By Glenn Wilson

The party was starting before the scorecards were even read, a mere formality, it wasn't a matter of if Joe Calzaghe had beat Jeff Lacy, but rather by how much. The scores told the story, a complete shutout except for a point deduction late in the fight. Big fights like this routinely end by stoppage or close, controversial decision, not on this night.

Being a Lacy fan must have been pure hell on Saturday night, the man with the Adonis physique and Tysonesque power was reduced to a mere punching bag. Calzaghe fought a brilliant fight, jabbing, shooting uppercuts and clinching precisely at the right time. Joe's hand speed appeared to be the biggest difference in the fight, landing combination after combination without being seriously challenged by Lacy.

When Lacy was able to pin Joe on the ropes it was Calzaghe's upper body movement and foot movement that helped to add to Lacy's frustration. Calzaghe was constantly bobbing and weaving out of harm's way, usually punctuating his defensive mastery with a quick combination on the surprised Lacy.

And for twelve rounds the story repeated itself, Lacy battered and bloody at fight's end, could never put together a patented Lacy offensive charge , he did land a clubbing right hand early in the fight but Calzaghe shook it off and responded by landing another quick combination.

Some fighters have off nights but anyone could see early that this was going to be Calzaghe's night. While knowing how good Joe is, it seemed that going into the fight that the time may have been right for the younger, stronger Lacy to take over the Super Middleweight reigns and complete the changing of the guard.

Calzaghe is now recognized as the World Super Middleweight Champion, he did it in rare style, rarely has a fighter so dominated a fighter of Jeff Lacy's caliber. This could signal a new beginning for Joe Calzaghe's career, a chance for bigger and better fights to come along.

Calzaghe has mentioned his ambition to become a known fighter in America and said that his intention is to fight here in the future.

Where do the two fighters go from here, first for Calzaghe, the sky is the limit, according to Joe he has had some problems making weight and could possibly move up to challenge Antonio Tarver. Glen Johnson or Roy Jones could also be possibilities, these fights could do good business in America and help make Joe a hot commodity.

If he moves up and decides to stay on that side of the pond then a fight with Clinton Woods could be big in England. If he stays at 168 then the names Kessler, Beyer or Mundine will be mentioned. Lacy at present, doesn't appear to be in a postion to ask for a rematch, if he had been more competitive then that wouldhave been an option.

Joe could stand his ground at 168 and wait for the top Middleweights to come up and challenge him. Jermain Taylor and Winky Wright could move up after their fight, while most fighters moving up in weight usually have a hand speed advantage, Calzaghe proved on Saturday that his hand speed will be tough to match. Bernard Hopkins could be an intriging matchupbut many believe that Joe's speed and power would be too much for the aging Hopkins.

Jeff Lacy still has an incredible upside, it is not out of the question to see a future where Lacy cleans out the division and becomes the dominant Super Middleweight, especially if Calzaghe moves up. Lacy took a physical beating but it was the mental beating that Jeff will have to overcome to get back to become the dominant fighter that he was before taking on Calzaghe. The good news is that Jeff is surrounded by good advisors and people that care about his welfare, he will surely take some time off before having a couple of easy touches to get back in the 168 pound picture. A couple of wins over fringe contenders should propel Jeff back to the top.

And just a thought on the sportsmanship that was on display immediately after the fight, Lacy, beaten and humiliated, kept up a brave face and repeatedly praised Calzaghe and unlike so many of today's athletes took full responsibility for the loss, noting that it was Calzaghe's night to shine.

Calzaghe then in turn praised Lacy as a tough fighter whose power he had to respect and negate.

Now it is time for this writer to wolf down some crow. Calzaghe thoroughly impressed me, winning every aspect of the fight, inside or outside, middle of the ring or on the ropes, after a few years of fighting less than top level opponents Joe took over at the opening bell and completely dominated one of the best young fighters in the world.

Perhaps Joe should only focus on fighting the biggest names in the business because if Saturday night was any indication, we may have an overnight sensation on our hands and it only took him thirteen years to do it.