number1contender.net

ESPN Wednesday Night Fights

June 20, 2007

Foxwoods Resort Casino-Mashantucket, Connecticut

Super Middleweight (168 pounds) 10-Round Match:

Peter Manfredo, Jr. (27-4, 13 KO's, 168 pounds) vs. David Banks (14-1-1, 2 KO's, 164 pounds)

Manfredo lost via round 3 TKO, to Joe Calzaghe, in Wales, in April. The stoppage was premature, but likely inevitable against the Ring Magazine Champion at 168 pounds. After that match, Manfredo talked about using the fact he took the match against the unbeaten Calzaghe to springboard him (Manfredo) into a title match at 160 pounds, where the Rhode Island native had spent the majority of his career. People have criticized Manfredo as overrated since then, and only being a name boxer, because of his appearance on "The Contender" reality show, opposed to what he has accomplished in the ring.

Instead of moving back down to 160 pounds, in Manfredo's one match since losing to Calzaghe, he competed at 168 pounds. This match and an already scheduled match on October 16 at a yet to be announced location in the United States, versus Allan Green are to be at contested with a 168-pound limit. The fact that Manfredo already has his next opponent scheduled, could make this a very dangerous match, with a real "look ahead factor". Manfredo's trainer talks openly about Manfredo not being motivated enough training for this match. The resident of Providence's last match was May 11, 2007, at The Roxy in Boston, Massachusetts. He won that match via a round 9 TKO, against a veteran professional opponent, in Ted Muller. 

Banks' father was shot and killed before he was born. He credits boxing and his trainers as being the guiding forces in his life

Banks has had no amateur matches and has no punching power. His last match was a 10 round unanimous decision victory, in a rematch of a win over Elvin Ayala, at the Mohegan Sun, in February.

Banks is 2 years younger then Manfredo, at only 24-years-old. The boxer out of Portland, Oregon will have a 1" height advantage standing 5' 10" tall, to Manfredo at 5' 9" tall. Both men box out of the orthodox stance.

Atlas' advice for Manfredo is to feint on the outside, and then come in with a left-right combination.

Atlas' believes the counterpunching Banks will need to slip Manfredo's left jab and throw two punch counters off of the Manfredo miss. 

Banks wins round 1, 10-9. There is already, swelling around Manfredo's left eye as round 2 begins.  Manfredo wins round 2, 10-9. Banks has landed his right hand frequently, through the first 3 rounds.  Round 3 goes to Banks, 10-9. Through 3 rounds, Banks is ahead on my card, 29-28. The two boxers who were reluctant to touch gloves to start the match, and continue their animosity, throwing punches after the bell to end round 3. Banks landed a decent right hand to Manfredo's head, well after the bell. Through 3 rounds, Atlas has it scored even at 29-29. Atlas gave round 1 to Banks, 10-9, round 3 to Manfredo, 10-9, and round 2 he scored even, 10-10.

Manfredo had predicted he would win in a round 4 knockout and had he maintained his workrate for the middle portion of the round for the rest of the round, the prediction may have come true. He had Banks in trouble with over a minute to go in the round, but did not keep up the pressure. Manfredo easily wins round 4, 10-9. In round 4, Manfredo connected on 47 punches, while Banks only connected on 23 punches.  Atlas scores round 4 for Manfredo, 10-9. With 1:43 to go in round 5, time is called to replace Banks' mouthpiece, that has fallen out. That is a sign that Banks is gassing and his mouth was open wide to breath. The action is quickly resumed. Manfredo wins round 5, 10-9.  Neither boxer appears capable, of more then 5 seconds of sustained punching action. There is a lot of action in this match, but only in flurries. Conditioning will have to be a concern of each boxer going forward. Manfredo wins round 6, 10-9. Through 6 rounds, I have Manfredo ahead, 58-56. Atlas scored round 6 for Manfredo, 10-9, and has him leading on his (Atlas') scorecard, 59-56.

In round 7, the swelling around Manfredo's left eye is now causing the eye to close. Round 7 is tough to score, but Manfredo may have done enough to win it. Manfredo wins round 7, 10-9. Atlas scored round 7 for Banks, 10-9. Manfredo takes round 8, 10-9. Atlas, also scores round 8 for Manfredo, 10-9. Through 8 rounds, Atlas and I both have Manfredo ahead, Atlas, 78-75, and me, 78-74.

Banks stole round 9, when Manfredo with less then 30 seconds to go in the round stood against the ropes and dared Banks to come forward and hit him. Banks, then came forward and hit Manfredo. It was some of the best action in the round, and ended up flipping a round Manfredo was going to win, in favor of Banks. Round 9 goes to Banks, 10-9. Atlas scores round 9 for Banks, because Manfredo allowed himself to be hit, 10-9. Banks needs to work with a sense of urgency in round 10 to pull out a win in this match. Both boxers are entering round 10 for the fourth time in their career. Manfredo needs to stay focused also, because it is not a lock, even though he is in his region, that he can loose round 10 and win a decision. Action packed round 10 that Manfredo wins, 10-9. My final score is in favor of Manfredo, 97-93. Atlas scored round 10 for Manfredo, 10-9, and has Manfredo winning the match, 97-94.

The official decision from the judges scorecards is: 97-93, 97-93, 97-93, all for the winner by unanimous decision, "The Pride of Providence" Peter Manfredo, Jr. The win moves Manfredo's record to 28-4, with 13 of those wins coming by way of knockout.

The final Punch Track numbers have Banks landing 255 punches of the 669 punches he threw, for a 38% connect percentage. Manfredo landed 315 of 807 punches he threw, for a 39% connect percentage.

Even in victory this was not a great showing for Manfredo. Atlas' hammered rightfully on the point that Manfredo was not throwing enough jabs. Instead the boxer was moving into punching range unprotected and getting hit repeatedly with right hands. He can get away with it against a boxer with no power, but as he steps up in class he will be knocked out. His conditioning was not where it needs to be to be a champion. Manfredo credits most of the problems to being in the gym too long and not having a good training camp for this match. Whatever the case, there were a lot of things to work on for a boxer looking to get another title shot quickly. Finally, Manfredo is still too small to box successfully at 168 pounds. He needs to move back down to 160 pounds to be able to win that elusive championship.

This was a good show from start to finish. Not a must watch, but if stumbled upon is worth watching.  This was the SmackDown! of boxing events.