Boyd is the latest fodder for McNeeley

Lorenzo Boyd is a 34-year-old heavyweight from Stillwater, Okla., who has fought Mike Tyson, Tommy Morrison, Trevor Berbick, Tyrell Biggs, Adilson Rodrigues, Gary Mason and Bert Cooper. But that is not exactly why he will be fighting young Peter McNeeley tonight at Foxboro Park.

Lorenzo Boyd, you see, is also a 34-year-old heavyweight who has been stopped by Mike Tyson, Tommy Morrison, Trevor Berbick, Tyrell Biggs, Adilson Rodrigues, Gary Mason and Bert Cooper, not to mention Sherman Griffin, James Pritchard, Jerry Goff and a few others of varying grades of distinction. That is exactly why he will be fighting local prospect Peter McNeeley tonight at Foxboro Park. That's how the fight game works.

Boyd brings to McNeeley two things — ring experience and a limited threat, which are important matters to consider when you are two fights short of a shot at the World Boxing Council heavyweight championship. He has not been brought here to rock the 26-year-old Medfield heavyweight, although such precautions are not always successful, as former WBC champion Lennox Lewis found out in early September when he was knocked out by a lightly regarded former sparring partner named Oliver McCall.

A brawl is not what McNeeley and manager Vinnie Vecchione hope to get from tonight's main event — McNeeley can brawl with the best of them. What they want are some rounds of work beyond the less than one McNeeley got from his last opponent — former WBC light-heavyweight champion J.B. Williamson — and, in the end, another quick knockout to add to his 25 stoppages in 32 fights.

Assuming McNeeley (31-1) is successful, he will then step up his level of competition in what is expected to be his final bout before March 25 in Boston, when he is scheduled to face the winner of the McCall-Larry Holmes fight. For that match to come off, promoter Don King said this week from Mexico that McNeeley must beat a heavyweight among the WBC's top 25, which Boyd is not.

At least not yet.

On the undercard of a show that begins at 7:30 will be a fight for a new creation — the Massachusetts super middleweight title. That bout will be between Mike Culbert and Carlos DeJesus and will be the highlight of a seven-fight undercard. The main event is set for 8:30.

Tickets at $30 ringside and $20 general admission include admission to the harness track. Doors open at 6:30. Parking is free.

Related articles:
Another Quick KO For The Hurricane   [Medfield Suburban Press]
Common Opponent Picks McNeeley Over Tyson   [The Lafayette Advertiser]