Joe Calzaghe has been struck by his recurring hand problem after confirming that he fractured a bone against Peter Manfredo Jr last Saturday night.

The WBO super middleweight champion made short work of his 20th defence against the American challenger with a third-round stoppage in Cardiff.

Calzaghe confirmed he cracked the scaphoid bone in his left hand but calmed fears the break was serious.

"I shouldn't be out for too long, probably about four weeks," he said.

The 35-year-old, from Newbridge in south Wales, is confident that the injury will not affect preparations for his next proposed fight date in July.

"I'm disappointed that I fractured my hand but that's boxing and injuries happen," Calzaghe added.

"I'll be back to light training in preparation for the proposed July date, which I am really excited about."

Calzaghe's promoter, Frank Warren, is trying to tempt middleweight king Jermain Taylor into a super-fight in July, probably to take place in Britain, with a big-money offer.

Another possible opponent could be Taylor's fellow American Roy Jones Jr, although Denmark's WBC and WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler has rejected a summer unification bout.

A defence against Germany-based Russian Denis Inkin at the 02 Arena, the renamed Millennium Dome, is another name in the mix.

Calzaghe has a history of hand problems throughout his career.

He went into the ring against his previous opponent Sakio Bika last October with little sparring after hand problems following his brilliant win against Jeff Lacy.

That unification against former IBF and IBO champ Lacy was itself delayed after Calzaghe broke his hand against Evans Ashira.

BBC Sport