ATLANTIC CITY (JANUARY 19, 2014)–Anthony Caramanno, born and bred in Staten Island, is the only Italian-American to ever win 3 NY Daily News Golden Gloves Championships. After proving his worth in the east coast’s premiere amateur tournament, the 23 year old super-bantamweight is ready to step into the paid ranks, making his pro debut Saturday, January 25th at the Golden Nugget Atlantic City against Bethlehem, Pa’s Michael Varela (0-0).

The fight can be seen LIVE all over the world on www.pandafeed.tv for just $9.99

Portions of the PPV proceeds will go to KO Children’s Malnutrition

KO Children’s Malnutrition will be represented by star of the Real Housewives of New Jersey Rosie Pierri.

To lean more about KO Children’s Malnutrition, Click: Here

Affable and humble, Caramanno was kind enough to answer questions about his background an boxing aspirations.

Q. First of can you tell us a little about yourself:

Caramanno: “I have lived on Staten Island my whole life. It’s a tight-knit community and was a great place to grow up. I went to Farrell High School and also studied business at the College of Staten Island. I played other sports like baseball as a kid, but it seemed like everybody else kept growing and I stayed the same size in my early teens. That’s one of the reasons I took up boxing when I was 14, because boxing has weight divisions.”

Q. You mentioned how Staten Island is a tight knit community. How has that helped you in the amateurs and what do you expect that will translate to your pro career.

Caramanno: “I had so much support in the Golden Gloves from friends and family. They were all in the stands making tons of noise and I really think that pushed me and may have even intimidated my opponents a little. I think that will carry over into the pros. I’ve got about 300 people making the trip down to Atlantic City to watch me.”

Q. Who are your favorite fighters to watch.

Caramanno: Floyd Mayweather Jr. is my absolute favorite. I think my style and his are similar. I try to be patient and look for counters like he does. Also, being Italian-American, I gotta show love for Paulie Malinaggi and his slick style.”

Q. Staten Island has a boxing tradition as strong as any of the 5 Boroughs, but despite the talent of guys like Johnny “Thunder” Vanderosa, “Kid” Gary Strak Jr. and Kevin Rooney, SI has never produced a world boxing champion in any weight class. Do you think you will be the first fighter from your home town to reach that pinnacle?

Caramano: ” I hope to, but my good friend 2012 US Olympian Marcus Browne (8-0), 7 KOs) got a head start on me. If he’s the first, with the help of my my father and my father and trainer, Tommy, I will defiantly be the second. I am proud to be a part of Final Forum Promotions . I believe Sal Musumeci will be able to help realize that dream”

Presented by Sal Musumeci’s Final Forum Promotions, Caramanno vs. Varela is part of a eight bout card headlinded by an 8 round heavyweight match up between Brooklyn’s Derric “El Leon” Rossy (28-7, 14 KOs) and Philadelphia’s Joey “Polish Thunder” Dawejko (8-3, 3 KOs).

In the co-feature, undefeated Heavyweight knockout artist Natu Visinia will take on Jon Bolden of New York City in a scheduled six round bout

Also featured will be undefeated New Jersey prospects: Gabriel Pham of Atlantic City (5-0, 2 KOs), Dave Valykeo of Neptune (3-0), and Ismael “Tito” Garcia (5-0, 3KOs) of Vineland. With former Ecuadorian Olympic heavyweight Yltako Perea and Isiah Seldon (7-1), son of former WBA heavyweight champ Bruce Seldon, rounding out this action packed night of boxing in separate bouts.

Tickets for this outstanding evening of boxing go on sale Friday, January 10th and are $125 for Ringside, $75 for reserved and $50 for general admission. VIP Tables are available and all tickets can be purchased by going to www.ticketmaster.com

Q & A written by Eugene Sirota

Yuriorkis Gamboa 126 – Jorge Solis 125.5
Mikey Garcia 125 – Matt Remillard 125
Tommy Zbikowski 195 – Caleb Grummett 215.5
Teon Kennedy 122 – Jorge Diaz 122
Glen Tapia 152 – Eberto Medina 151
Camilo Perez 124 – Desi Williams 125
Miguel Cartegena 117 – Omar Gonzalez 119
Rashad Brown 161.5 – Darryl Parker 161

In the main event of an entertaining 8-bout card promoted by Diane Lee Fischer, Cuban-born Giorbis Barthelemi (who now resides in Hialeah, FL) upset Derek “Pooh” Ennis of Philadelphia by second round TKO. Barthelemi scored a knock down with seconds to go in the opening round, and Ennis never recovered. After stagging to his corner, Ennis came out for the second with his legs still not under him. Barthelemi finished Ennis off after he pinned him in a corner and landed multiple unanswered power punches.

Barthelemi improves to 5-8-2, 10 KO, as Ennis drops to 22-3-1, 13 KO.

Atlantic City’s own Isiah Seldon (4-0 , 2 KO) pleased his local fans in attendance by scoring a third round TKO over Juan Zapata (1-5, 1KO) of Honduras. After sending Zapata to the canvas early in the round with an over hand right, Seldon forced Eddie Cotton to waive the bout off at 2:36 of the third.

