Peter Manfredo Junior was beaten by Joe Calzaghe in the champions 20th successful defence of his super middleweight title. Calzaghe won in the 3rd round after the referee stopped the fight.
Calzaghe said:
“It’s amazing (to be in Cardiff) for my 20th defence in this amazing arena,”
“I paid my dues for a long time and this is what dreams are made of - and there’s more to come yet.”
“I think you could make a case that it was stopped slightly prematurely but if it hadn’t have been then I’d have stopped him by the fourth.
“The referee saved him from more punishment. Up close he was going (down) and in the next 20 or 30 seconds I’d have floored him.”
Manfredo said: “I was hanging in there, trying to get my rhythm going, and the fight was stopped too soon. There was no warning or anything.
“Joe is the best and I wanted to feel my way and find my rhythm but I couldn’t get it going. He picked up the pace and got me in a corner.
“He has fast hands but not much power. I’ve been hit by bigger punches. I was never hurt and it (the stoppage) was too quick.”
To be honest I was disappointed. Besides from not looking remotely fit, the referee stopped this fight WAY too early. I am not sure whether he spotted a special offer on the doughnut stand or what because this fight should not have been stopped at that point and in my opinion Manfredo was robbed.
This was Manfredo shot, his chance, the biggest night of his life where he had the chance to win a world title. However this was ruined by poor referring. I have watched the fight a number of times now and every time that I do feel more and more sorry for Manfredo. I felt even more sorry when I was reading to reports in the paper about the fight, claiming that Joe Calzaghe had totally “outclassed” Manfredo in a “awesome display”. Ummm…No he didn’t.
True Calzaghe was winning and he had won the first two round but it was by no means a demolition of his opponent. Manfredo was covered up on the ropes whilst Calzaghe was throwing hundreds of punches, most of it was slapping not punched and most of them missed totally. Even the shot that hit contained very little power and Manfredo was not hurt by them at all.
Manfredo was simply letting Calzaghe hit him, because the punches had no power and he was not hurting. Manfredo covered up no the ropes, the moved away and beckoned Calzaghe to come forward as if to say “is that all you got?” If Manfredo was getting hurt then he would be in no position to make taunts like that.
When the ref stopped the fight, Manfredo didn’t collapse or fall to his knee, but said “What?” Manfredo was fine and the fight should not have been stopped if the ref thought Manfredo was hurt, then he should have given him a standing count and let it continue, to remind Manfredo that he needs to do more. In fact Manfredo was throwing punched back, it was just a case of him not throwing any back for 8-10 seconds whilst Calzaghe’s slaps flew over and past his head.
If this sort of referring was to take place in every fight, then there would be no great fight or comebacks. For example, the Rumble in the Jungle would have been stopped as Ali was covering up on the ropes.
This fight was stopped prematurely and although Calzaghe looked the better boxer, Manfredo should have been given more of a opportunity to challenge for the title.
What did you think of the fight?
Also, to all those people who say that Calzaghe has been scared to fight Kessler can shut their mouths now as Frank Warren offer Kessler a fight with Calzaghe this July, but Kessler turned it down saying that he would not be ready!
Frank Warren is trying to get Calzaghe a fight with Jermain Taylor, which should be amazing.
dude your a fag… FRANK WARREN is a little BITCH… Kessler’s TEAM along with Kessler had said they are ready and have been ready! KESSLER ONLY CALLS CALZAGHE’S BITCH ASS OUT like every fight. THEY WANT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN! FRANK WARREN doesn’t want his fighter to fight Kessler, Because by the end of the fight, little SLAP BOXER of a BITCH that calzaghe, is would be knocked the f*** out…The Manfredo fight was a f***ing joke… as all calzaghe’s fights are… COME TO AMERICA and fight a REAL FIGHT were the REF won’t stop the fight… THE F****** DOC will stop the fight from KESSLER’S blows to calzaghes f***** up face… KESSLER has the POWER, calzaghe slaps like a little bitch that he is… I BELEIVE if you watch the manfedro interview right after the fight… you will see and hear MANFREDO calling CALZAGHE’S punches “AMATURE PIDDLE PATS”… that did not hurt him… I laughed at it because it’s so true, and not only that, Poor CAL-MAN broke his little hand…. FROM WHAT……….. SLAPPING? lol and EVERYONE thinks he’s going to beat a BETTER, MORE OF A POWER PUNCHER… KESSLER? I think not… all and all little bitch cal-man doesn’t want to fight Kessler… Kessler and his team have been ready to fight and DESTROY calzaghe… as is the REST of the WORLD!
