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‘No Mercy’ for boxing fans today on RiverPlex Card
Brooke “No Mercy” Dierdorff, the reigning WBC International Lightweight women’s champion, greets boxing fans at Saturday’s event. (Picture)
Boxing fans can meet Brooke “No Mercy” Dierdorff
while she is special guest Saturday at the Peoria Elite Boxing
Invitational at the RiverPlex Recreation & Wellness Center.
Dierdorff is the reigning WBC International Lightweight women’s
champion. She is scheduled to meet fans for pictures and
autographs while local amateur boxers battle in the ring.
One of those bouts will feature women. Sherlynn Mershon,
a 24-year-old from Decatur, will take on Tiffany Griffith, 26, of Chicago.
Event promoter Francis Sargent said there will be 20 bouts
on the card. They begin at 3 p.m. — gates open at 2 — and tickets are $10.
Children 12 and under and seniors 65 and over get in for $5.
All proceeds benefit the C.H.O.I.C.E.S youth-outreach program.
The main event, scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. start, features
Chicago’s Kenny Simms Jr., a 16-year-old in the 130-pound
weight class. He’ll fight 15-year-old Okoi Olson.
Amateurs have fighting chance at RiverPlex tournament
They entered the ring dressed in dark blue, white, red, maroon
or black, fighting under club names like Powerhouse, Visconi,
Skywalker, Matadors or the Zone.
But there was only one championship belt on display at
RiverPlex on Saturday, and it was around the waist of Brooke Dierdorff.
The reigning WBC International Lightweight women’s champion
was on hand to watch a 21-bout amateur slate that comprised the
Youth Outreach Elite Boxing Tournament put on by Francis Sargent.
All of them were just starting a path Dierdorff, 28, had already traveled.
“I was born in Canton, have family all over this area,” said Dierdorff,
who made her pro debut on a 2006 fight card at Par-A-Dice Casino in
East Peoria and now lives and trains outside Aurora. “I’m here today
for these kids. It’s important to give back. Important to support them
as they start chasing their dream.”
Dierdorff is a wife and mother (daughter Jadyn is 6), and spends
her days managing a garage door company’s office.
But in the ring, the 132-pounder, nicknamed “No Mercy,” will put you down.
“It’s hard to find a fight anymore,” said Dierdorff, as she worked the
crowd, trailed by Sargent’s 9-year-old grandson, Amir. “At this stage
of my career, I only fight for belts. Those are the people I’m looking for.
But it doesn’t seem like they want me to find them.”
In the ring, 16-year-old East Peoria High School student Jeremiah Smith
made his boxing debut, dropping a 135-pound bout to a more-experienced
Galesburg fighter, Demetrius Roseburr.
There was a women’s bout — Sherlynn Mershon (Decatur)
defeated Tiffany Griffith (Chicago).
Chad Friedrich (Peoria Athletic Club) beat Jake Hawkins of Burrell Boxing.
Kenny Simms Jr. (Destroyers Boxing) beat Okoi Olson (Zone Boxing)
in the main event. Bout results are on the Journal Star’s Scoreboard page.
Illinois Amateur Boxing Association vice-president Louis Rios was on
hand, and Dierdorff occasionally popped into the ring to address the
spectators and hand out trophies. Sargent will stage another Invitational on
Sept. 25 at RiverPlex.
“My first bout was exciting, but I’m here to get the experience,”
Smith said. “I just started with (Peoria Athletic Club) five months ago.”
Nodding toward Dierdorff, he added “People really like her. We know her well.”
Dierdorff was in the Army, and afterward worked at a club that hosted
toughman fights. She was urged to try it. In 2002 she did, taking on a
6-foot-2 opponent and putting her away.
“What I would tell these kids today, is make sure this is
something you really want to do,” Dierdorff said. “It’s a dangerous
game, you can get hurt. Take it seriously if you’re going to do it.
“Follow your passion.”
Dave Eminian can be reached at deminian@pjstar.com or 686-3206.
Other Pictures from fights:
