Calzaghe Defeats Manfredo - Boxing News - Will he face Bernard Hopkins next?

Joe Calzaghe made history on Saturday night at the Millennium Stadium in Cardif, Wales. There, he successfully defended his WBO Super Middleweight title against Peter Manfredo, Jr., the 6th-ranked contender for the title and star of the television boxing reality show, The Contender. In doing so, Calzaghe improved his record to 43-0 with 32 Kos and tied the record of 20 successful title defenses held by Bernard Hopkins.

Calzaghe won the title from Chris Eubank in 1997. Since then, he has remained undefeated and become one of the biggest sports draws in the UK (along with fellow undefeated boxer Ricky Hatton). Five more wins and he’ll be tied with the record holder, Joe Louis.

Manfredo fell to 26-4 with the loss. While Manfredo was able to evade Calzaghe’s punches in the first round, the Welshmen increased the tempo in the 2nd, even lowering his hands and daring the younger fighter to engage him. In the 3rd, Calzaghe got his opponent pinned against the ropes and launched a brutal flurry of head and body shots. After initially weathering the storm, referee Terry O’Connor was finally forced to step in an award the TKO victory to Calzaghe. Needless to say, this certainly pleased the crowd of 35,000.

Next up for Calzaghe may be a big money fight in America against Jermain Taylor, Winky Wright, or Bernard Hopkins. There is also pressure from critics to fight WBA and WBC Super Middleweight Champion Mikkel Kessler in a unification bout.

Calzaghe Defeats Manfredo - Boxing News - Will he face Bernard Hopkins next?