CES Boxing: Manfredo Looking Green Toward Duddy

As he heads back to the middleweight division, former world title challenger Peter Manfredo, Jr., rejuvenated by his impressive seventh-round knocked out of Walid “Tempete de Sable” Smichet last Saturday, has his sites set on “Ireland’s” John Duddy.

The 28-year-old Manfredo, 32-6 (16), star of The Contender, Season I, is unable to attend Duddy’s fight tonight in Newark, but he’ll be represented there by his promoter, Jimmy Burchfield, the CES president, and father/trainer, Peter Manfredo, Sr.

“I was very happy getting a big win against Smichet, especially coming off my defeat to Sakio Bika,” Manfredo, Jr. said. “I boxed well, used my head and the knockout came at the end. I’m not where I want to be, yet. A couple of more wins and I’ll be ready for any middleweight.

“I’m a fighter, that’s what I do. I’ll fight anybody my promoter, Jimmy Burchfield and manager, Larry Army, put in front of me. Not too far down the road I want John Duddy.

“Knocking out Smichet, something Duddy couldn’t do, was a plus for me. He’s a great guy and good fighter. We can make some money together. More importantly, though, it’s a fight that fans want and boxing needs; Italian versus Irish between two tough, exciting fighters.

“The last three years I fought as a super middleweight but I should have been fighting as a middleweight. The top super middleweights were just too big for me. When I lost the second fight to Sergio Mora – I really didn’t lose that fight – I felt that The Contender people would go with him and I wasn’t going to be their man.

“I thought moving up to super middleweight would be better for my career. I had good fights against Scott Pemberton and Joey Spina, then the call came to fight Joe Calzaghe for the world title. I got use to fighting at that heavier weight. But I want to be world champion and that’s why I’m going back to 160 pounds.”

The tentative plan calls for Manfredo to have two or three more fights before a high-profile bout against Duddy or, if he can’t get the Irishman into a fight, possibly Canadian champion Sebastien Demers.

“We’d take a fight against Duddy right now,” Burchfield explained, “but it makes more sense to wait until after a couple of more fights for both of them. I’ve believed in Peter all along and I’ve never left his side.

“Some doubters felt he was all done after the Bika fight but he proved himself with a devastating knockout of Smichet. Some have said Peter can’t punch but that may be the Knockout of the Year. It was a tremendous confidence builder. I couldn’t have written the script better than it turned out against Smichet.

“Peter’s next fight will be at 163-164 and then 160. I think Manfredo vs. Duddy can be like Gatti vs. Ward or, even though it wasn’t the same ethnic-type fight, Paz vs. Haugen. Boxing wants to see fights like Manfredo vs. Duddy – it’s what boxing is about.”

Manfredo, Sr. liked what he saw from his son in Montreal. “He showed his boxing skills and that he was willing to listen,” he added. “He stopped a tough guy. Peter looked good and his defense was much better. He’s strong at this weight and will be even stronger at 160.

“Duddy’s a good fighter but we believe Peter is better. I like the potential Gatti-Ward comparisons; good for boxing and both camps. Everybody can come out on the plus side. It will be a barnburner, action-packed, one the public wants and needs.”

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