“Mike I just heard that you are from Rhode Island?” asked the high-ranking executive of Viacom Networks (MTV, Comedy Central, Paramount Pictures, Spike TV, etc., now Paramount Global) a few years ago at a meeting at their building in New York City. When I proudly answered yes, he immediately asked, “Do you know Jimmy Burchfield”?

For those of you wondering what in the world does an executive at Paramount Global (I was working on a proposed hotel/entertainment project in Dubai with them) have in common with Jimmy Burchfield, at the time the global media powerhouse-owned Bellator MMA (Mixed Martial Arts).

Combat sports enthusiasts from all over the world know Jimmy Burchfield, and if they’ve ever set foot in our beautiful state, chances are they also had dinner at his gone but not forgotten iconic restaurant – The Classic Restaurant and Lounge in North Providence.

Jimmy grew up in North Providence, the son of Anna (Antignano) and Roy Burchfield, who was a successful businessman, primarily in the automobile industry. Jimmy proudly boasts of his dad’s close relationship with the late Bob Tasca, Sr., where Roy served as Tasca’s general manager for many years.

 After attending North Providence schools, Jimmy got his first “real job” under the tutelage of Clarence Coutu at the former Coutu Lumber Yard in West Warwick. He also immersed himself in the local community, playing semi-fast pitch softball, which was then almost a religion in the Pawtuxet Valley. It comes as no surprise that Jimmy’s skills on the diamond earned him the MVP award a couple times during his career. 

During his tenure at the Coutu Lumber Yard, Jimmy learned all aspects of home building and renovations, but most importantly he learned about business. While he recalls the work as challenging, in retrospect it was also rewarding.

His first job was unloading freight cars. He quickly realized that he could unload a car faster than the way he was taught, so he invented ways to unload faster and more efficiently, which caught the attention of Clarence, eventually moving up the ranks to general manager.

He had to be doing something right, because Clarence took his first vacation in over 20 years – knowing that the ship was in good hands.

Jimmy’s mentor

Jimmy explained “Clarence was my mentor. Whatever success I have in life, I attribute it to Clarence Coutu. He was tough to work for, but fair. I loved and respected him immensely.”

During his tenure at the lumber yard, Clarence recommended Jimmy take the then-famous Dale Carnegie public speaking course. Jimmy joked “I couldn’t get up in front of two people before I took the course.”

Around this time, Jimmy also began his journey into the food and beverage industry when an opportunity presented itself at a men’s bar called Artie’s Tap and Grill, located on Charles Street in North Providence. Just like most adults from the neighborhood, Jimmy recalls Arties’s Tap as “the first place that I ever had a drink.” 

When the owner of Artie’s took ill, his wife called Jimmy and said, “I need your help.” She wanted to keep the pub going, per her husband’s wishes, but felt she could not do it alone.

Jimmy came to her aid. He put together a plan where he would tend bar at night after working all day at the lumber yard. 

Eventually, the owner’s wife needed to sell the building and business, and Jimmy was faced with a critical decision: “should I stay at the lumber yard or go all in on this opportunity?” 

Never one to shy away from a challenge, and with Clarence’s blessing, Jimmy decided to put his full effort and savings into Artie’s. He recalls putting together a food menu and staff, turning the once local men’s bar into a family-style Italian restaurant. 

“I brought my mother, mother-in-law and wife into the kitchen at first. As the restaurant got busier month after month, Jimmy chose to expand. 

With his background in construction, he did the impossible – he rebuilt the restaurant in four and a half days with crews working around the clock. The family-style Italian restaurant reopened with the pomp and flair of Las Vegas dining. 

You would regularly see politicians, business leaders, sports heroes including Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Dan Marino, as well as your neighbors from down the street. “The Classic,” as everyone knew it, was the place to be. If you could get a reservation!

To this day, people still talk about “The Classic” and the fond memories they shared.

 What was his secret?

 “I love to make people happy. I had a “manager’s book” that had details on all of my customers – their birthdays, how many ice cubes they liked in their drink, how they liked their garlic bread toasted.”

 Soon after, Jimmy also turned his attention to his favorite sport – boxing.

He began as a local judge, assigned matches throughout Rhode Island and neighboring New England states.

Once comfortable in his new avocation, he decided to put himself in a position to judge international fights, because at first, he “always wanted to go to Italy, where my ancestors were born.” 

From judge to promoter

 While judging fights all over the world, Jimmy began witnessing events being promoted by some of the biggest boxing promoters at the time. While at one of these events, Jimmy thought to himself, “I can do a better job than these guys!”. So, he relinquished his position as judge to become a promoter. 

His first boxing event was at Rocky Point Palladium  He explained “I lost $28,000. I wondered if I could get my judgeship back!” 

After 32 years in the combat sports business, promoting fights across the globe, Jimmy is justifiably known as a leader in the industry, proudly displaying the CES banner ringside and ringside. When asked the key to this success, Jimmy mentions a familiar theme: “These athletes are part of my family. I care about them like a son or daughter.”

 Just ask boxing legend, Sugar Ray Leonard, who put it all in perspective. He said, “Jimmy has an emotional bond with his fighters that transcends outside the ring. If wrong has been done to one of his fighters, Jimmy goes ballistic, as if it happened to his own son!”

Though the challenges are greater now, particularly working with the television networks that have their own ideas as to how to run things, the CES banner has expanded to Boxing, MMA (mixed martial arts) and grappling.

Jimmy said, “MMA is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. It’s something that was different, with a much younger demographic. Grappling is also an expanding sport with a diverse fan base.

“We have the best team in combat sports,” he said. “That is what makes this all possible.” 

Recently, Mauricio Sulaiman, President of the World Boxing Council, presented Jimmy with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” and commemorative Green Belt for his “longevity, success and passion” for the sport. Mauricio said at the ceremony, “We are honored to present the WBC Green and Gold belt to “Uncle Jimmy,” as he is a champion of life and has dedicated so many years to change the lives of many fighters through his relentless will to promote the sport. He is an inspiration to many by living a meaningful, successful life.” 

Other honors Jimmy is proud of include being honored twice as NABF (North American Boxing Federation) Promoter of the Year, induction into the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame, the Italian American Hall of Fame, and the prestigious Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. 

Putting aside all the professional accolades, Jimmy is most proud of his charitable contributions, raising over $3 million over the years.

You don’t have to go that far back in time to remember the “Classic Road Race” that involved thousands of people, bands, food, good times and national exposure for the state of Rhode Island.

Over 300 volunteers would help Jimmy organize what he described as “one of the great joys of my life.”

With all of his success, I asked Jimmy what’s the next chapter in his life. Without hesitation, he proudly answered, “I want to see all of my grandchildren graduate from college, and I want to continue being the best promotional company in combat sports.” 

And while he remains very active in day-to-day operations of CES, Jimmy has begun to lean on his son, Jimmy Jr., a prominent Rhode Island lawyer who is now the president of Classic Entertainment & Sports Inc. 

Asked about his dad, Jimmy Burchfield Jr. said, “The controversial storyteller Joseph Epstein once said, “we do not choose to be born. We do not choose our parents … but within this realm of choice-lessness, we do choose how we live.”

“There is no doubt Jimmy Sr. chooses how to live. Instinctively fighting for what he believes in, never allowing obstacles to get in the way, while not forgetting his humble roots.”

He continued, “Several months ago, while having a family dinner, the general manager of the restaurant came over and told me what an inspiration my father was. I thought to myself, how fortunate I am to have experienced such inspiration my whole life that is now the norm.”