic Commission.
Read previous Connect-Bridgeport stories on the fighters below:
