Early on in his pro career, it was obvious that Lacy’s weight meant he could not fight at Middleweight and would need time to grow into a Light Heavyweight. So this meant Lacy was stuck in a division dominated by Europeans. So from early on Lacy’s management made sure he visited Britain, with an eye on a fight with Calzaghe.

He was devastating on the undercard of the Calzaghe’s snore fest with Jimenez, in 2002, and then fought once more in Britain in late 2003 on the undercard of Hatton/Tackie. So Lacy is fully aware of the atmosphere of a passionate sell out crowd in Britain.

You see Lacy is taking no chances in this fight, he could of fought Calzaghe a year/18 months back, but then it would have been a 50/50 bout. So Lacy’s management cleverly manipulated the situation, to give Lacy more experience, and for Calzaghe to get that bit older, and past his best.

Style wise, Lacy will love it, Joe will be there to be hit. He lacks the speed to use his advantage in reach, and Calzaghe rarely fights on the back foot, he likes to come forward, which will suit Lacy down to the ground. Lacy is the most powerful fighter Joe has ever met, and if the likes of a Mitchell and Ashira, have troubled him, imagine what will happen when Lacy releases his firepower onto Calzaghe’ chin.

And you also have to look into Joe’s mental and physical conditioning; he has had one or two personal problems… sorry, back problems lately! He also showed that he becomes star struck when his name gets mentioned with the finest in boxing. When he looked like he might fight Roy Jones a few years back, he spoke like a loser; ‘It is a great honour to fight him’, ‘I will give it my best’, hardly the words of someone confident in their ability to win a big fight. More like the words used by the likes of Bruno, Bugner, Sibson and Green when they had their big fights with the likes of Tyson, Ali, Frazier, Hagler and Leonard….

Joe has been a stand out for British boxing for the last 10 years, as he has tried to gain the fame and credibility that Benn and Eubank had in the early 90s, but sadly due in part to the lack of terrestrial TV coverage, and poor opposition, he has failed. But maybe in losing bravely to Lacy, Joe will get the respect in defeat he never quite achieved in his 40 wins. Britain’s love a loser, who goes out on their shield. Â