16.01.04 – Unless their fight ends in a draw, either “The Pride of Providence” Peter Manfredo, Jr. (19-0, 9 KOs) or Sherwin Davis (17-0, 11 KOs) will be the new NABO junior middleweight champion and the other will have suffered his first loss as a professional boxer January 23rd in “The Battle II,” promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Sports and Entertainment, Inc.
Manfredo-Davis is the 12-round co-feature on “The Battle II,” headlined by the anxiously awaited rematch of ESPN’s 2003 Fight of the Year, IBU World and NABF super middleweight champion Scott “The Sandman” Pemberton (26-3-1, 21 KOs) against three-time world title challenger Omar Sheika (23-5, 16 KOs), live on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights at Foxwoods Resort Casino.
Former IBU World and EBA champion Manfredo, rated No. 6 by the NABO, squares-off against NABO No. 7 ranked Davis, of Indianapolis (IN). “I know what I have to do,” Manfredo said. “I’m in tremendous shape. But I’ve always liked to do my talking in the ring. I’m known for having a lot of heart and balls, but I’m going to use my head, too, in this fight. Sparring with Ray Oliveira, Scott Pemberton and (amateur) Matt Godfrey has helped me get ready for this fight.
“I’m ready for Davis and I’m going to take the belt home. I feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz: There’s no place like home and I’m glad to be back with CES and Jimmy Burchfield.”
Sheika, fighting out of Paterson (NJ), challenges Pemberton, of New Bedford (MA), for Scott’s NABF and IBU titles in the 12-round main event. Pemberton, now rated No. 12 by the WBC, won a 12-round majority decision (114-113, 114-113, 111-116) against Sheika last July at the same venue.
“Here we go again,” Pemberton remarked. “Training has gone well. I’m going to try and make this a little easier than the last one.”
The undercard has an exciting six-round super middleweight match between Richard “The Alien” Grant (14-10, 2 KOs), of Brooklyn (NY) and Dave “The Hamilton (15-11-1, 5 KOs), of Hanson (MA), as well as a grudge rematch between Martin “The Irish Assassin” Thornton (6-1, 3 KOs), of South Boston (MA) via Galway, Ireland and Providence’s Bobo The Bull” Starnino (6-1, 1 KO). Thornton defeated Starnino via a controversial fourth-round TKO in their first fight. Light heavyweight Wayne “Lights Out” Johnsen (1-0), fighting out of Peabody (MA), and lightweight Christian Cabreras (0-1), of Providence, will both be making their CES debuts in four-round matches. Johnsen faces Mike Needling (0-1), of Philadelphia (PA), while Cabreras squares off against William Foster (2-2-1, 1 KO), of Hartford (CT).
For more information contact CES corporate headquarters at 401.724.2253/2254, visit its Web site at www.cesboxing.com.