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05/15/2004 Archived Entry: "Manfredo Batters Bonsante"
Manfredo Batters Bonsante
By J. D. Vena
Providence, RI - Peter Manfredo, Jr., “The Pride of Providence” or so he is called, won an impressive 12-round decision over Anthony Bonsante of Shakopee, MN. The talented Manfredo was in tough with the strong and conditioned Bonsante, but after 12 fairly one-sided rounds, the judges favored Manfredo 120-109, 120-107 and 118-111.
“I thought it was a boring fight,” said Manfredo, who successfully defended his NABO jr. middleweight title. “I wanted to mix it up more but he wanted to make it more physical, holding and hitting and pushing my head down.”
Early on, Manfredo, 154, landed quick counters which you could tell were going to wear down Bonsante, if he didn‘t figure out a way to avoid them. Though it wasn’t baffling, Manfredo was winning with his speed and it seemed that Bonsante knew he was in for a painful fight if he didn’t try to negate it somehow.
In the first three rounds, Bonsante was willing to fight through Manfredo’s speedy combos with his eagerness to fight Manfredo on the inside, but he was often caught with well-timed, chopping right hands and counter left hooks. Bonsante, who had campaigned most of his career as a super-middleweight also tried to use his strength by tying Manfredo and pulling down on his head.
By the 7th, a frustrated Bonsante was getting out of hand and after receiving several warnings from referee Charlie Dwyer, Bonsante had a point deducted when he lifted Manfredo off the canvas as if he was getting ready to slam him.
In the 10th, Manfredo jolted Bonsante with a counter left hook just as Bonsante was trying to pick up the pace. Clearly hurt, Bonsante was able to survive the round with his continuous clinching. In the 12th, Bonsante tried to muscle Manfredo into the ropes and pound away, but Manfredo found some good spots where he stunned Bonsante. A groggy Bonsante was able survive the hellacious round.
“I’m happy for the win,” said Manfredo, now 21-0 with 10 KO‘s. “I didn’t want to walk into anything or get a head butt which is why I didn’t resort to his tactics. I felt like I fought like a champion. It’s not going to look pretty every time out. Hopefully, next time I’ll be in with a fighter who can make for a better fight.”
“Peter was the better fighter tonight,” admitted Bonsante, who fell to 24-4-3 with 13 KO.s. “He really put it together tonight and I commend for a great fight.”
Joey “KO Kid” Spina, 180, of Providence, RI lived up to his nickname when he KO’d Salah Zabian, 180, of Berkshire County, MA in the fourth round. Both fighters had a difficult time establishing themselves in the first three rounds, but midway through the fourth, Spina hit Zabian with a low blow while he had him up against the ropes followed by left two uppercuts, which hurt him. Zabian was clearly looking for referee Steve Manfredo, Pete’s uncle, to allow him some time to recuperate, but Manfredo apparently didn’t see the foul. Moments later, Spina moved in with a gargantuan overhand right which put Zabian to sleep. Manfredo waved it over without a count at the 2:17 mark. Spina improved to 11-0 with 8 KO’s while Zabian is now 5-3 with 4 KO’s.
Matt Godfrey’s worst fears almost came true tonight. On Wednesday, Providence native Godfrey, the 2004 U.S. Nationals champion, told the CBZ that he feared 4-round fights because anything could happen. He could suffer a knockdown and sometimes that could play a huge difference in scoring. In the third round, a careless, Godfrey lost his usual calm composure and walked into two long right hands from his first professional opponent, Glen Morgan, 197, of San Antonio, TX. In the fourth and final round, Godfrey, 201, dominated Morgan for the whole three minutes. Godfrey won by scores of 39-37 twice and 38-37 to get through what could have been a real-life nightmare.
Miami’s Felix Lora could change his name to the legendary “Happy” Lora after the Rhode Island judges awarded his a 4-round split decision over Providence hopeful, “Steemin” Josh Beeman. Lora, 138, used an effective body attack and mixed in some solid head shots to win receive votes of 40-36 and 39-38. Though Beeman was in the fight, he should not have been awarded the win, which one judge had at 39-38. Lora and Beeman are now 2-1.
In the first of two swing bouts, Reynaldo Rodriguez, 154, of Providence, improved to 5-0 with 2 KO’s when he out pointed a tough replacement Rashad Sanders, of Raleigh, NC. Missy “The Fury” Fiorentino, 129, of Cranston, RI defeated last-minute opponent, “Downtown” Leona Brown of Pawling, NY over 6-rounds. Fiorentino, now 9-0 with 6 KO’s won by scores of 60-53 twice and 59-54.
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