Tag: Jimmy Burchfield

CES inks “Lightning” Les Ralston

PROVIDENCE (April 21, 2005) - Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc. has signed Buffalo middleweight "Lightning" Les Ralston (14-1, 7 KOs) to a promotional contract, CES president Jimmy Burchfield officially announced today. "We're building our stable of fighters by signing some of the best prospects in boxing" Burchfield said. "Les Ralston has a lot of potential and he fits right in with the type of hard-working, dedicated guys we want on Team CES. Having a good Buffalo fighter also expands our market of interest. He will be fighting on our next show. "Les is exactly what I'm looking for in a young fighter. He has a great work ethic and is a gentleman in and out of the ring. The public and media are really going to like him. I'm going to give him every opportunity and together we'll Read more [...]

Vargas coming to Providence for Balletto in Halloween Homecoming

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island – Former world champion “Goyo” Vargas is coming all the way from Mexico to Providence on a mission to take Gary “Tiger” Balletto’s International Boxing Union lightweight crown at “Halloween Homecoming,” ESPN 2 Friday Night Fights show October 31 at the Rhode Island Convention Center. Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc. is presenting “Halloween Homecoming,” in association with Mohegan Sun, 94 WHJY, Westin Hotel and Gansett Juice. Vargas (43-7-1, 30 KOs), the former World Boxing Council super featherweight champion and present No. 16 rated contender, is cut from the same mold as great Mexican fighters such as Julio Cesar Chavez, Salvador Sanchez, Erik Morales, Carlos Zarate and Ricardo Lopez. Vargas’ lone loss in Read more [...]

Dawson-Welliver fight for WBC Youth middleweight title

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island – Two 21-year-old middleweight prospects, “Bad” Chad Dawson and Dumont “Dewey” Welliver, will fight for the vacant WBC Youth title in the 10-round co-feature October 31 on Haunted Homecoming,” promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc., live on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence. Hometown hero Gary “Tiger” Balletto (29-1-2, 25 KOs), born in Providence’s historic Federal Hill, defends his International Boxing Union World lightweight title against former world champion Gregorio “Goyo” Vargas (43-7-1, 30 KOs) in the 12-round main event on “Haunted Homecoming,” presented by CES in association with Mohegan Sun, 94 WHJY, Westin Hotel and Gansett Juice. Dawson and Welliver Read more [...]

Irwin backs out of Balletto fight

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island – Billy “The Kid” Irwin, according to veteran promoter Jimmy Burchfield, is living up to his nickname. Acting more like a kid than man, Irwin has informed Burchfield that he is reneging on his agreement to fight Gary “Tiger” Balletto, claiming he didn’t have enough time to train. Irwin had verbally agreed to fight International Boxing Union lightweight champion Balletto (29-1-2, 25 KOs), of Providence (RI), October 31 in the ESPN2 Friday Night Fights main event, but the Canadian lightweight title-holder Irwin (41-5, 29 KOs) has officially backed-out of the match. “Two months isn’t enough time to train,” an irritated Burchfield rhetorically asked. “Irwin must believe Gary Balletto is the top lightweight in the world. Eight weeks is more than Read more [...]