Is Jeff Lacy A Shot Fighter?

03.12.06 - By James Slater: Is Jeff Lacy a shot fighter? Let’s face it, after his “win” over the Ukrainian he controversially out pointed on Saturday in his hometown, it looks like it. Not only did “Left Hook’s” best shots fail to do the desired job on their target, but Jeff was also badly wobbled on occasion. He was also extremely tired at the end of the ten rounds and looked the epitome of a demoralised fighter. He was certainly somewhat pensive looking as he awaited the reading of the scorecards, and with good reason. An injured left shoulder was attributed to have been a major factor in Lacy’s below par performance, but this may well have been a sorely needed excuse. Who Knows?

One thing is clear, however, the choice of opponent team Lacy selected for his first step at rehabilitation following his drubbing at the hands of Joe Calzaghe was a most curious one. An upright southpaw with quick hands? Talk about a boxer with a style likely to provide Jeff with confidence draining flashbacks. Vitali Tsypko was all but a Joe Calzaghe clone. What were Jeff’s team thinking?

Though he started the action well, Lacy soon found himself feeling extremely uncomfortable. Caught time and again by Tsypko’s shots as he rushed at him, somewhat crudely, “Left Hook” was stunned at least twice during the entertaining ten rounder. Tsypko, though badly cut himself - in fact his damage was far worse than was Lacy’s - showed character while going in search of a win that would most certainly have been his career highlight had he pulled it off. The two had met previously, back when Jeff was an undefeated would-be star, and then too cuts were opened on Tsypko - terminating the bout after only two rounds. This time, though Vitali was allowed to battle through the blood and as a result he came within a whisker of pulling off the upset.

As it was, however, the Ukrainian did enough harm to Jeff lacy’s already tarnished reputation anyway. No doubt assisted by repeated viewings of the tactics put into action by Calzaghe back in March, Tsypko almost followed Joe’s example to a tee. One judge had the fight all even at the end, while the other two Florida natives gave Jeff the majority win by two points each. A Hometown decision? Well, the fight was close, close enough so as not to have been deemed a completely awful verdict - but in my honest opinion Vitali should have been given the nod. If he had been, Jeff lacy’s career may well have been over. As things stand now, this may still be the case.

Is Jeff destined to follow other fighters from the past who were once big names, only to go to pieces after a solitary defeat? Maybe. And is Lacy a shot fighter? Once again, maybe.