Angel Manfredy (born October 30, 1974 in Gary, Indiana) is a Puerto Rican-American former boxer who has fought in the Junior Welterweight, Lightweight and Junior Lightweight divisions. Angel Manfredy was a popular late 1990s fighter.
Contents |
Manfredy, nicknamed El Diablo (The Devil) because of his reckless lifestyle and of his boxing style[1] converted to Christianity after trying to committ suicide in his bed while on cocaine.
He wears a tattoo of the Puerto Rican Flag on his shoulder. Also he has a tattoo of the cross and a naked lady.
Manfredy was known for his walk-ins to his matches wearing a latex mask depicting Satan, which he used until fight with Floyd Mayweather and conversion to Apostolic Pentecostalism.
During his career, Manfredy has defeated Arturo Gatti (by technical knockout), Ivan Robinson (by knockout), Jorge Páez, and Julio Díaz (by a split decision). He has also fought such notables as Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Paul Spadafora. A frequent contender, Manfredy never won a major world title, losing in each of four attempts. Manfredy currently sports a lifetime record of 42-8-1 (31 knockouts).
Manfredy lost two out of his first five fights, but then won an impressive 23 in a row, including wins over former champions such as Calvin Grove, and Jorge Páez, and top contenders such as Wilson Rodriguez, before landing his first major fight against Gatti, in the latter's hometown of Atlantic City. Manfredy was a big underdog but dominated the fight, knocking Gatti down in round 3, and eventually stopping him on cuts in round 8.
Following this fight Manfredy fought some C-level opponents, before fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a major HBO television event. Manfredy was stopped in the second round after a barrage of punches. Some called the stoppage premature. This was one of Manfredy's first fights in his new Christian personality, and celebrated having Kid Rock appear at the match singing for him during his walk-in.
Following this fight Manfredy knocked out Ivan Robinson in what had been HBO's Boxing After Dark's highest-rated show of 1999. Manfredy then received another world title shot against Stevie Johnston in 1999, but was thoroughly outboxed. After this Manfredy has boxed some opponents here-and-there with little success. Spadafora beat Manfredy in a close decision in early 2002. Manfredy, who has not fought since 2004, has considered making a comeback.