By Ryan Burton
Former Contender series star Peter "The Pride of Providence" Manfredo Jr. talks to BoxingScene.com about his upcoming fight against Matt "The Predator" Vanda. This will be Manfredo's first fight at 160 lbs. since fighting Sergio Mora in October of 2005. Manfredo talks about the move back to middleweight and about a potential showdown with Irish John Duddy in this exclusive interview.
BoxingScene.com: What is new with you?
Peter Manfredo: Nothing much buddy. I am just moving down to middleweight. I will be fighting for a NABF middleweight title on January 29th against Matt Vanda. I am just training real hard getting ready for the fight man.
BoxingScene.com: What are the keys to victory against Vanda?
Peter Manfredo: I just need to stay busy and stay sharp you know. I need to outbox him. He is a very tough guy. He comes to win. It is going to be a great fight for me and the fans. I will get the job done that is for sure.
BoxingScene.com: Did you see any tape of his two fights against Chavez or his fight against John Duddy?
Peter Manfredo: I haven't yet. I have just seen a couple clips on Youtube. We haven't seen any tape yet. We are still waiting to get some tape on him.
BoxingScene.com: Are you guys looking at a possible clash with John Duddy down the road? Italian versus Irish is always big especially in New York. That should be pretty good money wise as well.
Peter Manfredo: That is the goal. That was the goal when I moved down to 160. He has one loss now but that is still a fight people are going to want to see. Look at Micky Ward and Arturo Gatti. Nobody cared how many wins or losses they had. They just wanted to see those guys go out at it. Hopefully we can get the same thing done with me and Duddy.
BoxingScene.com: Would you be willing to fight him in New York?
Peter Manfredo: I will do it where ever it pays. If that is where the money is that is where I go.
BoxingScene.com: Did you you catch Paulie Malignaggi's rematch with Juan Diaz?
Peter Manfredo: Yeah I did. I think Paulie did great. He is a great boxer. He is tough to beat because he is so elusive. I thought it was a great performance on his part.
BoxingScene.com: What is your take on the Pacquiao Mayweather situation?
Peter Manfredo: I don't know man. I don't know what the hell is going on in the world today with all these sports dudes doing drugs. Who is doing them and who isn't, I don't really know. I think the fight is going to happen. I know I want to see it. Everyone wants to see that fight. Hopefully it gets worked out and they put the gloves on. Boxing needs this fight. I hope it happens.
BoxingScene.com: Assuming you beat Vanda what do you want to be your next fight?
Peter Manfredo: Maybe I can do a title defense. I would like to fight Ronald Hearns. I think it sells. He has a good record. I just need to keep winining and get my confidence up to where it was when I was fighting Calzaghe and those guys. I just want to get in there with whoever they put me in there with and keep winning.
BoxingScene.com: Looking back on your career if you could have a rematch against anybody you have lost to who would you want to fight again?
Peter Manfredo: Jeff Lacy. The reason I say that is because that was a fight I really needed to win. I was winning the fight up until the point I got knocked down in the third round if you want to call it that. It changed the whole fight around. The reason I say him is because I know I can beat him. It sucks you know. I got strep throat two weeks before the fight and I was out of the gym for a week. That was a week I needed to finish up getting ready for him. I don't think I will ever get the chance though.
BoxingScene.com: I don't know if he even will be fighting anymore.
Peter Manfredo: I don't think he should be fighting. Even if I beat him now what would it prove? He has been knocked out and beating him now would have no meaning to it.
BoxingScene.com: If you had a crystal ball where do you see yourself this time next year?
Peter Manfredo: I see myself winning a few fights and hopefully getting a world title shot maybe not in 2010 but in 2011. It isn't a perfect world so I just take it one fight at a time. I don't look into the future. I need to get past Vanda first and hopefully I look impressive. I want to stop him. I think he has only been stopped once. It would be great for me mentally if I can get him out of there.
BoxingScene.com: Do you have a message for the fans?
Peter Manfredo: I want to thank all my fans. Thanks for supporting me and staying by my side. This is it. This is my last shot so I am taking it serious and I am moving down to 160 where I should have been in the first place. I want to fight guys my size and be a champion.
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