Is Jeff Lacy that bad?

[cableguy]

.....or is Calzaghe just that damn good?

Since Calzaghe dished out schooling of the decade on Lacy, very few people still seem to give him credit for the performance by saying Lacy was green/overrated.
But is it that everyone just has trouble admitting that Calzaghe (dare i say it)....just might be one of the most technically gifted boxers of our time, and was infact just head and shoulders above another very good world champion in Lacy?

[Smith]

Lacy's a very good fighter, don't get it twisted, he was just far too green for a seasoned vet like Calzaghe, Joe is world class personified

[cableguy]

DOH!!!...had a touch of the 'Arrans' and put this in the wrong forum



....FUCK CABLEGUY!

[joe33]

Joes a great fighter,and i was hoping after the lacey fight,he would show the world he aint no mug,but sadly he has seemed to have let the moment slip,until now that is,he has the big fight with kessler who i think he will maybe just win,but i wish after the lacey win he had just said fuck it and went for all the top men.
And yeah funny that before the fight lacey was gonna kill joe,and show how much better the yankie fighters are,but as soon as he got his arse handed to him,he was either shit,not ready,or over hyped.Made me made to be honest,also i cant beleive people still think he slaps LOL.
Lacey is ok though,just way over hyped just because he was seen as a big puncher and maybe being from americva is always gonna make people think your better then you are really.
But to be fair there,that may be becasue he has always had bad hands,and thus maybe he does try to cushion his blows when he throws them.

[marting]

You can't get beaten that bad and chalk it up to an off night. I actually thought he had a legitmate shot at beating Calzaghe but hat's off to Calzaghe. He exposed every single weakness that Lacy had which were: punching accuracy, defense, maturity (he admitted he was terribly intimidated by the setting and the crowd) and mobility.

I also give Lacy's management tremendous credit for a masterful job of promoting Lacy beyond his real talent level. Hell even the bookmakers in Great Britain had Lacy favored. Most of the boxing media experts were picking Lacy. And you had to scour this site to even find a couple of posters picking Calzaghe and that includes the British boxing section.

It's hardly the first time that a boxer's expectations exceeded his real talent.

[Stinky gloves]

Jeff is that bad, Calzaghe is highly overrated

[Shake]

I'm convinced Calzaghe wanted the top fights after he beat Lacy. But it's hard to get Hopkins or Wright when they're facing eachother. Dawson, perhaps, but he's not Calzaghe's responsibility. Different generation.

[pipe wrenched]

I don't know. It would have helped if after getting his ass kicked by Joe, Lacy went on beating the shit out of everybody else. I wish Joe the best.

[Steve Fox]

Jeff Lacy was a deserving titlist, but his lack of speed meant that he was tailor made for JC. He had one plan and it become evident early in the fight that it wasn't going to work. Far too many people put far too much value on that one fight. The number one man in a division beating the number two man in that division by such a margin, is impressive, but not unheard of. JC fans however, are rarely treated to fights of such perceived risk. A fight being well-hyped doesn't necessarily mean well-matched, just as a supposed routine defence can often lead to an upset. In short Jeff Lacy isn't 'that bad' he's just no match for JC, other fighters however could and have done better, but without the fanfare.

[Jinx]

Lacy is a very strong 168, and he will never be a stick-and-move type...Lacy's comp was not great, but it wasn't bad either and he collected a strap...so i wouldn't say that Lacy was green when Calzaghe beat him, but i will say that Lacy's style was tailor-made for Calzaghe...Kessler won't be so easy...

[pipe wrenched]

Lacy needs to get back in the ring.

[Stinky gloves]

Lacy needs to get back in the ring.

The hype is gone, nobody will believe he is the next Tyson again. He needs to retire.

[Fat Tony]

Lacy needs to get back in the ring.

Tune-up fight against Manfredo. :D

[Odo]

.....or is Calzaghe just that damn good?

