WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe is not bothered by Peter Manfredo Jnr’s warning that he will bring to the end the Welshman’s supremacy as WBO world champion. Manfredo, whose claim to fame was from the reality television series ‘The Contender’, claims he will get the better of Calzaghe in their Cardiff clash coming up in March.
But in return to this Calzaghe said: “He’s well known in America and a tough kid. But this is my 20th defence and ninth year as champion, and he is not going to spoil that.” 25-year-old Manfredo came runner-up on the first series of ‘The Contender’ and now has a professional record of 26 victories and 3 losses. But in response Calzaghe said: “There is a world of difference between being a reality TV star and a world champion boxer. He has only seen the glitz and glamour of the sport - now he is in for the real thing.”
Calzaghe and Manfredo’s bout is set for March in Cardiff and verification that it will take place on the 3rd of March is likely to be next week. Manfredo told English press: “Calzaghe has defended his title 19 times, but he’s got to lose at some point and he’s going to lose this time.” But if the clash at the Millennium Stadium is established, it would mean the Welshman would be stripped of his IBF title for avoiding an obligatory bout with Robert Stieglitz.
But a fight against American Manfredo is a far more eye-catching proposal to US television associations and would give Calzaghe another opportunity to enhance his profile in the States. The Rhode Islander described himself as a fighter who “likes to bang, and mix it up” and considers his hunger for a world championship will prove critical, and he said this about his opponent: “The only Calzaghe fight I’ve seen is the one he beat up Jeff Lacy - he looked like the champion he is. I didn’t see his last fight against Sakio Bika in October, but everybody has good and bad fights.” He continued by saying:
“But I’ll be coming over to win. I feel good about the fight and I feel good about myself. I want to thank Joe Calzaghe for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime. But it’s time for a change. I’ll be going over there hungry. If people want to make some money on the fight, they better put their money on me because I’m going to win.”
Personally I think the unbeaten Calzaghe, who has been WBO champion since 1997, has the better boxing ability and is therefore more likely to win in March.
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Calzaghe should not be fighting Manfredo. Why is he not fighting Mikkel Kessler Jermain Taylor?
Comment by DSwain — November 25, 2006 @ 12:23 am
He’s obviously fighting for money - which I don’t really agree with. Maybe he knows he can’t beat Kessler or Taylor (which I very much doubt). Hopefully he’ll start fighting some real opponents and become the unified champion of the division.
Comment by Dave — November 26, 2006 @ 6:46 pm
With all of Peter’s heart he still can’t beat Calzaghe, he’s not big enough to be in there with the greats of the super middleweights. He lost his first fight with Gomez who had to gain weight to fight him, Peter thought he could get through on reputation and Joe will not be fazed by him.
Comment by Pat Finney — November 28, 2006 @ 6:17 pm
I think Calzaghe is a good fighter, i come from wales too!!
Comment by Brain Smith — November 28, 2006 @ 7:42 pm
Calzaghe is awesome and I really don’t think Mafredo is any match for him. I’m a bit diappointed that Joe is not going for a unification bout but its up to him and he’s done a lot right so far.
Comment by Dave — November 28, 2006 @ 8:29 pm
this fight wont go the distance calzaghe will stop manfredo early on in the fight. manfredo cant work under pressure as you seen in the contender and joe can give pressure all the time.
Comment by jake livingstone — November 28, 2006 @ 9:04 pm
Yeah I completely agree. Manfredo is is no match for Joe and I have not got a clue why he is fighting him. I wish he would fight someone like Taylor or Kessler or even Clinton Woods or Bernard Hopkins!!!
Comment by Dave — November 28, 2006 @ 10:54 pm
i think joe calzaghe will do good but he cant take this fight like he will win with easz couse then he will lose i think he will do it couse joe is a great fighter the best
Comment by jay adams — December 8, 2006 @ 10:20 pm
He is definately a great fighter and to be honest I am quite disappionted that he is not going for Kessler to unify all of the titles of the division.
Comment by Dave — December 9, 2006 @ 12:35 pm
calzaghe for an early stoppage should be a nice little warm up for bigger name in the summer hopefully a unification with kessler
Comment by dan c — December 19, 2006 @ 6:22 pm
i think calzaghe should easily knock out Mafredo and I don’t really see the point in him taking this fight. It’s almost as if he’s not interested in being a great boxer and he just wants money and fame. Which is strange for someone who claimed he didn’t care for recognition for the public?! But hopefully once he’s trashed Manfredo he will move onto some real opposition like Kessler or Taylor.
Comment by Dave — December 20, 2006 @ 1:53 pm
OK, OK… Calzaghe Will most likely WIN but I don’t think it will be as easy as all you say. I am disappointed that he will not fight a REAL fighter. But let me tell you why….. CALZAGHE is not that GREAT as all you say… WHO HAS HE FOUGHT.. JEFF LACY… haha… boooo. FIGHT A REAL CHAMP… but he’s scared too… all he cares is that he gets his little 20 defenses so he can say “seeee everyone I am tied with Hopkins now… yeaaa im the best” what ever.. I bet he will beat Manfredo with a BUSTED FACE… and DODGE a fight with KESSLER.. Because you know why? HE IS THE BIGGIEST PUSSY in that weight class WITH a NO NAME RECORD besides the over the hill JEFF LACY…. I hope he MANS up and takes a REAL FIGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER and fight KESSLER here in the states on HBO PPV… that way he will make money and everyone can see him WHILE a REAL FIGHTER like KESSLER DESTROYS his little WELSH LEGACY! boo to Calzaghe… grow a pair
Comment by WES — April 5, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
Wes your an idiot. Calzaghe has called out the likes of Kessler and Hopkins many times, no1 wants to fight him. Think about it. if you are the “great” bernard hopkins, would fight somebody who isnt known in america yet is almost definitely going to beat you? Bcos joe would destroy hopkins in the same way he destroyed Lacy. as for being over the hill, Lacy was on top of his game, he said so himself. American “fighters” just cant cope with Calzaghe, hje boxes their head off their shoulders and humiliates them. Look what he did to lacy, he put him down for the first time in his career with a broken hand, imagine what hed have done if he could hit him as hard as he wanted to. if calzaghes hand holds up hell beat anyone in his division, FACT.
Comment by Luke — April 9, 2007 @ 12:42 pm
lol dude you crack me up… I hope you watched the Manfredo fight…. did you see any punches that actually looked like they would hurt… he was slapping like a little bitch… HOPKINS WOULD DESTROY cal-man… SHIT I BET YOU MAYWATHER WOULD F*** YOUR LITTLE CAL MAN UP…. and he’s smaller guy with a bigger punch… so to call me an idiot… you gotta be stupid… I never liked lacy.. and HE IS OVER THE HILL.. No matter what he said… and when it comes to Hopkins.. Calzaghe DOES NOT have the power to EVEN faze Hopkins… If that fight were to ever happen… It would be Hopkins knocking his little bitch ass out with a body shot… It wouldn’t even go the distance… I hope Kessler and calzaghe come to an agreement and fight…. and when Kessler KILLS your little cal man apart… he could move on and fight hopkins or another big name fighter…
Comment by WES — April 23, 2007 @ 8:54 pm