By Trish Kilcullen and Peter Heintzelman: The “Pride of Providence” returns home after a two year sabbatical of fighting away from his beloved Rhode Island roots. The Twin River Event Center, in Lincoln, Rhode Island, will host Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ presentation of “Home Coming King,” on Friday November 12, 2010, featuring the return of middleweight, Peter Manfredo, Jr., 35-6-0, 19 KO’s, against , Jhon Berrio, 15-7-0, 11 KO’s, of Monteria, in Columbia.
On a streak of winning his last four bouts, including his most recent May 5th fight at Mohegan Sun Casino, in Uncasville, Connecticut, where referee, Steve Smoger awarded Manfredo a 10th round TKO over 30-7-0, Angel Hernandez, for the vacant IBO middleweight title, the 29 year old Manfredo is at the top of his game.
His opponent, 25 years of age, boasts the ownership of the Columbian light middleweight title, in a country that has presented many a tough bout for Americans; this is his second professional fight venture in the US of A. His last bout was fought in June of this year, when he was defeated by Sherzod Husanov, 14-0-1, by a ten round majority decision, at the Northern Quest Casino, in the state of Washington. He has made his mark with a 50% knock out rate, in his professional career. Watch out for the Columbians – they come to fight.
Yet, Manfredo has a knack for knock outs himself, including a victim list of Hernandez, Joey Spina, Scott Pemberton, and Walid Smichet.
EastSideBoxing caught up with Peter Manfredo, Jr., just prior to the presser this afternoon on Federal Hill, in Providence, Rhode Island:
ESB: So, Peter, back in Rhode Island for your next fight – how does that feel?
Manfredo: You know what? It feels great! Two years ago, I fought for the same world title (against Sakio Bika), and I failed as a super middleweight, and now I’m coming back as a champion middleweight, as the champion of the middleweight division, and it feels great. It shows my fans I never gave up, and I’m a world champion. I reached my goal. I reached the finish line, and it feels great. I’m very determined, I can’t wait to fight.
ESB: How is your health, and are you ready to go?
Manfredo: I’m feeling great. Its great to be back fighting in front of my fans I’m very excited to be back with my fans. I reached the finish line, but I still want that world title, I want that IBF title really bad. It would mean a lot to me to win that title, so we’ll get this fight done on November 12th, and we will go for the big one.
ESB: The IBO Middleweight Belt – How did it feel to wrap around your waist, after all you have been through in your professional career?
Manfredo: Oh Man, I mean, to finally get it, it was kinda like a surreal experience. I hugged my wife. I hugged my Dad, and It was great to finally reach that goal. It sunk in a couple weeks later that I was a world champion. It took me a couple weeks to understand I was the champ. And, its nice to fight in front of the home crowd as a world champion. Its nice to finally reach that goal and finally do it.
ESB: What do you expect of your Columbian opponent, and what do you know of his style of fight – have you seen any tapes of his fights?
Manfredo: I just know he’s really tough, with 15 knock outs. I haven’t but my Dad has, and I trust him. I just know he can definitely punch. His record is not the best record in the world, but he’s got a winning record, and he’s dangerous. Eve When you’re the world champion, everyone wants to knock you out. So, I’m prepared, and I intend to knock him out. I expect the best of my opponent It might give him an advantage at the 160 weight, and I’m draining to make 160, but I’m intending to be the stronger man when the fight comes around. I’m very confident – I’m looking good in the gym. My father has lots of sparring for me in his gym, and we’re ready to go. I was sparring with Edwin Rodriguez, I’m also sparring with a lot of guys in the gym. We’ve got plenty of sparring in my Dad’s gym. I’m in great shape, and we’re ready to go. I’m very confident right now – and so long as I bring my experience in the ring, I don’t see anything going wrong. I don’t think anyone can beat me right now.
ESB: Have you seen any of your opponent’s fights?
Manfredo: I haven’t my Dad has, and I’m depending upon him and what he saw, and how he trains me.
ESB: Peter, 29 years young, its been a long and brutal career. How much more gas do you have and any thoughts of retirement?
Manfredo: I don’t know – I take one fight at a time, you know. I’ve won the IBO, I would like to win the IBF belt before I retire. And, I ‘m going to take one fight at a time.
ESB: What has been your most memorable fight in your career, and why?
Manfredo: My fight with Sakio Bika he beat me down so bad a couple years ago. But, at the same time, he made me go back down to 160 and achieve my goal, and if I had not, I might have become a world champ, so everything happens for a reason.
ESB: Who is working your corner for your upcoming fight?
Manfredo: Steve Mayes, my father, and a couple other guys my father weaves in there. What counts is I’m in the corner. But, so long as I’m there, that’s what matters.
ESB: Any final comments for your fans at EastSideBoxing.com?
Manfredo: I want to thank everybody, we reached where we are. So, thank you for your support , and I’ll see you on November 12th.
The Twin River undercard is shaping up nicely, with the following bouts scheduled:
6 Rounds Lightweight: Keith Kozlin 6-4-1, 4 KO’s v Joe Gardner 6-1-1, 1 KO
6 Rounds Heavyweight: Billy Mofford 9-1-2, 4 KO’s v TBA
4 Rounds Cruiserweight: Dante William (Debut) v Ahmad Mickens 1-0-1
4X2 Light Middleweight: Alexsandra Magdziak Lopes 3-1-0, 1 KO v Lisa Bolin
3-3-0, 2 KO’s
4 Rounds Cruiserweight: Eric Estrada 2-0-0, 2 KO’s v Tobias Rice 2-1-0, 2 KO’s
4 Rounds Heavyweight: Jesse Barboza 4-1-0, 3 KO’s v Winston Thorpe 3-0-0, 2 KO’s
4 Rounds Light Welterweight: Jonathan Vazquez 2-0-0, 2 KO’s v Ernest Butts
0-1-0
4 Rounds Middleweight: Thomas Falowo (Debut) v TBA
+atchmaker: The one and only: Rich Cappiello