Since Calzaghe dished out schooling of the decade on Lacy, very few people still seem to give him credit for the performance by saying Lacy was green/overrated.
But is it that everyone just has trouble admitting that Calzaghe (dare i say it)....just might be one of the most technically gifted boxers of our time, and was infact just head and shoulders above another very good world champion in Lacy?

Joe gave him a lesson in boxing.Thats for sure!
But lets not forget that Lacy had been totally overrated in the first place.
He was schooled by Gaidar Gaidarbekov in his last amateur fight.
Lacy is a very decent fighter,but he is no top gun.Thats for sure,too!

[Armo_Ruski]

lacy IMO was beaten by tyspko also... rewatch that night, lacy is wayyy overated

[Odo]

lacy IMO was beaten by tyspko also... rewatch that night, lacy is wayyy overated

You are right! Tsypko deserved the victory that night!

[ThePlugInBabies]

early last year - oh lacys gonna kill calzaghe, he's the real deal.

now - jeff was too green and way overhyped.

can't wait until it happens to pavlik. :deal

[Scar]

Lacy isn't a bad fighter at all, he just ran into someone WAY better.

[PH|LLA]

The hype is gone, nobody will believe he is the next Tyson again. He needs to retire.
:patsch

[Scar]

You are right! Tsypko deserved the victory that night!

Lacy is one of my favorites and I must agree with you there.

[ThePlugInBabies]

in defence of lacy though, jc was so focused, so ready and so prepared that night that i don't think anyone currently fighting between 160-175 could have stopped him, he was in the perfect frame of mind and would have whooped anyone.

[Orang-Utan Jim]

Lacy is solid and he can win maybe a belt in the SMW´s again. But not vs. Calzaghe or Kessler. He was HBOs biggest hypejob in recent years....

[surreal deal]

.....or is Calzaghe just that damn good?

Since Calzaghe dished out schooling of the decade on Lacy, very few people still seem to give him credit for the performance by saying Lacy was green/overrated.
But is it that everyone just has trouble admitting that Calzaghe (dare i say it)....just might be one of the most technically gifted boxers of our time, and was infact just head and shoulders above another very good world champion in Lacy?
thats right.if it was a buster douglas type one off,i would be different,but it amidst a stellar unbeaten career.
who's youre avatar babe?:blurp

[Pimp C]

.....or is Calzaghe just that damn good?

Since Calzaghe dished out schooling of the decade on Lacy, very few people still seem to give him credit for the performance by saying Lacy was green/overrated.
But is it that everyone just has trouble admitting that Calzaghe (dare i say it)....just might be one of the most technically gifted boxers of our time, and was infact just head and shoulders above another very good world champion in Lacy?
Calzaghe is that damn good and Kessler will find out when the two meet in the ring later this year.

[Scar]

Lacy is solid and he can win maybe a belt in the SMW´s again. But not vs. Calzaghe or Kessler. He was HBOs biggest hypejob in recent years....

HBO?, Lacy fought for SHOWTIME.

[paulfv]

JC ruined him

[jazzboy]

I dont think he is ruined he suffered a loss to a good fighter his first time stepping up. If his shoulder heals properly i belive he has the mentality to bounce back strong. The boy has heart

[achillesthegreat]

Is Tito that bad?

Is Corrales that bad?

No one knows yet. Fact is, Lacy was an undefeated champion who had decent wins and looked to be very strong and powerful.

[paulfv]

I can't remember the last time such a hyped fighter was completely, utterly exposed as JC-JL. That was unreal

[Stinky gloves]

Is Tito that bad?

Is Corrales that bad?

Yes they are too!

[psychopath]

.....or is Calzaghe just that damn good?

Since Calzaghe dished out schooling of the decade on Lacy, very few people still seem to give him credit for the performance by saying Lacy was green/overrated.
But is it that everyone just has trouble admitting that Calzaghe (dare i say it)....just might be one of the most technically gifted boxers of our time, and was infact just head and shoulders above another very good world champion in Lacy?

