Boxing: Lacy: You are next Calzaghe.

Byline: From JIM O'BRIEN

AMERICAN ace Jeff Lacy sent out a chilling warning to Joe Calzaghe as he brushed aside the challenge of Britain's Robin Reid in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Lacy, defending his IBF super-middleweight title for the third time, wowed his home-town fans by dominating a one-sided contest before Reid's trainer Bryan Hughes threw in the towel at the end of the seventh round.

Reid, a former WBC champion, had never been floored in a 43-fight career but was forced to touch down four times in this bout before being put out of his misery.

Sydney Olympian Lacy, 28, took his unbeaten record to 20-0 with his 16th win inside the distance against an opponent who looked to have little left in the tank at 34.

Providing Calzaghe comes through the 16th defence of his WBO crown in September, Lacy has no fear of giving up home advantage for their big-money unification clash in Cardiff on November 5.

"It doesn't matter if you put me in Kathmandu - I'll go anywhere and I'll be ready," said Lacy.

His promoter Gary Shaw added: "First Saturday in November, Joe Calzaghe we're coming right to you in Wales. Look for us!"

Lacy, who sent Reid crashing to the canvas towards the end of the seventh with a stunning uppercut, said: "Never doubt my punching power, never doubt my ability.

"As Robin had never been knocked down before, stopping him was something I had to do."

A defiant Reid said: "I could have gone on."

CAPTION(S):

REID takes punishment