by Sports Digest , Intelligencer Journal/New Era

Citing personal reasons, reigning Pennsylvania Golden Gloves state middleweight champion Naziyr Bell of Lancaster has decided not to compete in the national competition that begins Monday in Salt Lake City, Utah.

"I'm behind him, and will support whatever decision he makes," Barry Stumpf, Bell's trainer, said Friday.

Stumpf said the 28-year-old Bell, who is a four-time state Golden Gloves champion and owns a 94-8 amateur record, still intends to join the professional ranks this summer.

Bell, who won his three previous Golden Gloves state titles as a light heavyweight, has said he plans to return to that weight once he turns pro.

Purvis signs with Bucs

Ryan Purvis, a Lancaster Catholic and Boston College graduate, signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday night.

Terms of his contract were not immediately known.

Purvis had worked out briefly earlier on Friday in the Philadelphia Eagles minicamp before flying to Tampa.

The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Purvis, an All-Atlantic Coast Conference first team selection in 2007, joins a Buccaneers team that is deep at tight end. The roster lists veterans Kellen Winslow and John Gilmore, the latter a product of Penn State and Wilson High.

Tampa Bay has also brought in to its rookie minicamp two other tight ends - Chris Zellner of the University of Miami and Cedric Hills of South Florida.

Purvis and Gilmore were both coached by current Lancaster Catholic coach Bruce Harbach.

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