Blog of Jon Wright

I can't stop playing a new album i bought a couple of months back by a band called Kamelot. The album is called 'Epica' and its a blend of Iron Maiden meets Yngwie Malmsteem meets Rainbow.

I discovered them whilst browsing the biographies of my favourite guitar players in iTunes.

I think this is a great feature of iTunes as it not only gives you an insight into what these 'Rock Gods' are influenced, but also bands inspired by their music. I used to always look for this information when i bought Kerrang magazine and so it's nice to see it incorporated into iTunes. 

My favourite tracks are Centre Of The Universe, Edge Of Paradise and Lost & Damned, although i can quite easily listen to the whole album without feeling the urge to skip tracks.

Its an old album from 2003 and so i may just give their latest stuff a listen. However as much as i like the album and style, Symphony X do it a whole lot better and look forward to seeing them tour the UK this year.

If any readers out there have seen Kamelot in concert, i'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

Close to my heart has always been Cars and Apple products and now it seems car buyers can now download test drive Podcasts on the latest new models at NEW CAR NET (www.newcarnet.co.uk), the leading motoring advice website. The service is free.

Visitors to the site can either view, or just listen, to the impartial reviews and opinions from NEW CAR NET’s team of road-testers whenever, and wherever they choose.

Since 1997 NEW CAR NET has been a port of call for thousands of car buyers, with facilities to assist in researching, searching, choosing, buying, insuring, running and maintaining cars, whether brand new or just ‘new’ to the user.

The new Podcast service delivers the latest road test reports and new car reviews direct to iPods and mp3 players. The website also allows users the opportunity of linking directly to NEW CAR NET via their iTunes software, making for seamless downloading and updating.

And until 31 March, visitors can also enter a competition to win an ultra-compact Apple iPod nano, pre-loaded with all the latest Podcasts.

I’m staying up late to watch the big fight between Joe Calzaghe and Jeff Lacy for the WBU & IBF super middleweight belts.

I must admit that i’m expecting Lacy to take this fight in about 3 rounds, as i’m not sure how good Calzaghe is at this level, despite being a champion for such a long time. In fact the only person i have heard give Calzaghe a chance is former World Featherweight Champion, Duke McKenzie.

I’ve always admired the way the BBC type in the latest news as it happens or when a Macworld is on across the pond, you get the Mac sites updating the info in real-time. So with laptop at the ready, wireless connected, I’m going to attempt to post on each round as it happens. Here we go and don’t laugh!

Round 1
Calzaghe opens up the punching at a good pace, spinning Lacy around and not letting him plant his feet and get off his shots. Seems to be dominating and matching Lacy. Takes a big punch right towards the end of the first round, but weathers it well and goes onto taking the round with apparent ease.

Round 2
Starts off just like round one, although Calzaghe stands toe-to-toe with Lacy and has the pundits fearing he might get into a brawl. Lacy is all over the place as Calzaghe starts to find his range and is out punching the brawler. His hand speed is superior to that of Lacy. Calzaghe wins the round and taunts Lacy with a stare as he walks back to his corner.

Round 3
Lacy’s corner are saying that Calzaghe will punch himself out and then when he slows, start getting in the uppercuts. Calzaghe doesn’t let him do this and is boxing the fight of his life and giving Lacy a boxing lesson at the same time. Commentators are questioning if Calzaghe can keep up the pace. Totally dominates the round again and Lacy is looking pedestrian and one paced. One, two and three punch combinations by Calzaghe are leaving Lacy dazed. Round to Calzaghe by a country mile.

Round 4
Lacy’s corner are still saying that Calzaghe can’t keep this sort of pace up indefinately. Lacy comes out looking like he’s done 12 rounds already. Calzaghe comes under attack and Lacy is starting to assert himself. Lacy gets cut around the right eye, looks like an old scar tissue wound has been re-opened. Lacy claims it’s a head butt by Calzaghe. Boxing intelligently, Calzaghe is commanding the fight and picking Lacy off at will. Lacy is looking really beat up as the round ends and looks a defeated fighter. Calzaghe looks fresh by comparison. Calzaghe takes the round.

Round 5
Lacy’s getting his eye assessed by the doctor and is claiming he’s fine. Calzaghe’s corner are telling him to keep up the pace and that Lacy looks a beaten fighter. Boxers come out for the 5th round and straight away Calzaghe asserts himself throwing quick combinations and spinng away before Lacy can offload with his shots. Lacy is desperately trying to throw a big overhand right but is having no success as Calzaghe counter punches by the bucket load. Lacy looks really predictable and Calzaghe can read his shots easily and just pummels him with counter-punches. Lacy has no answer to Calzaghe and just plows forward with his head down while Calzaghe obliges with 3-4 punch cominations. Round to Calzaghe.

