Boxing Preview: Undercard of Calzaghe – Lacy

Well, its moving ever closer to the big Joe Calzaghe- Jeff Lacy bill from Manchester on Saturday night, and from a British perspective, I’m glad that our television network has given this event the star billing that it deserves. In addition to the main event, which is scheduled to commence at 2am to accommodate our friends across the pond, ITV will also be showing some undercard bouts to whet our appetite even further for the main course. So what of these bouts?

Unfortunately, the chief support was cancelled when WBO Cruiserweight Champion Johnny Nelson pulled out of his eagerly anticipated bout with exciting puncher Enzo Maccarinelli, due to a knee injury.

To the delight of Enzo’s fans he will still be in action Saturday when he defends his WBU title against Mark Hobson, the British and Commonwealth Champion. Presumably, the winner of this will face Nelson at a later date.

Potentially this has to the makings of being a fascinating battle. At 6 foot 5, Hobson will enjoy a one inch height advantage over the Welshman. He is also on a roll and must be commended for stepping in at short notice to face Maccarinelli. I think it could be a cracking bout. Hopefully Enzo can get himself up for it and I think he will. Although unbeaten since 2001, Hobson has been stopped twice so Maccarinelli, with his tremendous one punch power, should stop him.

Also scheduled for action on Saturday night is explosive WBU Light Middleweight Champion Wayne Alexander who makes the first defence of his title against local favourite, Thomas McDonagh. Alexander in the past has been written off but bounced back with a second round stoppage of Takaloo in September 2004. Anyone who saw that bout knows the power that Alexander carries. However McDonagh is unbeaten in twenty nine bouts and will have home support. With only six knockouts to his credit, McDonagh is not a heavy puncher but could frustrate Alexander with his boxing skills.

It should be a great evening of boxing for British fans as these two superb undercard bouts culminate in the highly anticipated main event.