20.04.05 – 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 climb the mountain and win a championship.”
Ralston’s only loss in 15 pro fights was an eight-round decision to Sergio Mora, one of The Contenders. “Jimmy Burchfield is a guy who can take me where I want to go,” Les explained. “Signing with CES is going to jumpstart my career. Now I have a promoter who can get me the fights I need and want. You’re not treated the same when you don’t have a good promoter. I don’t have to worry about getting fights anymore and dealing with my opponent’s promoter. I’m going to step up the level of my opponents. This is really going to be good for me.”
Les is managed and trained by his father, Jimmy, who was 19-1-1 (13 KOs) and a top 10 rated light heavyweight in the sixties. “Les didn’t start getting serious about boxing until he suffered his first loss last year to Mora,” Jimmy noted. “We’d love to fight him again. Les is a boxer-puncher who can hurt you with either hand and has a great jab. He’s laidback, but inside the ring he’s a different guy.”
Burchfield noted that the Ralstons are the third father-son team he’s worked with. “I know a lot of father-son teams don’t work in boxing,” Jimmy noted, “but I’ve successfully worked with two that have in Peter Manfredo, Sr. and Jr. and Dr. Roland and Jason Estrada. I can see the chemistry Jimmy and Les have working together. It’s working for them, too.”