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The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 15

Location:
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Issue Date:
Page:
15
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

After winning a spot as a lightweight finalist in the Tough Guys competition, a victorious Lubiano gets a kiss from his girlfriend, Cema Harris. 5 31 Ji i-: a ft -i 4 ISL- Jjl flt'ft- Jf M. mm iMi iim iiaMM" irv i Leonard Phillips to canvas as Cema Harris, Lubiano's girlfriend, Almost Anything Goes Get In Ring, Pittsburgh Press, April 8, 1 980 B-3 announced that Lubiano won it on a Phillips for a face bloody with lacer-technical knockout. ations and the blond-haired woman watches with her hands over her mouth Then they're announcing the next bout while Lubiano's girlfriend raises both while a paramedic begins treating arms wildly in the air for the victory. itiii i i- 1 1 ii i ii "mi i watches with great concern.

THUS IT WAS that Michael "Mex" Lubiano earned his place among the four finalists who will contend for the lightweight title in the Pittsburgh Regional "Battle of the Tough Guys" April 18 at the Stanley Theater. Four others will compete for the heavyweight crown. The winner in each division will get $1,000 and a 5-foot trophy, second place, $500 and a trophy, third, $250 and trophy, and fourth, a trophy. The first-place winners also will get the chance to compete for the National Tough Guy title and cash prizes next year in Atlantic City or Las Vegas. (Regional contests are being held in 50 cities throughout the country.) The Battle of the Tough Guys allows, with few exceptions, any style of fighting, and bars only professionals from entering.

Thirty-two lightweights and 16 heavyweights fought in the eliminations for the Pittsburgh contest held recently in New Kensington. Lubiano a blacksmith who lives in Upper Burrell but who is working on a construction job in Florida entered "for the money," according to his girlfriend, Gema "And for his head, his pride," she adds, noting he wrestled in high school, in the service and "almost made the 72 Olympic team." His mother, Lillian Lubiano, chose not to watch her son compete on his 32nd birthday, because "I'm his mother I don't think I could take it to see Michael or any of 'em getting slugged. Because they said it was going to be anything short of scratching and biting." Not exactly family entertainment. THIS MUST BE the place, because there are about a dozen pickup trucks parked outside the kind that rednecks like to drive with bumper stickers sticking it to Iran and little American flags and Steeler decals. And inside the lobby of this particular motel in New Kensington it's jam-packed with men.

And a fellow says, They're probably the drinking buddies of the guys who are going to fight." That may be so. Anyway, there are only a few the year for the galleries. The museum currently has in place a special Easter and spring floral display, including a cascading pink azalea tree in the concert ball. The discussion is free. THE SOUTH HILLS Health System Auxiliary will hold a board meeting at 6:30 p.m.

tomorrow at the Jefferson Center Hospital conference room to be followed by a general membership meeting at 8 p.m. Mrs. Marion Radosevich will speak on yoga. THE 1980 GRAND OPENING of the Pittsburgh Outdoor Flea Market will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

May 4 at its new location, 15th and Smallman streets in the Strip District. The market will be open every Sunday through October with a minimum of 150 dealer spaces. Reservations are re- but each dealer will receive one ree space for the grand opening. For reservations, call 322-0443. Admission is free.

THE E. STEWART BRANCH, American Begonia Society, will have Millie and Ed Thompson as speakers at a meeting 7:30 p.m. April 16 at the Pittsburgh Civic Garden Center, Shadyside. Topic of the evening will be growing plants in a contained atmosphere and a slide show on begonias. Michael Wex' lubiano rides When They By ANN BUTLER The first time she saw him in the ring, she felt like her "insides was being electrocuted "It got so I kit like I couldn't take it, ya know? Seeing him like that.

And when his nose started bleeding, it was awful. It was rough But Michael "Mex" Lubiano survived that bout. Won it, in fact and now he's about to fight a trucker from Upper1 Sandusky, Ohio, named Leonard Phillips. So Lubiano comes out slugging, and Phillips comes out kicking landing karate kicks suddenly and hard to the chest. But Phillips is breathing so hard his mouthpiece keeps popping out, so they have to stop the fight.

And then both men start kneeing each other, so they stop it again. And the announcer reminds, "No punches, kicks or blows below the belt," and somebody in the crowd yells out, "Aw, let 'em fight!" AND EVERYBODY in the place has their eyes riveted on the ring. Everybody's leaning forward and craning their necks and in their seats everybody, that is, except for one person, the one Eerson who looks like she doesn't belong ere because she is so petite and delicate with her shiny brown hair done up in a topknot and a face like a pretty ballerina. And that's The Girl in Lubiano's corner who is on her feet and swinging. Everytime he lands a right, she lands a right.

And every time he goes in with his left, Pft, Pft, Pft, she's leading with her left. She's got both fists flying, moving right with him, bobbing up and down, screaming "Mex!" and thinking, Come on, baby. Punch him. Hit him. Bite him.

