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Tuesday, November 05, 2002

By Chuck Finder, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Lightweight Lamar Murphy has replaced the injured Angel Manfredy on the same pay-per-view boxing card as champion Paul Spadafora Saturday.

Murphy, 27-6, is scheduled to face Victoriano Damian Sosa in an International Boxing Federation challenger fight at The Harv inside Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Casino. Murphy, previously seen July 27 on Showtime beating then-27-1 Dario Esales, fills the vacancy created nearly 10 days ago when Manfredy got a nasty cut over his left eye while training in Vero Beach, Fla. Manfredy, who lost to IBF champion Spadafora on HBO in April at Palumbo Center, might be on track to fight Sosa in early 2003 -- provided Sosa defeats Murphy.

Of Murphy's inclusion on the four-event card on InDemand pay per view, promoter Mike Acri said: "We're happy about that. He's a perennial contender. We have a good show. We have some interesting fights."

Spadafora, the IBF champion, meets WBC champion Dennis Holbaek in a lightweight unification bout in the main event.

Acri also filled out the announcer portion of the card.

Handling the call on the InDemand telecast starting at 9 p.m. are Fran Charles, previously the play-by-play man on HBO's afternoon fights, along with boxing broadcaster and longtime ESPN hand Al Bernstein.

The international broadcast team will pair Dave Bontempo with USA Today's Jon Saraceno.

The ring announcer will be Pedro Fernandez, host of the syndicated radio show "Ring Talk."