The return of Rhode Island icon Peter Manfredo Jr. on Friday, May 13th, 2016 will now also include the return of a once-promising regional prospect looking to get his career back on track. Undefeated Springfield, Mass., junior welterweight Zack Ramsey (7-0, 3 KOs) steps back into the ring for the first time since 2014 to face 20-fight vet Issouf Kinda (17-3, 7 KOs) of New York in a six-round bout at Twin River Casino, one of nine fights on the undercard of the 10-round Manfredo-Angel Camacho Jr. showdown presented by CES Boxing.
Originally born and raised in Hartford, Conn., but now fighting out of Massachusetts, the 26-year-old Ramsey fought 100 times as an amateur, winning 96 bouts, and captured titles in the Western and New England Gloves Tournaments.
After a three-year respite from boxing between the ages of 16 and 19, Ramsey returned to the amateur scene in 2009, cleaned up New England again, and turned pro in 2012 with a knockout win over Alan Beeman. His most noteworthy victory as a pro was his eight-round unanimous decision win over previously unbeaten Edwin Soto in Connecticut in 2013. Ramsey last fought in March of 2014, winning every round en route to a unanimous decision over 33-fight vet Shakha Moore.
Born in West Africa, the 28-year-old Kinda won his first 15 fights as a pro, including an impressive victory in 2012 over Greek super lightweight Mike Arnaoutis in the first defense of his New York State Title. Kinda suffered his first career loss via a controversial technical decision against Chris Howard a year later when the bout was stopped after the sixth round due to a cut over Howard’s eye from an accidental head butt.
Kinda later went on to face Paterson, N.J., vet Jeremy Bryan and reigning undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) Lightweight Champion Ismael Barroso.
The Manfredo-Camacho main event headlines the latest installment of CES Boxing’s 2016 Twin River Casino Fight Series, a loaded lineup featuring two title bouts and the Rhode Island debuts of CES’ newest additions to the roster.
May 13th is Manfredo’s first fight since November of 2013, when he stopped Rhode Island’s Rich Gingras in the 8th round of a scheduled 10-round bout. Coincidentally, Camacho’s last win was also against Gingras via 8th-round stoppage in September for the then vacant Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) International Light Heavyweight Title. After fighting just once during a six-year stretch between 2008 and 2014, Camacho has now risen to 15-0, culminating with his fifth career knockout in September.
In addition to Manfredo-Camacho, undefeated Worcester, Mass., junior middleweight Khiary Gray (12-0, 9 KOs) defends his UBF Northeast Title against Fort Meyers, Fla., vet Quinton Willis (10-3-2, 5 KOs) in an 8-round bout.
In a fight that could steal the show, regional standouts Nick DeLomba (8-1, 2 KOs) of Cranston, R.I., and the undefeated Freddy Sanchez (7-0, 5 KOs) of Worcester face off in a 6-round bout for the vacant New England Super Featherweight Title. DeLomba is looking to rebound from a first-round knockout loss to Gledwin Ortiz in September while Sanchez returns to the ring for the first time in two and a half months after suffering a no decision against Antonio Fernandes due to an accidental head-butt and subsequent cut over his right eye.
The undercard also features the Rhode Island return of New Haven, Conn., welterweight Jimmy Williams (10-0-1, 5 KOs), who puts his unbeaten record on the line against the hard-hitting Juan Rodriguez Jr. (12-4, 5 KOs) of Union City, N.J.
Rivalries will renew May 13th in a highly anticipated rematch between Stoughton, Mass., super featherweight Travis Demko (4-0, 1 KO) and Mohamad Allam (2-1, 1 KO) of Holyoke, Mass. The two faced one another in September with Demko winning by unanimous decision in a 4-round bout. They will now settle the score May 13th in a 6-round bout.
Also returning to Twin River, unbeaten Framingham, Mass., lightweight Julio Perez (4-0) faces Providence’s Cido Hoff (0-0-1) in a 4-round bout, while two fighters from Worcester make their professional debuts. Kendrick Ball Jr., the son of Gray’s head trainer, Kendrick Ball, debuts in a 4-round super middleweight bout against Providence’s Tunde Odumosu, trained by Rhode Island’s Victor Fagnant. Also from Worcester, decorated amateur Jamaine Ortiz debuts in a 4-round super lightweight bout against Skowhegan, Maine vet Josh Parker (0-2-1).
