Jimbo 175 Posted April 7, 2007 Share Posted April 7, 2007 Focused Calzaghe ready to dazzle Peter Manfredo Jr's hopes that Joe Calzaghe was looking past him seemed to be scuppered as the Welshman weighed in bang on the mark for Saturday's bout. The WBO super middleweight champion had an anxious look at the scales before coming in a quarter of a pound under the 12st limit, Manfredo at 11st 12lbs. Calzaghe is making the 20th defence of the title he has held since 1997 against the former reality TV star. A 35,000 Millennium Stadium crowd will watch, with a huge worldwide audience. With the Cardiff stadium's roof closed, it will be the biggest ever indoor boxing event in Europe, and the largest worldwide since the return fight between Muhammad Ali and Leon Spinks at the New Orleans Superdome in September 1978. "I've been through years of frustration not getting the big fights, now I've got that recognition," said Welshman Calzaghe, 35, who holds a record of 42-0 (31 KOs), and will be equalling the number of defences made by Larry Holmes and Bernard Hopkins. "If you can't get motivated to fight in front of 35,000 people, there is something wrong with you. "There is still a lot of fire inside me. My book is not written yet and there is so much I still believe I can achieve. "I have given Peter respect by getting into the best shape I have ever been in." Should Calzaghe win impressively, a summer unification fight with Denmark's undefeated WBC and WBA champion Mikkel Kessler seems to have the backing of US TV money, but Manfredo insists he should not be overlooked. The Rhode Islander, 26, holds a record of 26-3 (12 KOs), with impressive third-round stoppages of Joe Spina and Scott Pemberton in his last two fights. But he is most famous for being the runner-up in the first US series of boxing reality TV show 'The Contender', and will be a huge underdog against Calzaghe. "I have not spent 12 weeks away from my family to come here and be an opponent," said the challenger. "I am here to be champion and I am not afraid of Joe or his reputation. "I'm excited about the fight on Saturday night and I am convinced it is going to be my night. "I am going to be the champion - and that's the mind I am going to have until Joe defeats me - if he does." Ring legend Sugar Ray Leonard, offering advice to the Manfredo corner after introducing him to the world through 'The Contender', insisted Calzaghe is a future member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. "Win, lose or draw on Saturday and Calzaghe will be in the Hall of Fame, he is a true warrior," Leonard told BBC Radio Wales' 'Back Page' programme. "His fame will rocket in the States after this thanks to Peter's celebrity. "But I'm an optimist and I think that Peter can win. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him and I can see in his eyes the eye of the tiger." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baggio 0 Posted April 7, 2007 Share Posted April 7, 2007 My dad's got a private box for this one from the company he works for, he didn't ask me if I wanted to go though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baggio 0 Posted April 7, 2007 Share Posted April 7, 2007 I wish they'd put Amir Khan against someone who'll at least have a go back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo 175 Posted April 7, 2007 Author Share Posted April 7, 2007 Crap stoppage by the ref, far too early, should have given Manfredo a standing 8 count. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 31679 Posted April 8, 2007 Share Posted April 8, 2007 I was just discussing tonight how pissed off I'd be if I had paid money for those fights. A few minutes each? Fucking ripped off. Tbh if they're fighting in Wales you can be near enough guaranteed average journey man to make up the opposition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midds 0 Posted April 8, 2007 Share Posted April 8, 2007 I was just discussing tonight how pissed off I'd be if I had paid money for those fights. A few minutes each? Fucking ripped off. Tbh if they're fighting in Wales you can be near enough guaranteed average journey man to make up the opposition. Journeyman? You're being generous! You could have dragged just about any bloke from any of the pubs on Corporation Road in Newport into the ring and he'd have put up more of a fight! Talk about money for old rope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catmag 337 Posted April 8, 2007 Share Posted April 8, 2007 Another fucking pointless exercise in showing off to the Americans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fop 1 Posted April 8, 2007 Share Posted April 8, 2007 I wish they'd put Amir Khan against someone who'll at least have a go back. I don't think that is how boxing really works tbh, everyone makes more money by not doing that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo 175 Posted April 8, 2007 Author Share Posted April 8, 2007 I was just discussing tonight how pissed off I'd be if I had paid money for those fights. A few minutes each? Fucking ripped off. Tbh if they're fighting in Wales you can be near enough guaranteed average journey man to make up the opposition. Tell me about it, I once drove from Suffolk to Glasgow to see Tyson, got to see all of 36 seconds of him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geordie Boyo 24 Posted April 8, 2007 Share Posted April 8, 2007 Boxing is just one big scandal nowadays. It's great to watch a skilled pro boxer slugging it out, but I think you’re getting more value attending MMA events, IMO. By the way before being critical of these events you have to think of how these guys try to master everything from grappling/Muay thai/jujitsu/wrestling/boxing etc, which is obviously impossible as it takes most one-dimensional fighters, like boxers a lifetime to master just to use their fists. So naturally because of this you get to see a good variety of different fights with each fighter looking to use what they might be more skilled in, whether it be jujitsu or Muay thai, etc. The best MMA events to go to would be the likes of Cage Rage or the UFC this month as the majority or all bouts are professional & top quality fights. Local events tend to have a lot of semi-pro fights with different rules where there is no punching to the head on the ground, but still look to include as many big name pro fighters for the main events to draw in the crowd. MMA is the future! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geordie Boyo 24 Posted April 8, 2007 Share Posted April 8, 2007 Michael Bisping bites back at Barry Mcguigan's ignorant comments http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=4770 And he's spot on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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