Calzaghe eyes Contender Manfredo

[ICB]

US super middleweight Peter Manfredo Jr claims he has a contract to face Joe Calzaghe in Britain in March.
"We've signed for it, Peter's going to shock a lot of people by outboxing Calzaghe," Manfredo's trainer Freddie Roach told the Seconds Out website.

"Who's Calzaghe fought apart from Jeff Lacy? Peter's far better than Lacy."

Manfredo's main claim to fame is a runners-up spot in the first series of TV series "The Contender". Calzaghe's camp have not yet confirmed the bout.

But the WBO and IBF champion's promoter Frank Warren has said he is looking for a US fighter who is well-known to the American audience to take on Calzaghe in a planned show in Cardiff in March.

If the Welshman wins, Warren says a "mega fight" will follow in the summer, perhaps against Jermain Taylor in the USA.

Rhode Islander Manfredo, 25, has a record of 26-3 (12 KOs) to pit against 34-year-old Calzaghe's 42-0 (31 KOs) resumé.


Calzaghe would be a strong favourite against Manfredo

He lost a five-round decision to Alfonso Gomez in the heat stages of the $1m Sugar Ray Leonard-backed Contender series, but got the chance to score a revenge win when another competitor pulled out due to illness.

Manfredo, known as "The Pride of Providence", was outpointed by Sergio Mora in the final of the hit show, a result that was repeated in a rematch in October last year.

But since then he has scored a third-round win over super middleweight stalwart Scott Pemberton and a 10th-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Joey Spina.

Calzaghe would be a hot favourite to win a potential bout with Manfredo, and an impressive showing on US TV would boost his hopes of securing a planned mega-fight.


 

[AdamGB]

NO!

Sorry but this is 100000000000 times worse then when RJJ was meant to be fighting him...

[ICB]

NO!

Sorry but this is 100000000000 times worse then when RJJ was meant to be fighting him...

yea very disappointing and it looks like its going to prolly happen aswell big disappointment

[superheavyrhun]

I saw this on the BBC website, and I am mixed, in that i'm 50% concerned that Warren would even consider Manfredo as a worthy opponent for Joe, and 50% laughing at Manfredo is desperately trying to increase his profile by lying about having a Calzaghe fight done and dusted. Whichever way it turns out, I think I've lost respect for one of those two people, not that I was jam packed with respect for either one anyway.

Frank, don't do it.

[Kev]

I saw this on the BBC website, and I am mixed, in that i'm 50% concerned that Warren would even consider Manfredo as a worthy opponent for Joe, and 50% laughing at Manfredo is desperately trying to increase his profile by lying about having a Calzaghe fight done and dusted. Whichever way it turns out, I think I've lost respect for one of those two people, not that I was jam packed with respect for either one anyway.

Frank, don't do it.

This fight shouldnt happen and it wont. The idea that Manfredo would leave Providence Rhode Island let alone the United States to face Calzaghe is just absurd.

Calzaghe should fight Kessler. I cant understand his logic if he turns down a chance to fight the other unbeaten double world champ in a massive unification to fight the RUNNER UP!?!? of a reality tv show.

If this fight happens then Joe will no longer be my favourite fighter.

[Brockton Bomber]

It's time for me to shoot down all of the Manfredo haters on this forum. I want to preface this by saying that I am not a new fan to boxing, and I am cetainly not a fan who never knew about boxing before The Contender. I can remember watching Spinks get KTFO by Tyson when I was a little kid. I boxed as an amatuer for a few years, until I pulled a Joe C and busted my hand. All that said MANFREDO IS THE REAL DEAL. MANFREDO HAS A REAL CHANCE TO BEAT JOE C. That's right, I said it...start the forum flame machine now.

*Anybody who saw Manfredo fight on ESPN pre-contender can tell you that he was a talented  prospect.

