Press Release: “The Pride Is Back,” featuring the ring return of “The Pride of Providence” Peter Manfredo, Jr. will take place on Friday night, May 11, 2007 at the new Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Manfredo (26-4, 12 KOs) faces fight veteran Ted Muller in the ten-round main event. Manfredo returns off of his April 7 loss by quick stoppage to world super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe. Muller (19-10-2, 9 KOs) has fought a draw against hot prospect Carlos De Leon and taken Allen Green, Elvir Muriqi and Bronco McKart the distance.
The six-round co-feature pits 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada (8-1, 1 KO), fighting out of Providence, against Robert Hawkins (21-7, 7 KOs). Estrada is back in action only five weeks after he pitched a shutout against veteran Zack Page (13-11-1), winning a six-round decision (60-54 three times) on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. Hawkins has beaten Boris Powell, Gary Bell, Robert Wiggins and the late Jerry Ballard, as well as lost to Oleg Maskaev, David Tua, Samuel Peter and Kevin Johnson.
“The Pride Is Back” will air on CN8, The Comcast Network at a dates and times to be determined. The CN8 broadcast will air network wide, reaching 9 million homes in 12 states and 20 television markets. The event can also be viewed online at www.CN8.tv. Following the CN8 broadcast, “The Pride Is Back” will be available On Demand at no charge to Comcast Digital Cable customers. “The Pride Is Back” will also air on Cox Sports Television on May 19 at 9:30 PM/ET. The announcing team will be comprised of play-by-play announcer Nick Charles, five-time world champion Vinny Paz as color commentator, and boxing reporter Ron Borges.
Also scheduled to fight on “The Pride Is Back” is Providence middleweight Richard “Bobo” Starnino (7-2-1, 1 KO) versus Daniel “Da Man” Craycaft (10-15-3, 2 KOs), undefeated Johnston (RI) super middleweight Angel Camacho, Jr. (5-0, 3 KOs) faces Cecil Yost (3-3-1, 1 KO), unbeaten Pawtucket (RI) light welterweight Eddie Soto (7-0, 4 KOs) and exciting Philadelphia light welterweight “Hammerin’” Hank Lundy (4-0, 3 KOs) against opponents to be determined, and comebacking Providence light heavyweight Jarrod Tillinghast (7-0, 2 KOs) meets John Owens (3-3, 2 KOs).
Three CES fighters will be honored at “The Pride Is Back” for their achievements in the ring: cruiserweight contneder Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey (15-0, 9 KOs); reigning IWBF lightweight title-holder Jaime “The Hurricane” Clampitt (17-4-1, 7 KOs); and featherweight Matt “Sharp Shooter” Remillard (11-0, 7 KOs).
The late Dan O’Neil, a student from Lincoln (RI) who was recently killed on the Virginia Tech campus, and former 5-time world champion Diego Corrales will be honored with a traditional 10 count.
Tickets may be purchased at the Twin River Event Center (100 Twin River Road, Lincoln), RI), any TicketMaster location, calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), or by going on line at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com. For more information contact CES (401.724.2253/2254 or www.cesboxing.com) or Twin River Event Center (877.82.RIVER or www.twinriver.com). Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET.
