WITH my world title fight with Jeff Lacy just over a fortnight away, I couldn't be any happier with my preparation.

When you get to my stage in a career you know how best to prepare for a fight, when to step up training, when to relax for a couple of days and how much time to devote to things like sparring.

Obviously my preparation for this fight was slowed down initially by my broken hand, but I am now exactly where I would want to be and feel calm and relaxed about the fight ahead.

In the past couple of weeks I have sparred with a variety of guys, mostly British, who have various styles and strengths.

In fact things have been going so well that I have stepped off and kept my schedule a bit lighter in the past couple of days, though next week I will push myself very hard and make sure I am in peak fighting condition. I have said before that I can't wait for the fight and I still feel that way. I am about to unify two titles and it should be a fantastic night for me.

For those of you who don't already know, Johnny Nelson has damaged knee ligaments in training and his WBO/WBU cruiserweight title clash with my pal Enzo Maccarinelli , scheduled to be on my bill on March 4 at the MEN Arena in Manchester (in case you'd forgotten!) is now definitely off.

Enzo and Johnny are both absolutely gutted not to be fighting one another and it is a real shame. It would have been a terrific contest and I was looking forward to seeing two Welsh world champions crowned on the same night.

I have had such a thing happen to me many times, either I have got injured or my opponent has and while it is very frustrating, that's boxing.

The good news is that Enzo will still be fighting on the bill, he'll have a contest to decide an interim WBO champion with Nelson desperate to fight Enzo as soon as he is fit.

The two names being mentioned as possible opponents for Enzo are Huddersfield's British and Commonwealth champion Mark Hobson and Italian fighter Vicente Cantatore, who put Nelson on the canvas before losing a controversial split decision last year.

Both of these guys are good fighters and Enzo will need to be on his guard. When you are totally focused on facing one person you get tunnel vision and Enzo now has to be prepared for a different kind of fight.

He has the class to beat whoever he fights though and I know he will be ready regardless of who he faces. It'll be a good challenge for him.

I spoke to Enzo and he is already looking forward to Nelson regaining his fitness.

While it is disappointing for Enzo, I actually think it is a bigger shame for Nelson.

No one would question the legitimacy of his injury - Nelson is an honest professional - but he is 38 years old and it could take him a long time to recover from a knee ligament injury and he'll be that much older by the time he steps back in the ring. I wish him all the best.

Two fights looming on the horizon have me intrigued, though I am loathe to make a prediction in one of them. Danny Williams faces Matt Skelton in another 'grudge fight' on February 25 and I see it as a totally 50/50 fight. It is just so hard to call, though I will try!

I have been wrong twice before about Williams I thought he'd lose to Mike Tyson, though in fairness I didn't take into consideration that Tyson was about 57 years past his sell-by date!

I also thought Williams would lose to Audley Harrison, though Harrison proved himself to be nothing but a fraud on the night and Williams deserved his clear points victory.

The bottom line is that Williams is a decidedly average fighter, he doesn't have any real pedigree in the ring, but he is full of heart and is willing to lay it all on the line.

Skelton is similar, he isn't exactly blessed with skill or class either, but he also battles hard and from that point of view it should be a good contest, though by no means a classic.

If I had to pick a winner I would just be inclined to lean towards Skelton. Maybe it can be third time lucky for me in predicting Williams' fights!

On the same night, Marco Antonio Barrera, the world famous Mexican junior lightweight, will step up to face Jesus Chavez for the IBF lightweight title.

This should be a really good fight. Barrera has more class than Chavez and is a great fighter, but Chavez has a similar style and definitely has the edge when it comes to power.

That fight is too hard to pick a winner in and for once I am going to sit on the fence!

Finally, I want to add my two cents worth on Mike Ruddock's departure as coach of the Wales rugby team - what a shame it is.

Mike is clearly a top bloke and what he achieved last year with Wales winning the Grand Slam was remarkable.

All I know about the situation is what I have read and if he is having problems behind the scenes, be it with his players or with the WRU, you can understand why he decided to leave.

People sometimes get things out of perspective, but sport should never be put above your personal life and Mike obviously has his priorities right.

He has done a brilliant job for Wales and for whatever reason has decided he has had enough. People should respect that.