Manfredo goes back to the
future Fights Walid Smichet Saturday in Montreal
April 15, 2009
(APR 15)
PROVIDENCE – Former world title challenger Peter Manfredo, Jr., free from his promotional contract ties with the
Tournament of Contenders, has gone back to the future, hooking-up with
his original promoter, Jimmy Burchfield, and fighting against Walid
“Tempete de Sable” Smichet this Saturday afternoon at Montreal Casino.
Manfredo (31-6, 16 KOs), 28, faces Schmidt (20-5-3, 14 KOs) in
the10-round co-feature that has career-determining implications for both
fighters. Manfredo, star of The Contender, Season I, plans to work his
way down to the middleweight division, although this bout is at
168-pounds.
“I only had three weeks to get ready for this fight, so making it for
168 is a trade off, I guess, for fighting this guy in his backyard,”
Manfredo explained. “I feel good about dropping my weight to 160. I was
too small as a super middleweight and I’ll be just right at
middleweight. I won’t be a huge middleweight like Kelly Pavlik, but look
at Sergio Mora. I beat him our second fight (Mora won a controversial
decision); he beat me the first fight. He won a world title at 154 and
now he’s fighting Pavlik for the middleweight title. I see myself as
better, or at least the equal of Mora. I know I can be world champion. I
have to rebuild but I’m a fighter and that’s what we do….fight! Walid
may not be a world champion, but he’s a tough competitor who can fight.
Everybody saw what he did to (John) Duddy (Smichet busted-up Duddy, who
received 30-plus stitches and lost out on a $1.45 million fight against
Pavlik).”
Burchfield, president of Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES),
signed Manfredo in 2000 and masterfully moved Peter to 21-0 in 3 ½
years, including wins against former world champion Frankie Randall and
The Contender III eventual winner Grady Brewer, as well as The Contender
I star Anthony Bonsante, before agreeing to release “The Pride of
Providence” in order to participate in The Contender, in which, Manfredo
reached the season finale against Mora. For the past three years, CES
worked in association with the Tournament of Contenders, outside of the
television reality series, on behalf of Manfredo.
“We’re picking-up where we left off,” an excited Burchfield said about
getting back with Manfredo. “Peter is still one of the most marketable
fighters in the world. He’s only 28 and wants to be world champion
There’s a lot of upside. We had just signed a 3-year promotional
contract and passed the CES ceremonial torch from Vinny Paz to Peter,
when he asked for permission to fight on The Contender. He was the NABO
champion and No. 3 in the WBO, but Peter’s like a son to me, and I
couldn’t stop him from getting a shot at a $1-million prize for his
family. That experience helped him become a household name in boxing
circles. Our plan now calls for him to fight outside of New England for
awhile, possibly one time in Italy, before fighting back at home. We
have targeted (John) Duddy at middleweight.”
Nothing happens for Manfredo, however, unless he gets past Smichet, the
former Canadian middleweight title-holder who has knocked-off previously
unbeaten Matt O’Brien, fought a draw with Donny McCrary, and been in
tough against Sebastien Demers and Duddy.
“He is a tough, hard-nosed, come forward fighter,” Manfredo’s
father/head trainer Peter Manfredo, Sr. broke-down Smichet. “He is easy
to figure out. Peter needs fight smart – box, angles, double-up on his
jab, and work behind it. He can’t stand in front of him or it’s going to
be a much harder fight. Everyone saw what this guy did to Duddy. You
can’t get in too close with him because he has a nice right hand. I give
a lot of credit to his trainer, Otis Grant.”
All of Manfredo’s pro losses have been to world champions or world-class
fighters --Joe Calzaghe, Mora (twice), Jeff Lacy, Sakio Bika and Alfonso
Gomez – and half were of them super middleweight. Peter is on his way
down to 160 pounds with Duddy clearly in his sights.
“Duddy’s a great guy, unbeaten contender and a big draw,” Manfredo
concluded. “We could make a lot of money for each other, Italian versus
Irishman, in a great fight for fans like (Arturo) Gatti and (Micky)
Ward. If that fight doesn’t happen there’s guys like Demers and others,
but I have to take care of Smichet first and show people I still have
it.
“I’m glad to be back with Jimmy. He’s a great guy, like family. I
started with him and trust him. I can talk to him about what’s on my
mind, vent if I have to, and he’ll always send me in the right
direction. I believe he can take me to the place I want to be – world
champion. I have the name and he has the connections. Together we can
make one last run. I’m taking it one fight at a time and we’ll see where
it takes us.”
