Atlantic City, NJ—Middleweight prospect Thomas LaManna, of Millville, NJ, faces the toughest test of his three-year pro career when he goes against Jamaal Davis, of Philadelphia, PA, in a scheduled eight-round fight on Saturday evening, Aug. 23, in the Grand Ballroom at Bally’s Atlantic City.

    Headlining the seven-bout card is a scheduled 10-round welterweight contest between Mike Jones, of Philadelphia, and Jaime Herrera, of Franklin Park, IL.  The card will be streamed live by www.gofightlive.tv   First fight is 7.30 p.m.

     LaManna (right) turned pro early in 2011 and he has a record of 14-0, 7 K0s.  He is ranked No. 5 among 160-pounders by the United States Boxing Association (USBA).

     In his last fight April 12, also at Bally’s, he earned unanimous eight-round decision over Ahsandi Gibbs, of Tampa, FL.  This will mark LaManna’s sixth fight at Bally’s.

     “I’ve been waiting for this fight for a while because I feel I need to prove something to myself,” LaManna said.  “Jamaal Davis is a tough, nitty-gritty veteran who’s been in the ring with everybody.  This is a huge step for me, but if I want to become a relevant boxer, I have to beat Jamaal Davis.

     “Bally’s in Atlantic City has been my second home and has been great to me.  I’m excited to be the co-feature again and to be part of another Philly vs. Jersey battle.”

clip_image006   Davis, 33, is 14-11-1, 6 K0s.  He has lost his last three, all against world-class competition:  Patrick Majewski, of Atlantic City, NJ; Yuri Foreman, of Brooklyn, NY; Jorge Melendez, of Manati, Puerto Rico.

    A pro since 2003, Davis has fought some of the best junior middleweights and middleweights up and down the East Coast, including:  Peter Quillin, of Brooklyn; Gabriel Rosado, of Philadelphia; Ossie Duran, of Paterson, NJ; Joel Julio, of Miami, FL.

    Davis has beaten Doel Carrasquillo, of Lancaster, PA, Josh Onyango, of Trenton, NJ, and Eberto Medina, of Paterson, NJ.

     “I know this is a do-or-die fight for me,” Davis said.  “Everyone is counting me out but I’m not ready to leave it alone (my career) quite yet.  LaManna will be the favorite in this fight and I am the stepping stone but fights are won in the ring and not on paper and not in people’s hearts or their hopes.

    “LaManna has skills but he hasn’t fought the kind of opposition I have fought.  This could be a whole new ball game for him.  I’ll be ready for him but will he be ready for me.”

   Six additional fights complete the card.