Peter Manfredo returns May 11

PROVIDENCE, RI – World title contender “The Pride of Providence” Peter Manfredo, Jr., bouncing right back from his April 7 loss by controversial stoppage to undefeated WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe, returns to the ring May 11 headlining “The Pride Is Back” against veteran Ted Muller in the 10-round main event at the new Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island. “The Pride Is Back,” promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc. (CES), is the inaugural show in “The Budweiser Night at the Fights” series, promoted by CES at Twin River..

Manfredo (26-4, 12 KOs), star of The Contender Season One, holds wins against Scott Pemberton, Joey Spina, Grady Brewer, Alfonso Gomez, Anthony Bonsante, Frankie Randall and Sherwin Davis. Muller (19-10-2, 9 KOs), fighting out of Moline, Illinois, fought a draw against top prospect Carlos De Leon, Jr. in 2005 and has become a gate keeper of the super middleweight division having fought Elvir Muriqi, Bronco McKart, Allan Green and Jerson Ravelo.

“Manfredo is all about home cooking,” promoter Jimmy Burchfield said about Manfredo fighting once again in Rhode Island. “This is where he’s from. Peter was 21-0 fighting out of this area. Fans are excited because he’s fighting again in Rhode Island. Everybody knows his last fight was stopped too early. Peter Manfredo, Jr. is ‘The Pride of Providence’ and ‘The Pride Is Back.’

“I’ve provided a lot of surprises for boxing fans over the years and May 11th is going to be the biggest surprise of all. Twin River is a beautiful facility and I guarantee that it will be the mecca for boxing in New England. I’m so excited about having our boxing series in this venue, which is only 10 minutes away from my house. It’s been great working with Craig Sculos (Vice President & General Manager) and Clyde Callicott (Vice President of Marketing) at Twin River and having our inaugural show there broadcast on CN8, The Comcast Network and into its 9 million households.”

“The Pride Is Back” will air on Sunday, May 20 at 7 PM on CN8, The Comcast Network. The CN8 broadcast will air network wide, reaching 9 million homes in 12 states and 20 television markets. The event can also be viewed online at www.CN8.tv. Following the CN8 broadcast, “The Pride Is Back” will be available ON DEMAND at no charge to Comcast Digital Cable customers. “The Pride Is Back” will also air on Cox Sports Television at dates and times to be determined. The announcing team will be comprised of play-by-play announcer Nick Charles, five-time world champion Vinny Paz as color commentator, and boxing reporter Ron Borges.

Also scheduled to fight on “The Pride Is Back” is nine-time U.S. amateur champion Aaron Williams (12-0-1, 8 KOs), the unbeaten 21-year-old cruiserweight making his CES debut in the six-round co-feature; Providence’s 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada (8-1, 1 KO) in a six-round Special Heavyweight Attraction; Providence’s popular Richard “Bobo” Starnino (7-2-1, 1 KO) against New Bedford super middleweight Eric Pinarreta (1-1, 1 KO), undefeated Johnston (RI) super middleweight Angel Camacho, Jr. (5-0, 3 KOs), New Hampshire cruiserweight prospect Rich Gingas (2-0, 2 KOs), exciting Philadelphia light welterweight “Hammerin'” Hank Lundy (4-0, 3 KOs), and come-backing Providence super middleweight Jarrod Tillinghast (7-0, 2 KOs).

Three CES fighters will be honored at “The Pride Is Back” for their achievements in the ring: WBC No. 3 rated cruiserweight Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey (15-0, 9 KOs), the NABF, NABA, USNBC and WBC Continental Americas champion; 3-time world champion and reigning IWBF lightweight title-holder Jaime “The Hurricane” Clampitt (17-4-1, 7 KOs), WBC Youth super featherweight king Matt “Sharp Shooter” Remillard (11-0, 7 KOs).

Tickets for “The Pride Is Back” go on sale this Saturday morning (10 AM/ET) at the Twin River Event Center, any TicketMaster location, or by going on line at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com. Ticket prices are $50.00 (Bronze), $65.00 (Silver), $100.00 (Gold) and $150.00 (limited Jimmy’s Platinum Club). For more information contact CES (401.724.2253/2254 or www.cesboxing.com) or Twin River Event Center (877.82.RIVER or www.twinriver.com). Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET.

RHODE ISLAND PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

Peter Manfredo, Jr.: “I’m just happy to be on the card and happy to be fighting. Everybody who watched knows I wasn’t able to fight April 7. I grew-up watching and sparring Vinny Paz, Scott Pemberton, Ray Oliveira and guys like that. I never saw anything like that. To lose I wanted to be carried out on a stretcher. I didn’t realize boxing had turned into golf. All of the posters had Calzaghe-Manfredo 20/20. I never understood what it meant until after the fight: 20 title defenses, 20 wins (for Calzaghe). I think it was set-up in the cards. He broke his hand, probably before the fight because he didn’t hit me during the fight. All champions lose; real champions come back. I’ve got to start over. Ted Muller’s going to get beating of his life, whether it goes the 12 rounds or not. I’m glad he’s a tough kid. I’m angry. I want to stay busy. This is what we do – fight! Everybody’s going to enjoy a good fight card.”

Ted Muller (via phone from Moline, IL: “I think Peter and I are going to put on a good advance. I’m being severely underestimated. You can expect fireworks May 11. I understand Peter doesn’t expect it to go the distance, but I’m going to have something to say about that. I have a lot of respect for Peter for what he did on The Contender. But he wasn’t the runner-up; he was the No. 1 loser. Maybe he should consider going back to middleweight or junior middleweight.”

Aaron Williams (via phone from Cleveland): “I’m excited about signing with CES and fighting on this show. It’s going to be a good night of boxing.”

Jason Estrada: “My last performance, I believe, was one of my best so far. I was in great shape. I’m in great shape now and will be in even better shape May 11. Some critics are saying Jason can’t hot; he only has one knockout. Watch my fights and you’ll see that once I hit them good, they retreat and just want to survive. I’ll continue to work hard and work on my boxing ability. It’s going to be a good card on May 11.”

Angel Camacho, Jr.: “It’s a beautiful thing be part of CES. As an amateur I grew-up watching Peter Manfredo, Jason Estrada and Matt Godfrey. I’m privileged and honored to be fighting on the same card as Peter and Jason. They’re world-class fighters. I’ve been working hard and I’m in the best shape of my life. I’m on weight right now. I’m going to give you all a good show on May 11.”

Jarrod Tinninghast: “Wow. What a great opportunity for me to be on the same team as Peter, Matt, Jason and the other CES fighters. I feel like a big brother who has been lost. I’m back. It’s all business this time and I’m going to put out a couple of years period before I’m fighting for a title.”