Boxing - Calzaghe vs. Lacy

[Hippy Dave]

Joe Calzaghe to beat Jeff Lacy 5pts @ 2.34 (betfair)
Odds look the wrong way round for this one to me. Ok, so Lacy is a big puncher, but he is also going to be trying to KO a man with one of the most rock solid chins around. And when he fails to deliver that early knockout blow, Calzaghe's going to teach him how to box. Home advantage will be important too, as always in boxing.

[Beanie]

Interesting one there Dave. I don't know much about either but for the seeing the odd fight or highlights here and there, but I'll follow you on this one as I'll be sitting in watching the fight tonight

A few previews:

http://msn.foxsports.com/boxing/story/5378722

http://sport.independent.co.uk/gener...icle348861.ece

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/4760828.stm

[Beanie]

This one from InsideEdge is well worth a read too:

It’s finally here, after years of beating off questions directed at the standard of his opponents, WBO holder Joe Calzaghe is taking on IBF champ Jeff Lacy in what could already be the fight of the year.

If you could win money for predicting a boxing match will be a war, Welshman Calzaghe against gobby Yank ‘Left Hook’ Lacy would be a guaranteed money-spinner. Billed as ‘Judgement Day’, when the two undefeated titleholders fight for supremacy in the supermiddleweight division on 4 March, they’ll bring a toe-to-toe battle of the highest quality to Manchester’s MEN Arena.

The fight promises to be Calzaghe’s toughest to date. Victory over Lacy would be a fitting end to the Brit’s eight-year WBO reign. After this slugfest in Manchester, Calzaghe has pledged his future to the light-heavyweight division.

Calzaghe has been criticised for not fighting in America, but he certainly has the explosive style that US fight fans seem to love.

Wrecking machine
The Newbridge man hasn’t lost a fight since he was a 17-year-old amateur, and he has clocked up 17 consecutive defences of his WBO world super-middleweight crown.

Lacy, who has held the rival IBF belt since 2004, is a wrecking machine who doesn’t take a backward step. Ageing Brit Robin Reid, a former WBC world champion, found out just how good Lacy is when he was heavily beaten in eight one-sided rounds during an unsuccessful title challenge last summer.

At 33, Calzaghe will not have age on his side against a 28-year-old opponent. Lacy is unquestionably at his fighting peak – many boxing analysts say he is improving with every fight. Lance Williams, presenter of Bob and Weave, a US-based boxing podcast, sums up what many of Lacy’s fellow countrymen think of Calzaghe’s chances. He says: ‘The last good fighter he has faced was Byron Mitchell (in 2003), and in that fight he was badly wobbled.

‘I think Calzaghe is ripe to get stopped. Recent opponents include unknown fighters like Evans Ashira, Mario Veit and Kabary Salem – that is not a good body of work before going in with a fighter like Lacy.’

Harsh? Perhaps. Lacy has also laid into Calzaghe with a few choice words, calling the ageing British fighter a ‘slapper’, referring to Calzaghe’s open hands when punching.

Calzaghe to win
But Calzaghe should win this fight. Lacy may be super-aggressive, but he lacks head movement, gets hit a lot, and has a tendency to telegraph his punches. This style is made-to-measure for a ferocious counter-puncher like Calzaghe. The Welshman may not have been fighting the world’s best of late, but the fact that he has had few wars should enhance the longevity of his career.

While Lacy has been in devastating form in recent fights – recording three consecutive stoppage victories against Rubin Williams, Robin Reid and Scott Pemberton – he was taken the distance by Omar Sheika, a fighter well past his prime, in late 2004. Interestingly, when Calzaghe fought Sheika at the top of his game, he stopped him in five rounds.

Such displays from Lacy have urged Enzo Calzaghe, father and trainer of Joe, to question the American’s stamina if the fight goes into the later rounds, saying: ‘He will have nothing left come the sixth or seventh.’

While you couldn’t hear a more partisan voice than the father and trainer of a fighter, I would heed his words on fight night. Back Calzaghe to stop Lacy in the later rounds.

Otherwise, bet on Calzaghe winning a convincing points victory

[pistol984]

Just gonna play devils advocate on this one.

