"On the night of the fight, Manfredo is in for the harsh reality of boxing,” said Calzaghe “There's a world of difference between being a reality TV star and a world champion boxer. He's only seen the glitz and the glamour of the sport, now he's in for the real thing against me. Manfredo will go from being a star to seeing stars. From what I have seen of him, he is a good tough kid and is well known in America but this is my 20th title defence and my ninth year as world champion and Manfredo isn't going to spoil it for me."



"I want to thank Joe Calzaghe for giving me this chance,” Manfredo responded.



“And while I have the utmost respect for his skills and our mutual Italian heritage I must follow in the footsteps of previous generations of Americans who fought the British in the Revolutionary War and the rematch, the War of 1812, and use my skills to beat the British once again.”



“I hope this will be the first of many fights between my two home countries,” said Burnett, a former soldier in a British parachute regiment, who now resides in the U.S. “Peter Manfredo has showed the skill and heart that earned him this opportunity and we expect this to be one of the most exciting fights of the new year.”



"I'm delighted that Joe will make his historic 20th World Super-Middleweight title defence against Peter Manfredo on HBO,” stated Warren. “It's a landmark occasion in the history of British boxing and it's great that the American fight fans will be able to see it. Peter's a good fighter and his attacking style, matched against Joe's come forward style, will make for a great fight."



“Joe Calzaghe is a terrific champion and we’re thrilled to be showcasing his 20th title defense,” said HBO Sports senior vice president Kery Davis. “Peter Manfredo has the opportunity of a lifetime to go overseas and pull off a shocker.”