CALZAGHE WARNS LATEST CONTENDER..... JOE SPEAKS

CALZAGHE WARNS LATEST CONTENDER



Nov 23 2006


JOE CALZAGHE will hope to lay the foundations for the kind of pay-per-view blockbuster which will define his career when he takes on The Contender star Peter Manfredo in Cardiff next March.

Calzaghe is heading for New York where next week he will officially announce the 20th defence of his WBO super-middleweight title against Manfredo, a runner-up in the popular reality TV boxing show.

Having already disposed of highly-rated IBF champion Jeff Lacy in unforgettable fashion last March, Calzaghe knows an equally emphatic win over Manfredo can only enhance his trans-Atlantic profile.

Beyond the Manfredo fight – set for his home city’s Millennium Stadium on March 3 – lies the prospect of a multi-million dollar showdown with reigning world middleweight champion Jermain Taylor.

Calzaghe will not look past the classy 25-year-old Manfredo, who holds a record of 26 wins and three defeats, and is coming off an emphatic third-round victory over The Contender rival Joey Spina.


But the champion warned: “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.”

“From what I have seen, he is a good, tough kid and is well known in America. But this is my 20th defence and ninth year as champion, and he is not going to spoil that.”

Manfredo emerged as one of the stars of last year’s highly successful first series of The Contender, affording him the public profile which in turn guaranteed title fights and inflated purses.

But his camp are eager to point out that Providence native Manfredo – who holds a record of 26 wins from 29 bouts – is far more than simply a television star.

“Calzaghe thinks this is an easy fight,” said The Contender promoter Jeff Wald. “I think he sees Peter as a reality TV guy and will take him lightly. That would be a mistake.”

Calzaghe’s decision to face Manfredo will come at a price, as he is likely to be stripped of the IBF version of the world title he took from Jeff Lacy last March.

Robert Stieglitz is overdue a mandatory shot at the IBF crown but Calzaghe will lose little sleep over swerving the little-known German in favour of a much higher-profile contest.

Olympic silver medallist Amir Khan is expected to feature on the undercard in a bout broadcast by the Home Box Office, which will also guarantee him significant US coverage for the first time.

CALZAGHE WARNS LATEST CONTENDER



Joe Calzaghe will hope to lay the foundations for the kind of pay-per-view blockbuster which will define his career when he takes on The Contender star Peter Manfredo in Cardiff next March.

Calzaghe is heading for New York where next week he will officially announce the 20th defence of his WBO super-middleweight title against Manfredo, a runner-up in the popular reality TV boxing show.

Having already disposed of highly-rated IBF champion Jeff Lacy in unforgettable fashion last March, Calzaghe knows an equally emphatic win over Manfredo can only enhance his trans-Atlantic profile.

Beyond the Manfredo fight – set for his home city’s Millennium Stadium on March 3 – lies the prospect of a multi-million dollar showdown with reigning world middleweight champion Jermain Taylor.

Calzaghe will not look past the classy 25-year-old Manfredo, who holds a record of 26 wins and three defeats, and is coming off an emphatic third-round victory over The Contender rival Joey Spina.

But the champion warned: “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.”

“From what I have seen, he is a good, tough kid and is well known in America. But this is my 20th defence and ninth year as champion, and he is not going to spoil that.”

Manfredo emerged as one of the stars of last year’s highly successful first series of The Contender, affording him the public profile which in turn guaranteed title fights and inflated purses.

But his camp are eager to point out that Providence native Manfredo – who holds a record of 26 wins from 29 bouts – is far more than simply a television star.

“Calzaghe thinks this is an easy fight,” said The Contender promoter Jeff Wald. “I think he sees Peter as a reality TV guy and will take him lightly. That would be a mistake.”

Calzaghe’s decision to face Manfredo will come at a price, as he is likely to be stripped of the IBF version of the world title he took from Jeff Lacy last March.

Robert Stieglitz is overdue a mandatory shot at the IBF crown but Calzaghe will lose little sleep over swerving the little-known German in favour of a much higher-profile contest.

Olympic silver medallist Amir Khan is expected to feature on the undercard in a bout broadcast by the Home Box Office, which will also guarantee him significant US coverage for the first time.

