Calzaghe – Lacy Super Middle Boxing Showdown Is On!
Promoter Frank Warren is delighted to announce that WBO World Super-Middleweight Champion Joe Calzaghe will face IBF holder Jeff Lacy in a sensational unification showdown set for early 2006. Warren was in New York last week locked in negotiations with Lacy’s promoter Gary Shaw and US TV Network Showtime and has confirmed that the super-fight is signed and will take place in Cardiff in February or March.
“This is the fight that Joe, the media and the fans wanted and I am absolutely delighted that following some hard work over the last few days the fight is on,” Said Warren who will promote the show in association with Shaw.
“It will be the biggest fight of the year in Britain and certainly one of the most highly anticipated fights on the world scene in recent years and it will take place in the UK,”
“Joe is recognised as the best in the division that he has ruled for the last eight years with a record 17 defences seeing off six former world champions,”
“Lacy has looked impressive to date and the media are describing as the new kid on the block and the heir apparent,”
“They are the top two in the division and in the prime of their careers and what’s for sure is that there can only be on winner who can truly claim that he is the best.”
Shaw said, “Jeff is going over to Britain to prove to everyone that he is the greatest fighter at 168 pounds,”
“This is the fight that the fans, myself and Jeff have been waiting for and will finally see who is the king of the division.”
Calzaghe, who recently out-pointed Evans Ashira in Cardiff despite breaking his hand in the early stages of the fight, said, “This is the fight that I have been shouting out for over the last few years and I am delighted that Frank has secured it,”
“It has been my dream to unify titles since I won the WBO crown against Chris Eubank over eight years ago and this fight against Lacy is the one that will secure my legacy,”
“I was disappointed more than anyone when the fight against Lacy – which was scheduled for earlier this month – had to be postponed because I broke my hand against Ashira but that is in the past and I’m now fully focused on fighting and beating Lacy,”
“I saw Lacy’s last fight against Scott Pemberton and it was impressive but against me he is going to be in the ring with the hardest hitting super-middleweight out there and he will know it,”
“I look at Lacy as a guy on the way up in his career not a guy on the way out so I know that he is going to be hungry to take my title but that’s not going to happen.”
Lacy, who has defended his IBF crown four times, said, “I am a man of few words but I am excited about finally meeting Joe in the ring and I look forward to finally unifying the title and proving that I am the best in the division,”
“Here’s to a great event and a third belt around my waist.”