The heir apparent to the Puerto Rican boxing throne was in top form last night, headlining a big show at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City as Juan Manuel Lopez kept his WBO super bantam title against opponent Olivier Lontchi.

Lopez was the definite favorite to retain going into the clash as Montreal based Cameroon native Lontchi had yet to rise above his regional status as NABA titlist and was in over his head.

A champion who can punch like Lopez, particularly a southpaw, presents a very difficult entry test onto the world stage and Lontchi wisely chose to stick and move in the early rounds, catching the oncoming champion with jabs before escaping.

But Lopez began to close distance and force the bout to the inside and along the ropes, where his strength advantage was evident. More...

On Thursday night at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, RI, super middleweight Sakio Bika finished off local hero Peter Manfredo in three rounds to win the vacant IBO and interim NABF crowns.

From the start, Bika had "The Pride of Providence" on the defensive as the Australian based Cameroon native found a home for his fast, wide and hard punches.

Manfredo began to get the timing of Bika's shots in the second and avoided the punishment of the first round but wasn't able to work an offense into the mix.

Bika stepped on the gas in the third and caught Manfredo with a full-blooded right hand that hurt the Providence native, who couldn't adequately defend himself from Bika's follow-up assault and the bout was stopped at 1:50 of the round.

Bika wins his fifth straight, improving to 27-3-2 (17), while Manfredo drops to 31-6 (16). More...

Click for larger image © Emily Harney

"The Pride of Providence" Peter Manfredo, Jr., with his father/head trainer Peter Manfredo, Sr., and Sakio "The Scorpion" Bika participated in an open media workout at Manfredo's Gym in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. More...

The Contender, Season Two winner, “Bad Boy” Grady Brewer, and third-place finisher, Cornelius “K9” Bundrage, developed a strong friendship when they were teammates on the 2006 television reality series. The bond remains but has been temporarily put aside because Brewer and Bundrage will battle November 13 in a 10-round IBO light middleweight eliminator on the “Tough & Tested” card at the newly renovated Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. More...

Unlike in many United States cities today, pro boxing remains alive and strong in Providence, which will host "Tough & Tested" on November 13 at the newly renovated Dunkin' Donuts Center.

Two-time world title challenger "The Pride of Providence" Peter Manfredo, Jr., runner-up in Season One of The Contender, battles Sakio "The Scorpian" Bika, winner of Season Three of The Contender, in the 12-round main event for the IBO super middleweight title. More...

Two-time world title challenger “The Pride of Providence” Peter Manfredo, Jr., runner-up in Season One of The Contender, finds himself training at home in a comfort zone as he prepares for his IBO super middleweight title fight November 13 against Sakio “The Scorpian” Bika, winner of Season Three of The Contender, at the newly renovated Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. More...