Manfredo’s body punching stops Berrio after 6 rounds
Fighting for the first time at home in two years, IBO Middleweight Champion “The Pride of Providence” Peter Manfredo Jr. displayed a strong body-punching attack en route to a win by 6-round technical knockout against Colombian power-puncher Jhon Berrio in the non-title, main event on Friday’s “Homecoming King” card at Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, RI.
Manfredo (36-6, 20 KOs), rated No. 11 by the IBF, Berrio (15-8, 11 KOs) pounded Berrio’s ribs until the Colombian was unable to answer the bell for the seventh round. “It was an ugly fight,” Manfredo said. “I got in some rounds. He was strong and wild. I didn’t want to get cut. I hit him with short shots to the body until I broke his ribs.”
In an intra-state battle between friends, Woonsocket’s Joe Gardner won a unanimous 6-round decision versus Keith Kozlin in a spirited contest for the EBA New England Light Heavyweight Championship.
Heavyweight Mariusz “The Polish Giant” Wach won his 23rd fight without a loss when the 6-7, 260-pounder dropped Galen “Bad Boy” Brown twice in the third round before blasting Brown into a deep sleep right before the bell ending the third round.
Marshfield (MA) welterweight Aleksandra Lopes won her third straight fight, taking all four rounds for a unanimous decision. Providence firefighter and undefeated cruiserweight, Eric Estrada, won a 4-round decision against Tobias Rice.
Winston Thorpe (3-0-1) and a game Hyannis (MA) heavyweight Jesse Barboza (4-1-1), who rallied from being decked twice in the second round, fought to a 4-round draw. Thorpe had handed Barboza his only loss this past May.
New Bedford (MA) junior welterweight Johnathan Vazquez (3-0, 3 KOs) kept his perfect record intact with an opening-round knockout of Ernest Butts III. Providence cruiserweight Dante Wiggins and Pawtucket middleweight Thomas Falowo had impressive, knockout pro debuts. Wiggins stopped Paul Gonsalves with one punch at 51 seconds of the first round, while it took Falowo two rounds until the second round before Odias Dumezil fell.