Round 6
Lacy’s face is a mess now and has been on the receiving end of a non stop pounding. Lacy is waiting for the pace to drop, but it looks like Calzaghe can keep up this pace all night. Enzo Calzaghe, Joe’s father and trainer, is shouting across the ring to keep up the pace. Lacy just can’t handle the southpaw style and is taking a beating with pin point accurate punches. Lacy’s promoters are looking shell shocked at ring side and Shelly Finkel, Lacy’s promoter, is looking dumbfounded. Calzaghe is looking a bit tired now, which is understandable, but no where near as much as Lacy who looks finished. Round finishes pretty much the same as the others with Calzaghe sickening Lacy with text book boxing.

Round 7
Second half of the fight and i don’t think Lacy has won a round. Calzaghe is just coming in with his chin low and is avoiding Lacy’s big punches. Lacy just getting peppered with the jab of Calzaghe and has no answer to it. Both fighters looking tired now and Lacy still complaining to the ref about the use of the Calzaghe’s head. Calzaghe is pummeling Lacy in the corner and it looks like it could be all over. Somehow he manages to survive but looks out on his feet. Round to Calzaghe.

Round 8
Calzaghe’s father, Enzo, is giving Joe some stick and just asking him to box him and not brawl. Calzaghe, 6-4 on, is picking his punches beautifully and is giving Lacy a lesson in the art of pugilism. Lacy lunging forward with wasteful shots and Calzaghe is just stepping out the way. This round looks a little more even as Calzaghe allows his work rate to drop a little. Lacy just can’t capitalise on this and looks wasted. Round to Calzaghe

Round 9
Pace a little slower now and Lacy lands a right hand which make Calzaghe wince. Calzaghe show boating now and winds up the right jab, hitting him with the left hook. Totally dismantling Lacy and producing every shot in the text book. Another big round for Calzaghe.

Round 10
Lacy asking his corner what round it is. Corner saying to Lacy that he has to knock Calzaghe out to win the fight. Lacy slow to come out of the corner. Calzaghe dictating the pace and gets his shots off with ease. Taking no chances, Calzaghe has clearly done his homework on Lacy and knows what it takes to win this fight, throwing a beautiful left hook which stuns Lacy. Being slapped all over the place, i’m not sure how much more Lacy can take. Leading with straight rights and hooks, Calzaghe ends the round and is totally in control of the fight. This is a one sided affair and Lacy needs a miracle. Round to Calzaghe.

Round 11
Lacy falls on his backside after what looks like a shove from Calzaghe. His legs and power look spent. Hats off to him for hanging in there which is all he is doing right now. Amazing performance from Calzaghe and looks a class above his opponent. Lacy just coming forward and getting picked off. Calzaghe’s glove binding has come loose and the fighters get a respite while it gets sorted. Boxing resumes and Calzaghe looking for the stoppage now as he just pummels Lacy with ease. Lacy looks gone and the referee should be stepping in to stop the slaughter. Point deducted from Calzaghe for what looks like a punch which he threw from behind his back whilst in a clinch. Even with the point deduction, it’s still Calzaghe’s round.

Round 12
Boxers touch gloves and then Calzaghe starts where he left off, looking fresh and spritely compared to Lacy. Calzaghe just looking to stop him now and Lacy is down, claims it’s not a knock down but gets the 10 count anyway. Trying to take Lacy out now and landing with ease. Lacy is a brave fighter and just coming forward clinging on for life. Ref takes Lacy to the corner to have binding re-attached to his glove giving him a much needed breather. Calzaghe waving to the crowd and knows it his fight. Master class boxing from Calzaghe and it’s all over bar the shouting. How Lacy is staying on his feet i’ll never know as Calzaghe lands a peach of a right hand. That’s it, the fights all over and Lacy embraces Calzaghe and knows he’s been in a war and lost his crown. Crowd applauding and going wild.

Boxer beats the slugger and shows who reins supreme. Calzaghe has suprised me and looks by far our best boxer by a mile, even above Hatton. I imagine after this fight, Calzaghe will be ranked as one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world now.

Decision goes unanimously to Calzaghe. 119-105, 119-107 all three in favour of Calzaghe. a boxing lesson if ever there was one. Calzaghe looks like he could go another 12 rounds, Lacy looks like he need 12 month rest.

After the fight Calzaghe says he was never hurt and felt he’d fought fighters with bigger punching power. All the experts are saying, like me, they didn’t believe Calzaghe could pull it off. Calzaghe saying to Frank Warren that he wants big fights from now on and big pay days. Warren acknowledges Calazghe has entered the big league now.

That’s it, 3.30 am in the morning and i’m shattered. Hope you enjoyed my round by round analysis. Missed out loads of stuff and really difficult to type and watch at the same time.