It has been a long time since Ryan Kielczweski was last in the boxing ring. But he won’t have to travel a long distance for his return.

Kielczweski, 31-6 (11 KOs), will end his four-year layoff with a May 16 main event at the Quincy Youth Arena in the 36-year-old fighter’s hometown of Quincy, Massachusetts, according to a press release.

“I’m going to get in the ring, hopefully win and take it from there,” Kielczweski said. “I’d gotten out of shape a little because I work 60 hours a week. I don’t need to do it [fight], but I’m going to have fun doing it.”

Kielczweski works as a police officer with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Kielczweski turned pro in 2008 and won his first 22 fights before dropping a split decision to the 16-2 Danny Aquino in a 2015 bout where both men weighed 123.5lbs. He renounced with three victories, only to lose unanimously to then-unbeaten featherweight Miguel Flores in 2016.

A similar pattern followed over the years. Kielczweski would add a win or three against lower-level opposition but come up short against better quality foes. He lost decisions to the 21-2-2 Frank De Alba in 2017; the 24-4 Tommy Coyle in 2018; the 18-0 Gabriel Flores Jnr in 2020; and the 13-0 Frank Martin in 2021.

Kielczweski’s last pro bout was a victory in May 2022 against the 18-5-1 Mario Ezequiel Sayal Lozano. 

“Boxing is something I’ve done since I was 6; it’s been like a job for me, and I’m looking forward to getting back in the ring again,” he said.

Although much of Kielczweski’s career took place in New England, this will be only his third fight in Quincy, a city of more than 100,000 located just south of Boston. He knocked out the 17-13 Ernesto Guerrero at the Quincy Armory in 2014 and did the same to the 10-5 Francisco Medel at the Marina Bay Sportsplex in 2016.

“It’s awesome that, after a few years to give his body a rest, Ryan has decided to make one final run at boxing,” said Chris Traietti, a Quincy resident whose Granite Chin Promotions will be putting on the event. “He is the epitome of a ‘pro’s pro.’ Being on national television about a dozen times and never being stopped, he is the most underrated fighter in Massachusetts, period. May 16 is the first step on his journey to going back on the national stage.”

Kielczweski’s opponent was not named in the release. 

The show, which will stream on BXNGTV.com, will also include a bout between 42-year-old junior featherweight Jenn Perella, 4-1 (1 KO), and 35-year-old Kate Radomska, 4-8 (0 KOs).

David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2. David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is available on Amazon.