“Peter Man-afraid-o ain’t getting off the hook that easy!”

Press Release: What appeared to be a dream opportunity quickly developed into just another day at the office for rising super middleweight Jameson “Jamie Kang” Bostic.

The transplanted Brooklyn southpaw was informed of a potential showdown with former world title challenger and Contender finalist Peter Manfredo Jr, which would’ve served as the main event to the May 23 edition of ESPN’s Friday Night Fight series. Just as Bostic (13-3, 8KO) began to mentally prepare himself for what would be a huge breakout fight, a return phone call came in, with less than favorable news.

“The fight’s off. Manfredo’s camp claims ESPN2 rejected the fight,” was the short but not-so-sweet message delivered.

The good news is, promoter Don King went to work for his fighter, immediately securing a slot on his June 13 card in Scranton, PA, where Bostic will next fight in a super middleweight swing bout against an opponent to be determined.

The bad news is, it won’t be against Manfredo. Even worse is the sad truth behind the match-up night materializing – it was Manfredo’s camp and not the network who rejected Bostic as a potential opponent. 

“That’s some sorry ass nonsense,” exclaimed a disappointed Bostic upon hearing the news. “If you don’t want to fight me, be man enough to say it. How are you gonna claim that the network turned down the fight, like nobody will look into that?”

Sources at ESPN2 deny any claim that Bostic’s name was even submitted as a possible opponent, never mind rejected by the network.

Manfredo becomes the third world champion or title challenger to sidestep Bostic in the span of just over a year. Former middleweight champion William Joppy rejected an offer to fight Bostic on an ESPN2-televised card last April. A week before that, three-time title challenger Robert Allen pulled out of a scheduled fight with Bostic at the last minute after reviewing his scouting report and discovering he was 6’4” and training with Buddy McGirt at the time.

The June 13 fight serves as Plan B, which only pushes back Bostic’s plans a mere three weeks. It’s a downgrade in that there’s no guarantee his fight will be televised, but as has been the case far too often in his young career, it’s means to stay busy, which always serves as a suitable alternative – for now.

“I’ll take this June fight for now, it’s all good. But make no mistake, I’m not gonna forget this or forget about Manfredo. No sir, Peter Man-afraid-o ain’t getting off the hook that easy.”

The same message applies for any super middleweight contender. A move to light heavyweight was once in the cards for fear of an inability to advance at 168 due to lack of willing opponents. Those plans changed once Bostic was able to break into the WBC rankings, with the new plan to work his way toward the top ten, as always against any opponent willing to sign the contract, or at least pick up the phone.

“It’s the same as it ever was. Don King tells me who, when and where to fight, and I show up. I’m getting tired of dropping names, because the moment I mention them, they suddenly forget their own name.”

There’s at least one name for the moment that Bostic will not forget.

“Peter Man-afraid-o will never again rest easy. I’m his Freddy Krueger, I’m gonna haunt his dreams until he and his team get their stuff straight, and let him take this ass whippin’ like a man. He’s supposed to be fighting some cat (Saturday night). He’ll know what he left behind when he heads out there. If  he steps into the ring on May 23, he’ll see me even though I’m not in the other corner. Come June 13, he’ll see me again. The moment I hear he has a fight scheduled, you best believe he’ll see me.”