Atlantic City, NJ (February 26, 2016)–On Saturday night, March 19, Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna will headline in an 8-round Welterweight bout when he fights Kendal Mena at the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City
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The card is promoted by Rising Promotions in association with Vincent M. Ponte’s Gulf Stream Promotions.
LaManna (19-1, 7 KO’s) of nearby Millville, New Jersey will be making his second consecutive appearance at The Claridge. LaManna won a 8-round unanimous decision over Ariel Vasquez on December 5th.
LaManna used his reach and height and worked behind his jab to keep Vasquez at bay. As the fight wore on, LaManna started to dominate with body punches and cruised home to victory to the tune of 79-72 on two scorecards and 78-73.
The 24 year-old LaManna turned professional in 2011 and won his first sixteen bouts that were highlighted by wins over Ashandi Gibbs & Jamaal Davis.
“I really don’t know much about Mena, but I am preparing to the best of my ability to handle whatever it is he brings to the table. Records don’t mean anything to me, all I know is he beat twenty men and has knocked out eleven of them,”said LaManna
“Training camp has been great. In this camp my team and I have been focusing more on working on the basics. We believe I have natural talent and I’m excited to see when it all comes to place.”
Since suffering his only loss to world ranked Middleweight Antoine Douglas on ShoBox: The New Generation, LaManna has won three straight which includes a 6-round unanimous decision over rugged Ayi Bruce on September 26th in Beach Haven, New Jersey.
This will be LaManna’s second fight at Welterweight after moving down from Middleweight.
Mena of San Cristobal, Dominican Republic has a respectable mark of 20-3 with 11 knockouts.
The 28-year old Mena won his first twenty fights, which earned him a shot at the WBA International title.
He was stopped in the bout by contender Francisco Santana and he has lost to two undefeated fighters in his subsequent bouts.
In an 8-round co-feature, Tommy Rainone takes on Maurice Chalmers in a Welterweight bout.
Rainone has established himself as a fan favorite on the east coast, will be making his Atlantic City debut.
He has a record of 24-7-1 with five knockouts.
The 36 year-old of Long Island, New York won his first 11 bouts. Rainone captured the IBA Americas Title 10-round unanimous decision over Robby Cannon. He also captured the USBO Welterweight title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Carl McNickles.
Rainone will be looking to get back in the win column after dropping a unanimous decision to former world champion Ishe Smith on December 18.
Chalmers of Lynchburg, Virginia has a record of 14-12-1 with 8 knockouts.
Chalmers will be looking to spring the upset, much like he did when he defeated the likes of Marcus Woods (4-1), Michael Lozano (3-0), Rajiv Bhattacharya (9-0) and Tykeem Sadler (6-0).
In the 6-round co-feature, former IBF Cruiserweight champion Imamu Mayfield will be making his long awaited comeback in a Heavyweight bout against Dan Pasciolla for the Garden State Heavyweight title.
Mayfield of Perth Amboy, New Jersey will making his first appearance in just for 8-years.
Mayfield won the IBF Cruiserweight championship when he won a 12-round unanimous decision over Uriah Grant on November 8, 1997. He made one defense and was stopped by Arthur Williams on October 30, 1998.
Mayfield won the USBA Cruiserweight title with 10th round stoppage over Gary Wilcox on June 30, 2001.
Mayfield has also fought world champions Juan Carlos Gomez, Krzystof Wlodarczyk and Alexander Povetkin.
Pasciolla of Brick, New Jersey has a record of 6-1-1 and holds wins over Bill Marks (1-0), John Lennox (13-2) and Donnie Palmer (6-0-1). In his most recent bout, Pasciolla and Brendan Barrett (3-0-1) fought to a draw on February 19 in Atlantic City.
In a six-round bouts:
Lamont Capers (5-7-2) of Brooklyn, NY fights Tracy Johnson (3-2-3) of Boston, MA in a Cruiserweight bout.
In a bout for the Garden State Super Middleweight title, Isiah Seldon (7-1, 3 KO’s) of Atlantic City, NJ takes on Michael Mitchell (3-6-2, 1 KO) of Paterson, NJ.
Hakim Bryant (5-0, 4 KO’s) of Asbury Park, NJ will take on an opponent to be named in a Middleweight bout.
In 4-round Bouts:
Quian Davis (1-0-1, 1 KO) of Mays Landing, NJ will fight Corey Morley (0-1-1) of Philadelphia, PA in a Heavyweight bout.
Caleb Hernandez (2-0) of Vineland, NJ will battle LeAnthony Fleming (1-1) of Lakeland, FL in a Welterweight bout.
Omar Brito (2-2) of Pleasantville, NJ will take on Bienvenido Diaz (2-1, 2 KO’s) of the Prospect Park, NJ in a Super Featherweight bout.
Alvin Vermall (7-0-1, 7 KO’s) of LaPlace, LA will fight Dequan Morgan (3-2-1, 1 KO) of Hamlet, NC in a Cruiserweight bout.
Darryl Bunting (0-0-1 ) of Asbury Park, NJ fights Jason Singletary (0-1) of Washington, DC in a Super Middleweight fight
Steven Ortiz (2-0) of Philadelphia will take part in a Lightweight bout against an opponent to be named.
Tickets are $50 GA, $75 Stage (very few remaining) & $125 VIP (SOLD OUT) (Booths of 5 available for $500—SOLD OUT) and are available at RisingBoxingPromotions.com or 609-487-4444.
The Clardige Hotel is located at 123 S. Indiana Ave. Atlantic City NJ