Doghouse Predictions for Calzaghe vs Lacy
Compiled by Anthony Cocks (March 3, 2006) 
Photo © FWTV
Tonight and tonight only, at MEN Arena in Manchester, England two unbeaten bad boys break out into battle live on Showtime 9 PM ET/PT to see who will reign victoriously.

Hard hitting IBF/IBO super middleweight champion Jeff Lacy 21-0 (17) looks to lay some hurting on the hometown veteran and WBO super middleweight champ Joe Calzaghe 40-0 (31) in his backyard. A fight night to remember! Will youth serve the ‘Left Hook’ well or will the pugilistic pedigree of the ‘Pride of Wales’ come out victorious? For now see what the writers of the Doghouse had to say on the subject.

Brent Hedtke: This one has all the ingredients of real corker.  Both guys have solid chins and very respectable power.  If they come out aggressive this could be a fight of the year candidate.  That being said, I just don't see how Calzaghe can beat ‘Left Hook’.  Joe hasn't looked the same since his fight with Byron Mitchell in 2003 and he's been down twice in his last five fights.  Lacy has never come close to tasting the canvas and he hasn't even reached his peak yet.  Lacy has fought the better opposition as of late and is only improving. Calzaghe has fought at a much slower pace and may be on the downslide.  In the end, Lacy's pressure, aggression and power will get to Joe and the changing of the guard in the super middleweight division will come in the eighth round via TKO."

Coyote Duran: This year's Ring Magazine World Super Middleweight Championship match between IBF/IBO titlist Jeff Lacy and WBO titlist Joe Calzaghe will be to 2006 what James Toney's IBF cruiserweight bout against then-titlist Vassiliy Jirov was to 2003. A highly anticipated fight that no one could wait for to come off between two cats who dominated a division that few care about. Add to it the drama of Jeff Lacy entering enemy territory, Joe Calzaghe seemingly having everything to prove and three trinkets and a genuine world championship and you have a potentially explosive battle and a possible candidate for Fight of the Year. But don't look too hard for the usuals, Howlers. Calzaghe will prepare to work the fight early assuming Lacy will start a little cold. But in the biggest fight of Lacy's life, expect ‘Left Hook’ to take the fight immediately to the Welsh-Italian and use aggression and his overwhelming upper-body strength to end the fight before the final bell. I'm thinking Calzaghe goes down for the count in Round Six and doesn't get up until it's safe.

Peter Chhim: Lacy TKO Calzaghe. Lacy is a beast. Add to that he spars with the best southpaw middleweight in the world, Winky Wright, and I seriously doubt Calzaghe will bring anything to the table Lacy can’t handle.  Look for him to put a serious hurt on Joe whenever the two get into their heated exchanges.  And because of the Englishman’s affinity to these kinds of exchanges, I have to think he’ll play right into the hands of the younger, stronger man.  I doubt the fight gets past 7 or 8 rounds.

Rob Scott: If Calzaghe can take the bombs that will be thrown his way, then I give him a shot. Maybe my vision is blurry, but I don't see him doing that. Lacy 10th round TKO. 

Aaron Imholte: Lacy breaks out in this fight.  His power, determination, stamina and chin will just roll over Calzaghe.  Lacy will start slow, Calzaghe will be competitive for awhile but look for Lacy, Calzaghe's first true test, to take over in the middle rounds and win the fight by stoppage in the 11th.

Martin Wade: Vargas-De La Hoya all over again. Lacy's ‘pressure’ is not always effective and Joe C has enough in his tank to weather the early storm. As Lacy starts to lose mustard on his shots (don’t let the muscles fool ya, he will) Calzaghe will start to come forward and land the crisper blows. Don’t get me wrong he won’t take Lacy out as Oscar did with Fernando, Lacy will make a late charge. Calzaghe will survive. Calzaghe SD. 