Most technically gifted boxer of our time? :rofl :lol:

Nah nah nah :nono . . . I'd rather go with Lacy being "green and over rated" arguement because that's the truth. :yep :hey

[MSTR]

Most technically gifted boxer of our time? :rofl :lol:

Nah nah nah :nono . . . I'd rather go with Lacy being "green and over rated" arguement because that's the truth. :yep :hey
Actually neither of your comments are "the truth". Lacy had been tested and had proven himself to be a solid world champion, and Calzaghe was the long time reigning champion, who at times had looked far from great against limited opponents. What eventuated in the bout was a very BAD style match up for lacy, where he was shown to be too one dimensional. The exact same thing happend to Mosley and Trinidad and Corrales. All good fighters who failed to adapt when getting beaten. Lacy is still a top fighter, and I have no doubt he can regain a world title again.

[elTerrible]

Just give Lacy some time already.

Its brought up every few weeks, what happened to Lacy?


He seriously fucked up his shoulder last fight in the early rounds and still hung in there and won the fight.

He will be out for around a year as it was a major injury and he needs to recover. Theres nothing more to say about what he has left until we can see him in his next fight.

[Armo_Ruski]

nahh he didnt tear his rotator early in his last fight probably tore it in the last round, that's a b.s. excuse he was outclassed by tyspko

[markbrooklyn]

.....or is Calzaghe just that damn good?

Since Calzaghe dished out schooling of the decade on Lacy, very few people still seem to give him credit for the performance by saying Lacy was green/overrated.
But is it that everyone just has trouble admitting that Calzaghe (dare i say it)....just might be one of the most technically gifted boxers of our time, and was infact just head and shoulders above another very good world champion in Lacy?

I don't think someone that puts their head down and throws slaps could be considered one of the most technically gifted boxers of our time. Jeff Lacy was an up and coming prospect that was unproven. Who did Calzaghe really beat to make such a claim?

[cableguy]

I don't think someone that puts their head down and throws slaps could be considered one of the most technically gifted boxers of our time. Jeff Lacy was an up and coming prospect that was unproven. Who did Calzaghe really beat to make such a claim?

If you think that all he does is "put his head down and throws slaps" then you obviuosly havent been watching him.
Yes he doesnt mind a good tear up, but theres no getting away from the fact that when he wants to 'box' he can make his opponent look like an amatuer at times

[Smazz20]

Hopkins was "ggreen" when he lost to Jones. Look what he's accomplished since.


And for the love of god, don't start annoying me about making comparisions between Lacy and BHOP.

[Betty Swollocks]

lacy IMO was beaten by tyspko also... rewatch that night, lacy is wayyy overated

Lacy fucked his shoulder early in that fight, he looked fine before that.

the guy is badly underrated now.....probably even more than he was overrated before the Calzaghe fight. He's a top class 168lb fighter.

[DanePugilist]

Joe's performance was nearly flawless, and Lacy showed that he is no elite - at least not yet. So a bit of both. Very poor performance by Lacy, very well utilized and capitalized by Calzaghe.

[Snorkel]

I think he's got enough time and skill to make a name for himself at 168. If you look at his first fight (it's on YouTube) and compare that to the Calzaghe fight, you'll see a fighter that's fallen in love with his own power and forgotten the basics.

The first round of the Tsypko fight showed what he's capable of, jabbing and moving, boxing cleverly rather than trying to kill his opponent. If he recovers and boxes like that, coupled with his power and chin, he'll be a handful for most of the division. Berrio and Bute, for example, would both lose to him IMO and they're part of the best of the rest at 168. I'm not going to make any bold predictions here, but Kessler is upright enough to be caught by Lacy and we all know what kind of power he has.

