Q&A Peter Manfredo!

The WBO Super Middleweight Title is at stake on April 7, when "The Pride of Providence," Peter Manfredo Jr. battles the undefeated "Pride of Wales," Joe Calzaghe.



Peter Manfredo, Jr., held his last formal press conference this past Thursday, on his own home turf of Manfredo's Gym in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. For years, Manfredo has punched the dog-eared heavy and speed bags, skipped miles of rope, and sparred uncountable rounds in his father's gym, to prepare for an opportunity at a world title belt.



Manfredo has gown up under the seasoned tutelage of his father, Peter Manfredo, Sr., who is both his manager and trainer for this fight. Freddie Roach, who had been training Manfredo, is out of the picture for this title bout, as he prepares Oscar De La Hoya for his showdown with Floyd Mayweather, Jr., on May 5.



A graduate from "The Contender," Manfredo came away with more than just the national exposure all pro boxers long for; he came away with a major fan, advisor, and mentor, the one and only Sugar Ray Leonard, a world champ himself in five divisions.



At his last American press conference, Manfredo took time to speak to FightNews about his fight across the Pond:



Peter, how does it feel to be back in Pawtucket, in your father's gym, where it all began and what memories of your time in this gym will you carry with you into Calzaghe's backyard?



Well, my mind is focused on how to win this fight. I started off with Jimmy Burchfield and his CES Boxing team, and give Jimmy a lot of credit for where I am now. You know, my second home is Los Angeles right now, Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym. Since I've been there, I've become a different fighter. I went to the next level. Right here, I just bring it back, everything I've learned there, and help these young kids out, with the talent I've learned out there. But, it’s nice to come home to see my family and my kids for a couple of days, to give the media what they've wanted, a public workout here. I’m ready to win this fight and defend it back here in Providence with a rematch, if he wants one. That's after I bang him out!



Although Freddie Roach is unavailable to train you for this fight, what have you learned from him that you have applied to your game in preparation for your fight on April 7?



Well just the game plan that we worked on, you know, I'm going to box this guy. He's never fought a boxer who wanted to go to the body a lot. I'm going to give him a lot of feints that he's never seen before, you know, everything that (Jeff) Lacy didn't do. Lacy just went in there to knock this kid out, and he failed. So, we want to box this guy; we want to show him something that he’s never seen, and my father, and Sugar Ray Leonard is going to be in my corner in place of Freddie Roach, and we're all on the same page, we all have the same game plan, and that's to box.



You have always seemed more than comfortable with your father in your corner, who has brought you to the pinnacle of your profession; what impact has your father had on your life and your boxing career in particular?



Well, I probably wouldn't be a fighter if it weren't for him. I was born in the gym. I've been training all my life. Because of boxing, I have a beautiful house, a beautiful wife; I've got money. I've got things because of this sport, so my father is everything.



When are you taking off to Wales?



On Friday, March 23.



Calzaghe, being boxing's longest reigning undefeated southpaw, defending his world belt on his own turf, what have you done to specifically prepare for this fight?



Well, I'm working on the game plan, which is to box. I'm going there, I'm not afraid, I want to become a champion. I'm hungry, you know, he's never fought a guy like me. He's never fought a guy like me, with my hunger. I don't care if I have to go overseas to fight him. This is going to be on HBO, and people are going to see it, and I'm not worried about getting robbed over there. I'm going over there to do my work – do my job – I believe I can knock him out. I believe I have the power to knock him out. If you’ve seen my last two fights, I've been the strongest I've ever been at this weight class. And, I'm going in there with supreme confidence. I know I can beat this guy!



What has it done for your psyche, to have the five-division former world champ, Sugar Ray Leonard in your corner and what credit do you give to Sugar Ray for the opportunities that are before you now?



Well, it’s been awesome. He wants to work my corner. You know, Sugar Ray is a legend, so just by him being in my corner gives me the extra confidence. Maybe, if he tells me something that maybe my father doesn't see, or anything like that, I listen to him, because he's Sugar Ray Leonard, you know what I mean? He's great, so, it’s just an honor to have him in my corner, and I'm glad he wants to work with me. We've become good friends; he's come to the gym to watch me work out a couple of times. He knows I'm going to do it. I feel I'm going to do it, and everyone around me is confident. It's a pleasure to have him there, and I know, it will help me out.



Are you at your peak now? What is your prediction for your title bout with Calzaghe?



I would say I'm in my prime right now. You know, I'm 26 years old, and since I've been with Freddie Roach, I've taken it to the next level. My position is just to go in there and win. I think I'm going to put him down, and he's going to get up, because he's the world champion, but I'm going to fight hard, and I'm gonna be the new champion come April 7!



If Calzaghe were present today, here in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, what would you say to him about what he better be ready to handle in Wales?



Well, he better be a hungry fighter. You know, I think he's looking past me a little. He's talking about big fights with like Bernard Hopkins and Jermain Taylor after this fight. He better be worried about me! I'm an up and comer. I'm ready. I'm on his level, and I'm going to come and beat him. I'm hungry. I want this, so I think he's realizing that, and if he doesn't know, after the first or second round, he will!