| |||||||
By Luis Escobar
(December 19, 1998) Miami, Fl. (Miccosukee Gaming Indian Casino)--
In a game of reflexes "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather jumped Angel "El Diablo" Manfredy
seconds after the opening bell and didn't ease up until he scored a bedeviling second-round TKO.
Making the first defense of his WBC super featherweight crown, Mayweather trapped Manfredy
on the ropes in the second after stunning him with a straight right hand to the chin. The champion
unleashed a volley of shots that dazed but didn't drop the challenger. Nevertheless, after a series
of unanswered whistling lefts and rights landed referee Frank Santore jumped between the fighters
and halted the contest. The quick stop at the 2:47 mark of the second round was met by shock
and a mixed chorus of cheers and boos from the Florida fight fans.
"Manfredy was taking punishment and not answering back," the referee Santore said after the
bout. "I said Angel you've got to fight back and he didn't respond."
"Come on, everybody knows, the whole world knows it. He caught me with two good shots, I
was not dazed at all, and they jump in and stop the fight," a visibly angry Manfredy said after the
sudden loss. "The referee did not tell me ‘let's start throwing punches,' it was all politics and all
rigged up for him to go ahead and win."
"I feel it was a good stoppage," Mayweather said after the victory. "I thought that Manfredy was
a very, very good fighter. He's tough, he's strong, and he's dedicated to the sport of boxing."
--Fist City--
Round One:
Manfredy (25-3-1, 20 KO's) came out in the first round resplendent in silver sequins and a white
leotard, that if nothing else made a loud fashion statement for the current WBU 130-pound king.
The WBC champ Mayweather (19-0, 15 KO's) was more subdued in red and white trunks but at
the 2:48 mark of the 1st, nailed the challenger with a perfect counter right hand to the jaw. The
shot landed flush over the challenger's jab and buckled Manfredy's (130, 1998) knees. Seconds later,
Mayweather, 21, tagged Manfredy, Gary, IN., again with a straight right hand between his gloves.
The challenger attempted to counter but Mayweather was already gone. Both men traded jabs as
Manfredy, 23, attempted to cut the ring and corner the much faster champion. With 1:22
remaining in the round, Manfredy was momentarily able to trap Mayweather in a corner but just as
quickly the WBC champion disappeared. The challenger continued to try and apply pressure but
Mayweather effortlessly eluded the attack. Several times during the course of the round Manfredy
was able to get Mayweather near the ropes, however, he never was really able to unload any shots
that had any type of steam on them. Seconds before the bell to end the 1st, Mayweather, Las
Vegas, NV., ducked under a Manfredy lead right and scored with a counter right to the top of the
challenger's shaved skull. Mayweather closed out the 1st, with a snapping left hook to the ribs,
followed by a stiff left jab to the face.
--Early Evening--
Round Two:
Manfredy, 5'6", came out in the second round and missed badly with a big overhand right to the
head. Mayweather missed with the two jabs and after the second shot strayed south of the border
both fighters touched gloves. At the 2:33mark of the 2nd, Mayweather, 5'7 1/2", stayed still long
enough to connect with a brisk two-shot combination that just grazed Manfredy's chin. Before
the challenger could set himself, Mayweather scored with a clean lead right hand to the mouth and
then shoved Manfredy away when he attempted to counter. Seconds later, Mayweather landed yet
another lead right hand between the challenger's gloves. The champion switched to a southpaw
stance momentarily and planted his feet but Manfredy was reluctant to attack. With 1:36 to go in
the 2nd, Manfredy scored with a solid right hand as Mayweather missed with his counter.
Fighting along the ropes, however, the champion was able to slide away before Manfredy could
follow up. At the 1:12 mark, Manfredy caught Mayweather against the ropes and connected with
two right hands up top and a searing left hook to the belt line. The challenger continued to try and
pick up the tempo but with 37-seconds remaining in the round, Mayweather caught Manfredy
again with a another straight right hand to the jaw. The shot landed square on the chin and
Manfredy bent at the waist and did a deep knee bend and almost lost his balance but managed to
stay upright.
Immediately Mayweather unleashed a torrent of shots as Manfredy retreated to the corner. The
challenger blocked a wicked overhand right and a left hook but an uppercut connected followed by
a sharp right hand to the face. With referee Frank Santore peering into the action, Mayweather
missed with three more roundhouse shots. However, Mayweather connected with a whistling
overhand right to the back of the challenger's head followed by a jolting left hook to the jaw that
drove Manfredy back into the ropes. With the fans screaming, Manfredy lost his balance and hit
the second strand but kept his feet. Mayweather unloaded an eight-punch barrage of withering
lefts and rights to the head. Mayweather continued the assault with four more unanswered shots
and the referee Santore wrapped his arms around the champion. The much anticipated showdown
between 130-pounders had come to a sudden halt.
Manfredy headed back to his corner slightly dazed but disgusted with quick conclusion. The man
who enjoyed wars with Arturo Gatti and John Brown seemed in disbelief the fight was over. The
champion attempted to walk across the ring and tried to salute his fans but his father/trainer quickly
lifted him on his shoulder and paraded the champion around the ring.
--Aftermath--
The WBC super featherweight champion has gone and outstanding 7-0 in 1998 while rocketing
to fame in the sport. However, in speaking with the press after the victory over Manfredy,
Mayweather played down the talk of moving up in weight and challenging IBF lightweight
champion Shane Mosley. While that fight would by one of the highlights of 1999, the fact
remains that Mosley is squeezing to make 135 and more that likely will be forced to move up to
junior welterweight in the next year. However, thoughts of a Mayweather-Mosley showdown
already has boxing fans and writers looking forward to 1999. In a sport of fast hands and
accuracy, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been outstanding in 1998.
Contact The Boxing Times |
Media Request |
Privacy Statement