I have got my tickets for this for the 7th April in Cardiff, is anyone else going? i am really looking forward to it, should be a good one:thumbsup:

Who do you think will win?? Joe Calzaghe for me :hihi:

calzaghe will smash the lad up, he's a true class act of a boxer.

calzaghe should win (easily) dont really know why hes fightin manfredo - well actually i assume hes tryin to win over the american fans..

lucky you tanya! i'll watch it on the box - i've seen where manfredo describes his stlye as being similar to lamotta - the thing is he won't be as good as lamotta, so he should be tailor made for Joe, as long as he sticks to what he's good at (boxing and not brawling), and is motivated for the fight.

I have got my tickets for this for the 7th April in Cardiff, is anyone else going? i am really looking forward to it, should be a good one:thumbsup:

Who do you think will win?? Joe Calzaghe for me :hihi:

Against Lacey he was superb best boxing performance I have seen, ever since he has looked pedestrian.

How long will manfredo last against calzaghe?

Calzaghe no doubt ,he will knock this pretender contender out in round 6.

i think it will go all the way
i can remember him from contender and he was pretty solid

Go all the way? Dont be daft! Are you his lookalike by the way?

I think the fight might go the the distance ..Manfredo has nothing to lose and has beaten 2 very good oppenents in the last to fights...SO don't be surprised at a close fight or even an upset.

Khan will destroy hisguy.

Love calzaghe but im a fan of manfredo too cus i watched the contender religously. Hope it goes all the way :)

only ever going to be one winner, but i do think it was stopped too soon. Manfredo was never going to win - as i mentioned before, he's tailor made for Calazaghe.

Well you never know what could have happened. What a crap crap ref ....idiotic decision ....nonsense

Hi,

Ref maybe stopped it too soon, but it was totally one-sided. Really, it's a bit silly to say you never know what could have happened - because all that could have happened was that it could have carried on too long and an over-hyped US TV reality show boxer could have got hurt badly.

If he's the no.6 challenger in any boxing organisation's rankings, then there are a lot of sub-standard pros at that weight.

Boxing is a sport where reality can clash head-on with hype, and there's only ever one winner. Calzaghe was way beyond Manfredo's ability, and that fight should never have been on.

Ade

Total mismatch and so was Khans. When will the so called promoters stop nurse maiding their precious champions with inferior fighters ? :rant:

i agree you probably get one good fight a year these days.

Hi,

Ref maybe stopped it too soon, but it was totally one-sided. Really, it's a bit silly to say you never know what could have happened - because all that could have happened was that it could have carried on too long and an over-hyped US TV reality show boxer could have got hurt badly.

If he's the no.6 challenger in any boxing organisation's rankings, then there are a lot of sub-standard pros at that weight.

Boxing is a sport where reality can clash head-on with hype, and there's only ever one winner. Calzaghe was way beyond Manfredo's ability, and that fight should never have been on.

Ade

Actually on paper it was a good fight...Manfredo beat Pemberton who was 19-0 before he lost to him..Manfredo also beat a guy Calzaghe was meant to fight next .......Also Manfredo was never hurt at all ,,, ,,sometimes fighters take a bit of time to warm up....HE WAS DUCKING AND WEAVING WHEN IT GOT STOPPED FOR GODNESS SAKE!!! it was after all only the third round out of 12! ...

Total mismatch and so was Khans. When will the so called promoters stop nurse maiding their precious champions with inferior fighters ? :rant:

Frank Warren had no intention of putting the british fighters with exceptional fighters...Why? cus they where on HBO and the american public where watching and ourt fighters had to look goood to get a chance over there...simply great promoting if you ask me

Pro Boxing = money = box office/showbiz.Consequently there will always be behind the scenes politics/manoeuvring/dodgy deals and decisions i`m afraid.At the end of the day though promoters have to look at the product they are dishing up to the paying public.Very often it appears we are being short changed.Once hype takes over from substance i fear the sport is on a slippery slope.

With an attitude like this, I am glad Manfredo was stopped so early:

"I'd rather get killed than be stopped. He had no right to stop the fight like that. This ain't the amateurs, this is professional boxing for the world championship."

