Jimmy Burchfield Interview: Best Boxing and MMA Promoter in the Game Today
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
President and CEO of Classic Sports and Entertainment Boxing, Jimmy Burchfield is one of the busiest and most successful boxing and Mixed Martial Arts MMA promoters in the world today. Many of Jimmy’s cards at Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island; at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncaville, Connecticut; and at Resorts Casino in Atlantic City. A successful restaurateur turned boxing judge and referee, and then turned world famous boxing and MMA promoter, Burchfield has a great enthusiasm and energy for everything he does.
In an exclusive interview never before published, this reporter spent a few moments with the amazing Jimmy ringside in the Superstar Theater at Resorts Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during one of his televised boxing cards, to find out some of the keys to his incredible success as a promoter, and reflect on Jimmy’s current magical movements in the world of professional boxing and MMA Mixed Martial Arts.
Jimmy Birchfield’s CES Boxing has its next boxing card at Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island, on Saturday, July 27, 2013. The seven bout card will feature super middleweights Vladine Biosse and Richard Gingras in an eight rounder for the USA New England Super Middleweight title, and Quantis Graves versus Joshua Harris in a six round cruiserweight title.
Real Combat Media: “Jimmy, thank you for taking time out during your boxing card during a break in the action for this exclusive interview. It’s a great honor.”
Jimmy Burchfield: “Hello Robert! Sit down with me.”
Real Combat Media: “Jimmy, you are currently one of the busiest and hardest working promoters in the world of boxing today. You did three boxing cards in eight days. You are really moving your fighters. Was it anything special which caused you to be so busy?”
Jimmy Burchfield: “Boxing fans want to see good boxing! That’s what we at CES Boxing deliver. We want to see out fighters busy! Three boxing cards in eight days? This is not an easy job. You have to step up to the plate and get things done. It’s very challenging. I deal with three separate athletic commissions: Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Jersey. I have a great staff. We do it. CES Boxing is not only Jimmy Burchfield. I have my own sports division team! Rich Capiello is our Fighter Development Matchmaker, and Director of Boxing Operations. Pat Sullivan is our MMA Matchmaker, and Director of Event Operations. Michael Parente is our Director of Media Content, Public Relations and Media Operations. My son, Jimmy Burchfield Jr., is our Vice President and Director of Legal Affairs.”
Real Combat Media: “A lot of promoters sign fighters but don’t move them. What’s the secret of your success?”
Jimmy Burchfield: “Success achieved by hard work and perseverance and a great team!”
Real Combat Media: “Tell about your relationship with the late Resorts Casino head Dennis Gomes, who was quick an extraordinary public relations man.”
Jimmy Burchfield: “Being in the casino business (where Burchfield does some boxing cards), I came across Dennis Gomes a long time ago. He was an original, way before his time. Not only did Dennis keep boxing alive, he was a great human being.”
Real Combat Media: “You were a highly successful restaurateur. How did it bloom into a full-time boxing business? And when do you cross paths with Vinny Paz (Pazienza)?”
Jimmy Burchfield: “Any time I undertake any kind of position, I want to do my best in any way it can be done. I have done just about everything in boxing. I boxed, judged and refereed. In time had to relinquish my boxing judgeship. In my difficult travels judging, I saw all these different promoters, and I knew I could do much better than them. I said ‘I can do this myself’ and I did.”
Jimmy Burchfield: “Vinny Paz (as he is now called) won a big amateur boxing tournament in Rhode Island. The newspaper only gave his accomplishment one line. So I called him to tell him how proud I was of his achievement. I represented him as a professional. The rest is history. (Paz was a five time world champion) Vinny calls me every day. We’ve made Vinny our honorary captain for life.”
Real Combat Media: “You have WBC USNBC champion Elvin Ayala, WBC # 20 middleweight contender in the world. Would you consider fighting him against WBA champion Gennady Golovkin, WBO champion Dmitry Pirog, WBC champion Sergio Gabriel Martinez, IBF champion Daniel Geale, Felix Sturm, or Peter Quillin? What about a matchup between Ayala and Jermaine Taylor or Marco Antonio Rubio? What’s next for Elvin Ayala?”
Jimmy Burchfield: “I would like Ayala to have two more quality wins. I would like him to win both the NABF and USBA middleweight titles. Something like that. We would like to fight Atlantic City’s Patrick Majewski for the NABF middleweight title. It is good for Patrick, he’s the WBC number 15 contender and Ayala is the number 20 contender. It would be a very exciting pick ’em fight! Jermaine Taylor would also be a good fight we would like to have for Elvin Ayala. Definitely.”
Real Combat Media: “Henry Lundy is currently a top rated world lightweight contender. Did you consider the fight with Freddie Roach fighter Raymundo Beltran was too dangerous, or do you prefer the best matchups? Explain your reasoning. Many promoters would be afraid to take this fight (with Beltran).”
Jimmy Burchfield: “We’re not waiting for anybody. We keep all our fighters busy with quality fights. Take a look at all of our fighters. We could have fought cupcakes. Boxing fans want great matchups. You are correct. Lundy versus Beltran was a dangerous fight, like all of our matchups. I still have all the confidence in Lundy.”
Real Combat Media: “Trainer Freddie Roach lost recently with Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan in televised world title bouts. Do you think Roach’s abilities are in question?”
Jimmy Burchfield: “Freddie Roach is a great trainer. Freddie Roach’s fighters are as good now as they used to be, and his fighters are always among the best in the world.”
Real Combat Media: “Your super middleweight Joey Spina was once highly touted. He has lost his last two bouts by decision. Does Joey Spina intend to fight again?”
Jimmy Burchfield: “Yes, Joey Spina is going to fight again against Richard Gingras at Twin Bridges Casino at some point in the future.”
Real Combat Media: “Mixed Martial Arts is not yet legal as a sport in New York State. Is it legal in Massachusetts? What started your interest in signing MMA fighters? Have you done any MMA promotions as a promoter or co-promoter?”
Jimmy Burchfield: “Yes, MMA is legal in Massachusetts. Mixed Martial Arts is a hot sport. Whatever I do, I try to know it and do the best I can possibly do. Pat Sullivan leads my MMA division. Would I combine boxing and MMA? There are some promoters who would do it, but I would not do it. Will New York and New Jersey eventually legalize MMA? I think so, if everyone’s doing it. Sports fans in the New England region and around the world love MMA!”
Real Combat Media: “Jimmy, what are your most important understandings as a promoter in the world of boxing today?”
Jimmy Birchfield: “You have to earn your dues as a promoter. You have to take risks and challenges. You don’t need a diploma of any kind to get involved in boxing. I welcome anyone to it. In boxing and professional sports, like in life, you have got to do the right thing.”
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