MOUNTAINEER Local fighterloses again

Roland Commings lost to George Klinesmith for the third time in his career.
By BOB ROTH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
CHESTER, W. Va. -- Youngstown boxer Roland Commings, who turns 40 on Dec. 18 and is the father of four children, fought his 49th professional fight Wednesday at the Mountaineer Race Track and Gambing Casino.
In his third fight against George "Da Butcher" Klinesmith, Commings lost an unanimous decision after an eight-round bout.
Years ago, their first fight ended in a technical draw after the second round due to an accidental head butt. The second bout ended with a majority decision in a four-rounder that went to Klinesmith.
In this fight, Commings, also known as "The Irish Express" used the experience of his lengthy career to battle Klinesmith tooth and nail in what was undoubtedly the best of the seven-bout card.
Started comeback
After a slow start that had Klinesmith from Bloomingdale using Commings' face as target practice with long range and short rights, Commings pulled the curtain of time down and began to fight as if he were 25 years old.
He used countering left hooks to the head and body, uppercuts, straight rights and twice he worked a perfect four punch combination.
Commings staggered Klinesmith with a short right in the fifth round. When he opened a slight cut under his opponent's right eye and with each late round, he was gaining confidence.
Last effort falls short
In the final round when Commings should have been out of gas, he came on with a big finish taking Klinesmith to the ropes with a late rally.
The three judges voted 78-74, 78-74 and 77-75 to give Klinesmith (22-10-3) a unanimous decision.
Commings (22-24-3) made no excuses after the fight, saying "I came out flat in the early rounds and didn't get into a groove until the fifth round.
"I still coudn't get away from his right, so I don't think I did enough to win the fight."
Jack Loew the Southside Boxing Club trainer, paid Commings the ultimate tribute, saying,"I thought that Roland showed more heart and guts tonight than any fighter I have ever worked with."
The loss was the only blotch on the night for Youngstown fight manager Pat Nelson who acts as a booking agent for Commings who is self managed.
Lyell winner
Nelson recently joined the team of Loew and Tank Dicioccio in shaping the fistic career of Niles junior middleweight Billy Lyell who in the second fight of the night, a six rounder. It was a unanimous decision over Danny Neal (9-12-1) from Columbus.
Lyell (9-2) was aggressive, continually pursuing Neal who was always retreating. He did it all with a good left jab, ripping shots to the body and flashy combinations, but he couldn't put Neal away even with a valiant effort in the sixth and final round.
The three judges voted 59-55, 59-55 and 60-54 for Lyell.
"Neal is an awkward veteran who is hard to look good against," Lyell said. "I did what I had to do to win and there were a few times when I thought I had him but the guy is a ring survivor."
The main event heavyweight fight saw Brian "The Beast" Minto from Butler, Pa., knock out Detroit's Forrest Neal in the second round.
Pittsburgh junior middleweight Joe Wyatt went to 22-0 with his 14th knockout when he stopped Columbus's John Hammond (8-7-1) at 2:32.