Comment by WES — April 23, 2007 @ 8:41 pm
Right on Wes!
Comment by Maximus — April 25, 2007 @ 11:24 pm
I think WES should behave here. There is no need for this tone. Calzagh is a fgreat boxer. Nobody stays on top for 10 years without being a great boxer.
Yes I agree that manfredo should have had a standing count to be told that you have to hit back. bad job by the referee.
But Kessler is in my book the strongest in the game right now. Calzaghe is good. But Kessler is simply much better.
Comment by Jim Groser — May 6, 2007 @ 11:16 pm
Wes you are a sad case.That ugly mong Manfredo who fights like his granny would`ve got smashed up.Believe me if you closely study Calzaghe`s fights he can hit hard.Not many knocked Eubank down-and as good as he did.He was stepping up the pace against Manfredo and he would`ve felt the full force of Joe Calzaghes punches had it gone on longer.Amatuer?That what that tosspot Manfredo is.
Comment by red — May 8, 2007 @ 5:25 am
your right Manfredo is an Amatuer. BUT (lol) that amatuer said it like it was. “Calzaghe’s punches were AMATUER PIDDLE PATS, I was never HURT and i called on for more”! IM NOT SAYING that Manfredo would have won. NOT IN WALES! lol (reason being the man wont leave his back yard LOLOLOL) BUT im saying it would have gone the distance with manfredo laughing all 12 rounds. But would over all loose because Calzaghe is faster, waay faster. AND yes he has been a so called “champion” for 10 years. Thats what happens when you only fight in your back yard. COME TO AMERICA and fight the REAL CHAMPIONS… THE REAL FIGHTERS… THE REAL CHALLENGERS… then i would have SOME respect… untill then hes a joke… and HE WILL BE THE ONE EXPOSED when he actually fights a real fight… on the other note… i give him credit for the Lacy fight… i dont really think to much of Lacy but hey… its a start….. anyway Calzaghe is trash and he’s about to be taken out this August….
Comment by WES — May 8, 2007 @ 11:09 pm
go kessler!
Comment by WES — May 8, 2007 @ 11:11 pm
manfredo sucks he wasnt robbed joe calzaghe was all over him.
Comment by cj — August 1, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
Wes my friend you really are an imbecile. Clearly american, clearly seriously mentally handicapped and clearly knows nothing about boxing. Calzaghes hand speed is such that although he appears to slap, he is landing flush with his knuckles. And with a great deal more power than a lot of people give him credit for. Not only did he DESTROY Eubank, he floored him for the first time. He did the same to Lacy. Also, how many boxers do you know with a chin like Joes? Not only floored for the first time by Byron mitchell, but his feet left the floor and he spun in mid air before he hit the deck. He was back on his feet by 3 and less than 20 seconds later he was the one with his arm raised after a stunning knockout victory. He is undefeated, dont you understand what that means? He has beaten every person who has stood in front of him. As for going to America and fighting real champions, who would you have in mind exactly? Hopkins wouldnt fight him when he was offered the chance, and now look at Taylor, he has done nothing but price himself out of the market because he doesnt want to fight calzaghe. Say what you want about the calibre of fighter who is challenging joe, but at least they have the guts to step in there in the first place, something a lot of your “real champions” wont do.
Comment by luke — August 6, 2007 @ 5:57 pm
Haha, again MANFREDO.. (The TV show boxer) was the one calling him out on his power calling them “armature piddle pats” , not me. So don’t get mad at me little guy.
Other than that, I’m tired of talking about a bytch of a fighter. All you people get soooo pissed off about Calzaghe. It just tells me one thing. DEEP DOWN you know truth as I do. He is nothing, a never has been. He will never be anything more than a guy that fought lacy. Lol. So don’t get mad at me. If calzaghe was anything GREAT NO ONE WOULD HAVE TO STICK UP FOR HIS SORRY A$$! Lol… so get over it, go see a doctor, talk to someone about it. Its ok I understand how you feel. Anywho your boy actually fights soon, so you will see. So “Breath in and Breath out” …….relax, calzaghe’s days are short and when he falls hard everyone can stop talking about him and he can walk away a disgrace to boxing quietly. So shhhhhhh and “enjoy the silence”! cheers!
Comment by WES — August 10, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
How are you feeling now, Wes? LOL. Calzaghe took everything that Kessler had to offer and only a couple of punches gave him a slight amount of trouble, but he has proven that not only does he have a great chin, but he can out-box Kessler too. Both fighters are great. Calzaghe is outstanding. Deal with it.
Comment by Dave — December 13, 2007 @ 1:06 am