-Photo Credit: Emily Harney-

    Peter Manfredo Jr. has come a very long ways since the Contender TV show. No longer is he fighting the likes of Sergio Mora, Alfonso Gomez, and Miguel Espino. He now steps up to boxing's biggest stage against Super middleweight king Joe Calzaghe.

    Manfredo will be fighting the longest reigning champ in boxing, who owns two of the four world title straps at 168 pounds. Manfredo will be facing a man who is ranked by most in their top 10 pound for pound lists; and who looked unstoppable nearly a year ago when he dismantled Jeff Lacy. In addition, Manfredo will have to travel all the way to Europe to fight in Calzaghe's home turf, in front of a crowd that will be absolutely pro-Calzaghe. So, yes, Peter Manfredo Jr. will be up against what seems like the world on Saturday afternoon. But, this is just the way he wants it.

    Since the Contender TV show ended, Manfredo's career has advanced quicker than his fellow Contenders. He looked like a changed fighter when he fought his rematch with Sergio Mora in Los Angeles. A lot of this can be credited to having new trainer Freddie Roach in his corner. As the show ended, Manfredo continued to impress with Roach behind him. He consequently destroyed Scott Pemberton and Joey Spina, quickly starting to turn heads in the division.

    Is Manfredo ready for the big time? Well, Saturday will tell. It will be Manfredo's first world title shot, and he will be doing it under the toughest of conditions. There will be some slight changes, the biggest being a new trainer in his corner. That new trainer is Sugar Ray Leonard. Another question now arises for Manfredo, can Leonard have him looking as sharp as Roach for this, his biggest fight yet? Again, we shall see.

     Many are wondering how Manfredo looks like such a different  fighter from the one on the TV show. There are a lot of reasons for that. The first reason is the trainer,  Freddie Roach, who started training him after the show and refined his skills. Another reason is he's not having to fight 6-8 fights that are edited on TV. If you ask Manfredo he will tell you the biggest reason is the weight issue. Manfredo was nearly having to starve himself on the show, and said that in all the fights he was a drained fighter, especially in the finale against Mora. He has a point, remember that first season of the Contender he was having to hit weight at or between 154-160 pounds. Now Manfredo is fighting at 168, and is usually up near 180 pounds by the first bell. So, the two biggest reasons for Manfredo looking like a different fighter are a new trainer and no more weight issues.

     With all this being said, Manfredo has a monumental task in front of him on Saturday. Calzaghe is unlike any other fighter that he's faced, quicker and slicker too. The last couple of guys Manfredo faced were anything but quick. In those fights, speed seemed to be Manfredo's biggest advantage. He will not have this advantage on Saturday. Manfredo's best bet will probably be to turn the fight into an ugly brawl, and even that won't be an easy task. Despite taunts that Calzaghe slaps with his punches, Calzaghe can punch, just ask Jeff Lacy of Byron Mitchell.

     Saturday will be a huge day and a huge opportunity for Manfredo. But, it's going to be tough. Then again winning a world title is never easy. Manfredo knows how sweet it would be to bring the world title back to Providence, (Rhode Island) and he will be ready for the task. On Saturday afternoon, Calzaghe will feel like he's up against the world in Calzaghe's backyard. But, as a legend once said, there's nothing better than shocking the world.

4-4-2007