Calzaghe-Manfredo: A Dose of Reality

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By TK Stewart - In boxing as we know it today, all it takes to become a title challenger is to make an appearance on a reality television show, have a touching story and a photogenic family behind you, as well as the ability to garner a few Nielsen ratings points in the 18 to 35 year-old demographic.

And presto, the flesh peddlers will reward a young man with a title fight.

So as “The Contender”reality show television personality and relative novice Peter Manfredo, Jr. prepares to face WBO Super Middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe in Cardiff, Wales on Saturday night at Millenium Stadium he does so without ever having defeated a top-ranked fighter and with only two fights in the 168-pound division.

HBO boxing analyst Larry Merchant, in talking about fighters that are perceived to be unbeatable, once said so eloquently, “Their ain’t a horse than can’t be rode or a rider that can’t be throwed.” However, Peter Manfredo, Jr. and his braintrust deciding to challenge Joe Calzaghe is like the winner of the local chess club tournament deciding to take on Grandmaster Gary Kasparov in a winner take all match. [details]

[GEOFFHAYES]

Manfredo was #3 in the WBO World rankings before the Contender, and undefeated in 20+ fights. He was weight-drained to the extreme on the Contender series, and only entered it because of the potential cash prize.

He looked much better and stronger in his last two fights.

This will be a close fight. Calzaghe is 35 FFS and has looked **** for years on end (Lacy fight aside, where he was literally tapping about a punchbag and nervous wreck).

[THEBADBOY BG]

calzaghe is going to beat him easily.

[USA4LIFE]

I'm not giving Peter much of a chance but it certainly would be something for him to come up with the upset. i think this fight depends all on Joe, if Joe comes to fight then he will wipe the floor with Peter but if **** Joe comes we might actually see an upset b/c peter seems to come to fight all the time. This is the biggest fight of peter's career tho so we will have to see if that fact gets to him like it seemed to get lacey.

[magatte]

Mind this piece is written by a local Welsh newspaper. I think that people forget that Manfredo was on of the top ranked up and coming middleweights before getting on the Contender. (not that it means he would escape a spanking this week-end).

[me2007]

Manfredo can`t win this fight. He doesn`t have the power to KO Calzaghe and Calzaghe can go 12 rounds at the same high pace.

There is no way Manfredo can win, he doesn`t have the skills, experience, power, speed or intensity to beat Calzaghe.

Manfredo's heart will be his worst enemy as I believe he will get punished every round until he falls.

[hugh grant]

Manfredo wont win this one, but that is not to say he cant be competive during parts of the fight and make Joe draw hugh gulps of air as well. Manfredo has a good pedigree prior to the contender and has had expert tuition from the best people for a long time now. Even better tuition and advice than Joe has been given even probably.
Joe says he trains hard, but what is to say Manfredo doesnt. Manfredo probably trains harder than Joe. Well..... Manfredo would have to to have a chance.
Manfredo is dedicated so it woiuld be silly to think he couldnt test Joe.

[fluent2332]

Manfredo will make him work at times, it wont be a complete shutout, but most likely an easy win for Calzaghe. I just hope Calzaghe gets a shot at some big fights soon

[.Mik.]

but if **** Joe comes we might actually see an upset b/c peter seems to come to fight all the time.

Bearing in mind, even '**** Joe' has barely lost a round in his career against fighters of a much higher standing and experience than Manfredo.

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

Mind this piece is written by a local Welsh newspaper. I think that people forget that Manfredo was on of the top ranked up and coming middleweights before getting on the Contender. (not that it means he would escape a spanking this week-end).

Local Welsh newspaper? Who and where?