Calzaghe produces one of the classics
Calzaghe annihilated America’s IBF champion Jeff Lacy, flooring him for the first time in his career and claiming every round on all three judges’ scorecards.
Calzaghe’s mesmerising display was put into context by Lacy’s venerable trainer Dan Birmingham, who said: “I have never seen a better performance by any fighter, anywhere in the world.”
And it was all the more remarkable given a serious left wrist problem which Calzaghe revealed had almost forced him to pull out of the fight three weeks ago.
He said: “It was 50-50 and I seriously considered pulling out. I spoke to Frank Warren who said if you pull out now you’ll never fight Lacy and the Americans won’t be interested.”
Calzaghe, whose desire had been questioned when he pulled out of the original November date after breaking his hand against Evans Ashira, clutched an ice pack again yesterday morning.
But the pain proved well worth it as the 33-year-old Welshman finally laid claim to total dominance of the 12-stone division nine years and 18 defences after beating Chris Eubank to become WBO champion.
Lacy, also unbeaten, five years younger and rated by many good judges as the coming force of the sport, had been widely tipped to steal Calzaghe’s crown on his own way to greatness.
Instead he was left bloodied, battered and floored for the first time in his career in the final round as Calzaghe’s whirlwind assault raged from the first minute to the very last.
The final scorecards of 119-107 (twice) 119-105 were hardly required to establish Calzaghe’s dominance. Only a late points deduction prevented him from claiming a complete shut-out.
Lacy, who required stitches around both eyes after the fight and also appeared to have broken his nose, said: “He came out and fought a remarkable fight. He fought a perfect fight tonight.”
A cracking right-hand counter-punch early in the first round set the tone for the fight with Lacy, already seeping blood from his nose, looking bemused and one-dimensional.
He simply had no answer to Calzaghe’s devastating hand-speed and the beautifully paced assault continued in front of an exhilarated MEN Arena crowd of over 16,000.
Lacy’s left eye was so badly bloodied by the end of the fourth it required the attention of the ringside doctor, and his desperation to get back into the fight played right into Calzaghe’s hands.
Lacy may be nicknamed ‘Left Hook’ for a supposedly fearful shot which had helped lay out 17 of his victims, but when he landed his trademark blow Calzaghe flapped it away.
Calzaghe said: “I have never been so focused and dedicated, not just physically but emotionally because I realised how big this fight was for me.
“I’ve had eight years as champion and I got the chance to fight a guy like Lacy who was so highly touted in America. I had been written off by so many people as well.
“This fight had been on my mind morning, noon and night. I am just over the moon and ecstatic. I demoralised him and I totally outclassed him.”
It was easy to start feeling pity for Lacy, whose champion’s heart swept him forward for more punishment. Things worsened for him towards the end of the seventh when a crashing left had him out on his feet.
Referee Raul Caiz watched closely but deemed Lacy able to continue. Such was Calzaghe’s desire to prove people wrong he did not relent even with a points victory in the bag.
Calzaghe, bizarrely docked a point in the penultimate round for pulling Lacy’s arm behind his back, simply stepped up the pace and came close to a final-round stoppage.
A smashing right hand dumped Lacy to the canvas for the first time in the American’s career and the assault continued up to the final bell, which shattered Lacy greeted with a knowing nod.
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