Manfredo-Benfield Headline “Rumble at the River”March 14 at Twin River Event Center

PROVIDENCE, RI – World super middleweight challenger “The Pride of Providence” Peter Manfredo, Jr. returns to the ring March 14, headlining “Rumble at the River,” against Shane “The Irish Hitman” Benfield, in an Italian-Irish themed pro boxing show at Twin River Events Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island. “Rumble at the River,” part of “The Budweiser Night at the Fights” series at Twin River, is promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc., in association with Twin River, Budweiser and Tournament of Contenders.

Photo of Jaime Clampitt, promoter Jimmy Burchfield and Peter Manfredo, Jr.
(By Emily Harney)



Manfredo (28-5, 13 KOs), star of The Contender I television reality series, fights Benfield (17-1, 9 KOs) in the 10-round main event. Coming off of a 10-round loss by decision to former world champion Jeff Lacy on the Mayweather-Hatton pay-per-view card, Peter hopes to rebound against Benfield, who dropped a 12-round decision in his last action to DeAndrey Abron for the NABO belt that Manfredo once held. IWBF lightweight champion Jaime “The Hurricane” Clampitt (18-4-1, 7 KOs), fighting out of Cranston (RI) defends her crown against battle-tested Belinda “Brown Sugar” Larcuente (23-20-3, 9 KOs), the GBU junior welterweight title-holder from New York City, in the 10-round co-feature. Clampitt is a 3-time world champion, while 20 of Larcuente’s last 21 bouts, dating back nearly five years, have been against world champions. “St. Joseph’s (March 19) is a very important Italian holiday as St. Patrick’s Day (Mar. 17) is for the Irish,” promoter Jimmy Burchfield said. “We decided to promote an Italian-Irish themed show on the preceding weekend of the two holidays. We’re happy and excited about this concept and plan to make it an annual event at Twin River. Even though we have a lot of Italian and Irish fighters on this card, some matched against each other, we’ll also have a few other ethnic groups represented and it’ll all add up to a great night of boxing.” In the chief supporting bout on the undercard, Stoughton (MA) cruiserweight Chris McInerney (9-1-1, 6 KOs) faces former New England title-holder Tim “The Hammer” Flamos (19-4-1, 7 KOs), of Brockton, in a six-round bout of a rematch McInerney won by sixth round TKO last December. Unbeaten Russian middleweight Andre Nevsky (3-0, 3 KOs), of Worcester (MA), meets his toughest test to date in a four-round bout versus Eric Pinarreta (2-1, 2 KOs), of New Bedford (MA). USBA No. 4 super middleweight Joey “KO Kid” Spina (20-1-1, 15 KOs), of Providence; light heavyweight “Irish” Joey McCreedy (6-1, 4 KOs), of Lowell (MA); unbeaten Lynn (MA) flyweight Isander Beauchamp (3-0) and Providence junior welterweight Diego Pereira making his pro debut are also on the card against opponents to be determined. All fights and fighters are subject to change. Manfredo, Spina, Flamos and Pinarreta are on Team Italy; Benfield, Clampitt, McInerney and McCreedy comprise Team Ireland. Tickets for “Rumble at the River” are priced at $35.00 (ADA stage seating only), $40.00, $50.00, (Bronze), $75.00 (Silver), $100.00 (Gold) and $150.00 (Jimmy’s Platinum Club) and may be purchased by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going on line at http://www.cesboxing.com/ or http://www.twinriver.com/, at the Twin River Event Center (100 Twin River Road, Lincoln, RI), or any TicketMaster location. Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or Twin River Events Center (877.82.RIVER/ http://www.twinriver.com/) for more information. Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET. (Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “Rumble at the River.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied at all times by an adult and they must enter through the West entrance.)


PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Peter Manfredo Jr.: “I would like to apologize to all my fans for my performance against Jeff Lacy. I’m very focused for this fight. I had a bad 2007 but everything happens for a reason. I have the desire to fight again. I’m doing this for me, my family, my friends and my hometown. Shane better bring his A game. I would also like to wish Matt Godfrey best of luck in Germany. (Godfrey fights Rudy Kraj in a WBC cruiserweight title elimination bout on March 8.) I feel it’s his time.” Shane Benfield: (by phone) “I’m ‘The Hitman’ and Peter should know that. I will make sure everyone in Providence knows they call me ‘The Hitman.’ Vinny Paz is a good friend of mine and I will make him proud. I’m excited to fight and I’m coming to fight. Peter is a big star from The Contender and I can’t wait to beat him.” Jaime Clampitt: “I’m so excited to finally fight here at Twin River. I was supposed to fight here a few times but the fights fell through. I’m finally getting my chance and I will make the best of it. Jimmy Burchfield is like a father to me and he has stuck behind me through everything and I want to thank him for that. My opponent (Belinda) is very tough and very slick, but I look forward to breaking her down and getting a huge win on my record.” Joey Spina: “I try to knock everyone out and the 14th will be no different. I’ve been sparring a lot and looking good. I can’t wait to get back in the ring.” Chris McInerney: “It was a good fight last time. He wants a rematch, so I will give it to him. I’m happy and excited to be fighting for CES and this is a great card to be on. I hope to see everyone at the fights.” Joey McCreedy: “This is a great card with Peter and Jaime on top. I’m honored to be on it. I’m coming off a great win where I showed heart and determination. I will do the same thing on this card. I’ve been training hard and it will show.” Andre Nevsky: “I’m very excited. I’m going to have a big knockout.” Eric Pinarreta: “I want to thank Team Nevsky for taking the fight. He’s a good fighter but I’m going to beat him. I will see everyone at The River.” Isander Beauchamp: “I’m very happy to be fighting for CES and I can’t wait to knock someone out. Please come to see me on the 14th. You won’t be disappointed.” Diego Pereira: “This is my pro debut and it’s going to be huge. I’m for real and I’m here to stay.”

