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Lyell falls to Chavez Jr. by unanimous decision
Photo
Billy Lyell wins decision over Chris Gray in Niles on Oct. 17, 2009.
Middleweight Boxer Billy Lyell
Gallery
Middleweight Boxer Billy Lyell trains for a Jan. 29, 2011 fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Staff report
CULIACAN, MEXICO
Billy Lyell didn’t earn a victory Saturday night but he did earn a lot of respect.
The Niles native went the distance against undefeated Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., losing by unanimous decision at the Estadio Banorte.
The three judges scored the fight 99-92, 96-94 and 98-92.
Lyell (22-9) went toe-to-toe with Chavez (42-0-1) for 10 rounds despite suffering a nasty cut over his left eye in the sixth round. The referee even halted the fight for a few seconds so Lyell’s cutman could stem the bleeding.
Chavez entered the fight with 30 knockouts but was unable to put Lyell on the canvas even once. Chavez did land a few good punches in the early part of the 10th but Lyell regained his footing and easily survived.
Both boxers came to fight from the start, with each landing good blows in the first round, which didn’t begin until 11:05 p.m.
The first three rounds saw both fighters land big punches as both boxers kept up a good pace.
Things finally slowed a bit — but only a bit — in the fourth round as both fighters resorted to clinching inside to avoid taking a big punch.
Chavez’s size and height advantage allowed him to stay on the outside, with Lyell forced to lunge in and land punches.
Still, Lyell more than held his own, landing good blows with both hands.