Niles’ Lyell defeats Clay by UD

Staff report

Morgantown, W.VA.

Boxer Billy Lyell of Niles won a unanimous decision over Martinus Clay in an eight-round junior middleweight bout Friday night at the Waterfront Place Hotel.

Lyell (22-8, 4 KOs) won every round on all three judges’ cards. It was his first bout since losing an IBF middleweight championship fight to Sebastian Sylvester on Jan. 30 in Germany.

“I felt good,” he said by phone after the bout. “It was a good fight moving down to 154 pounds. I fought a guy who’s been in there with everybody.

“Whenever you lose, you want to get that bad taste out of your mouth. So I’m glad I was able to do that tonight.”

Although Clay (13-25) is a journeyman, he’s fought several big names such as Andre Berto, Kassim Ouma and Harry Joe Yorgey (who he fought to a draw).

The 5-foot-9 Lyell, who trains under Keith Burnside of the Burnside Boxing Club, feels he’s a better fit at junior middleweight, where he can better use his boxing ability to make up for his average size.

“He did good tonight,” Burnside said. “We’ve been working with him on throwing more punches, jabbing more, going to the body and throwing more uppercuts. That’s what he did tonight.”

After the fight, Clay complimented Lyell on his skills.

“He said, ‘Hey, you’re a good fighter,’” Burnside said, “He told him fights good inside, moves well and stays busy.”

Lyell, who gained prominence with an April 2009 win over previously-unbeaten John Duddy, stunned Clay several times. While he didn’t score a knockdown, he inflicted damage inside.

“He hurt the kid in almost ever round,” Burnside said.

Lyell is hoping to use the fight to help him move up the junior middleweight ranks.

“I’ve got a great team around me,” he said. “I’m really excited about the future.”