Calzaghe has eye on history books

WBO world super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe goes in search of his 20th world title defence next March with one eye on recording his name in the history books.

Calzaghe will fight American TV boxing reality show star Peter Manfredo at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Saturday, 3 March.

A victory would take the Welshman level with former heavyweight champion Larry Holmes and Bernard Hopkins, the ex-middleweight title holder, in terms of title defences.

'Equalling Holmes and Hopkins means a lot to me and it's a great incentive to train hard for this fight,' said Calzaghe.

'But let's forget about Louis. I don't know if I want to take his record, he's a legend.'

However, promoter Frank Warren added: 'What a thing to do to overtake Joe Louis' record. It would be a major achievement. I don't think anyone else is going to get there ever.'

Calzaghe's decision to face Manfredo means he relinquished the IBF world super middleweight championship after rejecting mandatory challenger Robert Stieglitz.

The sanctioning body had applied pressure on Calzaghe by putting the fight out to purse offers but Manfredo, a household name in America after his appearances on 'The Contender' television series, is a more lucrative option.

Calzaghe admitted: 'It's disappointing to give up the IBF but Stieglitz doesn't mean anything out of Germany.'

Manfredo, runner-up in the first series of 'The Contender', has lost three of his 29 professional fights but Warren believes the 26-year-old American will prove a tough opponent for the 34-year-old champion.

'He's trained by Freddie Roach and Sugar Ray Leonard is also involved with him and they don't work with people who can't fight,' said Warren.

'But Joe Calzaghe is one of the best ever British fighters and one of the best pound-for-pound in the world today.'

Calzaghe, who has studied Manfredo carefully, said: 'If you thought of him as just a reality TV show fighter it should be a walkover, inside a couple of rounds.

'But I've watched his last few fights and he does look a good contender. He's beaten Scott Pemberton, who was number one challenger for the world title, and has looked good in his last couple of fights.'

Victory could see Calzaghe making his 21st WBO title defence in the USA, possibly against former world middleweight champion Jermain Taylor.

Warren added: 'We've been in discussions with Taylor and that's a fight we would like, but first he has to come through this one.'