World Super Middleweight Championship
Joe CALZAGHE  vs.  PETER MANFREDO, Jr.
Saturday, April 7, at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
LIVE on HBO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
How Does Joe Calzaghe Measure Up?
 
JOE CALZAGHE is boxing's current longest-reigning world champion having held the super middleweight title since 1997, including 19 consecutive successful title defenses -- sixth-best on boxing's all-time list, tied with Ricardo López (Mexico, strawweight, 1990-1998) and Eusebio Pedroza (Panama, featherweight, 1978-1985.) 


On Saturday, April 7, Calzaghe (42-0, 31 KOs), will attempt to become the first world champion from the United Kingdom to successfully defend his title a landmark 20 times, moving him into a fourth-place tie with Larry Holmes (U.S., heavyweight, 1978-1985) and Bernard Hopkins (U.S., middleweight, 1995-2005.)

But standing in his way is top-five contender PETER MANFREDO, Jr. (26-3, 12 KOs), the first alumnus from "The Contender" to fight for a world title. 

 
            

Manfredo has enlisted five-division world champion SUGAR RAY LEONARD to assist in his preparation for this fight.  Leonard, no stranger to big fights, celebrates the 20th anniversary of his own "upset of the year" on April 6, when he dethroned undisputed middleweight champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler.  Can Leonard, this time from the other side of the corner, help Manfredo pull off his "upset of the year?"  With 30,000 tickets already sold to the event at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, and 11 days still to go, it's a mission they both relish.  HBO will broadcast it live at 5 P.M. ET / 2 P.M. PT with a replay scheduled later that evening at 10 P.M. ET/PT.