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REPORT

Boxers suffer losses in pro debuts
By Brett Ellis/Tribune Staff Fremont Tribune Tuesday May 6, 2003
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Two local fighters didn't have the kind of professional boxing debuts they were hoping for Saturday night.
Heavyweight Tom Romine of North Bend and cruiserweight Ryan Bahrs of Fremont both suffered first-round 
knockouts during the six-bout card at Fremont City Auditorium.
Romine took on Pat Smith of Lincoln in the fourth fight of the night.
Smith sent Romine to the canvas with a right hand on the chin early in the opening round. Moments after 
Romine got to his feet, he was knocked down by another right hand and couldn't beat the 10-count.
"I took a shot to the back of the head and my legs dropped out from under me," Romine said.
The 34-year-old Romine hadn't fought since he was in the Navy 10 years ago. He admitted to being nervous 
in front of the crowd estimated at 300 by event promoter Nick Schleich.
"It was actually a little bit intimidating compared to my other fights," Romine said. "The last time I 
fought there were a bunch of sailors around the ring." Romine isn't ready to give up on his professional 
career, though, and wants a rematch with Smith, who improved to 3-0 with three knockouts. "I'm just 
getting started," Romine said.
Bahrs took on Allen Thingstad of Shelby, who also was making his professional debut, in the final match 
of the evening. The two fighters charged at each other immediately and didn't let up until the fight was 
stopped following Bahrs' third trip to the mat.
Bahrs, 25, said the nerves of having his professional debut in his hometown got the best of him.
"I was too hyper. It was an adrenaline rush, really," he said. "I was pretty excited with it being my 
first professional fight. I've had other fights, but it's a way different pace." Bahrs thinks he was able 
to learn some things from his match with Thingstad that he hopes to carry over for the future.
"I just need to in there and be relaxed and mellow out and not be full of energy," Bahrs said. "I want to 
take it nice and slow right off the bat, and then if you hurt the guy try to go after him instead of doing 
it right away."
The evening's main event pitted cruiserweights Drew Carlton of Kearney and Ken Luther of Grand Island in 
a rematch of a previous fight that had ended in a draw. Carlton won a six-round unanimous decision 
Saturday to improve to 6-8-1, while Luther dropped to 1-3-1.
Chad Keezer recorded a second-round knockout of Chris Fry in a heavyweight match that opened the night, 
and Omahan Sean Wilson won his pro debut with a second-round knockout of Jesse Robinson in a middleweight 
bout. In an entertaining heavyweight match, Ben Zarek won a four-round decision over Josh Dittner in the 
pro debut for both fighters.