Can The Contender Become The Upset Kid?

[The Final Word]

All Joe needs to do now is line up Mora, Bonsante, Ishe Smith, and the other Contender has-beens and soon he'll be up to 30 defenses...enough to warrant a 50 foot bronze statue erected in his honor in Wales. Then they can pin a couple walnuts between its legs and you have something for the ages!

[antihero]

It's very unlikely Manfredo will upset Calzaghe. Unless he starts calling him names!

[The Final Word]

I don't think so either, but let's pray it happens. I can hear all the excuses now... "Manfredo is a Top 10 contender!" "Manfredo was underrated!" "Joe had terrible flatulence the night of the fight!"

[guru]

i thought peter had a chance with roach in his corner, but now it looks dim...

[PunchDrunk]

That's cute; love to hear what was so bad Punchy.

The comparison to Arguello-Mancini is so far fetched it's out of this world. Completely ridiculous.

Also, stating that Manfredo will "play boxer this time against the swarming champion," is pretty out there. Manfredo has better boxing skills to capitalize off of? Gimme a break. Then he turns around and says that Manfredo has to set a blazing pace from start to finish, like Mancini? So which one is he, Mancini or Arguello?

And what's with the 9 minutes Calzaghe's supposedly going to need in the end??? Where in the world does that come from? How does anyone speculate that he's gonna need 9 extra minutes, ahead of this fight?

He keeps inverting his logic. Calzaghe is the "aging warrior," yet HE may need the three last rounds? I thought the old guy normally tires out?

He says Calzaghe has a "face first" style? Sure, he can be aggressive, but he was anything but face first against Lacy. I'd liek to think Calzaghe's a little more versatile than "face first."

I could go on, but it's getting boring...

[crold1]

Punchy:
Thank you for the constructive criticisms. I'm always looking for ways to improve my column (the he you're referring to above is obviously me). Beyond looking for ways to improve, I'm always willing to explain a reference that may have sailed over one's head.

For instance, nine minutes is a reference to extra rounds. I thought that was fairly evident but clearly it wasn't so allow me to explain. A round in Boxing lasts three minutes...3X3=9. 9 minutes would be the added fighting time difference between today's title fights (12 rounds/36 minutes) and the old distance of 15 (45 minutes). Beyond 3X3, 45-36 also = 9. Mancini was up on two cards after 12 against Arguello; I'm stating that if Manfredo can do that, he doesn't have to worry about Ray's fate.

As I stated in the column, the styles don't match up the same way as Mancini-Arguello, but some of the periphery elements are quite similar. It's not a perfect analogy but few analogies are. I try to equate modern fights with older ones where I can as principle; too many pundits bemoan the loss of time which I think too often degrades modern fighters. Associating old with new has its own value for fans who might not know these two warriors but remember Alexis and Ray (as an example).

As to face-first, call it what you will but Calzaghe is at his best coming forward in combination. If Manfredo can use that to his advantage, and counter effectively, you have a blazing start and an early lead. As aging warrior, he could be able to take over a fight where he has more effectively conserved energy because Manfredo will be the one forced to push to get ahead.

Altogether, I don't find a Manfredo win likely (as I stated) but it made for a more interesting discussion then another piece that slammed the fight. That's just me.

Any thoughts from anyone on the portion of the column dealing with Erik Morales-David Diaz? I thought that the more interesting reading personally although not fitting as a lead.

Generally speaking, allow me to reiterate what I've said in the past. I'm excited to be a part of this excellent site and look forward to discoursing with its knowledgeable readers. I may not always be right, but I'll always be up to discuss my work.

Cliff Rold

[Gareth Ivanovic]

Manfredo might come out strong, but Joe is in a different league and should punish him through 12 rounds.

[Kball15]

It's very unlikely Manfredo will upset Calzaghe. Unless he starts calling him names!

haha. i actually laughed at that

[The Final Word]

Manfredo might come out strong, but Joe is in a different league and should punish him through 12 rounds.

Pray he doesn't last 12 rounds or nobody will EVER take the Welsh girl seriously ever again. Except for those silly europeans who need to latch onto every halfway decent fighter they come up with.

Every round Manfrodo lasts is another nail into Calzone's coffin of mediocrity.

[Piggu]

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