Gabriel Montoya: This is a battle between my head and heart. My heart says Lacy is too strong, too iron-chinned, too youthful and just plain too much for Calzaghe. But my head says Calzaghe will be on the closest thing to his home turf, in the best shape of his life, is too much technically, has pop of his own, a good set of whiskers and way more experience in Championships fights. If Joe pulls a win, his entire Alphabet reign is validated. Something he should have tried to do years ago.  If Lacy wins, he is officially The Man and The Man to Beat at 168. My heart is winning out. Joe will have his moments but Lacy's size, youth and power edges will win out. Lacy by 10th Round KO.

Wayne Richardson: I myself have little doubt that Lacy is going to walk through anything Calzaghe dishes out. Jeff is a young, hungry warrior. Armed with a great chin, strong fast punching ability and a tremendous will to succeed, Lacy wins this war of attrition by wearing down Joe in the sixth or seventh round.

Jason Petock: Over here in America we haven't really heard or seen much of Joe Calzaghe and what he is able to accomplish really aside of what we've read and been told about him secondhand. He has a few notable wins over Mario Veit twice and Charles Brewer and Omar Sheika, is the current WBO Super Middleweight Champion, and with an unblemished record of 40-0 (31 KOs) most of us are just waiting to see how he fairs against the powerhouse IBF and IBO Super Middleweight Champion Jeff Lacy, who stands at 21-0 (17 KOs) and is clearly looking to add to his collection. Both men have common past opponents in Omar Sheika and Robin Reid.

Personally never seeing a Calzaghe fight or him in action, it would be honestly hard for me to say whether he could beat Lacy or not. I'd give him a chance just like any other fighter, but from what I have seen of Lacy and what is still a question mark for me on Calzaghe, I'm going to have to go with ‘Left Hook’ on this one. Some people might criticize Lacy's technical delivery, but he drops bombs and I think he's just going to be way too strong for the ‘Pride of Wales’. Jeff Lacy is on his way up the boxing ladder and I think that his defeat of Calzaghe will only up the ante on the true worth of Lacy as a legitimate force in the Super Middleweight division and beyond. 

Making a somewhat educated guess here, I'm going for Jeff ‘Left Hook’ Lacy by KO in the 2nd round. I think his sheer strength and onslaught is going to overwhelm the Welshman and leave him treading water for survival without a life vest. 

Sean Newman: I can't see Joe taking this one.  I really don't think Calzaghe can take Lacy's aggression and punch.  And Lacy is going to bring it, fighting in Calzaghe's backyard.  Look for Jeff to jump on Joe from the outset, and take him out via third round TKO.  Lacy's chin has really yet to be tested, and I don't think he will give Calzaghe the chance to do it, either.

Benny Henderson Jr.: Calzaghe has the experience, has the power, has the skill, and won’t be an easy task for Lacy so on and so on, but I just feel that Lacy has it; he is young, hungry, and one bad mumbo jumbo! So I have to give this one to my boy Jeff. I say Jeff Lacy gets the hard earned W around the sixth or seventh round.

Julian Kasdin: Joe Calzaghe, though a long reigning titleholder, has never been the legitimate champion at 168 pounds.  His entire legacy rests on this fight, as does the future of the 168-pound division.  Some think that the future is Jeff Lacy; others think he is a product of an excellent hype-machine.  I think Lacy will come out fast and strong, looking to test Joe's will and his chin.  Joe should be able to keep distance for a time, but eventually his age and Lacy's strength and power will catch up with him, and Lacy should win this fight by close decision or a very late stoppage.  Hopefully the winner gives the very deserving Mikkel Kessler a shot within the next two or three fights.

Anthony Cocks: I’ve ummed and ahhed over this fight for so long and with just a few hours to go until the first bell I’m really no closer to picking a winner with any level of confidence. That said, I’ll stick my gut feeling and tip a decision win for Calzaghe, who’s handspeed, movement, ring savvy and experience should prove the difference providing he doesn’t get sucked in to exchanges.
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