10.01.07 - WBO World Super-Middleweight Champion Joe Calzaghe wants the last remaining precious kilograms of Welsh gold to be used on a special world title belt on Saturday 7th April. Calzaghe makes a record 20th title defence of his WBO crown against American superstar Peter Manfredo at the Millennium Stadium but is devastated to hear that Welsh Gold plc, the last producer of pure Welsh gold at the Gwynfynydd Mines Royal in Dolgellau, is expected to close very soon with supplies coming to an end..
Pure Welsh gold is famous for its use in wedding rings of the royal family and the rich and famous including Diana, The Princess of Wales, Camilla Parker Bowles and Catherine Zeta-Jones. It is also believed that the Queen was given a kilogram of pure Welsh Gold in the 1980's to make wedding rings for forthcoming generations.
The unbeaten Welsh hero, boxing's current longest-reigning world champion, said, "They say that pure Welsh gold is the world's most valuable metal and if it's going to run out, I want to make sure that I've got the last of it on my belt!"
"But it is sad to hear that they are going to stop production of Welsh gold because it's a major part of Wales' history and culture,"
"When I was a kid at school I never listened in the lesson's much because I was more interested in boxing and always knew I wanted to be a world champion, but what I do remember the teachers telling me is that Welsh gold goes back centuries to the Celtic times when nobles wore gold neck rings as a badge of rank and power."
He continued, "I'm not taking Manfredo lightly and I'm training harder than for this fight than any other in my career because it means so much to me but as an extra incentive it would be amazing to have a belt made with Welsh gold on it,"
"April 7th will be an historic event not just for Welsh boxing but also for British and World boxing and it would be great if it was specially commemorated."
Calzaghe-Manfredo headlines a superb 6-title show, the greatest show ever staged in the Welsh capital, including hard hitting Enzo Maccarinelli defending his WBO World Cruiserweight title, Cwmbran puncher Gary Lockett making the second defence of his WBU World Middleweight title, Takaloo defending his WBU World Welterweight title against Michael Jennings, Bradley Pryce defending his Commonwealth Light-Middleweight title and the long awaited rematch between Tony Doherty and Taz Jones for the Celtic Welterweight title.
An action packed undercard includes Olympic Silver Medallist Amir Khan, Gavin Rees, Nathan Cleverley, Barrie Jones, Kerry Hope and Don Broadhurst.
Tickets, from £30, are available from See Tickets on 0870 060 3794.
Calzaghe v Manfredo will be broadcast live on ITV1 in the UK and on HBO World Championship Boxing at 5pm ET/2pm PT.
The heat is on
The time is right
Its time for you
Oh for you to play your game
People are coming,
Everyones trying
Trying to be the best that they can
When their going for, going for, gold.
Just have to clear one thing up for Mr Calzaghe. The gold isn't actually running out, it's just that the last mine is closing. It's just not cost-effective to relocate when actually finding another seam is a lottery.
