LaManna versus Douglas WBA Middleweight Thriller Highlights ShoBox Westbury Card
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Westbury, NY (March 12, 2015)– USA Showtime ShoBoxThe Next Generation, Greg Cohen Promotions and Vito Melnicki GH3 Promotions will host an exciting nine bout card of professional boxing on Friday evening, March 13, 2015, at The Space in Westbury, Long Island, New York. The main event will feature a ten round vacant World Boxing Association Fedelatin Middleweight title bout between Thomas ‘Cornflake’ LaManna and Antoine ‘Action’ Douglas. The event will be produced by David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions.
LaManna, now 16-0, seven knockouts, Millville, New York, will face his toughest test in Douglas, 16-0-1, 10 knockouts, Burke, Virginia. The bout will be an action packed thriller!It will be the second attempt by Douglas to win a WBA regional belt, having drawn over 10 rounds with Michel Soro of France for the vacant WBA International Middleweight title at Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, New York, last August. Douglas is coming off a six round decision win over Don Mouton in November. LaManna is coming off a six round decision win over Gilbert Alex Sanchez at 2300 Arena in December. Both LaManna and Douglas have been eight rounds or more in professional bouts two times.
The main event ShoBoxThe Next Generation fight is a tossup, and will hinge on which fighter carries forth the better game plan. LaManna is a tall fighter at 6’2”, at times awkward, and can use his height and reach to superior advantage in a technical war with the 5’11 1/2” Douglas. LaManna lacks the level of bout such as Douglas’ bout with Soro. Superior conditioning could determine the winner if the fight enters later rounds eight, nine and ten, which could determine the outcome and the winner. Against Soro, Douglas had to deal with a shorter opponent who rarely took a backward step, who got inside and tried to outwork him. Douglas often holds his hands low. Soro was able to bring his jab hands over the top and hurt Douglas in round eight of their bout.
LaManna is predicted to win by 10 round decision, and will have his work cut out for him to keep Douglas from getting inside. The bout could be close and difficult to score if neither fighter lacks the ring generalship to control the tempo in the ring. If Douglas, who has fast hands, gets inside on Lamanna and outworks him, it will be closer. The vacant World Boxing Association Fedelatin Middleweight title will be at stake in this 10 rounder.
Ishmael ‘El Tigre’ Barroso, a Venezuelan lightweight southpaw, 16-0, 15 knockouts, is predicted to win by stoppage or knockout within six rounds over IssoufKinda, 17-2, seven knockouts, Bronx, New York, by way of Burkina Faso. Barroso has a 94% knockout percentage, highest among active fights in the 135 pound division. Barroso has finished 12 of his opponents in three rounds or less.
2012 National Golden Gloves Champion Jerry Odom is predicted to outpoint Andrew Hernandez in an eight round rematch of their Madison Square Garden contest in January 2015. Odom was disqualified for hitting Hernandez numerous times on the canvas after knocking him down. This time, though, Odom better behave himself better in the ring.
In an eight round featherweight match between two unbeaten Texas unknowns trying to up the stakes, 9-0 Adam Lopez is predicted to win by decision over 11-0 Pablo Cruz.
In Preliminary bouts: popular New York City welterweight Tommy ‘The Razor’ Rainone, 22-6-1 is predicted to win by six round decision over traveling Minnesota Journeyman Jason Litzau, 18-8; Rich Neves of New York City is predicted to win by a close six round decision over 8-5-1 California journeyman Joshua Marks; female super flyweight Patricia ‘Boom Boom’ Alcivar, age 38, 7-3-1, Queens, New York, is favored to win by fourth round knockout over aging 43 year old Peggy Maerz of Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada; Dave Meloni, 1-1-1 is favored to win by decision over 0-2 Richard Bonds of Newburgh, New York, in a four round featherweight bout; Washington, D.C. welterweight prospect Jerrell Harris, 4-0, four knockouts, is predicted to win by knockout over 1-1 Anton Williamson of New Rochelle, New York.
Tickets are priced at $150 golden ringside, $125 ringside, $60 general admission and are available online via ticketmaster.com and thespaceatwestbury.com or at the door at The Space at Westbury, 250 Post Avenue, Westbury, Long Island, New York, on Friday evening, March 13, 2015. Doors open 6 P.M., first bout 7 P.M. For more even information contact Greg Cohen Promotions at 212-851-6425. For tickets and directions contact The Space at Westbury Box Office at 516-283-5566. The Space at Westbury can be reached via the Westbury stop of the Long Island Railroad, and is a ten minute walk from the LIRR stop through picturesque Westbury Village.
COMMENTS
English