Oh this poor lad from the contender reality show was out of his depth,Calzy tortured him for 3 rounds,the USA are desperate for a world champ,it will probably be 1 from American Idol next.

Actually on paper it was a good fight...Manfredo beat Pemberton who was 19-0 before he lost to him..Manfredo also beat a guy Calzaghe was meant to fight next .......Also Manfredo was never hurt at all ,,, ,,sometimes fighters take a bit of time to warm up....HE WAS DUCKING AND WEAVING WHEN IT GOT STOPPED FOR GODNESS SAKE!!! it was after all only the third round out of 12! ...

ducking and weaving or not, he was still get clobbered and wasn't answering back...i agree it was maybe stopped early, but i also agree with the others that it was a onesided mismatch...even on paper

Total mismatch and so was Khans. When will the so called promoters stop nurse maiding their precious champions with inferior fighters ? :rant:

Welcome to the world of PRO Boxing.
The big ticket sellers are always given the easier matches to "build up their profile".
Happens to a lesser extent on some kickboxing shows too.
Im very proud of the fact that at AFK promotions all our match ups are fair fights and are REAL fights.

I was at a kickboxing show recently (at the octagon) where an experienced instructor was matched against a relative novice. If you saw the match you would know which one i am on about.
The novice did quite well mind you, mainly due to the fact that this "black belt" was so glass jawed he should be a chandelier :P

Boxing Vs MMA?

I used to love boxing, make no mistake. I got turned off through pure frustration. For example, I saw Enzo fight about 2-3 years ago, he looked awesome, yet here he is, still fighting opponents who don't even put up a friggin' fight. What's the point? That guy's hands take no prisoners, he could have gone up against, and beaten so many worthy opponents by now.

Same with Kahn, same with Calzaghe. Bad decisions, ****e match-ups, sporadic fights, random start times, never knowing which channel is showing what, advertisements between rounds. . I just cannot be arsed anymore, frankly.

Especially when UFC and K1 are so damn good

Comparison. Andre Orlovski, like Enzo, also looked great a couple of years ago. Except he's now had a Heavyweight Title rivalry going on with Tim Silvia which matches Benn Vs Eubank for pure compulsive viewing. And that's not to mention all of the other quality opponents that have been thrown his way.

Another example, with a record of 12 and 0, Khan in MMA would have had title shots by now. Frank Warren on the other hand has Khan's entire career planned out. If the flamin' lad is young hungry and talented. . . get him in there against the best!!

Frank Warren had no intention of putting the british fighters with exceptional fighters...Why? cus they where on HBO and the american public where watching and ourt fighters had to look goood to get a chance over there...simply great promoting if you ask me
Not much cop for the paying public though, apart from that do you think anyone watching such stuff would be hoodwinked as easily as that ?

Although Manfredo didn't look to be really hurt if he isn't fighting back then the fight should be stopped. You could see the ref in the background wondering what to do - it didn't look like he wanted to stop it, especially with it being a title fight but the lad was getting a pasting with no reply. If he hadn't stopped it then it would very probably would have ended in the next 30 seconds or so anyway. All he's done is stopped Manfredo getting hurt and if he can't fight back he's got nothing to moan about - he's supposed to be a boxer not a punch bag.

Khan looked impressive but it will be good to see him against a better opponent.

Maccarinelli's power is just scary, Gunn didn't have a hope in hell.

I hear everybody saying that he did'nt fight back soo the ref was righ to stop it....does anybody remember a certain fight between Mohammad Ali and george Foreman .......or even calzaghe's fight against lacy?........why dint both of them get stopped by ref???! .. ...and did Ali not come back several rounds later and knock foreman out?? not saying manfredo could but at least give the kid a chance...

I went to watch this fight and the atmosphere was amazing. I said that i would be surprised if it lasted 5 rounds! it was a total mis match, easy money for Calzaghe tho!

In the boxing programme it advertised that a new contender will be starting US V UK, cant wait for this!

Looking forward to the next big fight, Mayweather!

^^ UK vs US contender sounds good!