Do anything! On the opposite side of the ring, in the. second row among a bunch of truckers who are all yelling, "Underneath, Lenny! Hit him underneath," sits a woman with long, pale blond hair who opens her mouth to scream, "Lenny." But it's just not the same as The Girl because there's no fever and fire and excitement. The look on the blond woman's face is a look of terror. After a minute and 48 seconds into the second round, the bout ends and it's Porker By PETE BISHOP What's in a nickname? For Dave "The Cobra" Parker, a new business. The Pirates' all-star right fielder, in conjunction with Concert Consultants Inc.

of Dayton, Ohio, has formed Cobra Productions, which is based here and is promoting shows featuring such artists as Rick James, Prince, Smokey Robinson, Kool the Gang, Phyllis Hyman and B.B. King. Cobra's first Pittsburgh concert will feature Peabo Bryson May 10 in the Stanley Theater. "Entertainment was always something I wanted to get into since we were kids banging on garbage tbps and it's stuck with me till now," Parker says. "I couldn't always sing that well, but I wanted to get into it in some capacity.

"I'm vice president and chairman of the board. I may be the emcee on some occasions (but not for Bryson's show; the Bucs will be on the West Coast then); In the off-season I will be landing some of the acts and become part of the business. We're trying to go to the very top and get the top acts." Parker also was seeking a way to "put something back into the street," and Cobra fills that bill also. Portions of the proceeds from Cobra's Kool the Gang concert May 3 in Dayton and the Bryson date here will go to the Willie Stargell Foundation for Sickle Cell Anemia, and annual $1,300 Dave Parker Scholarships are to be given to the Opportunity Industrialization Center job training programs in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Dayton. Plans also are under way to de- II ugn Swinging Into Kock a a a the guy who's laid out flat.

And an old man's amazed, "Ya din't see it? It was a perfect right!" and the kid trailing out behind Tigano, maybe his brother, is telling him, "Nice, Frankie, nice." They play Rocky's theme before each bout and it seems appropriate for the next fighter who may not be the Italian Stallion, but written in gold on the back of his black, satin-hooded robe is "Little Dago." And when "Little Willy" Proviano knocks out his opponent, the Wilkinsburg Boys Club erupts, counting along with the ref, "7-8-9-10." NOW, YOU MIGHT think a guy by the name of Mad Dog Moyak would come out chomping at the bit, growling and spitting fire especially when about 50 guys from Erie are on their screaming "Mad Dog! Mad Dog!" like it's some kind of tribal chant. And a lot of these guys are wearing black T-shirts that say "Lower East Side Federation" which, they say, you got to be in at least 100 street fights before you can join. And they're waving "Beware of the Dog" signs like people put on their fences to warn the postman. So, Moyak steps into the ring and he looks like a guy waiting for a bos. Totally unaware of all the uproar.

He looks, well, gentle. Like a lamb. So a spectator whispers loudly, "He's gonna get killed." But, hey, all these bruisers and brawlers wouldn't come all the way from Erie just to hurl old Mad Dog to the wolves, would they? Eugene Lampkin is a lean, black man from Cleveland. And if it's possible to spit in somebody's eye without actually doing it, Lampkin's doing it to Moyak with his eyes, taunting him from across the ring. Then he comes out dancing, shooting mean looks while Moyak holds back, calm, cautious.

Waiting. The first round goes to Moyak, the second round to Lampkin. The third gets under way and Lampkin comes out punching. He picks up Moyak like he's going to hurl him out of the ring. The ref breaks 'em up.

Then Moyak gets mad. He lifts Lampkin up, slams him down and pins him. "Apache" Dan Carr, who has an arm like another man's leg and wears leather wrist bands with spikes in them, and his hair in braids ana sunglasses and who looks like a Hell's Angel and about as big and strong as a mountain, is watching Moyak with something close to love in his eyes, saying: "He's the toughest little guy. He's been in over 400 street fights Some guys are born tough." Mad Dog Dan Moyak will be contending for the lightweight Tough Guy title with Frank Noga, lumberjack; Frank Tigano, steelworker, and Michael "Mex" Lubiano, blacksmith. Prtu Plwtoi fey Edwin MorgM triumphantly from ring by fans.

women in the crowd and just a couple of kids. From the ballroom emanates the "Gonna Fly Now" theme from the movie "Rocky," which is the whole idea of the Battle of the Tough Gays, as produced by C.V. Productions, which is Frank Caliguri and Bill Viola. Anyway, Viola begins explaining that he and Caliguri have long been involved in the martial arts, both as karate instructors and tournament promoters. And every time they'd go into a local bar or diner to tack up a poster, the guys would holler they could beat the karate champions easy.

