Babe Wood to be posthumously inducted into CES Ring of Honor

Posted on | March 3, 2009 | No Comments

“Mayflower Madness,” Friday night at Memorial Hall in Plymouth, MA

PROVIDENCE (March 3, 2009) – The late Charles “Babe” Wood will be posthumously inducted into the CES Ring of Honor during a special ceremony Friday night (March 6) at “Mayflower Madness,” promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc., in historic Plymouth Memorial Hall.

“Mayflower Madness” is the first in a 4-fight arrangement, “The Radisson Hotel Plymouth Harbor Fight Series,” scheduled in 2009 at Plymouth Memorial Hall and promoted by CES.

Promoter Jimmy Burchfield, president of CES, established the CES Ring of Honor in 2005 to honor inductees for their special accomplishments and contributions to New England boxing. Charter members include 5-time world champion Vinny “The Pazmanian Devil” Paz, former WBA and WBC welterweight title-holder Marlon “Magic Man” Starling, and 3-time The Ring Fighter of the Year (2001-2003) participant “Irish” Micky Ward. Other CES Ring of Honor members include the late, great Rocky Marciano, former 3-time world champion “El Gallo” Jose Antonio Rivera, world light heavyweight contender “Iceman” John Scully, famed Connecticut trainer Johnny Dukes, 2008 U.S. Olympian Demetrious “Boo Boo” Andrade, Gary “Tiger” Balletto, and 4-time national amateur champion Bobby Harris.

“We lost Babe last year and everyone dearly misses him, especially in this area where he lived,” Burchfield said. “He trained world champions Rocky Marciano, Sonny Liston and Paul Pender, among the most notable fighters he coached and advised for so many years. ‘Babe’ embodies everything that I envisioned for inductees when we started the CES Ring of Honor and we’re delighted to honor ‘Babe’ and his family.”

New Bedford police officer Jason “School Boy” Pires, former USBA champion and 1996 U.S. Olympic Team Alternate, headlines in an 8-round welterweight bout against former IBF Intercontinental champion Louie Leija. Pires (21-3, 9 KOs), returning from a 5 ½ year lay-off to complete his education at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and become a police officer, won a 6-round decision against Frank Houghtaling last November. Leija (21-9-1, 15 KOs), fighting out of San Antonio, has fought some of the world’s top fighters such as Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Ben Tackie, and Jesus Chavez. Leija’s cousin is former WBC super bantamweight champion “The Texas Tornado” Jessie James Leija.

Former New Bedford fighter Paul “The Truth” Delgado (19-8-1, 4 KOs), now based in Atlanta, returns home to Massachusetts for a 6-round welterweight bout versus Troy Smith (6-9-3, 0 KOs), of Brockton. Delgado has faced the iron during his 10-year pro career, including Paulie Malignaggi (twice), Dmitry Salita and Demetrius Hopkins.

On the undercard in 4-round bouts is Marshfield (MA) light heavyweight Manuel Antonio Lopes (4-0-1, 1 KO) vs. Eric Clinton; light heavyweight Mical Weisberg (1-0, 1 KO), of Stoughton (MA), Bridgewater State College graduate from Stoughton (MA), vs. Pete Guthy; unbeaten Russian middleweight Andrey Nevsky (5-0, 3 KOs), of Worcester (MA), vs. William Deets; Providence junior middleweight Kali Reiss (1-0, 1 KO) against pro-debuting Alexsandra Magdziak Lopes, who is married to Manuel Lopes’ father, Wayne.

Also fighting on the undercard unbeaten Lynn (MA) junior bantamweight Isander “Peachy” Beauchamp (5-0-1, 2 KOs) versus TBA. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets for “Mayflower Madness” are priced at $35.00 (Bronze), $45.00 (Silver), $55.00 (Gold), and $75.00 (Jimmy’s Platinum Club). VIP tables of eight are also available. To purchase call CES (401.724.2253/2254) or go on line at www.cesboxing.com.

Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) for more information. Doors open at 6:15 PM/ET, first bout at 7:15 PM/ET.

-CES-