17 years ago

Date: 7th April 2007

Title: WBO World Super-middleweight Title

Promoter: Frank Warren

Tv: HBO, ITV

Joe Calzaghe
( 42 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 167 3/4 lbs

Peter Manfredo
( 26 - 3 - 0 )
Weight: 166 lbs

In the 20th defence of his WBO World Super-middleweight title Joe Calzaghe takes on Peter Manfredo who rose to popularity in the ESPN reality series "The Contender."

When reality hits home, fighting the other contenders in the Tv show was no preparation for an elite boxer like Calzaghe. Manfredo could barely land a punch on the champion and after a one-sided but uneventful first round, Calzaghe realised that he had nothing to fear and went after his challenger, using fast in-and-out footwork to out-jab and counter Manfredo.

In the 3rd round, Calzaghe stepped the pace up and was catching Manfredo with fast shots on the ropes when referee Terry O'Connor stepped in and called a halt to proceedings. The stoppage was generally regarded as premature but most observers felt that it was only a matter of time before the champion caught up with Manfredo.