Respect for Manfredo Jr?

If the Providence Rhode Island native watched the Mikkel Kessler-Librado Andrade fight a few weeks ago, he might have tossed the TV out of his hotel room.

During the telecast, Max Kellerman, Emaunel Steward, and Bob Papa sounded like cheerleaders; they talked how Kessler had a good chance to upset Calzaghe if the two meet giving little thought to the role Manfredo, 26-3, might play.

If fans didn"t know better, they may be forgiven for thinking Manfredo may pull a Ray Austin and fall out the second Calzaghe lands a punch.

Manfredo sees Calzaghe playing into the media's opinion as well, "I think he"s taking me lightly and doesn't respect me. Come fight night I"m gonna show Calzaghe some stuff."

Manfredo gained a name from The Contender Season One; he entered the show undefeated and world ranked certain he'd win the million dollar prize; the only difficult part from Manfredo"s view was: how to hold on to the money before the check reached the bank.

Manfredo not only failed to win, he received his first professional lose to Alfonso Gomez on the show. The 26-year had a rematch with Gomez and won setting up a fight between him and Sergio Mora.

Mora won a unanimous decision and Manfredo left the reality series for good.

The problem was fight fans didn't take boxers on the show seriously; bouts were edited for TV and the number of rounds the men fought was reserved for early fighters so Manfredo may have lost credibility in the process.

"Those guys lived together every day and knew what each other did morning, noon and night," reveals Peter Manfredo Sr. "I think the show was both good and bad."

Calzaghe will be Manfredo"s third foe at the 168 pound division But he's not concerned, "I never had any doubt. I sparred with guys who were light heavy weights." Manfredo Sr adds, "A lot of guys don"t have the determination or skill he [Jr.] has. He says he can handle the weight I gotta go by what he says."

Manfredo started training in California at the end of January to give himself the best possible shot.

Manfredo"s head trainer Freddy Roach is busy with the number of fighters he"s currently training. Manfredo Sr. admits Roach broke camp with Manfredo Jr. in early March to work with Oscar De La Hoya in Puerto Rico.

Still, Manfredo Sr. knows what needs to be done, "We worked hard in the gym. Roach has the game plan mapped out and we just follow it."

35,000 fans are expected to pack Cardiff, Wales to root for hometown Calzaghe while in the process trying to get into Manfredo's head. The fight will mark Calzaghe"s 20th defense should he win.

"I think he thinks he"s so good after he beat [Jeff] Lacy. He's basically the same fighter he's been before," argues Manfredo.

"That's one fight he [Calzaghe] looked superior and Lacy was the perfect opponent. Every boxer has that one guy that makes him look great."

Lacy looked like a confused four-year old child fighting a man; Calzaghe gave Lacy a physical and mental spanking for 12 one-sided rounds.

"Lacy seemed like he was tired after the first round trying to throw one big shot," Manfredo Jr. says laughing.

"He didn"t show him anything! Just one big shot at a time. Calzaghe won"t knock me out because I"m Italian and got the [Jake] Lamotta Chin."

Manfredo"s wife Yamika, and their two daughters motivates the fighter, but for the Calzaghe fisticuffs, Manfredo, whose wife is pregnant, says his unborn son fires him up for this fight, "I can wait to show my son that daddy was a world champion. I've got two girls, but there"s nothing like finally getting a boy."

Manfredo doesn't like the thought of his son boxing, but if the boy insists, he"ll support him. Manfredo Sr. knows how Jr. feels.

"You don"t want to see your son get hurt. You can die in there [the ring] but I"ve learned how to control my emotions a little more."

Manfredo plans to leave the sport for good when his career is done, "I don't want to work with fighters because I don't want to get the urge to fight again."

He hopes to open a memorabilia store where locals can come see his accomplishments as a fighter. For now, Manfredo"s focus is bringing the titles home. If Manfredo defeats Calzaghe, he won't have to worry about respect for the time being because it will automatically be given to him.