Fans inspire Calzaghe

JOE CALZAGHE has 35,000 incentives to turn in the most devastating performance of his career tomorrow night as he finally begins to reap the rewards his talent deserves.

That is the size of the crowd expected at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to watch the 35-year-old Welshman defend his WBO super-middleweight title for the 20th time against Peter Manfredo.

Like Larry Holmes and Bernard Hopkins – whose mark for consecutive defences he hopes to equal – Calzaghe has discovered the plaudits belatedly reaching him towards the twilight of his career.

His emphatic win over Jeff Lacy in March last year propelled Calzaghe, who had never previously been particularly renowned as a major ticket seller, towards superstar status.

Calzaghe said: “I have been through the years of frustration of not being given the big fights and not really getting the credit and respect by a lot of people.

“Now I am fighting in front of big worldwide audiences and getting that recognition. If you can’t get motivated to fight in front of 35,000 people, there is something wrong with you.

“There is still a lot of fire inside me. My book is not written yet and there is so much I still believe I can achieve. I have given Peter respect by getting into the best shape I have ever been in.”

Calzaghe towered above former ‘Contender’ star Manfredo at yesterday’s main press conference in Cardiff and is rated by some bookmakers as an extraordinary 50-1 on to extend his unbeaten record.

The 26-year-old Manfredo was beaten twice in the successful TV series, taking advantage of an unlikely second chance to reach the final where he lost to Sergio Mora.

But two fine stoppage wins in his last two fights, over Joey Spina and former fringe contender Scott Pemberton, have boosted Manfredo’s confidence ahead of his daunting title shot.

And he has also been listening intently to the advice of five-times world champion and true legend Sugar Ray Leonard, who is in Cardiff primarily as part of Manfredo’s back-up team.

Leonard believes the temptation to be flippant about Manfredo’s reality TV credentials does both the challenger and the ‘Contender’ programme, in which he plays a prominent role, a disservice.

Leonard said: “Being a reality TV fighter is a good thing, not a negative thing. ‘Contender’ has propelled so many boxers from one level up to another.

“On Saturday you will see a dedicated champion in Joe Calzaghe but you are also going to see a guy in Manfredo who has been waiting to take this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Manfredo, whose ambition may be apparent in the size of his entourage, insists his lack of fear over Calzaghe’s 42-fight unbeaten record will play a key factor.

Manfredo said: “I have not spent 12 weeks away from my family to come here and be an opponent. I am here to be champion and I am not afraid of Joe or his reputation.

“I’m excited about the fight on Saturday night and I am convinced it is going to be my night.

“I am going to be the champion – and that’s the mind I am going to have until Joe defeats me – if he does.”