Boxing: Champ Calzaghe: This is my destiny; 'I will prove all my doubters wrong'.

Byline: By ALAN EASEL

JOE CALZAGHE has vowed to make 2006 a year to remember by knocking out American rival Jeff Lacy in the pair's long-awaited world super-middleweight title unification clash at Manchester's MEN Arena.

The Welsh champion is determined not to let his big chance slip on March 4 and finally convince his trans-Atlantic doubters that he is the number one 12-stone fighter in the world in a bout to be televised live on ITV1 and on Showtime in the US.

Calzaghe said: "I've been WBO champion for eight years and I've been looking for a big fight all this time - finally I've got my opportunity."

"Lacy is a very good fighter, but I believe it's my time. It's my destiny to unify the titles and show everyone just how good I am."

Calzaghe has reeled off 40 straight wins as a professional including 17 defences of the belt he won back in 1997 with victory over Chris Eubank.

But Lacy, also unbeaten, has seen off four challengers for the IBF version he acquired 15 months ago, and destroyed former Calzaghe victim Robin Reid before blowing away fellow countryman Scott Pemberton last time out.

"He's been impressive," conceded the Newbridge southpaw. "He's obviously a big puncher. But I can see a lot of flaws. I believe I am a lot faster, with a much higher work rate.

"He hasn't been tested. I think there'll be fireworks and it could be the fight of the year, but I honestly believe I can knock him out."

Calzaghe, the broken hand sustained in his last outing against Kenyan Evans Ashira now healed, will not be the only Welsh-Italian puncher seeking an early finish on the Manchester card, with WBU cruiserweight king Enzo Maccarinelli going in with veteran WBO boss Johnny Nelson in the chief support.

The Swansea man, 25 to Sheffielder Nelson's 39, believes he has more than the calendar in his favour. Especially after Nelson's lacklustre display in out pointing Vin-cenzo Cantatore on a Rome bill which saw Maccarinelli a first round victor on the undercard.

"He got caught more than usual that night," said Enzo. "If I catch him like that it's over."

But Maccarinelli was careful not to take anything for granted.

"I may just have been an off night," he said of Nelson's Italian job. "I know he keeps himself in shape and lives the right life, so I'm not expecting an easy time of it

CAPTION(S):

Wales' WBO super-middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe contemplates taking on IBF counterpart Jeff Lacy in Manchester on March 4' Ricky Hatton