| From MOP Squad Sports Boxing
As I have quickly found out in the boxing world, fights that were scheduled to go, don’t, for a variety of reasons. So there will always be changes to my list of Contender alumni fights that were at one time supposed to happen.
The first one I mentioned did take place, though. Season one runner-up Peter Manfredo, Jr. did fight Shane Benfield on the 14th of March in Lincoln, Rhode Island. When I spoke with Peter before the fight he was still upset with his performance against Jeff Lacy, a fight he lost. “I blew my last fight,” he told me, “but I’m hungry and ready. I know I have to work hard to get back my position.”
Hometown favorite Manfredo, Jr. did what he needed to do, as he won the fight by TKO in the sixth round. In the end it was his onslaught of body punches that did the eventual damage to Benfield. That is not to say that Shane just stood there and took it – not at all. He was able to dish out some punishment of his own. But at 2:30 of round six, the referee chose to stop the fight, much to the delight of the fans.
I was able to speak with him after the fight as well. Peter felt that Benfield was a tough fighter. “He was a serious opponent and he came to win,” he said. It was important for him to show the fans that he still had it. He again went back to the Lacy fight. “I disappointed a lot of people, and I disappointed myself. That fight was definitely there for me to win. I let myself down, along with my friends and family.
"But I think everything happens for a reason,” he continued. “It kind of woke me up. That was my first step, and I’m ready to take a serious run.”
Peter at the Wild Card Gym.
Linda Peterson photo
Before the Lacy fight I got to spend a few minutes with Peter at the Wild Card Gym, and watch him train with Freddie Roach. But things have changed now, and he is no longer with Roach. “He’s the best trainer, but it costs too much to go and train in L.A. I have three kids at home and my wife is a stay-at-home mom, so it’s tough to go away. I have a big responsibility.” So as for most of his career, Peter is again being trained by his father, Peter Manfredo, Sr.
The following evening, a fighter from season three, middleweight Brian Vera, surprised most when he was able to get a TKO in the seventh round against Andy Lee. Lee went into the fight unbeaten, and there were huge hopes for his future fighting career. Vera had other ideas. Even though Brian hit the canvass in the first round, he would not hand the fight over to Andy, and got up swinging. He continued his onslaught until it became necessary to stop the fight at 2:17 of the seventh. I read that many thought the fight was stopped prematurely, but how many more hits do you let the injured fighter take? A judgment call I would NOT want to have to make.
It will be interesting to see what is in store for Vera after this upset victory.
The fight between Aaron Torres and Micheal Stewart did not take place, and the Jeremy Williams/Zack Page fight is now off the books. Cornelius “K9” Bundrage is still scheduled to face Kassim Ouma for March 28th, to be televised on ESPN2. The two big fights, Alfonso Gomez against Miguel Angel Cotto on April 12, and Oscar de la Hoya facing Steve Forbes on May 3rd are still on. Both of those fights will be shown on HBO.
Season one Champion Sergio Mora has had his fight against Vernon Forrest for the WBC Light Middleweight Title moved from May 10th to June the 7th. Finally, Donny McCrary’s fight against an unknown opponent is still on for May 17th, and still against an unknown person.
Congratulations to those who have had their battles, and good luck to those others who have yet to be challenged.
Be safe and God Bless, Viva La Raza, Barb.
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