Calzaghe Too Strong for Manfredo

The Phantom

Joe Calzaghe dismantled Peter Manfredo Jr to make the 20th successful defence of his WBO super middleweight title at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
Welshman Calzaghe, 35, thrilled the 35,000 spectators with a third-round stoppage of the American, a former reality TV star. Calzaghe dominated a low-key start before stepping it up in the third.

The referee stepped in with Manfredo on the ropes and, although it was a little early, the result was never in doubt.

In front of a record indoor crowd, Calzaghe was a class apart from Manfredo who barely threw a significant punch.

The 26-year-old, most famous for being the runner-up in the first US series of boxing reality TV show 'The Contender', could not cope with Calzaghe's speed.

The Welshman made the first telling blows to the body at the start of the second and took control of the fight behind his jab.

A good right early in the third rocked Manfredo and Calzaghe piled in with a succession of hooks.

However, Manfredo appeared to be soaking up the blows and it was a surprise when referee Terry O'Connor stepped in and stopped the fight after one minute 30 seconds of the round.

The victory extends Calzaghe's unbeaten record and his next fight could be against WBA champion Mikkel Kessler of Denmark.

"It's amazing (to be in Cardiff) for my 20th defence in this amazing arena," he said afterwards. I paid my dues for a long time and this is what dreams are made of - and there's more to come yet."

He added: "I think you could make a case that it was stopped slightly prematurely but if it hadn't have been then I'd have stopped him by the fourth. The referee saved him from more punishment. Up close he was going (down) and in the next 20 or 30 seconds I'd have floored him."

Manfredo said: "I was hanging in there, trying to get my rhythm going, and the fight was stopped too soon. There was no warning or anything. Joe is the best and I wanted to feel my way and find my rhythm but I couldn't get it going. He picked up the pace and got me in a corner. He has fast hands but not much power. I've been hit by bigger punches. I was never hurt and it (the stoppage) was too quick."

Tyler Durden

Is Manfredo a relatively experienced boxer? If he's not, I'd say it was a bad move by his management to stick him in with such a wily ol' fox.

Crockerinho

I went, I was ringside, what an amazing atmosphear in the Millenium Stadium.

To answer your question TD, Manfrado was on the TV show the contender and finished second he's just an average boxer with limited experience

The Phantom

The main reason he was put up against Manfrado was because he's a name in America, and a win against him would get Joe recognised.

To be honest the fight was a bit of a joke. Manfredo just shut up shop and didn't pose any threat to Calzaghe. Having said that I do think the fight was stoped to early. But another 30 secs and Joe would have ko'd him.

Crocker, was this your first Millennium experiance? How did you find the stadium? It's personally my favourite stadium, but then I am hugley bias, lol. I've always thought it would be a great place for wrestling.

Crockerinho

Its a fantastic stadium, much better than Hampden Park, cant compare it to Wembley yet as Ive not had the pleasure.

I think the roof keeps alot of the atmosphear inside the stadium, but the roof nearly got blown of when Calzage keep out, and you Welsh certainly know how to sing a national anthem.

My only problem was the pizza I had on the way home

The Phantom

Glad you had a good time... I trust you'll be back at our great stadium some time soon. Just pick another Pizza place next time!

Crockerinho

Yea I think it was a Turkish place, it was right next door to a BP garage, the kababs frrom there im told are nice