By Jake Donovan


The famed Notre Dame University hosts its first ever pro boxing card, as Fighting Irish graduate Mike Lee headlines later this evening in a heavyweight bout against Jacob Stiers.


The show is being streamed live by Lee’s promoter Top Rank Inc., on its website (www.toprank.tv). A large portion of the evening’s proceeds will go to the Robinson Community Learning Center in South Bend – which offers an afterschool tutoring and mentoring program for local kids – and the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation (named after the former Notre Dame football coach).


Lee graduated from Notre Dame in 2009 with a 3.8 GPA and a bachelor’s degree in business finance but opted to instead make a go of it as a pro boxer after leading a stellar amateur career in his Chicago hometown.


In the evening’s chief support bout, undefeated super lightweight prospect Glen Tapia scored two knockdowns en route to a six-round shutout over Marcus Thompkins.


Tapia was in control throughout the bout and appeared to be on his way to an early stoppage after dropping Thompkins early in the second. A similarly aggressive flurry led to another knockdown in the third, but Tapia inexplicably eased up on the gas and settled for a boxing clinic.


It was a professional effort by the New Jersey native, but lacked that extra drive that can make the difference between rising prospect and in-demand prizefighter.


Nevertheless, it was enough to pull a clean sweep on the scorecards, with all three judges scoring the bout 60-52. Tapia improves to 11-0 (5KO) with the win. Thompkins is winless in his last five contests as he falls to 5-5-1 (2KO).


UNDERCARD ACTION


A contender for Upset of the Year was offered on the show as 41-year old Troy Lowry scored a shocking fifth round knockout of previously unbeaten Travis Loveless in their super middleweight bout.


Lowry was losing nearly every second of the bout – as has been the case for most of his time spent in the ring in the past six years – but rallied back to catch Loveless cold, flattening the Frankfort (IN) prospect midway through the fifth. Loveless was still on the canvas and being tended to by ringside medical officials as the official decision was announced.


The official time was 1:34 of the fifth round.


Lowry picks up his first win since 2005 – three years into George W. Bush’s first term as President, to put it in proper perspective – as he improves to 28-11 (17KO). Loveless suffers his first loss as a pro in falling to 20-1 (17KO).


Ray Lucius made a clean sweep of pro debuting fighters on the card turning up victorious. The mohawked newcomer scored a lopsided unanimous decision of Nathan Wilkes in a battle of local super middleweights.


Scores were 40-36 across the board for Lucius (1-0, 0KO), who spent most of the night dedicated to a body attack that wore down but couldn’t break Wilkes, whose big goal for the evening seemed to be attempting to keep his mouthpiece lodged for more than a round. The hapless journeyman is now winless in his past seven fights as he falls to 2-23-1 (2KO).


“Gentleman” James Shorter enjoyed a successful pro debut with a 2nd round knockout of Yauheni Shishporenak in their heavyweight bout.


Shorter, who at 205 was giving away over 50 lb. in weight, took the fight to the Belarusian southpaw right from the opening bell. The strategy proved to be an effective one, as he remained in control throughout the brief encounter.


A series of head shots sent Shishporenak to the canvas midway through the second round. Referee Kurt Spivey offered the mandatory eight count, but didn’t like what he saw from the fallen fighter and waved off the bout.


The official time was 2:04 of the second round.


Shorter is now 1-0 (1KO). Shishporenak heads back to Minnesota with his second straight loss as he falls to 7-3 (6KO).


Pro debuting Anthony McManaway opened the telecast with a first round knockout of hometown journeyman Ramiro Bueno Jr (1-3, 0KO).


Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter at twitter.com/JakeNDaBox or submit questions/comments to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.