Calzaghe a class apart

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Calzaghe successfully defended his WBO super-middleweight title for the 20th time, an accomplishment which saw him equal the records of fellow greats Larry Holmes and Bernard Hopkins.

In front of a record indoor crowd of around 35,000, Calzaghe blazed out for the third round and rained a seemingly endless supply of hooks down upon hapless Manfredo.

Watching closely as the 26-year-old challenger gamely attempted to stay on his feet, referee Terry O'Connor had finally seen enough at one minute 30 seconds of the round and waved the contest off.

Calzaghe told ITV: "It's amazing (to be in Cardiff) for my 20th defence in this amazing arena. I paid my dues for a long time and this is what dreams are made of - and there's more to come yet."

Calzaghe admitted that the stoppage may have come a little early but was certain he would have knocked his opponent out given the chance.

"I think you could make a case that it was stopped slightly prematurely but if it hadn't have been then I'd have stopped him by the fourth. The referee saved him from more punishment. Up close he was going (down) and in the next 20 or 30 seconds I'd have floored him."

Manfredo was unhappy at the referee's decision to stop the fight when he did.

He told ITV: "I was hanging in there, trying to get my rhythm going, and the fight was stopped too soon. There was no warning or anything.

"Joe is the best and I wanted to feel my way and find my rhythm but I couldn't get it going. He picked up the pace and got me in a corner. He has fast hands but not much power. I've been hit by bigger punches. I was never hurt and it (the stoppage) was too quick."