LFR was in Nebraska a couple of weeks ago, for the Regional Tournaments.  Five Minnesota boxers advanced and will be heading to Colorado next month to compete in the 2010 Senior National Championship Tournament.  LFR will be doing short interviews and/or boxer profiles on the athletes that will be competing next month.  First up…..Rice Street Boxer and winner of the “Best Boxer” Trophy, Manny Contreras.

LFR: You looked good in Nebraska.  How did you feel about your match?

Contreras: I felt like I did alright not my best though.  The night (before) my first match I was running all night long because I was over weight.  I was supposed to box at 165, but after all that running I was still over weight.  I knew we didn’t have a 178lb boxer so I decided to box at 178lbs.  The second match was a little awkward because the guy was a southpaw.  I’ve been with different styles like, Michael Faulk, he’s a good southpaw so that helped out a lot.

LFR: I thought you listened to your corner (David Lusby and Adonis Frazier) well.

Contreras: I try to listen to my corner as much as I can because they are my second pair of eyes.  They see stuff that I can’t sometimes and it helps me out a lot listening to them.

LFR:What things are doing to prepare yourself for competition at a national level?

Contreras: I’m trying to do everything.  Work out harder, spar a lot more with different styles and add more workouts to my schedule.
my record now is 31 wins and 8 losses

-Ryan Hamilton