^^ UK vs US contender sounds good!

It was advertised on TV last night, it starts on Monday at 9pm!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

The ref should have given him a standing 8 count, not stopped it.

Joe Calzaghe is the worst boxing champ about. Never fought a real live opponent, His best opponemt is still a 3yrs past his best Chris Eubank. Joe is the best of a very very bad bunch of super middleweights, he won't step up to light heavy cus he's afraid of fighting a good un. Calzage would have got knocked clean out by Benn, a Prime Eubank, Watson.. Shall I carry on. And as for the best display by a british fighter ever when he beat Jeff Lacy, look at Lacy's record 19-0 again never fought anyone. What a joke he is, now Joe is calling out Jemain Taylor another middleweight, Bernhard Hopkins 41 years old... Well done Joe, u clown. Why doesn't he try and fight Kessler. He's a tool.
For people information best british performance ever would be..
Benn against Dug De Witt ot Iran Barkley or Gerald Mclennan
Loyd Honnigan beating Don Curry.
All the above fight put Joe never fought anyone Calzaghe to Shame.
Peter Manfredo Lost twice in the contender... Really good eh.
Remeber Calzaghe defences against boxing great such as Tocker Pudwell... or Will the Kid Mcintyre... Real good.

Boxing is losing its popularity, and after watching the 3 disgraceful contests (if they can be called contests) I can see why.

What on earth could Khan and Enzo have learnt from Saturday night?

As for Joe, the record books might show him to be the most successful champ ever, but will he be remembered in years to come for the big fights or for fighting nobody's????? (I think the latter).

I remember my dad telling me of the Sugar Ray, Hearns, Hagler and Duran era of the 80's. I also remember with fond memories the Eubank, Benn, Watson and Collins battles in the 90's when I was a teenager. Who's gonna remember Joe in 10 years?

I would love to see Joe take on the trully big names, the career defining fights. I beleive he is the best around at the mo, awesome hand speed, determination, stamina, a cracking boxing brain, but Joe you've got to prove it by taking the big fights, otherwise your time will always be surrounded by doubts.

He complains he doesn't get the recognition he deserves, well earn it!

Joe Calzaghe is the worst boxing champ about. Never fought a real live opponent, His best opponemt is still a 3yrs past his best Chris Eubank. Joe is the best of a very very bad bunch of super middleweights, he won't step up to light heavy cus he's afraid of fighting a good un. Calzage would have got knocked clean out by Benn, a Prime Eubank, Watson.. Shall I carry on. And as for the best display by a british fighter ever when he beat Jeff Lacy, look at Lacy's record 19-0 again never fought anyone. What a joke he is, now Joe is calling out Jemain Taylor another middleweight, Bernhard Hopkins 41 years old... Well done Joe, u clown. Why doesn't he try and fight Kessler. He's a tool.
For people information best british performance ever would be..
Benn against Dug De Witt ot Iran Barkley or Gerald Mclennan
Loyd Honnigan beating Don Curry.
All the above fight put Joe never fought anyone Calzaghe to Shame.
Peter Manfredo Lost twice in the contender... Really good eh.
Remeber Calzaghe defences against boxing great such as Tocker Pudwell... or Will the Kid Mcintyre... Real good.

I agree with the stuff you say about best british performances - i saw all those fights at the time, but to say that Calzaghe's the worst champion around? are you saying that every world champ, at every weight (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, WBU, WBF, etc. etc.), there's NO ONE around worse than Calzaghe? sorry, i don't believe it...and he has tried to get a bout with Kessler...

as for speculating what would or would not have happened against Benn et.al, it's pointless - it didn't happen - end of...

