Australian Boxing Hall of Fame 2018 Inductee, acclaimed Professional Boxing Promoter, mainstream Television Host of KO Boxing on C31 in Australia, well-respected Presenter of Radio Ringside on reputable Australian network SEN, Peter Maniatis Events CEO/Founder and 7x Award-winning Professional Boxing Journalist.
The one and only Australian Professional Boxing impresario Peter Maniatis has widely achieved a great wealth of accolades throughout his highly decorated 20 year career in Professional Boxing and positively continues to deliver and inspire with knockout performances in all capacities in which he works within the Professional Boxing industry.
The multi-gifted Maniatis – who is of Greek heritage – has won endless high-profile industry and revered national accolades such as the WBF Asia Pacific Promoter Of The Year, Australian Fight Promoter of the Year, WBF International Outstanding Service to Boxing Award, Victorian Promoter of the Year, Russell Sands Memorial Award Winner, Fairfax Victorian Sports Personality of Year, C31 TVH Sports Presenter Award Winner, Victorian Multi Media Award, MVP Lionel Rose Victorian Boxing Award, MVP Victorian Boxing Award Winner and WBC Asia Pacific Promoter of the Year. Maniatis now awaits being immortalized in the honorific Australian Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2018 on March 3, which underscores the impact and imprint of the Greek-Australian Professional Boxing head honcho.
The Australian Professional Boxing national treasure Peter Maniatis has officially managed and promoted highly skilled Professional Boxers for 20 years and has also appeared on top class mainstream Australian television networks Channel 2, Channel 7, Channel 10, coupled alongside ESPN Sports and much more throughout his successful journey which continues to rapidly excelerate.
Unmistakably, Peter Maniatis’ large contributions to professional boxing in Australia and internationally remains unparalleled and immeasurable and the amiable and ever-humble Australian continues to inspire millions around the world with his immense passion, natural talent and sheer drive.
FOX Sports 96.9 FM/1340 AM’s Dean Perretta caught up with the living legend, the incomparable and trailblazing Peter Maniatis CEO, 7x Award-winning Professional Boxing Journalist and Australian TV Presenter Peter Maniatis to talk about the heralded Australian promoter being immortalized into the Australian Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2018 on March 3, the world renowned Peter Maniatis Events, Peter Maniatis vast accolades in the sweet science, Maniatis’ early inspirations to getting involved in Professional Boxing and much, much more only on FOX Sports 96.9 FM/1340 AM.
Q: First and foremost Peter, my very sincerest and wholehearted of congratulations to you on being officially inducted into the very prestigious and elusive club of the immortals – the Australian Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2018. What does your well-deserved Australian Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2018 induction on March 3 mean for you both personally and professionally in joining likewise incredible company who have similarly blazed an indelible and unforgettable trail in inspiring millions both in Australia and indeed around the entire globe?
Peter Maniatis: Thank you for the chance to be interviewed by you, Dean. Yes, boxing in Australia is a very popular sport but AFL football, Cricket, Rugby take most of the limelight, but (Professional) Boxing picks its moments to shine in Australia. Gus Mercurio was my mentor and good friend. It’s a huge honor and March 3rd Hall of Fame Night will be something special for me.
Q: Throughout your highly decorated and well-respected 20 year professional career in Professional Boxing you’ve won endless honorific accolades such as the WBF Asia Pacific Promoter Of The Year, Australian Fight Promoter of the Year, WBF International Outstanding Service to Boxing Award, Victorian Promoter of the Year, Russell Sands Memorial Award Winner, Fairfax Victorian Sports Personality of Year, C31 TVH Sports Presenter Award Winner, Victorian Multi Media Award, MVP Lionel Rose Victorian Boxing Award, MVP Victorian Boxing Award Winner and the WBC Asia Pacific Promoter of the Year to name a few of your many triumphs. When did your lifelong love affair with Professional Boxing begin and what ultimately keeps you on the very top of your game irrespective of virtually winning all major Professional Boxing honors in Australia?
Peter Maniatis: I started following boxing at 6 years old. I have always loved the sport of boxing. I remember Muhammad Ali fighting Larry Holmes, watching it at primary school as a kid and I was hooked on boxing after that fight.
I started as a Boxing Sports Journalist in 1996 with the Truth newspaper and by 1998 I promoted my first professional Boxing event and was also managing boxers, promoting boxers. The events have heaps of stress and pressure, but I really enjoy the challenge. Its like organizing a wedding with two parties involved. You just got to stay relaxed, focus and enjoy it.
Q: The esteemed Peter Maniatis Events has proudly hosted a plethora of premier Professional Boxing events in well-respected and reputable venues both domestically and around the world. When you first decided to create Peter Maniatis Events what was the biggest challenge for you Peter in terms of obstacles if any?
Peter Maniatis: l promoted my first professtional boxing event in 1998, Peter Maniatis Events in 1998, and the biggest challenge was obtaining a naming sponsor, but since 2007 Ultratune national service centres and CEO Sean Buckley has sponsored and supported my events and Sean Buckley has been 100% supportive and also FOX Sports putting the events on TV.
I also like promoting events in The Philippines as the Filipino people really love their boxing and the talented boxers are great in The Philippines as in Australia.
Q: An internationally known seven-time Award-winning Professional Boxing Journalist who hosts KO Boxing on C31 in Australia as well as presenting the widely popular show Radio Ringside on reputable Australian network SEN. Can you touch on your overall experience presenting Radio Ringside as well as some of the greatest special guests which you have had on the high-profile show?
Peter Maniatis: Interviewing Boxers for C31 KO TV Boxing Show and also Radio Ringside is always fun. I research the guest, but never plan questions before hand. I like doing natural interviews. I really enjoy all my interviews from a novice boxer having his pro boxing debut to interviewing Manny Pacquiao or Thomas “Hitman” Hearns to Ricky Hatton, Amir Khan and Jeff Fenech, Kostya Tszyu, Gold Medalist Olympian Cathy Freeman to actors Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jerry Lewis, Teddy Atlas, Freddie Roach and many more world champions. I have had a great run and I have been very lucky.
Q: Last but most certainly not least Peter, many thanks for your time today and I sincerely wish you all of the very best with everything. But before we do leave, where can the great fans at home stay in touch with all of the latest Peter Maniatis Events announcements and of course the latest news in your world?
Peter Maniatis: Thank you Dean for your time with the interview and keep up the great work you are doing also for boxing. To keep people updated on forthcoming pro boxing events and info visit my website www.petermaniatis.com, we are planning a big 2018 and future boxing star Randy Petalcorin will feature on big fights on my cards.
