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Manfredo back in win column with TKO of Muller
By Stephen Tobey (May 13, 2007)

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LINCOLN, R.I. – Rhode Island's most recognizable active fighter helped break in the state's newest boxing venue on Friday.

Just 34 days after his unsuccessful bid for Joe Calzaghe's World Boxing Organization super middleweight title, Peter Manfredo, Jr. came back and stopped Ted Muller of Moline, Ill. in the ninth round of a scheduled 10-round super middleweight bout. The fight was the main event in the first boxing event held at the Twin River Events Center, which opened last month.

"There's no place like home," said Manfredo, who was stopped in the third round of his fight with Calzaghe in Cardiff, Wales. "Obviously, Joe Calzaghe knows about that."

Manfredo (27-4, 13 knockouts) dominated Muller throughout the fight and by the sixth round Muller was starting to feel the effects of the right uppercuts that Manfredo landed almost at will. Muller (19-11-2, 9 KO s) did land on occasion, usually after Manfredo landed a big punch and left himself open while trying to follow up.

Manfredo knocked Muller down with a right to the body early in the ninth round. After Muller got up, Manfredo continued his attack and after a hard overhand right staggered Muller, referee Charlie Dwyer stopped the fight at 1:19.

"I hit him with some good shots and he kept coming," said Manfredo. "He was very tough, but I wanted to get the rounds after going three in my last fight and stopping Joey Spina and Scott Pemberton early."

Manfredo plans to fight again next month, then again in September.

"I want to be a world champion," said Manfredo. "I need to work up to that level again."

In the co-feature, the 2004 U.S. Olympic team's super heavyweight Jason Estrada won a six-round unanimous decision over Robert Hawkins of Philadelphia. Wayne Lima scored it 59-55, while Clark Sammartino and Robert Paolino scored it 60-54.

There were no knockdowns but Estrada (9-1, 1 KO) controlled the action and beat Hawkins to the punch whenever the fighters had their hands free to punch. Hawkins (21-8, 7 KO s) smothered Estrada and prevented him from putting together the combinations he needed to do any serious damage.

Light heavyweight Jarrod Tillinghast of Providence, RI returned to the ring for the first time since 1999 and out-pointed Jeffrey Osborne of Davenport, Iowa over four rounds. The scores were 40-36 (twice) and 39-37. Tillinghast improved to 8-9 (2 K Os); Osborne dropped to 4-5-2 (1 KO).

Super middleweight Angel Camacho, Jr. of Johnston, R.I. stopped Donyell Dukes of Jacksonville, Fla. in the first round of a scheduled four. Camacho is now 6-0 (4 K Os); Dukes dropped to 0-2.

Lightweight Hank Lundy of Philadelphia stopped debuting Jose Velasquez of Worcester, Mass. in the second round of a scheduled four. Lundy is now 5-0 (4 K Os).

Richard Starnino of Providence won a four-round decision over Danile Craycraft of Cheshire, Ohio at middleweight. All three judges scored it 39-37. Starnino is 8-2-1 (1 KO); Craycraft is 10-17-3 (2 KO s).

Eddie Soto of Pawtucket, R.I. remained undefeated with a four-round unanimous decision over Felix Fernandes of Brockton, Mass. at junior welterweight. The scores were 40-35, 39-36 and 38-36. Soto is 8-0 (4 KO s); Fernandes is 4-7 (2 KO s).