Jeff Lacy is an extremely talented young fighter. His recored is a solid 21(17KO's)-0-0. Any questions from the Calzaghe camp about the quality of Lacy's opposition can easily be countered by looking at the drivel Calzaghe has been fighitng recently.

Comparing the two fighters based on the Omar Sheika fight is crazy. The Calzaghe that fought Sheika was 6 years younger, faster, fitter and stronger than the Calzaghe that faces Lacy tonight.

A look at Joe's recent bouts shouldn't bring much encouragement to the Welsh Valleys. He's been fighting opponents that really shouldn't stretch him but been picking up injuries and getting in trouble. Joe's suspect left hand might not just hinder him physically. When you've injured your main weapon in the heat of battle, that's got to affect the confidence of a fighter.

The short of it is that Jeff Lacy is a young hungry boxer who's gonna step up to Joe Calzaghe and make him work all night. Calzaghe on the other hand is a vastly experienced world champion who may be on the slide.

I don't think Calzaghe is fit enough to keep up with Lacy all night. In order to beat Lacy he'll have to display exemplary defence skills that I haven't seen Joe use in years.

Lacy by KO in the 7th

[Hippy Dave]

People often criticise the people that Calzaghe's fought, but to be fair to him there has been no-one in the division over the last few years worth fighting.

However, when there was he fought and beat Woodhall, Sheika, Starie, Reid and Eubank. A lot people thought that Brewer and Mitchell would beat him, as they did with Veit first time round ( I know it sounds hilarious now, but that's what everyone was saying at the time).

To say that Calzaghe's past his best is guesswork - no-one's tested him for a while for us to see whether this is the case. I don't see that as a negative - a Calzaghe with war after war behind him would be taken about by a fresher man, but the way his career has gone leaves him with a great chance here.

Lacy is all about power, and we've seen time and time again that at the very highest level power alone doesn't win fights, especially when the opponent has the great chin that the Welshman does. You also have to remember that Calzaghe has often looked at his most impressive when drawn into wars, and that could easily happen here. Remember Brewer dropped him in round 2, and Calzaghe got up and took him apart.

If Lacy stops Calzaghe it will be early, the later rounds will belong the Joe.

[Swooperman]

Sorry Pistol, think I'm with Dave on this one. Looking forward to this

Looks like no sleep til monday

[Swooperman]

Losers type interest bet of Lacey in the 3rd @ 25/1 & Calzaghe in the 10th @ 33/1

Both Stan James & 1pnt each

Too much on the cricket to be throwing big wedge at 5/4

[Hippy Dave]

Enzo Calzaghe, Joe's father and trainer, has barely been able to contain himself when questioned about the challenge facing his son, launching into long diatribes about overrated American fighters.

"Why all this euphoria?" he asked. "We saw him fight on Joe's undercard (in 2004), and all of a sudden he's boxing Robin Reid, who is a dead squid. Then he fights a 40-year-old man, Scott Pemberton. So? Now this is supposed to be Joe's defining fight? Bollocks. (Lacy's) won one title and defended it a few times. What makes him so special?"

[trickrick]

Anyone know the time of the fight..??

[Hippy Dave]

Should get under way just after 2. ITV programme starts at 11.10, should be a couple of ok fights before the main event.

[trickrick]

Cheers matey.. Although way I'm knockn the wine back, I may rise for 2.00 (pm)....

Calzaghe to win on points

[Hippy Dave]

Doubled my bet on this to 10pts. Just one of those times where I can't really see any reason for Calzaghe to be underdog.

[mrmuzeman]

Would you price this at Evens a piece Dave?

I have to confess I know nothing about boxing, Ive heard of Calzaghe though but thats as far as it goes

This definitely on ITV and no some pay per view thing? Went to the dogs tonight and won a few quid (more luck than judgement) so I may place my profit on calzaghe if its a good bet.

[Hippy Dave]

I'd have it more like 8/11 Calzage I think MrM, 4/5 at most. On ITV yeah, not PPV.

[mrmuzeman]

If thats anywhere near correct then thats outstanding value on Calzaghe. Im gona have a little bit of it at 2.35 (afta commission at betfair) and cheer on Calzaghe. If he wins ill come back to thank you tomorrow