Edison ‘Pantera’ Miranda, who was scheduled to fight for the WBO belt against Robert Stieglitz, on Jan 9th in Germany has unfortunately been struck with the flu and had to cancel the bout. “For the past two weeks Edison has been fighting this thing but he just couldn’t shake it” says renowned trainer Joe Goossen. “We have been monitoring his health very closely and trying to get him through this. We had to pull the trigger and do what was right.” This fight would have been Miranda’s second title fight, losing his first encounter to Arthur Abraham in a very controversial war in what has become known as the Battle of Wetzlar. Edison was very much looking forward to returning to Germany and fighting in front of his many European fans..
“I want to apologize to everyone, Robert Stieglitz, Universum, the WBO, my team, and all boxing fans for not being able to make this fight happen. I am very upset with having to cancel. This was a great opportunity for me. Hopefully we can try to reschedule sometime in the next 4-6 weeks.” According to Team Pantera there are other opportunities that have been mentioned if the Stieglitz camp decides not to reschedule this bout. One name that has been mention is IBF belt holder Lucian Bute who is looking for an opponent to fight this April. “My first priority is to make the fight with Robert Stiegltiz happen as soon as possible. If this cannot happen I will look for the next best opponent who is willing to fight me.” For updates keep checking Pantera’s website at www.panteraboxing.com.
PETER MANFREDO JR. AND MATT REMILLARD TITLE BOUTS HEADLINE TKO BOXING DEBUT EVENT AT MOHEGAN SUN ON JANUARY 29TH
FRANCISCO CONTRERAS, ADELITA IRIZARRY AND CHIP PEREZ FEATURED ON HUGE UNDERCARD
LAS VEGAS, NV (December 29, 2009) World class professional boxing hits the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut on Saturday, January 29th as TKO Boxing Promotions presents two world title bouts featuring longtime New England fan favorites, Peter “THE PRIDE OF PROVIDENCE” Manfredo Jr. and Matt “THE SHARP SHOOTER” Remillard.
Tickets priced at $80.00, $50.00 and $35.00 are now on sale at the Mohegan Sun Casino Box Office and through Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.com, phone 1-800-745-3000). Doors on the evening of the event will open at 6:30pm with the first bell at 7:30pm.
(Ticket prices include a $5.00 facility fee.)
Said Chet Koerner, President of TKO Boxing Promotions “We’re thrilled to bring a world class professional boxing card to one of the premier gaming destinations in the country and we truly look forward to working with the Mohegan Sun team in making this an outstanding evening.”
Headlining the January 29th event, Peter Manfredo Jr. will face off against Matt “THE PREDATOR” Vanda in the ten round main event for the NABF Title.
The 29 year old Manfredo, 33-6-0 (18KO’s), is coming off a brutal first round stoppage of veteran Ronald Weaver on November 5th in Cockeysville, Maryland. Earlier in 2009, Manfredo stopped Walid Smichet with a devastating knockout in the seventh round on April 18th at the Montreal Casino in Quebec, Canada .
In addition to his second place finish in the premier season of NBC’s The Contender, Manfredo has faced world class competition throughout his career, with many of his biggest wins coming in the New England area.
Since 2005, Manfredo has defeated Scott Pemberton, Joey Spina, Ted Muller, David Banks, Shane Benfield and Donny McCrary in bouts which have taken place near his hometown of Providence.
A native of St. Paul , Minnesota , the 31 year old Vanda brings a record of 42-9-0 with 22 knockouts into the battle with Manfredo. Known as “THE PREDATOR”, Vanda’s first big win of his career came on June 24, 2005, when he won a twelve round decision over former world champion Yory Boy Campas at the Target Center in Minneapolis .
In 2008, Vanda battled Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. twice, losing a hotly disputed split decision in Sonora , Mexico on July 12th and losing a hard fought decision in Las Vegas on November 1st.
Vanda has won three in a row in 2009 against veterans Tocker Pudwill, Ted Muller and Phil Williams, all in bouts which have taken place in Minnesota .
The co-feature on January 29th is a featherweight showdown between Hartford ’s Matt “THE SHARP SHOOTER” Remillard and Dominican Rafael Lora in a ten round battle for the NABF Title. The bout is a rematch of their action packed September 19th bout in South Windsor , CT , won by Remillard in a controversial fourth round stoppage, which Lora hotly disputed.
The 23 year old Remillard, amongst the most promising prospects in boxing, has amassed an undefeated record of 20-0-0 (11KO’s), since turning professional in 2005. He went 4-0 in 2009, most recently winning a unanimous decision over veteran Marty Robbins in Knoxville, Tennessee on December 19th.
Now based in Irvington, New Jersey , Lora, 11-1-0 (5KO’s), was undefeated prior to the first bout with Remillard and is focused on revenge after the first bout.
The undercard is headlined by sensational lightweight prospect Francisco “THE PHENOM” Contreras. A native of the Dominican Republic, 25 year old Contreras burst onto the boxing scene in this country with a sensational first round knockout of Gustavo Mejia on June 18th in Baltimore , MD. He finished with four big wins in 2009, the last a dominating unanimous decision over veteran Marteze Logan on December 19th in Knoxville, Tennessee .
In a special attraction bout, hard hitting fan favorite, Adelita Irizarry makes her return to the Mohegan Sun Casino in a six round welterweight bout. A native of Hartford, Irizarry, 6-3-0 (2KO’s), won a four round unanimous decision over Yvonne Reis on August 29, 2008 in her last bout at the Mohegan Sun Casino.
Also making his return to the ring is popular junior lightweight newcomer Joseph “CHIP” Perez. The 23 year old Perez won his pro debut on September 19th with a terrific four round unanimous decision over Juan Zuniga in South Windsor. In his most recent bout Perez, 2-0-0 (1KO), stopped Lewis Crews on December 19th in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Rounding out the card will be undefeated Russian lightweight prospect Adam Sargysan, 13-0-0 (8KO’s), Canadian junior lightweight Arash Usmanee, 4-0-0 (2KO’s) and the pro debut of outstanding amateur prospect, junior welterweight Michael Finney of Smith Station, Alabama.