Watch interviews with Joe Calzaghe and Peter Manfredo before they fight on Saturday night.
Peter Manfredo said that by modelling himself on Jake LaMotta he will be able to beat Calzaghe. Apparently Manfredo has been nicknamed ‘LaMotta’ in the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles.
This is supposed to be based on his bustling boxing style as well as his Italian-American background and his “hard head”.
“See LaMotta in Raging Bull and it’s me - just without the brutal part with his wife and all that nonsense,” Manfredo said.
“I’m a throw back to the old school days. I’ll fight anybody, anywhere, anytime.
“I just want a shot at the world title. How many people get a shot at the world title in this game?
“And not only that, I have a shot to be up there with the Jake LaMotta’s if I beat this guy.
“The pressure is definitely on him, I’m going into his back yard in front of 35,000 people screaming his name.”
Manfredo holds a professional boxing record of 26-3 (12 KOs), with impressive third-round stoppages of Joe Spina and Scott Pemberton in his last two fights.
However really shot to fame by being the runner-up in the first US series of boxing reality TV show The Contender although many still consider him the underdog in this fight.
Manfredo can call himself what he likes, but he has along way to go before he can be classed with the Raging Bulls of the boxing world.
Watch the Peter Manfredo Interview by clicking here
Joe Calzaghe, now 35, will be making the 20th defence of his title, and so he will equal the record of ring legends Larry Holmes and Bernard Hopkins if he wins.
“There is pressure on every single defence of my title and I think pressure is a good thing,” said Calzaghe, who holds a record of 42-0 (31 KOs).
“Look at Tyson losing to Douglas, Hagler losing to Leonard, and Lewis losing to Rahman. The favourites in those fights took it for granted that they were the best.
“One of my strengths is that I don’t take any fighter lightly. I take them all very seriously indeed. Peter has a massive opportunity - the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Watch the Interview with Joe Calzaghe by clicking here
I would definitely pick Joe Calzaghe to win this fight, although I think many people are underestimating Manfredo. He has got a lot more to fight for than Joe Calzaghe has. For Manfredo this is the biggest fight of his life, and a chance to become a world boxing champion. For Joe Calzaghe this is just another defence so he may not be as determined to win as Manfredo will be.
Having said that, I am sure that Joe Calzaghe will be professional and stay focused and he wont take this fight lightly but will professionally dispose of Manfredo.
The only thing I found strange about Calzaghe in that interview was that he was talking about him being the champion and how Kessler should travel to fight him. But Kessler holds two of the super middleweight belts where Joe Calzaghe has one. Kessler is a champion. Joe Calzaghe should fight Kessler in the USA before moving on to fight Hopkins or Taylor.
What do you think?
Right on brother, I believe Calzaghe should fight him anyplace that Kessler wants to fight. Kessler actually said it doesn’t matter to him. So I think for the best of them both, they fight here in the US on HBO PPV. I believe it will be ALMOST as big as the De La Hoya vs. Mayweather fight. But that’s me. They just need the right promoters and HBO fully behind them. Meaning, PAY them WELL to come all the way over here away from home. I think it would be the fight of the decade! Thats if Calzaghe dosnt chicken out like the baby that he is…………
Comment by WES — April 5, 2007 @ 5:18 pm
I agree buy Calzaghe isnt a chicken. Frank Warren offered Kessler a fight with him for this July, but Kessler said no.
Hopefully they can get a fight on after that as this is a fight we all want to see.
Comment by Boxing Daily — April 11, 2007 @ 8:16 am
Wes you are a fool. Calzaghe is the one of the greatest super middle weights of all time, and at 35, for him picking the right fights is crucial. How can u call a man who wishes to fight Taylor, Tarver and Roy Jones Jnr a chicken. These are financially and reputation wise the better fights. Kessler Calzaghe is a fight that will better after Calzaghe has stormed the U.S. and it’s brewed a while. Good things come to those who wait and I believe Calzage to be the perfect boxer rather then a heavy hitter who will be remembered as an undefeated legend. I cannot wait to see Calzaghe make a fool out of kessler and silence all the critics once and for all, as if Lacy’s boxing lesson wasn’t enough.
