‘Ripper’ gets first pro boxing win

HILLIARD – The professional debut of Zak “Ripper” Rollins was one to remember.

Rollins squared off with Findlay native Seth Smith in the welterweight division on Saturday at the Franklin County Fair.

Smith, with an extensive record in mixed martial arts, entered the match unbeaten in pro boxing and took control early with an aggressive first round.

But Rollins picked up the pace in the second and started landing combinations as Smith stayed in his role as aggressor.

Smith started firing huge power shots that rocked Rollins in the third, but the Zanesville native came to life, attacking with huge shots to the body and a southpaw hook to the head that cut Smith above the eye.

The referee was forced to stop the match and Rollins won by technical knockout.

Rollins was joined by Zanesville’s Travis “Roadrunner” Jerig, who fought on the same welterweight card in a match-up with Detroit’s Afrim Mema.

Jerig picked on Mema’s defense early and countered most of Mema’s work, but Mema landed several hard punches in the second round that rocked Jerig badly.

Jerig finished the round and received another dose in the third, but his comeback attempt fell short in a 39-38 majority decision.

Jerig’s record evened at 1-1-0 while Mema went to 3-2-1.

In all, nine bouts topped the card that was played to a grandstand crowd. Columbus sensation Brian Holstein was the featured fighter, winning against Detroit’s Thad Berkhousen in the six-round closer.

Rollins and Jerig are expected to make their next appearance on Sept. 24 in Columbus at the Hollywood Casino. They are trained by T.J. Hart Boxing and managed by Speakman Promotions.