by James Slater – A most intriguing fight is up on BoxRec right now as happening at super-middleweight on November 13th. “Contender” reality T.V stars Peter Manfredo Junior, of season one, and Sakio Bika, the most recent winner of the show, will clash in 27-year-old Manfredo Junior’s hometown of Providence, Rhode Island.
This is a very good match-up and a potentially tough fight for both men, particularly Manfredo. Bika, who sensationally defeated Jaidon Codrington to win the “Contender” final last November in what turned out to be one of the best fights of last year, is one dangerous fighter. Since stopping Codrington (who is also scheduled to box on the November bill), “The Scorpion” from Sydney, Australia has won a fight by 1st round KO this past April. With a good record of 26-3-2(16) in his possession and a very good chin to go with it, the 29-year-old will surely be the favourite to beat the two years younger Manfredo.
The two have a number of common opponents. Both went in with Joe Calzaghe, of course, with Bika doing significantly better than Manfredo. “The Pride of Providence” was controversially stopped in the 3rd round by a referee who acted prematurely, while Bika went 12 hard, somewhat foul-filled, rounds with Calzaghe. Based on their respective fight with J.C alone, “The Scorpion” looks a better fighter than Manfredo. Add to this Bika’s technical draw with then WBC super-middleweight champion Markus Beyer, his competitive points loss to the unbeaten Lucian Bute and his win over the capable Sam Soliman, and it seems the 29-year-old who was born in Cameroon will be too much for Manfredo.
The 31-5(16) Manfredo deserves credit for taking this fight, though. And in his last fight he did something Bika couldn’t, and stopped fellow “Contender” Donny McCrary. Also, Manfredo has been more active than Bika as of late, having three fights this year already – all of which were stoppage wins. Since losing on points in a credible showing against Jeff Lacy, Peter’s most recent loss since the one at the hands of Calzaghe, Manfredo has kept a clean sheet in attempting to get one more run at a title. A win over Bika, who has never been stopped, would very possibly get Manfredo such a fight.
Both fighters are natural super-middleweights, both are exciting to watch and both remain hungry. Manfredo may have advantages in his recent ring activity seeing to it that he will be the sharper of the two men, and in having the fight held in his hometown, but the more durable, rougher and tougher Bika is this writer’s pick for the winner.
Look for “The Scorpion” to either stop a brave Manfredo late or pick up a close points win on November 13th in a crowd-pleasing encounter.