Sergio Mora vs Peter Manfredo Jr 24.5.2005 - 'The Contender' Season 1 Championship

The Contender Season 1 final between the "Latin Snake" Sergio Mora (15-0) and The Pride of Providence Peter Manfredo Jr (24-1). Sugar Ray Leonard and Sylvester Stallone provide commentary. More info below... Sergio More entered The Contender Tournament undefeated with a 12-0 record. He wasn't known as a big puncher with only 3 of his 12 wins by way of KO however he was very crafty and liked to throw punches in flurries. He earned his place in the final by having beaten Najai Turpin (11-1), Ishe Smith (15-0) and Jesse Brinkley (25-1). Peter Manfredo Jr was one of the most experienced and successful boxers to enter The Contender tournament. He had a 21-0 record and was a former IBU World Super Welterweight and NABO Super Welterweight champion. He was one of the odds on favorites to win the tournament however he lost his very first fight to a spirited Alfonso Gomez (10-2-1). Manfredo got a second chance however when he was asked to come back as a replacement for an injured fighter. He picked up wins against Miguel Angel Espino (9-1-1) and Joey Gilbert (9-0) before meeting Alfonso Gomez (12-2-1) in a rematch. Manfredo was much more prepared for Gomez the second time however and won a 7 round unanimous decision to earn his place in the final. Mora would pitch a near shut out against Manfredo in the final. He used slick head and body movement combined with good foot speed to get out of harms way but also landed punches in flurries which Manfredo was unsure how to counter. Although Manfredo was able to pin Mora against the ropes a few times and even opened a cut above Mora's eye, he was unable to make any real significant impact and Mora always looked in control. After 7 exciting and at times very close rounds, Mora had won by unanimous decision. Mora and Manfredo would have a rematch 5 months later over 8 rounds with Mora once again coming out on top. In 2008 Mora would score an upset over Vernon Forest to win the WBC World Super Welterweight title by 12 round majority decision. 3 months later however and Mora lost the WBC title back to Forest in a very lopsided contest. In 2010 Mora fought Sugar Shane Mosley to a draw over 12 rounds and ended up forfeiting 20% of his purse because he came in 3lbs over the light middleweight limit. Following the draw Mora's career slowly faded into near obscurity however in 2015 it was revived again with serious talk of a shot at IBF World Middleweight Champion, Jermain Taylor. Unfortunately the fight with Taylor never materialized however Mora did win the USBA Middleweight title in February of 2015 by split decision over Abraham Han. In August 2015 Mora suffered his first ever KO loss at the hands of WBA World Middleweight Champion, Daniel Jacobs. Mora injured his ankle after falling awkwardly during a knock down at the end of round 2 and was unable to continue. Mora was very vocal in his request for a rematch and although Jacobs was initially reluctant there has been an apparent rematch scheduled for September 2016... Manfredo would go on to have a relatively successful career as well. In 2007 he challenged Joe Calzaghe for the WBO World Super Middleweight title but was TKO'd in 3 rounds. In 2008 Manfredo won the interim NABF Super Middleweight title, which in turn earned Manfredo a shot at the vacant IBO World Super Middleweight title against Season 3 Contender winner, Sakio Bika. Manfredo was once again TKO'd in 3 rounds however. In 2010 Manfredo won the vacant NABF Middleweight title before going on to beat Angel Hernandez 5 months later to claim the vacant IBO World Middleweight title. In 2011 Manfredo challenged undefeated WBC World Middleweight Champion, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, but was TKO'd in 5 rounds. Manfredo had apparently retired from boxing as of 2013 but made a surprise return in 2016 when he fought Vladine Biosse to a draw over 8 rounds. Although not a win, Manfredo was happy with his performance which sparked rumors of more future fights...