Jimmy Cvetic founded the Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League with the motto, “Always for the kids.”  Now, the recently retired, Allegheny County policeman has established a boxing even to showcase young fighters in the area and develop them for national and international competition. 

            Cvetic, a longtime promoter of amateur boxing, yesterday unveiled plans for a new pro-am series he has established with Gloria Sztukowski, chief of officials for the Allegheny Mountains Association of United States Boxing. 

            Iron City Pro Boxing will stage 11 events the next 18 months, all at the David L. Lawrence Convention Venter. The first event is at 7 p.m.  Aug. 3.  Their cards will feature professional and amateur bouts.

            “I’ve been in boxing for the past 30 years, and this is the first opportunity where our kids will have a place to box,” Cvetic said.  “When we’ve gone out of town to fight in the past, it always cost us.  We weren’t getting fair shakes when we went to West Virginia or Ohio. We’ll win decision here.  We won’t get cheated.  We’ve laid the foundation for the next two years.”

            Cvetic has been training fighters for more than a quarter century at the Boyce Athletic Club in Monroeville and Third Avenue Gym, Downtown.  One goal of the series is to prepare fighters for the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.

            “It’s not always the best athlete who makes it,” he said. “In reality it’s sometimes the athlete who knows how to smile and has the right horses behind him. A lot of it is politics.  You have to play the game and get on the Olympic circuit.”

            Some of the featured fighters on the Aug. 3 card are Anthony Clark, a welterweight from East Liberty; Mike “Fully Loaded” Carr, a heavy weight from the North Side; Rayco Saunders, a light heavyweight from Beltzhoover’ and Shadina Penny baker, a female welterweight from East Liberty who is the No. 2-ranked fighter in the world in her weight class.  Her only professional loss came at the hands of Laila Ali.

            International Boxing Federation lightweight champion Paul Sadafora of McKees Rocks is the best-known area fighter now, but Carr is hoping Iron City Pro Boxing will be a start for lesser known fighters.

            “I’m hoping to get some exposure, open some eyes,” said Carr, 25.  “I’m hoping this helps introduce the younger guys.”

            There other 10 events are scheduled for Sept. 28, Nov. 27, Jan. 25, 2003. Match 22, 2003, April 4, 2003. May 17, 2003, Aug. 2, 2003, Sept.  20, 2003, Nov. 26, 2003 and Jan. 24, 2004.

            Tickets are $15 for general admission, $20 for ringside and $25 for the gold ringside for all events.  Tickets are available at the door or at Pittsburgh Brewing Co. Store, Lawrenceville; Mitchell’s Restaurant, Downtown; and the Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League.  For information call, 412-765-3120.