Todd “Viking” Eriksson (3-5-2, 1KO), a middleweight out of Dover, NJ, won his bout against Lawrence Jones(3-5-2, 1KO) of Washington, DC by split decision in four rounds. Fighting through a cut he suffered in the first round, the hard-nosed Eriksson got the better of Jones in the second half of the fight.

Camden native Louis Cream(1-0), the grandson of the legendary Jersey Joe Walcott, won his pro debut against Yehudy Vargas (1-1) of Trenton. Cream carried the welterweight bout 40-34, with all three judges in agreement.

In what was perhaps the most entertaining and technical match of the evening, Atlantic City’s Althea “Lady Thunder” Saunders (2-0) fought Melissa St. Vil (1-1-2) of Brooklyn, NY to a four round majority draw. After the bout, it was announced by promoter Dee Lee Fisher that the two would rematch on her next card in the coming months.

Ali Santos of Camden (1-0) out-boxed Philadelphia’s Eric Newell en route to a four round split decision in their heavyweight bout. The judges scores were 40-36 and 39-37 for Santos against 39-37

for Newell.

Newark, DE lightweight and member of the fighting Tiberi family, Joey Tiberi (3-1, 3KO), rebounded from his first career loss with an easy TKO1 over Shawn Hodson (1-6, 1KO) of Franklin, IN. Tiberi floored his over-matched opponent twice before Hodson’s trainer asked for the bout to be stopped.

In the opening bout of the evening, Edgardo “El Molle Ja” Torres of Vineland needed only 43 seconds stop to Glassboro’s Marcus Smith (1-4, 1KO). A crushing right cross put Smith down, and gave Torres his first professional victory.

CLICK TO ORDER THE FIGHT CARD
Gabriel Rosado already knows what it feels like to be on the wrong side of a close decision in an all-Philly match-up. With the USBA light middleweight title at stake, Rosado lost to Derek Ennis at the South Philly Arena this past July. Against Jamaal Davis, with the interim NABA title up for grabs Saturday in Atlantic City, Rosado made sure he would be the one with the belt at the end of the night.

In the twelve round of a close and very entertaining fight Rosado caught Davis with a straight right that staggered him badly. With Davis off balance, Rosado took the judges out of the equation by flooring Davis with a picturesque left hook that sent him reeling into the corner. Referee Lindsey Page’s decision to halt the bout wasn’t in question as Davis clearly didn’t have his legs under him as he took several unanswered shots.

The time of the stoppage was 1:01 of the 12th round. Rosado improves his record to 16-5, 9 KO’s. Davis falls to 12-8.

In the co-feature, Bethlehem,Pa junior welterweight Ronald Cruz (11-0, 9 KO’s) knocked out Dillet Frederick (7-4-3 4 KO’s) of Frt Myers, FL in devastating fashion. With a little over a minute to go in the 3rd of their scheduled eight round fight, Cruz unleashed a left hook that sent the Floridian crashing to the canvas. Sammy Viruet waived the fight off when Frederick rose as the count reached seven and intermediately fell back down.

Former Philadelphia high school football star Bryant Jennings (6-0 3 KO’s) beat up on Chicago’s Theron Johnson (5-4, 1 KO) over six rounds in the heavyweight division. The scores were 59-55 and 60-54 twice.

In a South Jersey/North Jersey match-up, Millville’s Julio DeJesus (5-2-1 3 KO’s) scored three knockdowns en route to a four round unanamous decision over Union City’s Hector Collado (0-3-1) in a junior middleweight bout.

Middletown junior lightweight Tyrone Luckey (3-0 3 KO’s) maintained his perfect record by stopping Philly’s Gustavo Dailey (4-11,1 KO) in the third round of their fight scheduled for four. Luckey staggered his opponent with a well placed left hook, then jumped on him to force the referee stoppage.

Atlantic City’s DeCarlo Perez (3-0-1 1, KO) just managed to get past Dontre King of Cambridge, Md, scoring a four round majority desicion.

With just hours remaining until he steps into the ring for the first time as a professional, it would be understandable for Millville, NJ’s Thomas LaManna to have a few butterflies in his stomach. However, as I interviewed the high school senior over a tray of his mother’s homemade baked ziti just after he weighed in at Bally’s, he spoke with the confidence of a veteran who’s been down this road before.

Self-assured without being cocky, LaManna speaks with maturity well beyond his nineteen years. Although the man he’s facing, Anthony Williams (0-2 of Wilson, NC), hasn’t fared too well in his pro career to this point, Thomas isn’t taking his opponent lightly. “I have prepared for this fight by sparring with the best guys around” LaManna said of his work at the Atlantic City PAL with Shamone Alvarez, Patrick Majewski, Osnel Charles, and Decarlo Perez.

With this fight happening in his own backyard (he’s expecting close to 300 friends and family to be in attendance), many distractions are bound to pop up. However, LaManna has not allowed to his focus to be derailed. “Everyday its: school, gym, home.” Thomas said of his regimen, “That’s it, and I never take a day off, not even Super Bowl Sunday.”

