On Friday night, March 13 at the Space in Westbury, N.Y., undefeated middleweight Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna (16-0, 7 KO’s) will step up in class and try to silence any critics when he takes on fellow undefeated Middleweight Antoine “Action” Douglas (16-0-1, 10 KO’s). The quadruple-header ShoBox: The New Generation will be televised live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
The bout will headline a ShoBox: The New Generation card beginning at 10 PM ET
In an age where fighters don’t want to be tested until a premium network comes calling, LaManna gives Douglas credit for stepping for this major opportunity.
“I think whoever wins or loses, we should gain a lot of respect that two young and undefeated fighters are taking a risk. In boxing, when an opportunity presents itself, you can’t say no,” said LaManna
The 23-year-old LaManna is ready for this fight as he knows that a big effort will make him more than just a local attraction.
“It’s now because I have been a professional for four years, and sixteen fights and I just felt with my team to take this necessary risk to see where I am at.”
LaManna also feels that he doesn’t think that Douglas has been through a hard fight and on March 13 that will all change.
“I disagree with the notion that he has fought great competition and I haven’t. The only time he has had to bite down and grind it out, he was only able to get a draw. Not to take anything away from him, I have had to bite down, and I have won fights.”
“I know it’s his promoter’s show but in no way do I look at myself as the B-side in the fight.”
LaManna continues on to discuss that if you look behind the number’s, Douglas strength of schedule is not all that it looks to be on paper.
“He has fought two undefeated guys. One of them was from the Midwest, and the other did not beat anybody of note. On paper it may look better and maybe because of the way I look or my body type, people come in thinking that they will beat me. I can’t say that for all of his opponents. I also have not faced many guys on short notice. Just about all my opponents have had full training camps to face me.”
“I am going to say this that the professional ranks are different then the amateurs. I bring a lot more to the table then his other adversaries. Just like him, I am undefeated, and I do not know how to lose. On March 13, I will do everything to keep it that way. I am not in awe of anybody, and I consider this another day at the office.”
“I would like to thank my dad who also is my manager as well as my co-promoters Russell Peltz and Peltz Boxing, as well as Vincent Ponte and Gulfstream Promotions, .”
Vinny LaManna, Thomas’ Father and Manager believes, “One thing about Thomas is that all of his opponents have had ample time to train. They have all come to win. Come March 13, the hard work and the ring experience will pay off.”
In the co-feature, unbeaten southpaw Ismael Barroso (16-0-2, 15 KOs), of El Tigre, Venezuela, will shoot for his 13th consecutive victory when he faces Issouf “Volcano” Kinda (17-2, 7 KOs), of Bronx, N.Y., in a ten-round scrap for the NABO Lightweight Title. In an eight-round featured bout, once-beaten Jerry “The King’s Son” Odom (12-1, 1 NC, 11 KOs), of Washington D.C., will try and avenge his lone loss when he takes on undefeated Andrew “Hurricane” Hernandez (8-0-1, 1 ND, 1 KO) of Phoenix, Ariz., in a super middleweight rematch. In the opening bout, Adam Lopez (9-0, 4 KOs), of San Antonio, and Houston’s Pablo Cruz (11-0, 3 KOs) clash in an eight-round battle of Lone Star State super bantamweights.