*Manfredo's loss to Gomez was due to dehydration and the other negative effects of cutting weight. If you look at him coming into the ring for that fight, he looked like a friggin skeleton. He had bags under his eyes. Look at the Manfredo who entered the ring against Pemberton or Spina at 168, and it doesn't even look like the same guy. Some of you may ask why making 154 wasn't a problem for Manfredo before, but 160 was a problem for the Contender. I'll tell you why. Manfredo was what, 23 or 24 when the contender was taping? I can tell you being 26, that is when something happens to your body composition that makes it hard to keep your weight down. That's why fighters move up. Example. I used weight 210, a couple of years later, I weigh 224, with no more noticeable muscle, or fat.

*Manfredo won the 2nd Mora fight, relatively easily. That was the most home-cooked decision I ever saw until Quartey/Forrest. Besides that, Mora is a legit Top-5 middle weight. Manfredo has beaten everyone who's beaten him, a la Tarver. Even though Gomez and Mora are not exactly Jones and Johnson.

*Manfredo had gone as far as Manfredo Sr. could take him. He's a good trainer, not a great trainer like you need to fight at the elite level. Freddie Roach is. I mean, Manfredo Sr. had his kid fighting out of a modified kick-boxing stance for years. I also know enough to know Freddie Roach knows a lot more than me, or anyone else on this forum, and I don't think he would throw his fighter to the wolves if he really thought Jr. was that outclassed. Getting a fighter with Manfredo's name recognition slaughtered doen't make dollars, or sense.

*Joe C is not nearly as good as the Lacy performance would have you believe. First, Lacy fought like a dee dee dee that night. No strategy. Second, Lacy was never that good to begin with. He's like a young Tyson, but without the defensive mastery Cus D'Amato had instilled in him. A big punch will get you past guys like Omar Shieka, but not guys like Joe C.

*Manfredo has looked like Godzilla since he got with Roach. Yeah, I know Pemberton was shot, but Spina wasn't, and I still contend that Manfredo won the second Mora fight convincingly. I actually saw it for the first time on Youtube the other day.

So that's it folks, keep sparring and drinking your Haterade.

PS- RJJ, even now, on any given night can be more dangerous than Joe C ever was.

[skel1983]

It's time for me to shoot down all of the Manfredo haters on this forum. I want to preface this by saying that I am not a new fan to boxing, and I am cetainly not a fan who never knew about boxing before The Contender. I can remember watching Spinks get KTFO by Tyson when I was a little kid. I boxed as an amatuer for a few years, until I pulled a Joe C and busted my hand. All that said MANFREDO IS THE REAL DEAL. MANFREDO HAS A REAL CHANCE TO BEAT JOE C. That's right, I said it...start the forum flame machine now.

*Anybody who saw Manfredo fight on ESPN pre-contender can tell you that he was a talented prospect.

*Manfredo's loss to Gomez was due to dehydration and the other negative effects of cutting weight. If you look at him coming into the ring for that fight, he looked like a friggin skeleton. He had bags under his eyes. Look at the Manfredo who entered the ring against Pemberton or Spina at 168, and it doesn't even look like the same guy. Some of you may ask why making 154 wasn't a problem for Manfredo before, but 160 was a problem for the Contender. I'll tell you why. Manfredo was what, 23 or 24 when the contender was taping? I can tell you being 26, that is when something happens to your body composition that makes it hard to keep your weight down. That's why fighters move up. Example. I used weight 210, a couple of years later, I weigh 224, with no more noticeable muscle, or fat.

*Manfredo won the 2nd Mora fight, relatively easily. That was the most home-cooked decision I ever saw until Quartey/Forrest. Besides that, Mora is a legit Top-5 middle weight. Manfredo has beaten everyone who's beaten him, a la Tarver. Even though Gomez and Mora are not exactly Jones and Johnson.

*Manfredo had gone as far as Manfredo Sr. could take him. He's a good trainer, not a great trainer like you need to fight at the elite level. Freddie Roach is. I mean, Manfredo Sr. had his kid fighting out of a modified kick-boxing stance for years. I also know enough to know Freddie Roach knows a lot more than me, or anyone else on this forum, and I don't think he would throw his fighter to the wolves if he really thought Jr. was that outclassed. Getting a fighter with Manfredo's name recognition slaughtered doen't make dollars, or sense.

