Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Brewer
Great assessment, and kudos for pointing out a very tough-to-see silver lining.
I just feel bad for Manfredo (who I really suspected was trying to run Calzaghe out of gas a little by laying on the ropes) for having to take a knockout loss on a bullshit call.
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Thanks.
But I'll say this:
If Manfredo let's this loss dictate the reast of his career, he was never a true "contender" from the start. He's a kid with a future ahead of him if his handlers bring him up correctly. We both know that Manfredo wasn't ready for Calzaghe at this stage in his career. This was sort of a sideshow, and being that I know that you know boxing, I'm confident that you know that too. Manfredo's real selling point was the fact that he had exposure on "
The Contender" reality show. He got exposure that other boxers at his level would
DIE FOR. So, they brought him over to let him face Calzaghe, and hoped that it would generate enough interest to make Calzaghe look like he did something big so that American fans who
didn't see the Lacy fight could place his face with a fight.
Manfredo, if he's smart, works hard and is game, will have other opportunities.