Angel Manfredy

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.

Personal

Manfredy, nicknamed El Diablo (The Devil) because of his reckless lifestyle and of his boxing style[1] converted to Christianity after trying to commit 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.

Amateur career

Manfredy had an amateur record of 48-8.

Professional career

Manfredy was known for his walk-ins to his matches wearing a latex mask depicting Satan, which he used until his fight with Floyd Mayweather and conversion to Apostolic Pentecostalism.

During his career, Manfredy defeated notable fighters, such as Arturo Gatti (by technical knockout), Ivan Robinson (by knockout), Jorge Páez, and Julio Díaz (by a split decision). He has also fought notables Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Paul Spadafora. A frequent contender, Manfredy was a former WBU Super Featherweight champion, losing in each of four attempts. Manfredy currently sports a lifetime record of 43-8-1 (32 knockouts).[2]

Manfredy lost two out of his first five fights, but then won 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 who was an underdog dominated the fight, knocking Gatti down in round 3, and eventually stopping him on cuts in round 8.[3]

Following this fight Manfredy fought twice before fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a major HBO television event. Manfredy was stopped in the second round after a barrage of punches. Manfredy called the stoppage premature and stated he was not injured.[4] 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.[5] In 2002 Manfredy challenged Paul Spadafora for the International Boxing FederationWorld lightweight title. Spadafora beat Manfredy in a close decision.[6] Manfredy last fought in 2004.

Training and Promoting

In 2017 Manfredy took a position as a trainer and promoter in Crown Point, Indiana in a gym owned by boxer Ricky Carr.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Angel Manfredy". Poptop.hypermart.net. 2001-10-12. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
  2. ↑ "BoxRec - Angel Manfredy". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2017-06-04.
  3. ↑ Smith, Timothy W. (1998-01-18). "BOXING; Manfredy Stops a Badly Cut Gatti in Eighth Round". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-06-04.
  4. ↑ "On This Day: Floyd Mayweather hints at greatness with thrashing of Angel Manfredy - Boxing News". Boxing News. 2016-12-19. Retrieved 2017-06-04.
  5. ↑ Smith, Timothy W. (1999-08-15). "BOXING; Johnston Turns Back Manfredy In Decision". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-06-04.
  6. ↑ "Tired of being on the defensive, Spadafora spikes the punch". old.post-gazette.com. Retrieved 2017-06-04.
  7. ↑ 219-933-3316, Joseph S. Pete joseph.pete@nwi.com,. "Boxing legend Angel Manfredy coming back as trainer and matchmaker". nwitimes.com. Retrieved 2017-06-04.
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