By Mark Vester
There will be another super middleweight crowned next year, as WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe has vacated the IBF title that he won from Jeff Lacy in March, in order to face Contender star Peter Manfredo, Jr.
The IBF had ordered Calzaghe to face mandatory Robert Stieglitz of Germany, but neither Calzaghe or HBO was interested in the bout.
"It's disappointing to give up the IBF but Stieglitz doesn't mean anything out of Germany," said Calzaghe.
Warren tells Sportinglife that Calzaghe's March bout with Manfredo will be more of an action packed bout than most people expect.
"He's trained by Freddie Roach and Sugar Ray Leonard is also involved with him and they don't work with people who can't fight," said Warren. "But Joe Calzaghe is one of the best ever British fighters and one of the best pound-for-pound in the world today."
Calzaghe is not taking Manfredo lightly, and is getting ready for anything come March.
"If you thought of him as just a reality TV show fighter it should be a walkover, inside a couple of rounds. But I've watched his last few fights and he does look a good contender. He's beaten Scott Pemberton, who was number one challenger for the world title, and has looked good in his last couple of fights," Calzaghe said.