The man responsible for handling all those distractions outside the ring (as well as working his fighter’s corner) is none other than Thomas’ father Vincent. Many of this site’s readers probably know Vinny LaManna from his days as a promoter in the 90’s. In addition to having over fifty fights under his belt as a promoter, the elder LaManna has managed Ray Mercer, Bert Cooper and Michael Covington.

Guiding your own flesh and blood though the toughest business there is no enviable task, but Vinny LaManna is defiantly up to it. Not only does he have an abundance of experience to draw on, he has also has the help of trainer Hassan Hammed-El and cut-man Joey Eye.
Speaking with father and son, the bond between the two was clear, but don’t expect Vinny to baby his son. “He doesn’t get any special treatment” said Vinny “I look after all my fighters like they my kids anyway.”

Thomas LaManna’s fight is scheduled for four rounds in the junior welterweight division.

Other local fighters in action:
Atlantic City’s John “The Eastern Beast” Brown (24-18, 11 KO) takes on 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist Ricardo Williams (16-2, 9 KO).

Promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions and sponsored by Corona, tickets are priced at $75 and $50 may be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster retail outlets, Ticketmaster Call Center 800-745-3000 and Bally’s Atlantic City (day of event).

Coming off the toughest test of his young career, Newark’s Michael
Angelo “The Artist” Perez (11-0, 5 KO) is excited to be fighting in
Puerto Rico again next Friday. The bout will take place in Lares, the
hometown of Perez’s parents, and will be televised on Telefutura. The
Golden Boy promoted lightweight is returning to Puerto Rico after
defeating the dangerous Jose Hernandez in an exciting 8 round decision
this past December. His opponent has not been finalized, but Marcos
Herrera of Colorado is penciled in for now.

“I was surprised at how much love they showed me” Perez said of how
well he was received by the Puerto Rican fans,”even though it was my
first time fighting down there, it was sold out and that’s why we’re
going back.” Perez expects an even better turnout in the place he was
almost born. “My mother was 8 months pregnant when she came here, so I
tell people, “I was made in Puerto Rico.”‘

Even though he enjoys fighting in his second home, and a place he
visits whenever he has the opportunity, Perez is eager to fight on one
of the upcoming cards at Newark’s Prudential Center. “I’ve fought all
over the place LA, Vegas, Texas but I’ve only fought in Jersey three
times. I’d like to give my family and friends another chance to come
out and support me.”

For more New Jersey boxing news, go to gardenstatefightscene.com

Atlantic City welterweight contender Shamone “The Truth” Alvarez will journey north to battle Antonin Decarie (24-1, 7 KO) in the Canadian’s hometown of Montreal on February 11. The scheduled 10 round bout is part of a card that will be nationally televised in the US as part of ESPN’s Friday Night Fight Series. The Bell Centre, which consistently provides an electric atmosphere on fight night, will serve as as the venue.

Alvarez (21-3, 12 KO) is looking to rebound from a ten round majority decision loss to Ayi Bruce at Bally’s earlier this month. With a win on national TV, he figures to get back in the thick of the crowded welterweight division.

For more New Jersey boxing news, go to gardenstatefightscene.com

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Atlantic City welterweight contender Shamone “The Truth” Alvarez will square-off against Ayi Bruce of Ghana this Friday at Bally’s Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. The scheduled twelve round bout will serve as the main event of a card promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing. Alvarez (21-2 12 KO’s) is coming off the biggest win of his eight year pro career, a seventh round knockout victory over Alexis Camacho this past March. With a win over the experienced Bruce (17-3 12 KO’s), Alvarez would capture the vacant IBA title and would be one step closer to a major title shot in 2011.

Philadelphia’s Raymond Serrano, whose last win came over the aforementioned Bruce in October, will face Geoffery Spruiell in the co-feature. Even though twenty-one year old Serrano (13-0 6 KO’s) is sixteen years his opponent’s junior, he enters the ring with almost as much pro experience as the Spruiell (8-9 2 KO’s).

In other action, Wildwood native Chuck “The Professor” Mussachio will battle Floridian Theo Kruger in an eight round light heavyweight bout. Mussachio (15-1 5 KO’s) is seeking his forth straight victory since losing to Tommy Karpency last October.

Mussachio, who also currently works as a guidance counselor at a nearby elementary school, is one of the true nice guys in the sport. Where some athletes are praised for merely staying out of trouble, Mussachio actually improves his community everyday through his work with troubled youths.

Millville junior middleweight Ismael Garcia (2-0) will fight for the second time in three weeks when he takes on Joe Yerdon of Berlin, NY. Garcia scored a unanimous decision over Corey Preston (who happens to also be on the card against Philadelphia’s Rashad Brown) last month at Harrah’s.

In a battle of New Jersey based super middleweights, Atlantic City’s, Isiah Seldon (2-0, 1 KO), the son of former heavyweight titleholder Bruce Seldon, will square off against the always tough Dover native Todd Eriksson (2-4-1, 1 KO) in a four round bout.

Rounding out the card is female junior welterweight Althera Sanders fighting an opponent to be announced.

For more New Jersey boxing news, go to gardenstatefightscene.com