Its a stupid fight. Does Manfredo deserve a shot at Calzaghe? No. Unify the belts!!!

Waste of fucking time!!!

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Originally Posted by miles

Its a stupid fight. Does Manfredo deserve a shot at Calzaghe? No. Unify the belts!!!

Waste of F****** time!!!

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TO unify um he wud have to first defend his ibf belt, then fight kessler, then vacate prolly 3 of them to fight Taylor. ow that would be a waste of time.

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Originally Posted by Preme

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Originally Posted by miles

Its a stupid fight. Does Manfredo deserve a shot at Calzaghe? No. Unify the belts!!!

Waste of F****** time!!!

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TO unify um he wud have to first defend his ibf belt, then fight kessler, then vacate prolly 3 of them to fight Taylor. ow that would be a waste of time.

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Complete unification would mean a hell of a lot more to his (crumbling) legacy than a single name like Taylor.
Even more importantly the disrespect he'll face from now on for NOT taking that opportunity (running if you will) will wastly outweigh any respect he might gain even in the event he beats Taylor.

I guarantee that Manfredo's a**hole will drop out his shorts during the ring walk at the Millenium stadium.
40,000 p*ssed up Welsh baying for his blood is gonna be fierce for him to mentally deal with and make no mistake about it...Mr Doubt will be flying round in his mind ;)
Same thing happened to Lacy at the MEN arena and i see it all the time at ringside,fighters quite simply losing focus as the task and atmosphere dawns on them during the ringwalk.
He is so out of his depth (Manfredo) it's ridiculous.

I dont think its such a bad fight . If a bigger fight cannot be made at the moment then who better to choose than an overhyped prospect from America.

I'd predict he goes the same way as Lacy but then again I dont think he'll see the 12 rounds out . Joe once again has the opportunity to prove to the Americans what he is all about in with somebody they recognise . I cant imagine what strategy Manfreddy attempts to adopt cuz Joe has the answer to anything he brings . If he pressures Joe , he will be marked up and taken out early and if he tries to survive it will be a boxing clinic from Joe as he picks his shots and boxes as he likes .

Looking forward to the fight . We may even go

He is so out of his depth (Manfredo) it's ridiculous -- Smashup


Agreed. I like Manfredo, but I like him for what he is. He has zippy chance of winning this fight. If Manfredo does back into a victory... Calzaghe should become Ricky Hattons handmadien.

for years people in the usa said joe was no good and i disagreed a few years back but not anymore, al he wants is to have 20 defences and stay unbeaten.......now thats fair enough after all nobody ever wants to lose but don't go around saying your the best because many moons ago you outpointed a shot eubank then several years later beat jeff lacy, apart from that who has he ever beat

the excuse has always been that the other guy wants to much money, kessler offered 3.4 mil and they turned it down, he went through i time were he wanted to fight a shot roy jones, thats no happened so he now wants to fight a retired 41 year old hopkins, doesn't seem to want a piece of kessler, so signs to fight manfredo after his fight wiuth bia which he had a real hard time with, he only took that fight because he thought it would be a easy nights work

never is this man one off the elite midleweights never............he's ducking ever time a real fight comes along, i honesly believe if hopkins said yes to a fight joe would duck him and say b-hop wants to much money, truth is good old joe never wants to fight in the usa, he's a small town tough guy who like s to fight while he's buddies have his back with his oppnent already beat, if he so badly wanted to break america then he should have by now had a hand full of defences out there. i predict he'll call out a almost 90 year old jake lamotta if he beats manfredo and he'll only fight lamotta if its in wales but the fight will be called off because lamotta wants to much money because joe won't fancy if lamotta agrees to fight


i hope manfredo beats him

Let's not underestimate Warrens POWERS 8)
He'll bag a superfight with Jermaine Taylor after Joe batters Manfredo and it'll be in the USA ;)
That'll shut everyone up ;D

This is pathetic.. To take the fight is one thing, but to then trash talk Manfredo and state the same thing every sensible boxing fan is thinking, is insane.. What does Joe get by saying he's a TV show contender that isn't on his level, that Manfedo isn't world class.. I mean, no shit, but you'd think he could at least make it out to be a decent matchup for his sake. I think JOe is fairly clueless. And then he's travelling to New York to promote the fight :D Yeah, way to conquer America.. You know, don't actually fight there, or anyone good, but has no problem flying over to promote this farce. Such a piss off, Calzaghe KEssler would be a great fight and I think Joe would win.... But as far as I'm concerned he's blowing his chance.

