Calzaghe pounds Manfredo to a premature stoppage!
 By Benny Henderson Jr (April 8, 2007) Doghouse Boxing (Photo © Tom Casino/SHOWTIME)
HBO Boxing provided some pugilist entertainment all the way from the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales this past Saturday night, in front of thirty-five thousand plus screaming Calzaghe fans the undefeated WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe 43-0 (32 KO’s) continued his winning streak by making quick work of ‘The Contender’ contestant Peter Manfredo 26-4 (12 KO’s) in a third round controversial stoppage.
In the opinions of many in the boxing media, the challenger, Peter Manfredo Jr. was coming into this bout as an over hyped reality series star that did not deserve the title shot or to share the ring with Joe at this point and time, others that
did back up the cause for the ‘Pride of Providence’ probably had their hearts dashed out as the champion brought a little reality to the contender in the two plus rounds they did share the ring together.
To be honest round one was not that bad for Manfredo, as he and Calzaghe traded a few pop shots to began the bout, but after the champion made a few adjustments in the ring it was all Calzaghe. The much faster, more talented Calzaghe fired off at will out landing, out pointing and out classing Manfredo beating the Rhode Islander to the punch.
In the third round Calzaghe opened up the pain and punches pinning Manfredo to the ropes, the champion threw out around twenty-two unanswered shots, few hitting Manfredo, a couple hitting air while the majority landing on the gloves of Peter. Hurt or not, Manfredo did not answer back and the referee Terry O’Connor jumped in and called a halt to the bout at 1:30 in the third round, giving Calzaghe his forty-third consecutive win, this being Calzaghe’s twentieth title defense.
After the bout, a clearly and understandably disappointed Manfredo had some words for the premature stoppage, “I was moving against the ropes trying to get away from the pitter pat amateur shots and the referee jumped in and stopped it,” explained Manfredo, “I wasn’t hurt, this is a world title fight and you did not even give me a chance, it was over before it stared,” exclaimed Manfredo.
The champion had opposite thoughts on the turn out, “I felt that I was on total control, I knew I had him hurt,” explained Calzaghe, “It possibly could have went on but I am not the referee, that’s not my job.”
What’s in the real near future for the champ?
“I want bigger fights,” stated Calzaghe, “I’m ready to come over (United States) and show my talents.”
Calzaghe mentioned some possible opponents for his American debut, “I want Hopkins or Taylor,” exclaimed Calzaghe. But when asked about Mikkel Kessler he stated, “Talk to Frank!” Frank being, Frank Warren, Calzaghe’s promoter who sternly stated Kessler turned down a multi-million purse for a possible summer unification bout.
In my opinion, there are two sides to every story!
In the pre fight attraction the undefeated Amir Khan 12-0 (9 KO’s) kept his streak alive with a third round knock out over Steffy Bull 24-5-1 (5 KO’s). The former Olympian and Jr. welterweight prospect dropped the British born boxer with a massive body shot to earn Khan his ninth knock out.
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