Calzaghe in line for Lacy clash

Joe Calzaghe looks set to finally get his super-middleweight unification fight with Jeff Lacy providing both fighters win their next bouts.

The 32-year-old WBO champion defends against German Mario Veit next weekend while the impressive Lacy meets former Calzaghe opponent Robin Reid in August.

And Calzaghe’s promoter Frank Warren revealed a deal has almost been agreed for his man to put his belt on the line and challenge for the American’s IBF title.

“I have more or less done the deal with Showtime,” said Warren.

“As long as Lacy wins his fight then it is a done deal for October or November. Joe will have a fight in between and then he will go for that one.”

After apparently putting a possible challenge of Sheffield’s IBF light-heavyweight champion Clinton Woods on the back-burner, Warren is also pursuing a shot at 175lb king Glencoffe Johnson for Welshman Calzaghe who continues to court a move up in divisions.

“I have been talking to Dan Goossen, Johnson’s promoter, who we did a deal with before. If Johnson comes through his rematch with Antonio Tarver then we can do something,” Warren added.

“If Tarver wins it may be more difficult because he is talking about going up to heavyweight.”

Warren has also made an official complaint to the WBO after they appointed German judge Axel Zielke for next week’s match in Braunschweig.

In a country where pints decisions are notoriously rare for ‘away’ fighters, local rules stipulate a German official must be involved in title bouts.

“The guy they have got scored Johnny Nelson’s fight against Alexander Petkovic a draw when everyone else had Nelson winning clearly,” Warren told his website, www.frankwarren.tv, fearing Zielke might lean in favour of Veit.

“We have made our feelings known to the WBO. I want the judge to know where we are coming from.

“If it goes to the judges then I want this guy to know we are aware of his bias.”

Calzaghe, who struggled in his last outing against Kabary Salem, has vowed not to let the outcome be decided on points.

He knocked Veit out in the first round when they met in 2001 and would love a similar performance.

“I can’t think about the judges,” he said. “I’m the champion, I will be treated fairly. I beat him once and knocked him out so there is no way I can see myself struggling unless I perform like I did in my last fight.”