BOXING: JOE CALZAGHE will get the chance to emulate Ricky Hatton and become the undisputed king of his weight division in a mouthwatering super-middleweight title unification showdown in November. Calzaghe's promoter Frank Warren has struck a deal for the Welshman to meet unbeaten IBF champion Jeff Lacy in Britain in another potential early-morning pay-per-view epic - provided the American successfully defends against Robin Reid on August 6. Calzaghe said he was relishing the opportunity to decide beyond any doubt who is the best 12-stone fighter in the world. "I have waited for years for this kind of fight and it is what I need to put me on the next level and realise my dream," said Calzaghe. "It has been destroying the division because the other champions do not want to fight me. I've been champion (WBO) for eight years and it's hard to keep the same intensity when you fight guys who are just looking to survive." Warren has secured home advantage for the contest which would provide another live pay-per-view opportunity for American network Showtime - meaning another early-hours clash in either Manchester or Cardiff. It is another huge boost for British boxing which is now in its best shape for years following Hatton's sensational dethroning of Kostya Tszyu at Manchester's MEN Arena on Sunday morning. Lacy has won all 19 of his professional contests including a first-round stoppage of Jason Collins on a Calzaghe undercard slot at Cardiff Castle three years ago. Warren said he believed the contest would end unwarranted criticism of Calzaghe for not fighting some of the other champions in his division. Last month Calzaghe was forced to fulfil a mandatory obligation against Mario Veit - a man he had previously beaten inside a round - in Germany.. Warren said: "It has not been a question of Joe avoiding people. We have tried to make these big fights for Joe. " These are the fights that will get his adrenaline going and these are the fights he wants. Finally he will get his unification match against somebody who is willing to put his title on the line." Hatton is not expected to feature on any prospective Calzaghe-Lacy card with his reputation now big enough to headline a US pay-per-view card of his own. The Mancunian has been told he is now famous enough to sell out New York's Madison Square Garden in a lucrative world light-welterweight title showdown in the New Year. Jay Larkin, senior vice-president of US network Showtime, said: "Ricky has skyrocketed and we now need to sit down and plan three or four fights which will be events of the year. "If we made a fight with Miguel Cotto or Diego Corrales right now, we could sell out Madison Square Garden where we would want the fight to happen. "He retired the machine, Kostya Tszyu, and now there is only one light-welterweight - Ricky Hatton." Hatton now stands at the peak of the hottest division in world boxing with big names Cotto, Floyd Mayweather and Arturo Gatti all also in action last month. As the man who beat the man, all the other title holders know they will never gain true respect as the world's 140lbs king until they end Hatton's unbeaten professional record. Meanwhile, double lightweight champion Corrales - who last month beat Jose Luis Castillo - is eager to step up to face Hatton. Corrales was ringside at the MEN Arena and although a deal is far from done, he is currently favourite among the super-fighters to land an explosive clash with Hatton. Larkin added: "Oh my God, that would be a fight. You have got two guys there who are white-hot at the moment." RRiicckkyyHHaattttoonn | 
