Derek Candelore, a 26-year-old medical sales professional from Elizabeth, PA, recorded a knockout victory over heavyweight Steve Ibaham in record time on Saturday night. Candelore put his punching speed and power on display, knocking down his opponent just 13 seconds into their fight with a jab. At 26, Candelore is one of the oldest amateur fighters but only began boxing a year and a half ago after the death of his father and sale of the fitness center he owned. Despite his late start, Candelore's trainer believes his hand speed is amazing for a heavyweight and that he is an extremely fast learner of advanced fighting techniques.

1. Local Boxer records KO in Record Time
Age not a factor in climbing the amateur ranks
February 3, 2006 12:00 PM
By Chuck Finder Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Heavyweight amateur champion Derek Candelore (left) scores a vicious knockout
win in the heavyweight division of the PA Golden Gloves...
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 schoolstar player and coach Candelore put his punching speed and power
on display Saturday night in anotherthrilling first-round knockout. A competitive itch and drive for
achievement in business just wasn’t enough,so the 26 year-old medical sales professionalbegan 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 showhim advanced fighting techniques and within weeks he’s doing it like a seasoned
professional” adding that (Candelore) is a "student ofthe game”. Next up for Candelore is an April fight
with Altoona’s undefeated fighter Marcus Weir.