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Calzaghe maintains focus despite favourite tag

05/04/2007

World super-middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe insists he has not let his status as runaway favourite for Saturday's clash with Peter Manfredo Jr go to his head.

"There is still a lot of fire inside me. My book is not written yet and there is so much I still believe I can achieve," said the WBO title-holder.

"I have given Peter respect by getting into the best shape I have ever been in."

The Welshman is overwhelmingly tipped to make it to 20 straight defences of his crown with a win in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium with bookies' odds on a crowd-pleasing win as short as 50-1 on.

35,000 partisan fans are expected to watch Calzaghe and countryman Enzo Maccarinelli defend their titles under the stadium's closed roof making the promotion the largest indoor boxing event ever staged in Europe.

"If you can not get motivated to fight in front of 35,000 people, there is something wrong with you," Calzaghe said.

Manfredo's presence will also draw considerable interest stateside where he was shot to fame after finishing runner-up in the popular reality TV programme "The Contender".

One of the few to have backed the inexperienced 25-year-old is a host from the show, boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard.

"I am an optimist and I think that Peter can win. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him and I can see in his eyes the eye of the tiger," he said.

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