At age 33, veteran boxer Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna(39-5-1, 18 KOs) has the most significant opportunity of his career when he battles undefeated and two-division world champion Jermall Charlo(33-0, 22 KOs) in the co-main event on May 31 in a ten-round super-middleweight fight from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
After being stopped in the first round by Erislandy Lara in 2021, LaManna has won his last nine fights. Although the fight did not end the way Lamanna wanted it to, it taught him many things, which have made him a better fighter.
“I learned from the Erislandy Lara fight that I can’t let the moment get to me,” he said at his media workout in Atco, NJ. “If I can do that all throughout the week and get there to fight night, it’s gonna be a long night for Charlo.
“My whole mindset changed after the Lara fight. I didn’t want to fight anymore. But when I came back, I knew I wanted to do it the right way. I knew this was my big opportunity at the biggest stage. Now I’ve got that great opportunity.”
LaManna has not fought many times at 168 pounds, but he says he feels comfortable going into his fight with Charlo.
“I feel ready to fight,” LaManna said. “We put the work in this camp. It’s been a long journey to this point, and I’m ready to go.
“We had a smart camp and did what we had to do. We had the right sparring and worked on the right tactics. I’m in shape, and I’ve filled into 168 well…I felt the difference fighting at 168 in my last fight. I feel energized and don’t have to cut weight.”
When the dust settles, LaManna expects to shock the world, and when he does, he wants the biggest and the best in boxing.
“I’m not looking ahead to anything. I’m fully focused on this fight. But when I get past Charlo, I want it all. I want the biggest fights out there.”
The 33-year-old Charlo, who is expected to fight Caleb Plant next if he defeats Armando Reséndiz in the second half of the co-main event on May 31, has fought only three times in the past five years, so he’s been very inactive. This could favor LaManna, but Charlo is undefeated and still a very talented fighter. We’ll learn a lot about what Charlo can be moving forward after this fight with LaManna.
Photo: David Algranati/The Fight Photos
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