Former world title challenger and The Contender: season 1 runner-up Peter Manfredo Jr. (31-6, 16 KO’s) will return to the ring on April 18th in Montreal at Casino de Montreal against Canadian based middleweight Walid Smitchet (20-5, 14 KO’s).
The fight will be contested at a contracted weight of 168 pounds, the super middleweight limit, but Manfredo hopes to be competing as a 160 pound middleweight soon.
Manfredo’s opponent, Smitchet, notably lost back to back fights against contenders Sebastian Demers and John Duddy in 2007 and 2008 respectively. Against Duddy, Smitchet made a good account of himself opening up nasty cuts over Duddy’s eyes and many felt he deserved the decision.
“I’ve seen him fight John Duddy.”, said Manfredo, “ He’s very game…a good fighter, but he can be outboxed and ya know I’m going back down to middleweight and what better way to start at middleweight than against I guy I believe beat John Duddy, a guy I want to fight.”
His decision to move back down to the middleweight division comes after a stint at super middleweight where he went 7-3, with 6 KO’s. Manfredo fared well against respectable competition at the class, stopping former world title challenger Scott Pemberton and defeating tough journeyman like David Banks and Donny McCrary, but failed to win against the divisions elite. His 3 losses came to world champ Joe Calzaghe, former world titleholder Jeff Lacy, and former title challenger Sakio Bika.
It’ll be Manfredo’s first fight since a November TKO loss to Bika, a fight where Manfredo was overpowered by an opponent he decided to go toe-to-toe with.
“I have to start thinking with my head and not will my balls so much”, Manfredo said, as he hopes to defeat Smitchet with his boxing skills and not get into a slugging contest.
No longer signed with the Tournament of Contenders, the promotional outfit of The Contender TV shows, Manfredo is now a free agent. He says he’s leaning towards signing with New England based promoter Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports.
After the Smitchet fight, he hopes to fight 3 -4 times this year in his home state of Rhode Island, where he has drawn packed crowds to the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence and Twin River Casino in Lincoln.
To hear all of Peter Manfredo’s discussion with 8CN’s Peter Czymbor, listen to the 8countnews.com podcast here!
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