Interview: Season One of "The Contender" Star Peter Manfredo Jr.


By ROBERT JONES
Staff Writer FightNightNews
 
Peter Manfredo (25-3 11 KO's) is now less than two weeks away from his October 14th battle with undefeated prospect Joey Spina (19-0-1 14 KO's). Manfredo is well known for being on the hit shot "The Contender," not only in American, but all over the world, as he tells us in this interview. He also told what he thought about this season of "The Contender," his thoughts on Spina, and if the rumors are true he could be next in line for Roy Jones Jr. 

Robert Jones: You're father, Peter Sr., was also a fighter. Is that what influenced you into becoming a fighter?

Peter Manfredo: Yeah, I kind of had no choice. When I was five years old I was in the gym. He was a fighter and my uncle was a fighter. So, it was kind of like a family thing.

RJ: You're fight with Joey Spina is less than two weeks away. How is training camp going?

PM: Training came is going great. I came out here to Wild Card (gym) in California. Which I hate, because you're away from your family and everything, and that's the tough part. I physically and mentally prepared myself right. I'm just excited about going home and getting the fight over with on October 14th.


RJ: How anxious have you been to get back into the ring after your knockout of Scott Pemberton?

PM: Extremely anxious. I wanted to get back into the ring 90 days after, but it didn't happen that way. I had some problems with the contender, but we straightened them out and I'm happy to be back with them and I'm happy to be fighting on October 14th.

RJ: You and Joey Spina are both from Providence, RI. How well do you guys know each other?

PM: Well, I knew him. I didn't hang with him, or anything like that growing up, but I knew of him. I've been boxing all my life, since I was five. He just got in the game, I don't know, maybe 10 years ago. He had an alright amateur career, not really that good. He turned professional and started knocking guys out. He's like a knockout artist, I guess, big strong puncher. But, he doesn't have the skill I have. He's been going around running his mouth a lot, "I should have been on contender, I'm the real pride of Providence, a real Italian warrior," this and that. I can shut him up on October 14th and that's what I came out here to do.

RJ: Spina has vowed to knock you out. What do you say in return to that?

PM: I want to see him try. I've never been on the canvas before, so (laughs) I'd just like to see him try to knock me out. I mean, that's what he's got to say. He's got to say he's going to knock me out. He knocks out, what, 14 guys? But, who's he fought? He's fought three of the same guys twice in his career. He knocked out a guy in the first round and said eh, let me fight him again. So, he gave him a rematch and knocked him out again in the first round. A lot of his opponents are hand picked. He really hasn't fought at the level that I'm on. He's in trouble. He's in a world of trouble come October 14th.

RJ: Did you get a chance to catch the second season of the Contender?
PM: Yes I did. I thought it was good. I didn't think it was as good as the first season. Not because I was on it, but they picked a lot of guys this year that hadn't fought in three, four, even five years. I think on the first season you seen a lot more contenders. The second season was great. I thought Grady Brewer deserved to win. That guy's been an underdog all his life. I fought him in my first eight round fight and beat him in New England. I think he deserved to win. I think "The Contender", no matter what, Season three, or if they do a season four, does nothing but help boxing. It gives fighters a chance to earn big money, to make them household names. People get to cheer for them, people get to know them. I think it's bringing back boxing in a big way. I support it.
 

RJ: I have to ask you since I've got you on the line. Is there any truth to the rumor that if you get by Spina you are going to be fighting Roy Jones Jr.

PM: Yeah. But, I'm not looking past Spina right now. That's not even in my mind right now. It's been talked about, my promoters, Jeff Wald and Brian Edwards, they can comment more on that. They threw it out there to me. I'm just a throwback to the old school fighters. I'll fight anybody. I do this not to become a five time champion, not to become one of the best ever, I do this to feed my family. This is my living. I'd fight ever week if I have to. So, yeah, the rumors are true, but I have to get by Spina first on October 14th.


RJ: How many tickets did you have to give away for the fight? Has this been any kind of distraction for you?

PM: Everybody has asked me for tickets. They think I can get free tickets. I'm only limited to so many, so I'm just happy to get my immediate family in. I just focus on what I have to do. It's not a distraction. I actually love fighting at home. I'm comfortable with the surroundings; I'm comfortable with the area. I love the food back there. I'm Italian and in an Italian section, so forget about. I eat, I go in there, and I'm pumped up. It actually helps me when I fight at home.

RJ: Well, I guess I can't ask for tickets for my girlfriend. You're actually one of the few fighters she recognizes.

PM: (laughs) Nah, I can't.
 

 

RJ: How many times a day do you get noticed on the street from fans of "The Contender?"

PM: Everywhere. How many times a day? Depends on how much I go out. Every time I go out, I get noticed, especially here in Hollywood. Everybody knows me here in LA, it's like my second home. After the Pemberton fight, I took my wife to the Dominican Republic, and more people knew me there than here. It was crazy.

RJ: Is there anything you would like to add to the readers here at FightNightNews.com, and do you ever get to check out the website?

PM: I just want to say thank you to all my fans and friends out there that come see me fight and hopefully I give them another exciting fight on October 14th.
 

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