Joe Calzaghe is the worst boxing champ about. Never fought a real live opponent, His best opponemt is still a 3yrs past his best Chris Eubank. Joe is the best of a very very bad bunch of super middleweights, he won't step up to light heavy cus he's afraid of fighting a good un. Calzage would have got knocked clean out by Benn, a Prime Eubank, Watson.. Shall I carry on. And as for the best display by a british fighter ever when he beat Jeff Lacy, look at Lacy's record 19-0 again never fought anyone. What a joke he is, now Joe is calling out Jemain Taylor another middleweight, Bernhard Hopkins 41 years old... Well done Joe, u clown. Why doesn't he try and fight Kessler. He's a tool.
For people information best british performance ever would be..
Benn against Dug De Witt ot Iran Barkley or Gerald Mclennan
Loyd Honnigan beating Don Curry.
All the above fight put Joe never fought anyone Calzaghe to Shame.
Peter Manfredo Lost twice in the contender... Really good eh.
Remeber Calzaghe defences against boxing great such as Tocker Pudwell... or Will the Kid Mcintyre... Real good.
Disagree Benn was not in this guy's league.
He is the best fighter we have had at this weight for 40 years.

Disagree Benn was not in this guy's league.
He is the best fighter we have had at this weight for 40 years.


The super middleweight division has not been around for 40 years.

So if Kessler won't fight Calzaghe, just who should Joe be fighting? Apparently Carl Froch is ranked no.3 by the WBO and has put his anme forward - any opinions on such a match up?

Why would he fight frooch no real money in it...Has to be taylor, Hopkins out of retirement or even Roy Jones.

Why would he fight frooch no real money in it...Has to be taylor, Hopkins out of retirement or even Roy Jones.

well further up the thread someone is suggesting that neither taylor or hopkins would be suitable opponents, and i don't think jones would be, so who else is there?

when I said he is the worst world champion what I meant he is in a very sub standard weight class at the moment. Super Middleweight is extreamly lacklusture. I believe Calzaghe knows this and will not take the step up in weight he has been talking about for almost 5yrs. Im sure if he really wanted to fight Kessler then the fight would be made. He may have to go out of GB which I think he only ever done once. But if he is as good as he says he should knock out kessler not leaving it in the hands of the judges. To say joe Calzaghe is best british boxer of all time is a ridiculous statement. Fighting people like Roy Jones, Jermain Taylor, will prove nothing. I think the best fights out there for him to prove himself as a world class operater, he will have to move up to light heavy fight people like Chad Dawson, Antonio Tarver, Glenn johnstone, Clinton Woods. But I still believe Benn, Eubank, Watson would drop him like a bad habit. You only have to look at how JC throws punches arm punches, slaps with the insides of his gloves. Benn would drop him hard.

when I said he is the worst world champion what I meant he is in a very sub standard weight class at the moment. Super Middleweight is extreamly lacklusture. I believe Calzaghe knows this and will not take the step up in weight he has been talking about for almost 5yrs. Im sure if he really wanted to fight Kessler then the fight would be made. He may have to go out of GB which I think he only ever done once. But if he is as good as he says he should knock out kessler not leaving it in the hands of the judges. To say joe Calzaghe is best british boxer of all time is a ridiculous statement. Fighting people like Roy Jones, Jermain Taylor, will prove nothing. I think the best fights out there for him to prove himself as a world class operater, he will have to move up to light heavy fight people like Chad Dawson, Antonio Tarver, Glenn johnstone, Clinton Woods. But I still believe Benn, Eubank, Watson would drop him like a bad habit. You only have to look at how JC throws punches arm punches, slaps with the insides of his gloves. Benn would drop him hard.

Clinton Woods? You can't be serious! What would that prove? he's hardly set the world alight!

It's funny cos i was on an American based boxing forum the other day and they were all saying Calzaghe would have to fight Taylor, Hopkins, etc. to prove himself - i have no opinion really on who he should fight, but whoever he fights, people are going to slate him, so it doesn't really matter.

as for knocking out Kessler - boxing is the sweet science - hit and not be hit - there's no shame in a bout going to the judges. being able to KO an opponent is just one aspect of boxing - it doesn't mean a boxer isn't as good as they say they are just because they don't have a prolific KO record or can't KO a particular opponent - many of the greates boxers in history weren't especially big hitters compared to other fighters. There's no doubt in my mind that Calzaghe's a better boxer than a puncher and shouldn't be getting drawn into brawls and looking for a KO - he's got the skill and speed to avoid that and he should play to his strengths.