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Lyell not thrilled about fighting at 160
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
If Billy Lyell’s career were an SAT question, it’d look something like this:
- Opportunities at junior middleweight: Opportunities at middleweight
A.) French restaurants in Youngstown: French fries in Youngstown.
B.) Mahoning Valley residents named “Sebastian”: Mahoning Valley residents named Anthony.
C). Pronounced bs in Camp bell: Pronounced ds in Struthers.
If you guessed “all of the above,” you probably also guessed the weight of Lyell’s opponent for Friday’s “Real Deal” boxing event in the Covelli Centre parking lot.
“It’s either fight at middleweight or no fight at all,” said Lyell, the Niles native who will meet Chicago’s Michael Walker (19-8-2, 12 KOs) in a six-round middleweight fight. “I’d rather be fighting at 154 [pounds], but what can you do?”
After losing to IBF middleweight champion Sebastian Sylvester in Germany in January of 2010, the 5-foot-9 Lyell vowed to move down to junior middleweight.
A year later, he accepted a bout against undefeated middleweight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in Mexico. After losing by 10-round unanimous decision, he again vowed to only fight at junior middleweight.
“Billy Lyell’s a kid that, if he could only punch, he’d be the middleweight champion of the world,” said Jack Loew, who has trained Lyell off and on throughout his career. “He’s an exciting kid and he puts 100 percent into every fight.
“He’s a crowd-pleaser.”
Lyell (23-9, 5 KOs) was originally supposed to meet junior middleweight Mustafah Johnson on Friday’s card, but when that fell through, he had to choose between getting in the ring at middleweight or sitting in the stands.
Fortunately for Lyell, Walker stands just 5-7.
“My arms are actually shorter than his, but I don’t mind that as much when the guy is short,” said Lyell, 26. “Plus, I just wanted to get on a local card. I haven’t fought at home in so long.”
Lyell’s last hometown bout was against Chris Gray in October of 2009. On Friday, he’ll fight alongside every notable Youngstown-area boxer except Kelly Pavlik (who is promoting the show).
“I think it’s going to be a very special night,” said Lyell. “All the top area guys are on the card and I think everybody has tough fights. It’s the best local card I’ve seen.”
Lyell has fought just once since losing to Chavez: a first-round knockout of Brian Paul in Tulsa, Okla., on May 5.
“Oh, he was terrible,” Lyell said, chuckling.
Friday’s fight should be more memorable.
“I’m looking to put on one of my best performances,” Lyell said. “Everything is coming together great. I’m really looking forward to it.”