Joe Calzaghe keeps Cardiff in Boxing Spotlight

By Simon Jackson

The announcement last week that the 2007 F.A. Cup final was to return to Wembley after an absence of six years may momentarily have left a void in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium’s sporting calendar but local hero Joe Calzaghe has quickly helped to plug any gap.

Calzaghe, 42-0 (31), makes a dream appearance at his local stadium when he meets Peter Manfredo Jnr, 26-3 (12), in the twentieth defence of his WBO Super Middleweight title on 7 April.

Calzaghe, 35, remains unbeaten in a professional career spanning over 13 years and the Welsh resident will achieve yet another goal in his illustrious career when he meets Manfredo, 26, in just three days.

“My fans are great supporters,” Calzaghe said. “They’re ready to go and be in the atmosphere,” secondsout.com report. “I’ve been to, obviously, not boxing but football and rugby games there and I’ve always had the dream, as it’s only three minutes from where I live. “I’ve always thought to myself, I’d love to fight here one day and thankfully, thanks to Frank (Warren) and everybody, we are able to put the fight on at the Millennium, so that in itself is fantastic.”

Manfredo, winner of his first 21 bouts and former WBO NABO Light Middleweight title holder, must be admired for stepping into Joe “The Pride of Wales” Calzaghe’s backyard and feels the fight should take place nowhere else.

“Joe Calzaghe is the best,” Manfredo said. “He deserves to have the fight here in his hometown. As soon as (promoter) Jeff Wald mentioned the fight to me, I said, “no problem.” It’s an opportunity of a lifetime.”

And a huge attendance is anticipated to witness Calzaghe defend the title he won in his clash with Chris Eubank in October 1997: “The show that is taking place on April 7 is the highest attended indoor event to take place in the United Kingdom,” promoter Frank Warren said.

“We’ve sold over 30,000 tickets and we’re expecting a crowd of at least, 35,000. Both fighters have great selling power, Joe Calzaghe and also the selling power of The Contender series and Peter Manfredo. The British public has really taken to it and it will be a fantastic atmosphere.”

Courtesy www.frankmaloney.com