Im suprised he has so publicly rubbished Manfredo too ;)

So this garbage is PPV? If I had any respect left for Calzcrappy I would of just lost it.

Why is Calzaghe fighting Manfredo? I would have liked it if he fought Lucian Bute before Manfredo. Manfredo has been beaten by Sergio Mora and Alfonzo Gomez, I don't expect Calzaghe to have any trouble.

His last fight was supposed to be the gimmie, and he looked shat. And now he's fighting Manfredo. Is he waiting to have a dominating performance?

He may go and do what Sven Ottke did and have one dominating performance and then retire.

The Lacy spell has worn off, people want to see what he can really do with an elite fighting with a different style

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Originally Posted by Violent Demise

So this garbage is PPV? If I had any respect left for Calzcrappy I would of just lost it.

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Yeah ;D British boxing fans are great aren't they? They run down Roy Jones horribly for even contemplating taking a fight against Manfredo, which would have been stupid I agree, but when their God, their hero, their idol, Calzaghe takes a fight with fukin Peter Manfredo then okay. Then its cool. And Calzaghes such a bad ass and is gonna kill Manfredo, and all this nonsense. Who cares? He shouldn't even be fighting Manfredo, its absurd.

this is what i'm saying, joe only fights guys who he believes has no chance, why take the manfredo fight then compleatly dismiss the fella as a no hoper, hardly gona do his AMERICA curentcy any good but this is joe he only fights guys who are a low to at best mid level talent, he's padded his record with guys like it, he's lived off the eubank win for about 12 - 15 title defences and is now living of the lacy win. what better way then to unify the division and get your biggest pay on your 20th defence buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut no he fights manfredo who isn't even nimber 1 contender

i've lost respect for him, a few years back i was a fan but not anymore

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Originally Posted by Hulk

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Originally Posted by Violent Demise

So this garbage is PPV? If I had any respect left for Calzcrappy I would of just lost it.

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Yeah ;D British boxing fans are great aren't they? They run down Roy Jones horribly for even contemplating taking a fight against Manfredo, which would have been stupid I agree, but when their God, their hero, their idol, Calzaghe takes a fight with fukin Peter Manfredo then okay. Then its cool. And Calzaghes such a bad a** and is gonna kill Manfredo, and all this nonsense. Who cares? He shouldn't even be fighting Manfredo, its absurd.

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Hulk can you point to a single British poster who has defended this fight and thinks it's cool?

All us Brits are just as annoyed about it as you yanks!

I think the fight is a joke from Calzaghe's standpoint.

He intends to take America by storm by making an American reality tv runner up come over to Wales to fight him.

Manfredo has never beaten anybody. Spina was the very definition of a bum and Pemberton was the very definition of a living dead.

In addition Peter lost twice to 154 lb novice fighter in Sergio Mora who went into the Contender having had only 11 fights and he went 1-1 with a club fighter in Alfonso Gomez who incudes a trilogy with Jesse Feliciano amongst his greatest accomplishments!

This fight is a no win situation for Joe. Win, lose or draw he will come out of this fight stinking of excrement.

Hatton is little better fighting Urango in his second big American fight.

Personally I feel embarrassed by our number 1 fighters right now :-\

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Originally Posted by Smashup

Let's not underestimate Warrens POWERS 8)
He'll bag a superfight with Jermaine Taylor after Joe batters Manfredo and it'll be in the USA ;)
That'll shut everyone up ;D

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Good theory mate and I truly hope it happens (if it does Joe will beat him by about 3 rounds), but if it doesn't...and I wouldn't be that surprised if it doesn't..and Joe fights another half assed contender then he will be one of the biggest wastes of boxing talent in the history of the sport, and a bit of a joke.

I mean Joe is dissing Manfredo saying he ain't on his level ECT. Good point, its true enough. But then the argument to that is, why the hell fight him? Its pretty shamefull

Joe is fast approaching being shot to pieces and really needs to get his sh*t together quick.

His hands are like an 90 year old arthritis patients.

