By Matthew Sanderson

If last year’s British-set superfight, between Ricky Hatton and Kostya Tszyu, was a good omen for UK boxing, this Saturday’s matchup between Joe Calzaghe and Jeff Lacy will do justice to the buzz that has been preceding it.

Although it has the same Manchester setting, and will again play out in the dark hours between Saturday night and Sunday morning to accommodate US TV, this unification of the WBO and IBF super middleweight titles is differentiated a variety of factors – perhaps making it even more compelling.

While Hatton’s win over the outstanding junior welterweight king Tszyu was quite an upset, this matchup between unbeaten 168-pounders – Calzaghe being 40-0 and Lacy having 21 straight wins – is as close to an even money fight as possible, between two men with something to prove.

Calzaghe and Lacy have two common foes, in Robin Reid and Omar Sheika – the results of which hint that Saturday’s combatants are remarkably well matched. Jeff was able to batter Reid into his first ever stoppage loss, whilst Joe struggled beat him on points. In an interesting piece of symmetry that perhaps reinforces how finely balanced boxing’s next big fight is, Calzaghe battered Omar Sheika, whom Lacy make hard work of indeed.

In an inversion of last year’s fight, Calzaghe, 33, takes on the Tszyu role of defending a lengthy title reign (17 defenses of the WBO Joe won vs Chris Eubank, in 1997). The twist continues as Lacy, 28, takes on the role held by homeboy Hatton, eager to aggressively impose himself on the older man, only the crowd won’t be with him. A look at the men’s recent form might suggest that Joe, like Tszyu, is for the taking.

Joe hasn’t faced a world-class foe since 2003 when he stopped America’s Byron Mitchell, rallying to an exciting second round win after being dropped heavily. Since then, he’s fought only three times. Injuries and pullouts have kept his schedule undemanding, but if he failed to impress against the likes of Evans Ashira (breaking his left hand in the process), Kabary Salem, how can he hope to keep Lacy off him?

If Joe has often seemed bored by his championship, letting big fight opportunities slip away, Lacy has exuded hunger in his quest to for recognition and big purses. Since winning the IBF title in October of 2004, he has defended four times (one in December, ’04, and three last year). If Jeff struggled against Syd Vanderpool and was ponderous versus Sheika, he went through Rubin Williams, Robin Reid and Scott Pemberton via vicious combination punching.

All of which may tell us to lean in Lacy’s favor, but I can’t do so without doubts nagging away at me. The Welshman might have left it a bit late for the first superfight of his long career, but Joe has always fought to the level of his opponents. As much as he fought down to Ashira and Salem (a notorious spoiler), Calzaghe performed up to dangermen Mitchell and Brewer, whom he overwhelmed with an impressive blend of speed, strength and workrate.

For all of Lacy’s intensity and ambition, he’s stepping up a level. The American has never faced an elite fighter, and may have been overestimated after drilling slowed down versions of Reid and Pemberton. If he starts carelessly, he could throw himself into some hurtful flurries or crucial, point accumulating counters that could break his rhythm. When primed, Calzaghe can unload fluid bursts. With them coming from the southpaw stance, Jeff may find them harder to defend against and react to.

If Calzaghe must strive to recapture the form he once had, Lacy must prove he belongs here.

As much as we must question Joe’s chances against this most dangerous and hungry of opponents, we also need to ask how Jeff would respond when placed in crisis. The American may have put himself under unnecessary pressure by saying that none of his 21 pro fights amount to anything, relative to this matchup. Jeff lacks the easy rhythm of Calzaghe, and may find it harder to get in track. He often loads up his shots, which his foe may see coming from a mile off: Lacy’s fierceness could throw him into some compromising situations. Despite the irresistible momentum he carries, he’s not yet the finished article, and if anxiousness affects his offense, could play right into Joe’s hands.

So, it will be Calzaghe’s job to box carefully through the early stages, draw the heat from Lacy, and keep him at a pace and a distance suited to his older body. Joe struggles to make the same 168-lb limit that he turned pro at in 1994, and must dictate the fight or risk taking an ugly and drawn out beating against a bruising puncher who appears to have reached his physical peak.

Although the fight is for top honors in the super middleweight division, no unification will be complete without Mikkel Kessler, of Denmark. The WBA title holder looked superb beating Eric Lucas recently, and has the pulverising jab and strong combinations to not only trouble the likes of Lacy and Calzaghe, but perhaps dominate at 168-pounds. If ‘The Viking Warrior’ could have his way, he’d probably be breaking down reluctant WBC titlist Markus Beyer, of Germany on the way to a one-sided win, whilst waiting for Saturday’s winner.

Despite Lacy’s talk of becoming the first man to ever fully unify the super middleweight division, I doubt the authenticity of his claims. Jeff is a fierce competitor but may find an all Florida clash with Antonio Tarver far too tempting. This, of course, would be at light heavyweight, where Calzaghe also intends to go if he extends his 40-fight winning streak. Super middleweight will not be sorted out by the end of the weekend.

Nonetheless, Calzaghe against Lacy is a fight that boxing needs, the type that generates suspense as to what will happen when two world-class peers face off to place everything on the line. Despite Lacy’s better recent form, I lean towards Joe to win the biggest fight of his career. What better a fighter than the ferocious Lacy to inspire, or demand, Calzaghe’s best?

BOXING NOTES

The undercard won’t have boxing fans on both sides of the pond inflamed as the main event, but Enzo Maccarinelli (22-1-0, 17 KOs) versus Mark Hobson (22-3-1, 12 KOs) is a quality matchup that could establish Britain’s biggest hope on the world cruiserweight scene. Originally slated as a challenger to WBO cruiserweight champ Johnny Nelson, Enzo, 25, was forced to make do with a replacement after Nelson suffered a serious knee injury whilst sparring a couple of weeks ago. Hobson, the British and Commonwealth champion, was eager to step in after two aborted dates with Bermondsey puncher, and European champ, David Haye scuppered his own plans.

Another dose of letdown loomed when the WBO refused to sanction the bout for their interim title, since Hobson, 29, hasn’t fought in over a year. If Nelson retires, which looks more than possible for the 39-year-old, the WBO’s top contender, Maccarinelli, would be in a better position to grab the title. But Macca-Hobson, which looks compelling and competitive, will thankfully still go ahead. This should keep us interested in Maccarinelli, who has a brutal arsenal of power shots and a banger’s reputation, as the snacks he’s been feasting on have done nothing to develop his skills and have given little to fans expecting more than brief showcase appearances.

Enzo’s in a fight, which the Welshman is sorely in need of if he is to make an impression beyond the WBU level, and earn his flattering world ranking.