*Joe C is not nearly as good as the Lacy performance would have you believe. First, Lacy fought like a dee dee dee that night. No strategy. Second, Lacy was never that good to begin with. He's like a young Tyson, but without the defensive mastery Cus D'Amato had instilled in him. A big punch will get you past guys like Omar Shieka, but not guys like Joe C.

*Manfredo has looked like Godzilla since he got with Roach. Yeah, I know Pemberton was shot, but Spina wasn't, and I still contend that Manfredo won the second Mora fight convincingly. I actually saw it for the first time on Youtube the other day.

So that's it folks, keep sparring and drinking your Haterade.

PS- RJJ, even now, on any given night can be more dangerous than Joe C ever was.

Joe Calzaghe aint as good as the Lacy fight What was that his twin brother in there

Mate if you doubt Joe Calzaghe go take a look at his am carrer he is the real deal and would spank Manfredo to hell and back.

[ICB]

no no and no peter lost to mora twice second one was close but im sorry thats bs if he loses to the likes of mora he hasnt got chance in hell u make an excuse about peter losing to gomez but hold on wasnt 2nd one razor thin aswell as i see it was very close fight

[Brockton Bomber]

Actually, I had Peter winning 6 of 8 rounds. He hut Mora twice too. No one was more surprised than Mora when he won that fight.

[diamonddavestafford]

It's time for me to shoot down all of the Manfredo haters on this forum. I want to preface this by saying that I am not a new fan to boxing, and I am cetainly not a fan who never knew about boxing before The Contender. I can remember watching Spinks get KTFO by Tyson when I was a little kid. I boxed as an amatuer for a few years, until I pulled a Joe C and busted my hand. All that said MANFREDO IS THE REAL DEAL. MANFREDO HAS A REAL CHANCE TO BEAT JOE C. That's right, I said it...start the forum flame machine now.

*Anybody who saw Manfredo fight on ESPN pre-contender can tell you that he was a talented prospect.

*Manfredo's loss to Gomez was due to dehydration and the other negative effects of cutting weight. If you look at him coming into the ring for that fight, he looked like a friggin skeleton. He had bags under his eyes. Look at the Manfredo who entered the ring against Pemberton or Spina at 168, and it doesn't even look like the same guy. Some of you may ask why making 154 wasn't a problem for Manfredo before, but 160 was a problem for the Contender. I'll tell you why. Manfredo was what, 23 or 24 when the contender was taping? I can tell you being 26, that is when something happens to your body composition that makes it hard to keep your weight down. That's why fighters move up. Example. I used weight 210, a couple of years later, I weigh 224, with no more noticeable muscle, or fat.

*Manfredo won the 2nd Mora fight, relatively easily. That was the most home-cooked decision I ever saw until Quartey/Forrest. Besides that, Mora is a legit Top-5 middle weight. Manfredo has beaten everyone who's beaten him, a la Tarver. Even though Gomez and Mora are not exactly Jones and Johnson.

*Manfredo had gone as far as Manfredo Sr. could take him. He's a good trainer, not a great trainer like you need to fight at the elite level. Freddie Roach is. I mean, Manfredo Sr. had his kid fighting out of a modified kick-boxing stance for years. I also know enough to know Freddie Roach knows a lot more than me, or anyone else on this forum, and I don't think he would throw his fighter to the wolves if he really thought Jr. was that outclassed. Getting a fighter with Manfredo's name recognition slaughtered doen't make dollars, or sense.

*Joe C is not nearly as good as the Lacy performance would have you believe. First, Lacy fought like a dee dee dee that night. No strategy. Second, Lacy was never that good to begin with. He's like a young Tyson, but without the defensive mastery Cus D'Amato had instilled in him. A big punch will get you past guys like Omar Shieka, but not guys like Joe C.

*Manfredo has looked like Godzilla since he got with Roach. Yeah, I know Pemberton was shot, but Spina wasn't, and I still contend that Manfredo won the second Mora fight convincingly. I actually saw it for the first time on Youtube the other day.

