Weber upsets Manfredy with decision

CLEVELAND -- A national boxing name emerged at Gund Arena Friday when Craig Weber of Perrysville, Ohio, upset Angel Manfredy by unanimous decision in the main event, a 10-round lightweight fight.
Weber (20-1-1) took the fight to the world-ranked Manfredy from the opening bell. He used a left jab well throughout the fight, keeping Manfredy off balance, but it was his aggressiveness against a hard puncher that was the difference.
"My game plan was to stay on top of Manfredy, using my conditioning and strength and not to give him any room to punch," said Weber who looked like he had been in a war. "He got me with some real good body shots and one good head shot and all night long Manfredy was trying to load up with his left hook, but I knew the longer the fight went the better shot I had of winning."
The judges voted 96-94, 97-93 and 98-92 for Weber. Manfredy (43-8) hurried from the ring and declined to make post-fight comments.
In the early rounds Weber surprised Manfredy with a constant attack and through the middle rounds, when Manfredy began to connect with good left hooks to the head and body, Weber always answered with good volleys just before the bell.
"This was a very emotional fight for me," said Weber, whose left jab closed Manfredy's right eye.
The final five rounds were a slugfest with Weber answering every Manfredy rally and in the 10th round, with an apparent knowledge that he was in front, Weber began to move away and attempt to play it safe. But when Manfredy took him to the ropes, Weber countered with a two-fisted attack to the final bell amid the roar of the crowd.