Costantino’s Restaurant was the place to be in Rhode Island when a press conference was held to announce the June 20, 2007 “Cha Ching in the Ring” show. The main event will feature “The Pride of Providence” Peter Manfredo Jr., 27-4 (13 KOs), fresh off his nine round destruction of Ted Muller, taking on the “Upset Master” David Banks, 14-1-1 (2 KOs).
In April, Manfredo was victim of a very quick stoppage loss to world super middleweight champ Joe Calzaghe. Many, including fans of Calzaghe’s hometown, saw the stoppage as questionable. Manfredo, though, was anything but discouraged and jumped right back into the ring a month later to face the seasoned Ted Muller. Muller had managed to go the distance with bangers such as Bronco McKart, Jerson Ravelo and Alan Green, but could not withstand the combinations of Manfredo as he was stopped in the ninth.
Manfredo was reserved and humble as usual. “I don’t like to talk a lot. I’m just gonna let my fists do the talking” said Manfredo. “You can see this guy (looking at Banks' picture on the poster for the event), they call him the upset master, he looks pretty mean. This isn’t a great picture of me, I look kinda fat. But hey, I’m from Federal Hill, and fat’s where it’s at,” joked a relaxed Manfredo.
Banks may be relatively unknown, but he is not one to be taken lightly. In November, 2006, Banks won a split decision over then undefeated Elvin Ayala, a highly regarded prospect. The Ayala camp got the rematch that they wanted, but this time Banks won a unanimous decision. Though he still may be a bit green, he is not an opponent to overlook.
The talk of Manfredo recently is that of a potential match up with either Curtis Stevens, or Jaidon Codrington. “I’ll beat both of those guys on the same night,” stated Manfredo. “Stevens I would definitely fight, but I don’t know about Codrington, I think he’s gonna get knocked out by Omar Sheika, and I’d have no problem fighting Sheika either, bring them all.” Let it be known that in Stevens’ next fight he is taking on Andre Dirrell, former amateur sensation. This will be no easy test for Stevens to pass.
The chief support for Manfredo-Banks will have three-time world champion Jamie “The Hurricane” Clampitt taking on five-time world champion Jane, “The Fleetwood Assasin” Couch, for the vacant WBC women’s 140 pound title. The fight will be a rematch of Ring Magazine’s 2004 women’s fight of the year, one in which Couch, 28-9 (9 KOs), won a unanimous decision. Clampitt, 17-4-1 (7 KOs) was faced with adversity, as her trainer passed away the day before the fight. “It was tough because I was never really in the fight, I was never there. I know she (Couch) is expecting something from me, but she has no idea what she is going to get. I hope she doesn’t expect the same girl that she fought before.”
Also in attendance at the conference was Contender season one star Jesse Brinkley. Brinkley is coming off of back-to-back losses against Joey Spina (Brinkley dominated for 10 ½ rounds before being stopped by a body shot) and Robin Reid. “I have two fights coming up, one against Luis Lopez in June, and then against Dallas Vargas in July,” said Brinkley. “After that I really want another crack at Joey Spina. We never told anybody, but I was hurt going into that fight, my ribs and that entire side of my body was all messed up. We were gonna pull out three weeks before the fight but I said ‘the hell with it, I can beat this guy.’ Unfortunately he hit me right on the money. He’s overrated though, I took his best punches right on the chin and they didn’t even phase me. We’ve been offering him a lot of money, but he just doesn’t want to fight.”
“Cha Ching in the Ring” will be take place June 20 at Foxwoods Casino, CT. The fight will be broadcast live on ESPN’s “Wednesday Nigh Fights”. Tickets are on sale now.
