BOXING Lyell set for two fights within a one-week span
The Niles McKinley High graduate fights Friday in Illinois.
NILES -- Welterweight Billy Lyell, who is unbeaten in three professional fights since July, will be busy in the next week with a fight in Illinois Friday night and another in West Virginia next Wednesday.
Lyell, who has stopped two of his opponents, will be in a four-round battle with Miguel Alvarez (1-2, 1 KO) of Chicago at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Rosemont, Ill., Friday.
After a 47-bout amateur career fighting for Jack Loew at the Southside Boxing Club, Lyell, a 2001 Niles McKinley High graduate, is co-managed and trained by Loew. James "Tank" DiCioccio is the other co-manager. Both men were part of Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini's training and corner team.
Arranged by Mancini
In fact, Mancini arranged for Lyell's bout in Illinois, part of a nine-fight card that is headlined by Kofi Jantuah's 10-round junior middleweight battle against Marcos Primera.
Barring a knockout or TKO loss, Lyell will also be in action Oct. 29 in the ballroom of The Grande Hotel at the Mountaineer Race Track and Gambling Resort. His scheduled opponent in his first scheduled six-rounder is West Virginia veteran welterweight Brian Thacker (7-7, 3 KOs) in one of seven fights that has 2002 national amateur champion Verquan Kimbrough in a featured featherweight bout.
"Billy could fight twice a week if he had to because he runs every day and doesn't miss a day of training and would probably be in my gym Sunday if it was open," said Loew.
"He has a great enthusiasm for boxing and looks forward to every fight, just as he did as an amateur."
"This is a one fight at a time situation and I hope I do the best I can every time out," said Lyell.