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International Boxing Federation light heavyweight champion Clinton Woods, Sheffield, England, has backed fellow Brit Joe Calzaghe, Newbridge, Wales, to defeat big-punching American Jeff Lacy at the MEN Arena this Saturday.
Calzaghe and Lacy attempt to unify the WBO, IBO and IBF super-middleweight belts in the early hours of Sunday morning, local time.
Fight Academy promoted Woods and Calzaghe were scheduled to meet in October of 2004 but Calzaghe decided to withdraw. There have been some acerbic words exchanged between the two camps since but Woods has sent a message of support to Calzaghe ahead of the biggest challenge of his career.
“Me and Joe Calzaghe have had our differences,” Woods began. “But he’s a British fighter and when British fighters are boxing for world titles – especially against a Yank – you have to put all differences aside and support your own. It would be a different story if we actually fought, but I’ve always respected Joe Calzaghe and I wish him the best of British luck this weekend.”
And Woods believes Calzaghe will defeat the heavily-hyped American.
He said: “Lacy will be dangerous early on and there could be a few wobbly moments for Joe in the first five rounds. Lacy is obviously a big puncher and he attacks from the first bell. But I think Joe’s very solid, he can take a good punch and I think he’s proven that he has very good stamina. Plus, as I found in my own career, there’s no substitute for experience and Joe is vastly more experienced that Jeff Lacy.
“I think Joe will begin to take over with his speed as Lacy gets tired. Joe will start chipping away in the middle rounds and I tip Joe to stop Lacy about the tenth round with a flurry of punches. I can see a knackered Lacy trapped on the ropes, taking shots, and the referee stopping it.”
Calzaghe has already gone on record to state that, win, lose or draw this weekend, his will be moving up to light heavyweight after this weekend’s clash with Lacy.
Woods said that an all-British clash is inevitable.
“I’ve got a full calendar at the moment. First I have a voluntary defense probably in May and then I’ve got a third fight with Glen Johnson I can’t look beyond but, hopefully, I could face Joe Calzaghe at Christmas or early next year.
“It is a fight that everyone in Britain will love to see and if both Joe and I keep on winning then it will have to happen.”
