Middleweight contender Peter Manfredo Jr. has signed an exclusive promotional contract with Las Vegas-based TKO Boxing Promotions, it was announced today by its President, Chet Koerner.

“We’re very proud to be working with Peter as he works his way up the middleweight rankings towards a championship bout. He’s been a world class fighter for a long time and we’re very happy to add him to our growing stable of outstanding talent” said Koerner.

The 28 year old Manfredo, 32-6-0 (17KO’s), is coming off a terrific seventh round knockout of Canadian veteran Walid Smichet on April 18th in Montreal . Dropping Smichet in the third, Manfredo controlled the action packed bout in front of a large crowd at the Montreal Casino.

Said longtime manager Larry Army Jr., “Peter feels great about competing at middleweight. He’ll be stronger at that weight and we’re very confident he’ll be successful. It’s a bit of a wide open division and we’re looking to move up in the rankings towards a world title shot against either Kelly Pavlik or Arthur Abraham.”

Manfredo competed on NBC’s Season One of The Contender losing a very close seven round decision to Sergio Mora on May 24, 2005 in the championship bout at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

He followed that up with a rematch against Mora at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on October 15, 2005, an eight round split decision loss that many writers and fans thought should have gone his way.

Prior to the Mora bouts, Manfredo had beaten Alphonso Gomez, Joey Gilbert and Miguel Espino on the series.

Said Army, “Peter’s accomplished a great deal since The Contender and his popularity is still at a very high level. He was very warmly received by the huge crowd in Montreal and anywhere he goes in the States he’s recognized.”

In the last three years, Manfredo has won bouts against other world ranked fighters David Banks and Scott Pemberton in addition to knocking out veterans Joe Spina, Ted Muller, Shane Benfield, Donny McCrary and Luis Lopez.

He challenged WBO Super Middleweight Champion Joe Calzaghe in front of a crowd of 40,000 in Cardiff, Wales, on April 7, 2007, losing by third round technical knockout; a stoppage which many thought was premature as Manfredo did not appear to be seriously hurt.

Manfredo, known as “The Pride of Providence”, is currently training with his father, Peter Manfredo Sr., at their gym in Pawtucket, Rhode Island . Details of his first bout under the TKO BOXING Promotions banner will be announced shortly.

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