I'm a big fan and thats why the guy is seriously getting on my t*ts!. A total waste of genuine talent. He needs to beat Taylor then Kessler, after that id put him ATG. If not he has basically wasted a potentially great career.

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Originally Posted by Smashup

Let's not underestimate Warrens POWERS 8)
He'll bag a superfight with Jermaine Taylor after Joe batters Manfredo and it'll be in the USA ;)
That'll shut everyone up ;D

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And if not, what than?

I don't know what the hell he is thinking. Maybe he has fallen in love with his zero losses and wants to keep that big goose egg. He would have been better off fighting Sergio Mora.

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Originally Posted by bilbo

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Originally Posted by Hulk

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Originally Posted by Violent Demise

So this garbage is PPV? If I had any respect left for Calzcrappy I would of just lost it.

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Yeah ;D British boxing fans are great aren't they? They run down Roy Jones horribly for even contemplating taking a fight against Manfredo, which would have been stupid I agree, but when their God, their hero, their idol, Calzaghe takes a fight with fukin Peter Manfredo then okay. Then its cool. And Calzaghes such a bad a** and is gonna kill Manfredo, and all this nonsense. Who cares? He shouldn't even be fighting Manfredo, its absurd.

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Hulk can you point to a single British poster who has defended this fight and thinks it's cool?

All us Brits are just as annoyed about it as you yanks!

I think the fight is a joke from Calzaghe's standpoint.

He intends to take America by storm by making an American reality tv runner up come over to Wales to fight him.

Manfredo has never beaten anybody. Spina was the very definition of a bum and Pemberton was the very definition of a living dead.

In addition Peter lost twice to 154 lb novice fighter in Sergio Mora who went into the Contender having had only 11 fights and he went 1-1 with a club fighter in Alfonso Gomez who incudes a trilogy with Jesse Feliciano amongst his greatest accomplishments!

This fight is a no win situation for Joe. Win, lose or draw he will come out of this fight stinking of excrement.

Hatton is little better fighting Urango in his second big American fight.

Personally I feel embarrassed by our number 1 fighters right now :-\

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Well put, CC my man. I hate Hatton probably the most of the British duo, but Calzaghe is a close second. Urango is not a big fight, but it does make some sense. Urango hits hard, is undefeated though only has 20 fights at most, and most importantly has the IBF belt, the one Hatton took from Tzyu. He has Hatton's belt. So the fight makes some sense and has some credibility. I hope Urango defends the belt and proves himself a real champ, but its gonna be real tuff for him. Hatton looks to be a full class above him.

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Originally Posted by Rotten Apple

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Originally Posted by Smashup

Let's not underestimate Warrens POWERS 8)
He'll bag a superfight with Jermaine Taylor after Joe batters Manfredo and it'll be in the USA ;)
That'll shut everyone up ;D

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And if not, what than?

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He'll be a worldwide laughing stock and i,for one will lose untold respect for him ;)

I swear if Joe doesn't win this fight in a VERY fashionable way thats it I'll be through playing Mr. Nice Guy with him.... >:mad

Any news on the size of purses yet?

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Originally Posted by Smashup

Any news on the size of purses yet?

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The purse that Joe carries? Is he selling it on ebay? ;)

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Originally Posted by Smashup

Any news on the size of purses yet?

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It'll probably be the usual for Calzaghe

If you believe the spiel, this fight helps sell Calzaghe to the Americans which sets up a mega PPV fight on HBO with Taylor later in 07....where everyone will be on a good earner ;)

I can't believe for a second that after fighting Manfredo,he'd go the route of a non Stadium fighter.
Gotta be Taylor next :-\

not even bothered reading through the thread as the title says it all...

what a crock of crap ::**

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Originally Posted by Smashup

I can't believe for a second that after fighting Manfredo,he'd go the route of a non Stadium fighter.
Gotta be Taylor next :-\

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It's gotta be Kessler for me.

Honestly...I just don't understand it. As a 9 year 168lb champion with 19 defences...you unify...not fwockin diversify.

Pass on the reality star, take out Kessler, & then move up & destroy the very green & well marketed middleweight Taylor.

It just don't make sense.

Is there any hard evidence that this offer by Kessler was a reality?
Or just paper talk?

