Flash bulbs fire as the Pride of Providence takes a victory lap around the ring in the sold-out Dunkin’ Donuts Arena. Peter Manfredo Jr. made short work of his larger and stronger opponent, Joe Spina. Witnessing Manfredo tower over another crumpled fighter in his hometown of Providence, R.I., it’s hard to imagine him doing anything else.
Having grown up a couple of blocks from here, Manfredo gets no shortage of love from his hometown fans. His mere presence slows traffic to a crawl while camera phones are extended out of car windows. Passersby ask him for autographs or to pose with them for a photo. Many just want tell him they’ve seen him fight and they’re proud of the super-middleweight. Former Superbowl MVP, Deion Branch, even manages to halt traffic as he leaves his car to catch up with Manfredo as he walks down the street. This is just another day in the life of the fighter. People keep telling me I could run for mayor, but politics really isn’t my thing. says Manfredo with a sheepish grin.
Those who don’t recognize Peter Manfredo Jr. (26-3 12 KO’s) as the smiley kid from the Federal Hill neighborhood of Providence surely recognize him from his success on the hit reality show The Contender. Despite a rollercoaster ride on the show where he suffered the

first two professional losses, finalist Manfredo gained the recognition of millions, and helped indoctrinate a new generation of boxing fans in the process. No matter where his successes have taken him, he always finds his way back home to Providence. His parents still live only blocks from his favorite Atwells Avenue spots, Andino’s and Angelo’s. If you go to Angelo’s you’ll find his mother Lori serving up heaping portions of braciole or sausage and peppers. He married his high school sweetheart, Yamilka, and they live in the suburbs of Providence with their two daughters. Manfredo still spends much of his time at his father’s gym in Pawtucket, R.I., where he first learned his way around a ring.
Following a stellar amateur career, Manfredo turned pro in 2000. Nearly four years and close to thirty fights– passed before he suffered his first professional loss on the very first episode of The Contender. The loss eliminated him from the show, but he was brought back after another cast-mate fell ill. Peter battled all the way back to face Sergio Mora in show’s final in Las Vegas and then gain in a rematch of the finals four months later, only to lose to Mora both times. I had to learn how to take the losses in stride, Manfredo said. It was very difficult for me, but I got through it. When you lose a fight, no one wants to look at you.