Rising Star Promotions Thomas LaManna vs. Juan Witt Boardwalk Hall Card Preview
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Atlantic City, NJ (July 11th, 2023)– Middleweight Thomas ‘Cornflake’ LaManna will face Juan Manual ‘El Principito’ Witt in defense of his regional World Boxing Association Fedelatin Middleweight title in the scheduled 10 round main event of a seven bout Rising Star Promotions card at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Saturday evening, July 22, 2023. LaManna is currently being trained by Bozy Ennis, the father-trainer of undefeated interim International Boxing Federation World Welterweight champion Derek ‘Boots’ Ennis.
LaManna, 35-5-1, 14 knockouts, Millville, New Jersey, is predicted to win by 10 round unanimous or majority decision over Witt, 33-1-2 with 25 knockouts, Buenos Aires, Argentina, in a close technical bout. Witt’s biggest issue has been inactivity. Since August of 2017, Witt has fought only once in six years, and was knocked out in the sixth round in June 2022 by Brandon Berry in a Universal Boxing Organization Super Welterweight title bout. LaManna has remained active throughout his career, and could get tested by Witt. LaManna has experience fighting at 160 pounds, and Witt has none, giving ‘Cornflake’ a decisive edge advantage in the higher weight class where he at least has some experience.
In the preliminary bout to the main event, Kristian Prenga, 13-1 with 13 knockouts, an Albanian fighting out of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, is predicted to win by a knockout in three rounds or less in a vacant regional World Boxing Association Fedecentro Heavyweight title bout over former cruiserweight world title challenger Santander Silgado Gelez, 32-15 with 26 knockouts, a Columbian fighting out of Belle Glade, Canada. All 13 of Prenga’s knockouts have come in three rounds or less over undistinguished opponents. However, Prenga has shown he can hit with power, and is six years younger than Silgado, who has been knocked out 10 times fighting at heavyweight. Prenga should be able to cut off the ring and take Silgado out, and should not need more than a few rounds to do it.
Atlantic City super welterweight hometown favorite Justin Figueroa, 5-0 with five knockouts, is favored to win by six round unanimous decision and ruin the comeback attempt of Jeff Lentz, 5-1 with one knockout, Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey. Lentz has been inactive since August 2015, when he was stopped in the seventh round by future WBA, IBF and IBO World Junior Middleweight champion Jarrett Hurd. Nonetheless, a solid matchup on paper if Lentz comes in to try to win, which could make the bout an unexpected barnstormer.
2019 Super Flyweight National Golden Gloves champion Anthony Johns, 6-0 with five knockouts, is predicted to win by knockout or stoppage in four rounds or less against an opponent to be named. Johns, who has both power and hand speed, has five knockouts and one referee’s stoppage in his first six bouts, and is noted for closing the show on his opponents, and not leaving his bouts to the scorecards.
2021 Team USA Olympic Female Alternate Sharahya ‘PuebloRican’ Taina-Moreu, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, a nine-time amateur national boxing titleholder, will make her pro debut in a four rounder against Janisa Morandin, 0-1, of Florianopolis, Brazil
Flyweight Jose Ray ‘Lion Heart’ Llano,1-0 with one knockout, Elmwood Park, New Jersey, will face an opponent to be named in a four rounder.
Lightweight Daniel Gonzalez, Iselin, New Jersey, will open the card, and make his pro debut versus Michael Ruiz, 0-1, of Toms River, New Jersey.
Boardwalk Hall doors open 6 P.M., first bout 7 P.M the day of the boxing event. Tickets for Saturday evening, July 22, 2023, Atlantic City Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall event are $250 VIP row ringside, $225, $200, $155, $90 and $65 general admission, can be purchased in advance via ticketmaster.com, or at the U.S. Army box office at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall Atlantic City, open 11 A.M. to 5 P.M. Monday to Friday, and on Saturday three hours before the start of the event. Paid parking is available at Arena garage, terms cash only. For directions and parking go online to https://www.boardwalkhall.com/plan-your-visit/directions-parking. Hotel rooms are always available. Atlantic City, New Jersey reservations are available online. For discounts and package deals go online to https://www.atlanticcitynj.com/stay/deals-packages/. For more information on the event call the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall U.S. Army Box Office at 609-348-7000.
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