Comment by Terry — April 11, 2007 @ 11:19 pm
haha lacy is a joke… who else has he beat… I say it over and over… WHO…. Taylor would knock him the fuck out… Tarver who knows… he has his days… Jones jr would even beat him even though he’s not even been in his prime for the last 6 years…. Calzaghe doesn’t even have the power to break Jones’s glass jaw… maybe I was wrong by calling cal-man a chicken but I think Frank Warren is the problem… Kessler said anytime anywhere… I don’t recall a challenge that was legit from Warren… other than after the Manfredo fight which I heard was a LIE… Calzaghe is not that great… the man has done nothing but talk and talk and talk… and then take on fights like the manfredo fight… how can you call someone “GREAT” after a fight like that? That was a disgrace to boxing. Manfredo was not hurt he was pissed yet laughing at the “AMATURE PIDDLE PATS” that calzaghe was landing… WHICH WAS NOT THAT MANY… he slapped about 50 times in about 30 sec and maybe actually really hit him 10 times that made manfredo wave on for more! I was laughing all threw the 2 rounds and was like WOW this dude really is a BITCH… I sall it going the distance, because I sall NO REAL POWER coming from Calzaghe. I was like MANFREDO actually might have a chance here… THERE WAS NO REAL THREAT AT ALL! HE HAD NOTHING… nothing but FAST little baby slaps… or “amateur piddle pats”! Dudes a joke and will have it coming to him WHEN HE ACTUALLY TAKES ON A GREAT BOXER FOR ONCE IN HIS CAREER… besides the SLOW OVER HYPED “23 year old” JEFF LACY! About Kessler.. I may over talk him.. he still has a lot to learn but I believe he will put Calzaghe in his place… as will HOPKINS, TAYLOR, JONES JR, EVEN PRETTY BOY FLOYD MAYWEATHER I THINK WOULD KILL CALZAGHE… you know why… he has same speed if NOT MORE… BUT being that hes smaller…. HE STILL PUNCHES twice as HARD.. as ya boy, calzaghe… haha now that’s funny and everyone knows it… deep down you know it… ya boy is a bitch who hits like a girl and then breaks a hand with those bitch slaps…. Haha good times huh… lol
Comment by WES — April 23, 2007 @ 9:44 pm
All I can say is a big fight is on the cards and you underestimate a great boxer. I will check this site out after a big fight, mentioning one of those names you rant on about and then we will see good times.
Comment by Terry — May 5, 2007 @ 1:14 am
Yes, in August indeed sir.
Comment by WES — May 8, 2007 @ 11:14 pm
Wes, have you ever been bitch slap and got your ass kicked at the same time? I think you have. Honestly, Mayweather?? That’s like saying Hopkins could beat Klitchko. It’s such a size difference, it just doesn’t make sense. Enjoy the boxing lesson this fall!
Comment by tbearden — June 1, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
HAHA Aww don’t get all mad little guy. YES PBF would kick little bitch boy calzaghe’s ass… you know why? Because ALL calzaghe has is speed… and PBF is twice as fast as him and would dance all over the ring POP slapping him until Calzaghe either JUST gives up, breaks his little fairy hand (like every fight)… or PBF just ends up with a unanimous decision. END OF STORY homie… get a new hero to hug there… calzaghe is done… lets drop the subject of him… he’s garbage and a disgrace to boxing… he is a SAD SAD case… anyway STOP TALKING.. Like I have said about 2 or 3 times now.. shhhhhhh be quite, don’t speak until your lil boy actually takes a REAL fight homie… haha.. I LAUGH AT YOU… you fool
Comment by WES — June 6, 2007 @ 8:42 pm
All i can say about Calzaghe is… if he’s as bad as you say he is how is he unbeaten for 10 years? Lacy wasnt a overhyed before Calzaghe sent him packing was he? before the fight everyone says Lacy’s going to beat Joe then he does the business on him and then Lacy becomes a 2nd rate boxer!?!? i dont think so..!! Time after time calzaghe has done his job on people - its time he got the recognision he deserves. It’s easy to be negative people. An unbeated record speaks for itself! nuff said, cheers.
Comment by James — July 23, 2008 @ 3:15 pm