[Pokie]

Lacy vs Mundine would make for an Interesting match up . I think Mundine is faster than Calzaghe but doesn't have the power Joe does so it could make for a close fight

[DanePugilist]

Rosseboi, you are forgetting the fact that Manfredo is a c-lvl fighter. And not only that - his performance was pitiful. You are also forgetting the fact that the fight lasted a mere 3 rounds due to the fact that the ref finally realized that Manfredo did not belong in the ring with a top rank.

[DanePugilist]

He should just realize that when he gets the chance(un******ted) to fight the WC, that carpe diem should be the mantra.

What a waste of JCs talent.

[DanePugilist]

Yes, it was a mismatch, as everyone with a sound mind knew beforehand, but it still does not remove the fact that he did nothing at all.

Yes, can't say anything bad of Joe's performance - he did what he came to do; swarm and slaughter a lamb. Lacy didn't do much better - he threw punches but most hit air, even when JC was stationary for a moment.

The the real questionmark of that fight - as you point out - is that JC broke his hand so easily.

Lacy is a top 5 boxer - JC just showed that he wasn't mature at elite lvl. Furthermore, it was a stylistic nightmare for the immobile american. I think Mundine would give him almost the same nightmares, unless of course Lacy evolves.

So thumbs up, I agree with pretty much what you say.

[LeedsLad]

The Manfredo fight was a big publicity stunt that backfired, he thought beating the guy from the popular contender series would get him popularity in the US when it made him more of a laughing stock. It was the wrong fight for sure, i thought Bika was a mandatory for the IBF though?

Kessler/Calzaghe are just so much better than the rest of the division at 168 it has to be said. Lacy was made out to be better than he was, but he was still a good fighter. Joe is simply world class, and it was stylistically a dream match-up for Joe. I think Jeff Lacy will have a hell of a good career still, i can see him picking up another world title and making a good name for himself yet.

[LeedsLad]

Lacy would give Mundine a lot of trouble, simply by going after him all the time. Fighting timid against Lacy doesn't work - you need to apply constant, hard-hitting pressure and I think Mundine's too hesitant for that against a big hitter.

Joe's broken his hand in all of his last 4 fights. just seems to be part and parcel of him boxing now. it diminishes his power, no doubt, but he can fight through it. He's had a long time since the Manfredo fight to recover, so I think that'll stand him in good stead.

100% agree about Lacy-Mundine, alot of Mundine fans seem to think Mundine would stop Lacy easily:huh And yes, if you look how hard Joe hit earlier in his career its quite obvious the hand troubles have diminished his power down the years.

[ChuckYoungblood]

The Manfredo fight was a big publicity stunt that backfired, he thought beating the guy from the popular contender series would get him popularity in the US when it made him more of a laughing stock.

I never saw it that way. More like the easy-money fight, but I guess yuo can see it as an attempt to make Joe more of a household name in the eyes of the american viewers.

[China_hand_Joe]

Lacy was very aggressive and quick in his fight against Joe, it may have been Lacy's best performance techniqcally, we just don't realise it because of what Joe did to him -fullstop-

[DanePugilist]

I never saw it that way. More like the easy-money fight, but I guess yuo can see it as an attempt to make Joe more of a household name in the eyes of the american viewers.It was as they say, a publicity stunt that backfired. Any sane person would have realized that was the outcome, when the celebrity was exposed as a clown with no abilities.

[DanePugilist]

I think Lacy will have realised his power was ineffective against a boxer. i remember he'd had similar problems with someone else before the Reid fight... can't remember the name. He got the KO, so probably thought it would always carry him through.

Against Joe, who was much hardier and smarter, the power was less a factor. i agree he was clumsy, but he'd never dealt with someone as fleetfooted as Joe, nor had to deal with that sort of educated pressure.

No mistake, Lacy would have beaten Manfredo senseless.

Lacy would give Mundine a lot of trouble, simply by going after him all the time. Fighting timid against Lacy doesn't work - you need to apply constant, hard-hitting pressure and I think Mundine's too hesitant for that against a big hitter.

