Bob Smith, Post-Gazette
Derek Candelore, 26, originally from Elizabeth, Pa records KO victory over heavyweight Steve Ibaham in record time Saturday night at Margarita Mamas nightclub.

Former gym owner and EF high school star player and coach Candelore put his punching speed and power on display Saturday night in another thrilling first-round knockout. A competitive itch and drive for achievement in business just wasn’t enough, so the 26 year-old medical sales professional began climbing inside the ropes. Derek Candelore lost his father when he was 20, shortly thereafter he opened a fitness center in his hometown and is just now finding the time to dedicate to his passion, the “sweet science”. After 3 fights, he has a total of 7 knockdowns and 2 knockouts, earning the Sub-Novice championship in the Western Pennsylvania Golden Gloves. "He got started a little later in life," trainer Ron Drish said, " most heavyweights have power, but it’s his hand speed for a heavyweight that is amazing." Watching live as the crowd went wild, the first knockdown came just 13 seconds into the fight with a jab, a punch designed to set up your harder punches. "He does it to his training partners all the time because you don’t see it coming, and then boom, your having to get up off the canvas," Drish said.

One of the oldest amateur fighters on the card, trainers, having seen his body of work are suggesting for him to turn pro. “I’ve only been at it for a year and a half” says Candelore. "Let me get a little amateur experience first," he adds. Since the death of his father in 2000 and sale of Apex Fitness Center in 2004, he currently lives with and cares for his elderly grandfather, Louis, in White Oak while working as a top producing medical device salesman. "I was into so many other things I just didn’t know how could to get started into boxing until I met Ron" he said, speaking of his trainer. Candelore admits “It was hard at first sparring with all the local champions, getting beat up a lot until I figured it out.” Drish believes he saw something in him all along adding that the “old man” may just be getting started but is an extremely fast learner. "I’ll show him advanced fighting techniques and within weeks he’s doing it like a seasoned professional” adding that (Candelore) is a "student of the game”. Next up for Candelore is an April fight with Altoona’s undefeated fighter Marcus Weir.