So that's it folks, keep sparring and drinking your Haterade.

PS- RJJ, even now, on any given night can be more dangerous than Joe C ever was.

I think you are smoking crack if you think Manfredo is gonna beat this guy. Calzaghe is an animal. He took apart Lacy who was until then undefeated and was plain out destroying guys. I dont think Peter would have a chance against Jeff Lacy at this point; he's not ready yet. I welcome this fight just to see how he fares against Joe, but I really dont expect him to do very well. Freddie Roach is crazy to put him against Calzaghe and is going batty to think he has a chance of stopping him. This is a tune up sacrifice for the Dragon before he gets to Jermaine Taylor or someone really tough. People say who has Calzaghe fought? Well he's fought almost twice as many people as Manfredo and he has lost to three less. In fact he is still unbeaten if I am not mistaken and I expect he will remain that way after this fight has transpired (if it in fact does). I respect that you used to box and that you seem to know what you are talking about, but Manfredo is as good as dead if he has really signed that contract!

[Brockton Bomber]

Here's another point. What do you think the chances of Joe C breaking his fiberglass hand on Manfredo's granite head are? Manfredo has never been knocked down in his 30 professional, or 4,654,947 amatuer fights. Everybody at the Wild Card seems to think he has the best chin there too.

[superheavyrhun]

Here's another point. What do you think the chances of Joe C breaking his fiberglass hand on Manfredo's granite head are? Manfredo has never been knocked down in his 30 professional, or 4,654,947 amatuer fights. Everybody at the Wild Card seems to think he has the best chin there too.

EVEN if Manfredo has a head made of granite as you suggest, and after his shenanigans after the Spina fight, it clearly isn't filled with a rounded, intelligent, compassionate human brain, he still isn't going to be able to match Calzaghe in any way in workrate, or causing damage to a point that he can knock Calzaghe out. Even if he can't be knocked down, Calzaghe will out-throw him three or four times to one throughout any bout until the referee steps in, or Calzaghe takes a simple points victory by a wide margin. And by the way....fibreglass is very tough plastic used to replace glass in items which need something less fragile than glass. And even as a partisan Calzaghe fan, I can only wish his hands were as tough as fibreglass, rather than similar to glass, which they seem to be.

[diamonddavestafford]

Here's another point. What do you think the chances of Joe C breaking his fiberglass hand on Manfredo's granite head are? Manfredo has never been knocked down in his 30 professional, or 4,654,947 amatuer fights. Everybody at the Wild Card seems to think he has the best chin there too.

Lol, good point, he could always break his hand. If he does maybe it will be a more competitive fight. Manfredo has never been knocked down but he has never ever been in with the likes of a fighter like Joe Calzaghe. He's gonna get hit a lot more than he ever has and by someone who knows how to really set up his punches. I think you will see the first knockdown and probably the first knockout of Manfredo's career. Joe is going to beat him senseless the way i see it. He may literally kill him which would be sad because Manfredo has a little girl. We can bet on the outcome (on the PUT UP OR SHUT UP poll) if it indeed this fight turns out to be a reality if you want to...im sure a lot of people would like to take bets against Joe on this one...however...i bet u could make some real money in Vegas if you are right about Manfredo coming out on top...

[killersheep]

Ok here we go with the mad odds machine, Killersheep's take.....

Calzaghe = -1200 = 1/12
Manfredo = +550 = 11/2
Draw = +3500 = 35/1

- or -

Calzaghe = -1000 = 1/10
Kessler = +500 = 5/1
Draw = +3200 = 32/1

as you can see, either way, the result will be the same.

[Brockton Bomber]

I never said Manfredo would beat Joe C. I'm just pointing out that it's not as far-fetched as some peole are making it out to be. If The Joe C that battered Lacy shows up, Peter has a tall hill to climb. If it's the Joe C that showed up for Bika, Jr. may shock the world. Plus, Joe is hand injury waiting to happen, every time he gets in the ring.