Photo: Emily Harney
By Mark Vaz
In the main event of the first in a series of 4 shows scheduled for 2009 at Memorial Hall in Plymouth, MA, welterweight Jason “Schoolboy” Pires, an alternate on the 1996 US Olympic Team, continued his comeback after a five-year absence from the ring. Taking a round to find a rhythm, the fast-handed Pires (22-3, 9 KOs) outboxed a game and determined Louie Leija (21-10-1, 15 KOs), taking a unanimous, highly entertaining eight round decision. Outstanding combination punching and movement showed that Pires still has considerable talent and ability. Scores were 80-72, 80-72, 80-71.
Pires, a full-time police officer, began his professional career with signs of becoming a world champ, winning and defending the USBA Super Bantamweight Title in 1998 and 1999. Close decision losses to Arthur Johnson and Oscar Leon, followed by a 2003 9th round TKO loss to Rocky Juarez led the him to retirement until last year, when he decided to give boxing one last chance. A 2008 decision win over journeyman Frank Houghtaling led to tonight’s bout.
Paul Delgado 20-8-1 (4) 146 W MD Sebastian Hamel 10-17-1 (1) 146 ½ 60-54, 58-56, 57-57.
Delgado, originally from Massachusetts, presently fighting out of Atlanta, returned home to take a majority decision over late substitute Sebastian Hamel. Hamel boxed well, using his awkward southpaw style and speed to keep the aggressive Delgado off balance most of the fight.
Manuel Lopes 5-0-1 (1) 165 W UD Eric Clinton 0-5-1 167 ½ 40-35, 38-37, 38-37
Lopes, the man responsible for bringing CES to Plymouth, thrilled his local fans winning a unanimous decision over the awkward Eric Clinton, who was content with lunging in and holding the popular Lopes.
Mical Weisberg 2-0 (1) 171 ½ W MD Pete Guthy 1-6-2 172 39-37, 39-37, 38-38
Returning after a two year absence from the ring, Mical Weisberg of Stoughton, MA survived a few shaky moments to pull out a majority decision win over South Caronina’s Pete Guthy.
Kali Reis 1-0 (1) 150 W UD Alexsandra Magdziak Lopes pro debut 148 ½ 39-37 X 3
Reis, who lost 3 out of 4 goes to Lopes as amateurs, used steady pressure and a sustained body attack to outwork her taller opponent over four rounds. .
Andrey Nevsky 6-0 (3) 163 W UD William Deets 2-10 (1) 165 40-34 X 3
Andrey Nevsky, originally from Russia,, now residing in East Boston, preserved his undefeated record with a one-sided beating over game but overmatched William Deets, scoring knockdowns in rounds 2 and 3 en route to a unanimous decision.
