Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington has vacated his New England Fights pro lightweight championship after three successful title defenses — his mind is focused on even bigger challenges.
Boyington (13-8) has spent recent weeks recovering from a broken right thumb suffered during his five-round split-decision victory over Jon Lemke at NEF 21 in Lewiston in early February as well as surgery March 24 to repair a bulging disc in his neck.
“Some times I feel like a million bucks, and other times I feel like an old man,” the 36-year-old Brewer resident said. “But aside from my thumb being a little achy when I move it, I feel real good right now — especially my neck, it feels strong. My head finally feels a lot better, too, so I think I’ll feel pretty good coming back now.”
Boyington completed his multifight NEF contract with the Lemke bout, and it’s his hope to return to a larger mixed martial arts stage that played a significant role in his decision to vacate the title.
Boyington made a successful debut with the national-level World Series of Fighting promotion last Oct. 17, winning by split decision over Rodrigo Almeida in a three-round featherweight contest at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
That has led to speculation that Boyington will get a second bout with WSOF, perhaps as soon as June 17 when the promotion returns to Foxwoods. Just two main-card fights have been announced for that WSOF 31 show to date.
“I vacated my belt because I wanted to give someone else a shot at it,” he said. “I didn’t want to hold everything up with NEF, and I knew I was done fighting in Maine. It’s time to extend on past the regional scene. And because of my age and my health, when I fight now the benefits have to be worth it.”
Boyington has been one of the state’s busiest fighters, his last three bouts all coming within a four-month span. Barely a month after defeating Almeida, he returned to NEF with a third-round stoppage of North Carolina’s Jimmy Davidson on Nov. 21 in Lewiston that preceded the Lemke bout.
But the injuries, which also included a concussion, and the cumulative effect of 21 professional MMA fights and one boxing match since June 2009 began to catch up with the Milford native.
“I had to take some time off to let some things heal, and I’m really still doing that,” Boyington said. “For me, that’s part of the process for getting to where I want to be now.
“It’s hard to see sometimes, but having that time off sometimes just does you so much good. You come back real fresh and real hungry, and your body’s not so beat up. I think that’s going to be a really good thing for me, especially when I get back in the gym and try to start going again.”
NEF officials moved quickly to determine Boyington’s successor as its lightweight champion, declaring a bout between Jesse Erickson (7-4) of Auburn and Devin Powell (5-1) of South Berwick already scheduled for its NEF 22 card April 23 in Lewiston as a five-round battle for the title belt.
“Bruce was a great champion,” NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo said. “He was the face of this promotion for two years. The 155-pound title is our most coveted championship, and there is no shortage of worthy challengers. The decision to fill it as soon as possible was an easy one to make.”
Boyington has defeated Erickson twice, the first time for the vacant lightweight title in September 2014 and the second time in his first title defense two months later. He also handed Powell his lone defeat by unanimous decision in February 2014.
Erickson and Powell are riding three-fight winning streaks.
“That’s an awesome matchup,” Boyington said. “Obviously I’ve fought both of those guys, and it’s hard to argue against Jesse earning that shot after his last few fights and Devin as well.”
The Erickson-Powell winner already is committed to make his first title defense against Lemke, who many cageside observers thought got the best of Boyington in their recent matchup but saw his pro record fall to 5-4 by the slimmest of margins on the judges’ scorecards.
“It was a privilege and honor to fight Bruce for the lightweight title,” Lemke said. “After the fight, I was pretty confident I did enough to win. Now, after watching the fight numerous times, there is no doubt in my mind that I won that fight. If Bruce doesn’t want to fight me again and vacate his belt, I understand and respect that decision. However, I am hungrier than ever and want what I believe is rightfully mine. It would be an honor to fight the winner of Erickson versus Powell for the title, and I very much look forward to it.”