They figure this will be "the perfect draw let's get 'em all in a ring and see how tough they are." Down in the dressing room, Viola brings in a lightweight contender, a lumberjack from Lower Bnrrell named Frank Noga who is 29, and tugged, but also boyish and blond. Noga sits down on the edge of the bed, leaning forward and he's talking softly, saying something along the lines of, "I'm just gonna do my best and let the judges decide how tough I am." The promoter breaks in, "He's one of the crowd favorites. When he comes out, people will be screaming, No-ga! No-ga! He's known as Mr. Nice Guy." Really? Sure, says Viola, with a quick wink to Noga, who grins right back. Then Viola Introduces a heavyweight contender, "a legend" by the name of Rick Cahill, 33, of Harwick, 6-foot-l, 290 pounds.

A supervisor of juvenile delinquents at Shuman Center and a professional bouncer, Cahill once wrestled a bear at the Civic Arena and tied. He also wrestled on the Penn Hills High and Arizona State University teams. Married and the father of five, Cahill's saying he has a reputation for being tough, and never took nothing. He says he's in it for "the recognition and the money," and that it will take "guts and determination" to win. (But Cahill lost in a decision to Kono Moroski, 27, of Penn Hills, who is one of the four heavyweight finalists.

The others are Jeffrey Cochran, 24, of Adams-burg; Kurt Riggle, 22, of Crafton, and Chuck Tursky, 24, of Oakmont.) Meanwhile, Viola is saying the entries came from all walks of life teachers, engineers, motorcycle gangs, steelwork-ers, even a cop kiiown as Dirty Harry. "Because it's the chance of a lifetime -to be another Rocky!" AFTER THEY PLAY the national anthem, they hold the first bout which is over in 40 seconds when Frank Tigano, a steelworker, wins by a knockout. And it seems like the whole place starts breathing again when you finally see the rib cage going up and down on our one drapery workroom does it best check our price more importantly check our fabrics' and quality workmanship ANY LIVINGROOM DININGROOM ADJ. UPHOLSTERY ANY SOFA Young People's Author To Lead Pitt Workshop h. 9 Dan "Mad is carried DAVE PARKER Will promote rock concerts.

velop youth motivation clinics, utilizing the two-time National League batting champion, for the Little League programs in Cincinnati and Dayton. Parker chose to aid the sickle cell foundation because of his relationship with Stargell and to grant the scholarships because "unemployment has been one of the most serious problems in the United States since I was kid, and I wanted to put something back into the community and hopefully eliminate one of the major problems." In addition to Pittsburgh and Dayton, Cobra has slated concerts in Toledo, Cincinnati, Columbus and Wheeling. The firm plans to expand to the Southeast and eventually become national firm and hopes to stage two major outdoor events next year. Parker's not sure if concert promoting will provide his livelihood once his baseball career is over. "It's high-risk business, but it's interesting enough.

I'm serious enough," he says. "I have the same attitude toward it as I have being a professional baseball player to be the best as soon as possible." IV.I.IHlMIJUM'.lliMl Mollie Hunter, award-winning author of books for young people, will be keynote speaker when Book Discussion Workshop is held 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the, University of Pittsburgh's School nf Li brary and Infor- mation Science. The workshop, co-spon sored by the Carnegie Library of Pitts burgh, is free and open to all adults interested in litera ture fori children, ages 3 I through 14. Ms.

Hunter is MS. HUNTER recipient of the British Library Association's Carnegie Medal for her book, "The Stronghold." She is currently writer-in-residence at Canada's Dalhouse University. THE PITTSBURGH ASTROLOGY Association will offer an astrology workshop at 8 p.m. next Tuesday in the Pennsylvania Room of the William Penn Hotel. THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY of the founding of Penn State will be celebrated during special events this spring at the McKeesport campus.

The university's Blue Band will appear in concert at 8 p.m. April 21 in the Wunderley Gymnasium. Jazz will be the attraction when Tim Eyerman and the East Coast Offering performs at 12:30 p.m. May 8 on the campus lawn. HORTICULTURIST Michael Santa will discuss and answer questions about spring flowers and vegetable gardens at 3 p.m.

tomorrow in the Frick Art Museum, 7227 Reynolds Point Breeze. Santa oversees the museum's green- house that provides flowers throughout CARPET CLEANING WE BEAT INFLATION NOT YOUR CARPET WITH Hi SCRUIIING INCLUDED 34" HALL CLEANING STANDARD CHAIR INCIUOI SfOItINO DfOOOIIZINO, SANMING AND MOVING. TOU SAtlSfACllON GUAIANIflD CALL Till PROFESSIONALS KENILWORTH tit WICtS (UHNIIUII arthur moser 5853 lorbei ovenue squirrel hill 421-2800 CARPET CLEANING S36 BEUAIRE PA. 343-5303 FOR APPT..

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Pages Available:
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Years Available:
1884-1992