Hometown Boxer Wins Pennsylvania State Golden Gloves Championship

In 2016 there was a pivotal moment for Devon Siegfried.

It was the moment he stepped inside the boxing ring at the Ellwood City Police Boxing Club.

“A high school classmate and close friend of mine, Rosie Morales brought me down to the gym in Ellwood City,” Siegfried said. “He introduced me and Coach Jack Maine who took me under his wing and began coaching me.”

Now, Siegfried is the Pennsylvania State Golden Gloves Champion—won by unanimous decision recently after knocking his opponent to the canvas after a powerful body shot.

Ellwood City Police Department Boxer Devon Siegfried (center) is now the Pennsylvania State Golden Gloves Champion. He is pictured with his coaches Jack Maine and Bob Boyle.

Although he lives in the North Hills of Pittsburgh where he is a full-time police officer, Siegfried grew up in Ellwood City and went to Lincoln High School.

Even though Siegfried has only been boxing since 2016 he’s managed to collect quite a few wins including 2016 sub-novice Golden Glove champion in western-PA; 2019 western PA novice Golden Glove runner-up; and 2021 open-class PA State Golden Glove Champion—his proudest moment.

“I was the only Pittsburgh (western-PA) fighter to win in 2021,” he said.

In addition to wins, since 2016, Siegfried has developed a true love for boxing.

“I would love to dedicate my life to the sport and I feel like I could go a long way if I did that, but I also have a full-time job in law enforcement that I commit a lot of my time to and I love my job,” he said. “That’s why I make it a point to do both to the best of my ability and so far it’s been working out for me. I give both my policing and boxing careers my all.”

He said being involved in boxing is like being part of a giant family.

“The mutual respect with the other athletes I compete with is great. In victory or defeat, it’s a big boxing family, especially in the greater Pittsburgh area,” he said. “I am proud to be a fighter from this great fighting city.”

Siegfried said having such a strong boxing program in Ellwood City is a blessing. He said at the core of the association is a top-notch coaching staff including Jack Maine and Bob Boyle. According to Siegfried, the coaches donate their time because of their love and dedication to boxing and to area youth.

“There is no charge for working out and fighting at the gym other than 25 cents for a bottle of water so obviously they don’t do this for the monetary gain,” he said. “They do this because they genuinely care about the kids and provide an outlet for some kids to stay off the streets or keep them out of trouble.”

He encourages local youth to give boxing a try and to stick with it.

“There are days you are going to get beat up, knocked down, etc. but never giving up is the key,” Siegfried said. “I think its super important to set goals for yourself and strive to achieve them.”

And Siegfried said you don’t have to give up other sports or activities to participate in boxing.

“High school athletes can have time for football, basketball or baseball in addition to boxing, school work and any other extracurricular activities,” he said. “Boxing is a very demanding sport and you can easily burn yourself out, so it’s important to stick with it but also have fun doing it.”

Siegfried definitely plans on sticking with it. He will compete in Golden Gloves again in 2022 and then will turn professional sometime in late 2022.

“Watch out for me and Rosie Morales in the professional ranks because the Ellwood City fighters are no joke,” he said.