The crowd was loud. The energy was high.

Butler Cubs boxers felt all of it in the ring Saturday night as six local fighters battled their way to victory during the annual amateur boxing show in the Cubs gym.

Among the highlights were Jack Kesten, 13, and Andy Diaz, 16, picking up their first career amateur boxing wins. Wyatt Wolfe, 14, won the main event to improve to 8-3 in the ring. Allegheny Mountain Association Golden Glove champions Damian Kast and Leland Panosetti scored explosive victories. Derek Eggleton also won his match for the Cubs.

“We had eight guys fighting and we lost a couple of close ones,” Cubs boxing trainer Bill Wolfe said. “We won a couple of close ones, too. We schedule competitive matches for our fighters because that’s how they learn in the ring.

“Scheduling a mismatch does nothing for anybody. Having even matches makes for a better show, too.”

Cubs boxer Dom Zottola slipped to 0-2 with a narrow loss at 152 pounds. TJ Weaver slipped to 4-3 after being on the wrong end of a close decision, also at 152.

Kesten, a Harrisville resident, won his amateur boxing debut, using a strong second round to defeat Ellwood City’s Connor Bollinger.

“I’ve been coming down here for two years now,” Kesten said of his boxing training at the Cubs Hall. “I did a lot of sparring to get ready for this. I wasn’t really nervous, just confident. I felt like I was ready.

“I learned I have to keep my chin down so my head doesn’t snap back when I’m hit.”

Both fighters had their noses bloodied during the bout. That didn’t bother Kesten — also an outfielder for the Slippery Rock Middle School baseball team — at all.

“I was getting picked on a lot when I was younger,” he said. “I wanted to try boxing to learn how to defend myself more. When I’m in the ring, it helps me get rid of a lot of anger. Winning this match tonight ... I feel proud of myself.”

Diaz, a former Miami (Fla.) resident, now lives with his uncle and attends Mars Area High School. He has been training at the Cubs boxing gym for nine months and lost his first three amateur matches.

He secured his first win in dominant fashion, forcing opponent Jake Adams to take two standing-8 counts in the second round. He landed a straight right on Adams’ nose, forcing the referee to stop the bout with 20 seconds left in the round.

“My uncle (Juan Hernandez) is an amateur fighter himself,” Diaz said. “I’ve been wanting to come up here and live with him. I was getting in a lot of trouble in Florida and needed a change.

“Once I got the first (standing-8), I went at (Adams) more aggressively. I knew if I could get back inside on him, I could get him and that’s what I did. When the match was stopped, I looked over at my uncle ... this meant a lot to me.”

Eggleton improved to 2-1 with his win. Panosetti (3-3) had to go the distance to win his bout, but forced a couple of standing-8 counts on Ellwood City’s’ Mason Jonson and the bout was nearly stopped.

“Leland’s fairly small (105 pounds), but that kid can hit hard,” trainer Wolfe said.

Kast improved to 4-1 when he stopped Noah Joyce of NAC Fitness with seven seconds left in the fight. Kast forced a couple of standing-8 counts earlier in the match.

Worthington resident and Armstrong student Wyatt Wolfe had trouble getting inside on amateur ruing veteran Elijah Petronic of Jack’s Boxing. Petronic fell to 8-8 Saturday in losing a close decision.

Wolfe was taller than Petronic.

“He knew how to use that,” Wyatt said. “When he ducked down, it was hard for me to get leverage enough to hit him. I had to be patient. I figured out some angles I was able to surprise him with a couple of times.”

One such time was at the start of the second round, when Wolfe connected with a solid left hook seconds after the bell. He controlled that entire round as a result.

“He (Petronic) is a crafty fighter who knows what he’s doing in there,” trainer Wolfe, Wyatt’s father, said. “He knows how to get in there and hold on, grab, frustrate an opponent. Wyatt kept his cool and fought a good fight.”

Earlier in the evening, Wyatt received a trophy from the Western Pa. Golden Gloves for volunteering to step out of the tournament the past two years so other young boxers would be willing to participate.

“Wyatt’s at a different level for his age and other kids in his division weren’t going to fight because they didn’t want to match up with him,” Western Pa. Golden Gloves coordinator David Watt said.

Saturday marked the Butler Cubs 40th amateur boxing show. Since 1976, Cubs boxers have won more than 80 different championships.

The annual show serves as the fundraiser for the Butler Cubs boxing program.

BUTLER CUBS BOXING SHOW

Hagen Offeild (Yinzer Boxing) dec. Sal Damato (Beaver Boxing), 80 pounds

Jack Kesten (Butler Cubs) dec. Connor Bollinger (Ellwood City), 115 pounds

Anthony Carlisano (Boyce) dec. Shane Alawahami (Erie), 154 pounds

Lincoln Clayton (Hellman’s) dec. Ed Walters (Anchor Boxing), heavyweight

Andy Diaz (Butler Cubs) 2nd round TKO over Jake Adams (Hellman’s), 141 pounds

Derek Eggleton (Butler Cubs) dec. Teague Neelen (Bronson House), 175 pounds

Kris Benjamin (Boyce) dec. Dom Zottola (Butler Cubs), 152 pounds

Leland Panosetti (Butler Cubs) dec. Mason Jonson (Ellwood City), 105 pounds

Damian Kast (Butler Cubs) 3rd round TKO over Noah Joyce (NAC Fitness), 125 pounds

Matt Acosta (Bizarro) dec. TJ Weaver (Butler Cubs), 152 pounds

Wyatt Wolfe (Butler Cubs) dec. Elijah Petronic (Jack’s Boxing), 135 pounds