Calzaghe produces one of the classics

JOE CALZAGHE defied injury to produce one of the greatest performances of all time by a British boxer and unify the world super-middleweight titles in Manchester.

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.”