Quote Originally Posted by stebs
I think Peter is tough as hell and will have a better showing then Calzaghe's last two opponents, in fact I hope he knocks the hell out of Calzaghe for taken about 12 steps backwards. Calzaghe is already well known in the states to anyone that is a boxing fan so I don't believe for a second that it's just for HBO and to get known over here in the states. His promoter simply thinks that Peter will be an easy defense and he'll match Hopkins MW defense record giving him bragging rights in a sence. But in reality it will do nothing in a true boxing fans eyes that he defended the WBO title more then Hopkins has defended his titles. Poor Joe is going backwards and losing more respect each day. I guess I have more confidence in Peters ability then most here and think the fight will go the distance further hurting Joes reputation. Joe has plenty of KO's but he's not a great puncher, he hit Lacy over a thousand times and couldn't KO him.

I'm rooting for the huge underdog here, I hope like hell Manfredo knocks him off his throne. He wants to be known In the states but he makes a barely rated fighter travel over there to fight him. Manfredo has something that Calzaghe lacks and thats courage and the willingness to fight anyone anywhere. Look at these ratings, Peter is not rated in the top 10 of any sanctioning body and not even the top 15 of the WBO or WBA.




WBC
Mikkel Kessler
1 . Librado Andrade
2 . Jeff Lacy
3 . Lucien Bute
4 . Carl Froch
5 . Cristian Sanavia
6 . Mario Veit
7 . Jurgen Brahmer
8 . William Joppy
9 . Mger Mkrtchian
10 . Rudy Markussen
11 . Otis Grant
12 . Jackson Chanet
13 . Peter Manfredo Jr.
14 . Danilo Haussler
15 . Danny Green


WBA
Mikkel Kessler
1. Anthony Mundine
2. Jeff Lacy
3. Rudy Markussen
4. Mger Mkrtchian
5. Lucien Bute
6. Vitaly Tsypko
7. Mario Veit
8. Danilo Haussler
9. Danny Green
10. Jurgen Brahmer
11. Jean Paul Mendy
12. Dennis Inkin
13. Lolenga Mock
14. Carl Froch
15. Jackson Chanet

IBF
Joe Calzaghe
1 Robert Stieglitz
2 Alejandro Berrio
3 Rudy Markussen
4 Danillo Haussler
5 Jeff Lacy
6 Luciene Bute
7 Mger Mkrtchian
8 Carl Froch
9 Mario Veit
10 Jackson Chanet
11 Jurgen Brahmer
12 Dennis Inkin
13 Yusuf Mack
14 Joe Spina these last two should be switched
15 Peter Manfredo Jr.


WBO
Joe Calzaghe
1. Rudy Markussen
2. Robert Stieglitz
3. Denis Inkin
4. Carl Froch
5. Allan Green
6. Jeff Lacy
7. Lucian Bute
8. Mario Veit
9. Victor Oganov
10. Cristian Sanavia
11. Mger Mkrtchian
12. Jean Paul Mendy
13. Sakio Bika
14. Hector Velazco
15. Francisco A. Mora


Fightnews
1. Joe Calzaghe
2. Mikkel Kessler
3. Jeff Lacy
4. Marcus Beyer
5. Anthony Mundine
6. Librado Andrade
7. Dennis Inkin
8. Lucian Bute
9. Jurgen Brähmer
10. Danny Green
11. Allan Green
12. Peter Manfredo Jr.
13. Sakio Bika
14. Mario Veit
15. Robert Stieglitz
16. Anthony Hanshaw
I agree with you stebs. As much as we can criticise Calzaghe for taking this fight I do think Manfredo is due a whole lot of credit for being willing to go over Wales to fight the 'champion' in his own back yard.

When you consider that he has been handpicked as some kind of sacrifical whipping boy for Joe to make a statement against to impress the American fightfans you can't help but root for the kid.

As a proud Brit I really don't know who I will be rooting for once they step in the ring but right now I'd like to see Peter kick his ass.