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| “I’m hoping to maybe fight in December, but if not, I’ll fight in January or February,” Lacy was quoted as saying in the Tampa Tribune. “I haven’t had any time off since 2000. I need this time off and be able to come back in great shape.” |
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Jeff Lacy Takes Some Time For Himself
By Rick Folstad
Funny thing about the fight game: A big win can define a career, but a big loss doesn’t always destroy one.
It’s one of the few times the prize ring shows a little compassion.
Ask Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard or Joe Louis.
Except for Rocky Marciano, nobody’s perfect.
That‘s a tough lesson to learn, a lesson St. Petersburg super-middleweight Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy had to come to terms with.
He didn’t just lose his IBF title to Joe Calzaghe in Manchester, England this past March. He was taken out back to the woodshed and spanked. He was schooled, humbled, pummeled and sent home with a red face, a bloody nose and a torn shirt.
In one ugly night, Calzaghe took away both Lacy’s title and his swagger, left him standing out in the cold with his head bowed, his hat in his hands and his career up for grabs.
Welcome to jolly old England. Enjoy your stay.
Going into the Calzaghe fight, everyone this side of Big Ben thought Lacy would win. Easily. After all, he was coming off a dominating knockout over Robin Reid last August, and an easier win over Scott Pemberton in November.
Suddenly, he was hotter than reality TV, able to leap tall buildings with a single bound.
Undefeated, unfazed and unbeatable.
Joe Calzaghe? Who was he? Who’d he ever fight? Didn’t Reid lose a split decision to him? Aren’t his people just trying to protect him, keep him out of harm’s way?
Ah, those tricky Welsh. How’d we know they were coddling a national treasure?
Knocked down in the 12th and not winning a single round, Lacy came home with that sour taste you get when you don’t live up to your own expectations, when you let yourself down.
Maybe what he needed was another fight right away, or as soon as he was healthy. Get him back in the gym and get him a win to help kill the taste. Put a fight or two between himself and that March nightmare and it might help ease the pain.
He tried to get something going, but a proposed fight with Antonio Tarver didn’t get past the negotiations stage, and then he pulled out of a fight with Alan Green set for October because he didn‘t think he had enough time to train.
“I’m hoping to maybe fight in December, but if not, I’ll fight in January or February,” Lacy was quoted as saying in the Tampa Tribune. “I haven’t had any time off since 2000. I need this time off and be able to come back in great shape.”
He knows what he needs better than anyone, but there’s something to be said for climbing right back up on the horse, proving the Calzaghe fiasco was just an anomaly, a bad night in a strange town.
But it‘s a little late now. The horse is already back in the stable.
“The fighter you saw against Joe Calzaghe was not me,” Lacy told the Tribune. “I’m not going to make excuses, but there were a lot of things going on before that fight that most people don’t know about. When I come back, things are going to be a lot different.”
When you come back?
Can’t wait.
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Pensakilla flawda boy!:
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Like the article Rick...Hmmm....Jeff "Hitem wit the left" lacy is a great fighter in my book...But that loss has to teach him that in up coming fights against fighters like calzaghe, he needs to establish a fight plan and be patient...After analyzing that fight on march 4 about 17 times I realized if he had people in his corner (while in training) teaching him to box, cut the ring off and jab, the outcome would have been different...Jeff chased after a loaded gun for 12 rounds with the barrel point blank to his mug...Going for the knock out in the 8th or 9th round after wearing calzaghe down with hard body punches, establishing a stiff jab and winning on scorecards with more power punches would have been my strategy...While being an american knockout king and knocking Joe out on his turf wasn't going to happen...Joe needs his opponents to come to him constantly...Thats what Jeff did all night....Train your ass off Jeff and get back in shape! Even if you think you can knock your next oponent out quick...Try to box first(Jab, body punches, cut off ring) and go for the kill at a slow pace! You still got love from the Pensakilla Florida boy....
Friday Aug 18, 2006 03:44:18 PM
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Chris:
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The way the Calzaghe consistently & thoroughly beat Lacy down in their fight, I believe that more than just Lacy's body was defeated. As long as I've been a boxing fan, (which is nearly 50 years), I don't remember most fighters that were beaten like Lacy was taking a lengthy time off & coming back to greater (or even as great) a level that they were at prior to the beat down!
No matte what problems that Lacy was dealing with prior to the fight, once Joe started whacking on him, you figure he'd of forgotten the problems outside the ring, & tried to handle the Welsh problem with boxing gloves in front of him with full focus, no?
I guess we'll get to see the character of Jeff Lacy reveal itself in the next few months!
Friday Aug 18, 2006 05:40:54 PM
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diggy:
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Jeff Lacy has been exposed! If you BOX him, you can beat him. However, that's easier said than done. Joe Calzaghe is not your average fighter (niether is Lacy, for that matter) so not everyone will be able to do what he did to Jeff. I think the kid just ran into a guy that he couldn't beat, period. That doesn't mean he's washed up or anything like that. A few fights against gradually improved competition could get him ready for a rematch, provided he wins those matches. Good luck, Left Hook. We'll see ya in there with Calzaghe in a couple of years!