CONTACT:Bob Trieger, Full Court Press

Undefeated middleweight prospect Victor “THE UKRAINIAN TIGER” Polyakov will face Derrick “SUPERMAN” Findley at Cicero Stadium on Friday, March 14th

Undefeated middleweight prospect Victor “THE UKRAINIAN TIGER” Polyakov will face Derrick “SUPERMAN” Findley at Cicero Stadium on Friday, March 14th as part of MARCH BADNESS, an outstanding evening of world class professional boxing presented by Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING.

Tickets for MARCH BADNESS are available in advance by calling the 8 Count Productions offices at 312-226-5800. Cicero Stadium is located at 1909 S. Laramie, just minutes from the Eisenhower and Stevenson Expressways. Doors for this event will open at 5:30pm with the first bell at 6:30pm.

A member of the 2004 Ukrainian Olympic team, the 26 year old Polyakov,
7-0 with six knockouts, has thrilled Chicago crowds with his stunning power since turning professional in November 2006.

Said Pesoli, starting his second decade of promoting with the MARCH BADNESS event, “This is a very good test for Victor, it’s his first eight rounder and in Findley he’s facing a real tough kid with a lot more pro experience. We’re expecting Victor to have a huge 2008 and this fight is hopefully the first step in that direction.”

Said the Chicago based Polyakov, “I’ve got the Kryptonite ready for Superman. He’s a very solid fighter and I’ve been working hard in preparation for my fight with him. The Chicago fight fans have been terrific to me and I’m looking forward to putting on a great performance.”

In his last bout, which can be viewed on Youtube.com, Polyakov scored a devastating first round knockout of Brad Hill on December 14, 2007.

A resident of Gary, Indiana, the 23 year old Findley, 10-2 (6KO’s), has won four in a row since battling 2004 US Olympian Gold Medal winner Andre Ward in November 2006, dropping a six round decision.

This is Findley’s second appearance at Cicero Stadium, his first being a six round war with Jorge Gonzalez on February 17, 2006 which was broadcast on SOLO BOXEO. He is promoted by Octavius James’ Merrillville, Indiana based One In A Million Incorporated. .

MARCH BADNESS is headlined by an outstanding lightweight clash between former world champion Javier “EL Chatito” Jauregui and world ranked contender Miguel “EL Anestesista “Huerta.

Along with Dominic Pesoli's 8 Count Productions and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated, MARCH BADNESS is presented by TCF Bank, Tecate Beer and AeroMexico, Mexico’s premier airline travel headquarters. The SOLO BOXEO TECATE broadcast will be viewed in 42 US markets and 70 foreign countries.

The full MARCH BADNESS card is as follows;

Javier Jauregui vs. Miguel Huerta, twelve rounds, lightweights
Brandon Rios vs. Alvin Brown, eight rounds, lightweights
Victor Polyakov vs. Derrick Findley, eight rounds, middleweights
Leo Martinez vs. Jose Navarette, six rounds, lightweights
Gadiel Andaluz vs. Nick Arellano, four rounds, lightweights
Eric Estrada vs. TBA, four rounds, super bantamweights
Javier Estrada vs. TBA, four rounds lightweights

The Master of Ceremonies for MARCH BADNESS will be Lupe Contreras, the internationally recognized voice of Latino boxing.

The open to the public weigh-in for MARCH BADNESS will take place on Thursday, March 13th at 7pm at EL Jimador Restaurant, 1600 N. Mannheim Rd in Stone Park, just north of Lake St.

8 Count Productions was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland. In 2003, Pesoli along with former featherweight contender Mike Garcia opened JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000 square foot venue dedicated to the finest Chicagoland boxers of all talent levels.

To view the seating chart and poster for this event or for more information on 8 Count Productions and JABB Boxing Gym, please visit www.8countproductions.com and www.jabbboxinggym.com

For more information on Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated, please visit
www.toprank.com

CREATING CONTENDERS SINCE 1998

Bernie Bahrmasel
Publicist/8 Count Productions
www.8countproductions.com boxing entertainment fight sports mixed martial arts special events sports worlwide

WBC INSTALLS GIOVANNI LORENZO AS #1 CONTENDER; Undefeated challenger presses for June battle against WBC champ Kelly Pavlik

TOTOWA, NJ– The WBC has released its February ratings and undefeated middleweight contender Giovanni Lorenzo has been installed as the #1 mandatory challenger to WBC champion Kelly Pavlik, it was announced today by Main Events CEO Kathy Duva. Although honored by the ranking Lorenzo makes it clear that he wants to fight Pavlik “today” and not wait for the mandatory term to expire.

“Everyone knows that a fight between me and Kelly will be an all action, knockdown fight,” said Lorenzo. “Someone's 0 will have to go and most definitely it will be by brutal knockout. I was the first one to congratulate Kelly back stage after he won the title in Sept, and I will be the first one to take it from him on June 7th . . . if he can get his promoter to agree to the fight.”
Lorenzo (26-0, 18 KO’s) has stopped his last eight opponents. The 27-year-old Washington Heights, NY resident by way of Jerringa San Cristobal, Dominican Republic has knocked out 15 opponents within the first three rounds. In his last bout on Dec 17, 2007, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Lorenzo blasted Ulises Duarte in one round (KO 1).


For more info: MAIN EVENTS, Donald Tremblay