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Boxing

Calzaghe planning farewell tour

12/12/2006

WBO super middleweight world champion Joe Calzaghe says that he might retire if he gets the fights he wants in 2007 and thinks that his bout with Peter Manfredo in April is likely to be his last in his beloved Wales.

Calzaghe takes on the American challenger at the Millennium Stadium, which will host the biggest night of boxing ever seen in Wales as Calzaghe looks to put on a show for the American television audience in a bid to get big-name fights later in the year.

The Welshman said: "Maybe three or four more fights and I'm going to retire. This could possibly be my last fight in Cardiff.

"If I have a few successful fights in 2007 I will sit down and see where I am because I've achieved nearly everything I want to achieve in boxing."

Calzaghe has won all 42 of his professional fights since turning pro in 1993 and the showdown in April will be his 20th world title defence - a feat rarely achieved - and the 34-year-old is keen to join the greats.

"Only four or five in history have got to 20 defences so that is a massive goal for me. I want to get to that magic number 20 in front of my home fans in the Millennium Stadium," he added.

However, challenger Manfredo, who shot to fame in television show 'The Contender' and is a big draw in the US as a reality TV star as much as for his boxing ability, maintains that in America it is Calzaghe that is the unknown and not him.

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