Friday Aug 18, 2006 08:44:55 PM
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Andrew Ames:
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I feel Lacy wasn't conditioned for that fight. He figure that Joe would be a joke or another tune-up fight. Lacy needs a Plan B, especially if he can't knock out his opponent. Lacy needs to lean the fundumentals 1,2 and move. He needs to use his jab more, instead of looking for that one punch. Wear your opponent down and then go for the knockout.
Saturday Aug 19, 2006 02:41:44 PM
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David Rosenberg:
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Jeff Lacy is one but a few fighters I concentrate on. I follow the careers, from when I first see them to the end.
When Jeff took the Calzaghe fight, he also took on a new trainer. It was Winky Wright\'s trainer, Cunnignham. Why a new man in the corner with the biggest fight of his career next? I thought it was a bad move. It had to be part of the reason for the loss.
The "Other Things" going on before the fight, had also contributed to the loss. When the fight started, Jeff wanted to end it in the first round and then every round there after. It was easy for Calzaghe to pick Jeff apart.
Jeff Lacy will be a great fighter and champion, he will overcome the loss, put it behind him and win. Jeff has too much talent to be a loser, to much heart to let that fight defeat him. Jeff will be back, when he is ready.
Saturday Aug 19, 2006 05:24:58 PM
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Stephen:
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Lacy was as usual in excellent condition for the fight - but he's simply not as good or quick a boxer as Calzaghe, and in addition his muscles seem more for show than power - note that Calzaghe actually appeared to be physically stronger than Lacy, judging by who was pushing whom around the ring. Lacy should call up Calzaghe and ask him - or his father - for general advice.
Sunday Aug 20, 2006 12:22:58 AM
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J:
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Lacy was conditioned, acclimatized to British time and favored by just about eveyrone to beat Calzaghe within the distance. What went wrong was that Lacy, like just about every up and coming prospect, got swept up in the machine. Too much promotion, not enough seasoning and care when it came to his craft. Lacy was an exciting slugger beforehand, but he could not handle a fighter of Calzaghe's skill and variety. Still, they were both up for the fight, and neither fans nor Lacy should try and devalue what should stand out as a great night in both of their careers and in the history of the division. Lacy might have lost, but he could use what happened that night as a springboard to great things even still. We know the physical advantages of Lacy, let's see what he's got mentally.
Sunday Aug 20, 2006 02:29:10 PM
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B-FAN:
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Lacy's been exposed as over-hyped, untested, 2nd-tier. Will need to work hard to climb back up.
Sunday Aug 20, 2006 07:12:48 PM
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Purple Smile:
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Lacy is a young fighter with a strong desire to achieve his goal. He will rise and shine once again.
Monday Aug 21, 2006 07:35:55 PM
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jon. W:
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Lacy got beat by a better boxer in calzaghe, the fight was totaly one sided i think i saw lacy land one punch of any note in the whole fight. that is simply not enough against calzaghe, lacy went up a lot in my estimation for lasting all the way for a points loss, thats some chin he has. too much speed, too much movement. you could see it from miunte one. shame lacy didnt get to tarver before hopkins did, it would have restarted his career nicely.
Tuesday Aug 29, 2006 01:06:20 PM
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BRAD:
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As a welshman, and boxing fan, reading these comments and "excuses" for Lacy, let me say this, Lacy can come back sure. But there are no reasons or excuses for his hammering by Joe Calzaghe whos career ive followed, Up untill the Lacy fight Joe never really got the respect or recognition he deserved, Especially from the states. But Joe is an awsome boxer, versatile skillfull and as hard and as tough as they come. Lacy got beat by a much much better boxer. As simple as that!! Lacy gained a lot of respect in wales for hanging in there , he never gave in and showed tremendous heart. That for sure proves hes a great man and great fighter too, who will come back. Go for it Lacy!!!!!!!!
Saturday Sep 16, 2006 03:34:40 AM
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Pa:
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Jeff
??? Taby ??? you know how to contact me!
Saturday Apr 26, 2008 06:22:40 PM
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Suits, Stop Squabbling, And Posturing, AND MAKE FIGHTS!
"Floyd may very well be the most talented boxer but that he does not understand that what the fans, who ultimately pay the bills, watch fights for is entertainment. At the moment, he not only ignores that reality but frankly doesn't seem to care. Neither about our wishes and/or our passion for to see great fights. Thus, there is little Go ... and even less Show. I am vaguely interested in the Business of Boxing. Frankly, it is a mess on a good day and worse on it's worst. I prefer reading the Business pages where brilliant men and women develop skills and strategies to create incredible value and wealth (for themselves and others) in ways far more effectively and meaningfully than those who Rule ...some might say Ruin...this beautiful Sport." --FE'ROZ, speaking for a majority of fight fans
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