Boxing: Calzaghe's Heavyweight Dream

Joe Calzaghe has one major regret as he approaches the 20th defence of his World Boxing Organisation world super-middleweight title against Peter Manfredo at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Saturday. He wishes he had been big enough to box as a heavyweight, despite a 14-year career that has established him as one of Britain's outstanding fighters.

Calzaghe's first bout in the paid ranks saw him win easily on the undercard of the world heavyweight title fight between Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno on October 1, 1993. The Welshman remembers only a handful of spectators being in Cardiff Arms Park early in the evening when he stopped Joe Hanlon in the first round and has a clearer recollection of watching the main event. "I remember thinking how poor they both were. I was surprised how much Lewis struggled," said Calzaghe. "Now I look around and wish I was a heavyweight because most of them are shit." Perhaps Calzaghe will draw solace from the crowd of 35,000 that is expected on Saturday, 12,000 more than paid to watch Lewis v Bruno. Now undefeated in 42 contests, Calzaghe said: "It's fantastic to come back here and fight. To get that sort of audience is what we all work for."

Manfredo's camp feels Calzaghe may have peaked with his win against Jeff Lacy last March and point to his subsequent defence when he produced a scrappy win against Sakio Bika in October.

There is already talk of Calzaghe's next defence with Americans such as the former world middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins, but he will not look past Manfredo. "He has nothing to lose and he'll fight as if his life depends on it."