Joe's broken his hand in all of his last 4 fights. just seems to be part and parcel of him boxing now. it diminishes his power, no doubt, but he can fight through it. He's had a long time since the Manfredo fight to recover, so I think that'll stand him in good stead.First off, Mundine is only timid, when he doesn't know how to counter. Secondly, unless Mundine is stationary and starts to trade boxes that way, its fair to say he would lose. However, using his speed to get in or out - will still likely confuse the limited Lacy. Of course, it requires that he utilizes the same gameplan as JC.

[Odo]

I think, in terms of sheer ability, Joe is top ten p4p, beside Mayweather, Mosley, Wright (who I have always thought a little overrated, but good all the same) and co.

Kessler needs to beat Joe or someone similar to get in there, so we can see more of his skills.

I don't blame either of them for the poorish opponents they've faced because the division has been shit since the heady days of Benn, Eubank, Collins and RJJ.

But Lacy was one of the better ones, just, as you say, not world-level and miles behind Joe.

"the division has been shit since the days of Benn,Eubank,Collins,and RJJ"
"but Lacy was one of the better ones"

Had a good laugh when reading your post,mate!
No offence is intended,but I totally disagree with you.
Supermiddle is a very hot division with lots of promising fighters.
Kessler and Calzaghe are the undisputed nr.2 and 1 at present.No doubt about that!
However,there are very capable fighters like Inkin,Bute,Froch,Oganov,Braehmer,or Balzsay.
Lacy would probably lose against all aforementioned names.He has been totally overrated in my opinion.He is a decent American fighter,but no top fighter.Thats for sure!
Gaidar Gaidarbekov gave him a lesson in boxing winning every second of every round against a totally overmatched Lacy in his last amateur fight.
Joe exposed him at the pros.
And Tsypko,too,won his encounter with Lacy but wasnt able to get a point decision on American soil against an American fighter.

[yesihavearm]

"the division has been shit since the days of Benn,Eubank,Collins,and RJJ"
"but Lacy was one of the better ones"

Had a good laugh when reading your post,mate!
No offence is intended,but I totally disagree with you.
Supermiddle is a very hot division with lots of promising fighters.
Kessler and Calzaghe are the undisputed nr.2 and 1 at present.No doubt about that!
However,there are very capable fighters like Inkin,Bute,Froch,Oganov,Braehmer,or Balzsay.
Lacy would probably lose against all aforementioned names.He has been totally overrated in my opinion.He is a decent American fighter,but no top fighter.Thats for sure!
Gaidar Gaidarbekov gave him a lesson in boxing winning every second of every round against a totally overmatched Lacy in his last amateur fight.
Joe exposed him at the pros.
And Tsypko,too,won his encounter with Lacy but wasnt able to get a point decision on American soil against an American fighter.

Erm.

Jeff Lacy would absolutely twat every single fighter you mentioned in that one sentence cept Joe and Kessler of course.

Lacy has tremendous knockout power greater than that of Joe and Kessler, he has knocked out nearly everyone he's faced and has fought good opposition (Robin Reid, Sheika).

However, Lacy got shown up in the Calzaghe fight for his lack of adaptability, movement and ring experience. Lacy's come forward style was perfectly suited to Joe and he got dominated. Also in doing so proved to me that Calzaghe is virtually unbeatable fighting on the inside, something that Kessler's going to have to avoid doing against him.

Jeff's a very good fighter, Joe and Kessler are just better. Im sure we'll see Lacy win a world title again in a few fights, he got unlucky with his injury. Whether he'll recover totally remains to be seen, but he's still a very dangerous SMW and IF Kessler loses to Joe in November than we could very well see the both of them fight next year.

Its true Lacy might have been over-rated before the fight, but I think people now are just under-rating him. I think lets give him a few more fights before we make our final evaluations on him.