I dont get whys theres such a negative responce to this fight . He's been doing it all his career . Why would he change now

Look at the positives -
He is fighting a guy whos well known .
He is likley to win and look good doing it
Its a mark in time fight whilst other fights are waiting to materialse rather than Joe staying inactive

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Originally Posted by Smashup

Is there any hard evidence that this offer by Kessler was a reality?
Or just paper talk?

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Yeah probably about as much reality as FWs £1.5m offer to Kessler ;D

;D
Weird that no one has any info at all on the alledged Kessler offer.
:-\

what a joke of a fight. waste of time and money. calzghe better fight someone good in his next fight or i will lose all respect for him

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Originally Posted by wacko3205

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Originally Posted by Smashup

I can't believe for a second that after fighting Manfredo,he'd go the route of a non Stadium fighter.
Gotta be Taylor next :-\

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Honestly...I just don't understand it. As a 9 year 168lb champion with 19 defences...you unify...not fwockin diversify.

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ha ha ha ha ha ha ha... Very nicely put....... ;D

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Originally Posted by miles

Its a stupid fight. Does Manfredo deserve a shot at Calzaghe? No. Unify the belts!!!

Waste of F****** time!!!

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I agree :-X

It doesnt help Calzaghe that all the downgrading things he's saying about Manfredo is true and he is still fighting him :(

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Originally Posted by Smashup

;D
Weird that no one has any info at all on the alledged Kessler offer.
:-\

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What other evidence COULD there be?

Palle has stated WHEN he sendt the offer and WHAT the offer contained.
He has also told that it was refused.

What other evidence would you expect to find?

You don't expect that the receiver of the offer is gonna come out in public saying "yeah we received this offer. It's the biggest purse of Joe's carreer so far, but we're not gonna accept it".

Palle's claims were made public - in detail - in most major danish media-outlets and quoted repeatedly in the international boxing-media.

If Calzaghe/Warren believes he's lying, they should bloody well take him up on it and expose him. Or they could sue him for liabel.
But no - they prefer the "let's ignore Kessler" tactics. - That tells a story.

Don't expect the two of you to ever come out and admit it - but you've got a very poor case.
Lame!

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Originally Posted by dumdane

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Originally Posted by Smashup

;D
Weird that no one has any info at all on the alledged Kessler offer.
:-\

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What other evidence COULD there be?

Palle has stated WHEN he sendt the offer and WHAT the offer contained.
He has also told that it was refused.

What other evidence would you expect to find?

You don't expect that the receiver of the offer is gonna come out in public saying "yeah we received this offer. It's the biggest purse of Joe's carreer so far, but we're not gonna accept it".

Palle's claims were made public - in detail - in most major danish media-outlets and quoted repeatedly in the international boxing-media.

If Calzaghe/Warren believes he's lying, they should bloody well take him up on it and expose him. Or they could sue him for liabel.
But no - they prefer the "let's ignore Kessler" tactics. - That tells a story.

Don't expect the two of you to ever come out and admit it - but you've got a very poor case.
Lame!

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CC I was wondering the same thing myself, what does he wan't a written letter of rejection signed by Joe Calzaghe... Everyone heard that the offer was made.. It's just Frank WArren and Calzaghe didn't even respond to it.

Well regarding the offer from Palle and Kessler. They did make the offer, but this is important Mogens Palle also said it was a JOKE after Frank Warren had refused it. The offer was only made to prove that Calzaghe did not want to fight Kessler.

Warren on the otherhand said the the fight could not justify the amount of money involved. And maybe he is sick of Palle and his tactics.

At least Kessler is going to proves his worth against Andrade and I hope he wins. I still don't understand why Calzaghe didn't want to unify the belts. Since a majority of his own fans want that as well. That was also the reason I was hoping for Kessler unification is big.

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Originally Posted by CutMeMicK

I swear if Joe doesn't win this fight in a VERY fashionable way thats it I'll be through playing Mr. Nice Guy with him.... >:mad

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Exactly right mate. There is so much pressure now on Joe to dominate this guy, and so there should be... its the same kind of way he was expected to spark Bika, and lets face it Bika aint getting knocked out any time soon by anyone.

cheers for the cc and welcome to the board also man :)