Jeff Lacy

Infobox_Boxer


name = Jeff "Left Hook" Lacy
realname=Jeffrey Scott Lacy
nationality=flagicon|USA American
nickname = Left Hook
weight = Super middleweight
birth_date = birth date|1977|5|12|mf=y
death_date =
birth_place = St. Petersburg, Florida
home = St. Petersburg, Florida
style = Orthodox
total = 26
wins = 24
KO = 17
losses = 1
draws = 0
no contests = 1

Jeffrey Scott Lacy (born May 12, 1977, in St. Petersburg, Florida) is an American boxer. He is a former International Boxing Federation super middleweight champion.

Amateur career

Lacy as an amateur had 210 fights, winning the 1999 National PAL amateur champion at 165 pounds, the 1998 U.S. National amateur champion at 165 pounds, and the 1998 National PAL amateur champion at 165 pounds. Lacy fought at the 1996 Eastern Olympic Trials, stopping Kenneth Head in the first round. In the quarter-finals, Lacy defeated Rubin Williams. In the semi-finals, Lacy lost to Darnell Wilson and finished third. In the 1997 National Golden Gloves, Lacy beat Rubin Williams, but lost against Randy Griffin in the semi-finals and finished in third place. In the quarter-finals of the 2000 Olympic Team trials, Lacy won a decision over Brad Austin. In the semi-finals, Lacy won a decision over Jerson Ravelo. During the finals, Lacy won a 26-10 decision over Randy Griffin of Philadelphia, Pa. During the 2000 Olympic Team Box-offs, Lacy lost to Arthur Palac. In his second fight, Lacy defeated him on the scorecards. He was a member of the 2000 United States Olympic boxing team along with former Undisputed Middleweight champion Jermain Taylor. During his first bout in Sydney, Australia, Lacy knocked out Cleiton Conceição of Brazil at 0:58 of the third round. During his second bout, Lacy defeated Pawel Kakietek of Poland, en route to a 21-7 decision. During the third bout, Lacy was stopped at 1:49 of the third round by Gaidarbek Gaidarbekov of Russia.

Professional career

Rise to stardom

Lacy made his professional debut against Jerald Lowe on February 2, 2001, knocking him out in the first round. He won his next seven fights by way of knockout and won the WBC Continental Americas Super Middleweight Title against Anwar Oshana, by way of technical knockout in round two. On December 13, 2003, he won the USBA and NABA super middleweight titles after stopping Donnell Wiggins in round eight. He won the IBF super middleweight title on October 2, 2004, against southpaw Syd Vanderpool. He defended it against Omar Sheika and Rubin Williams. Lacy fought Robin Reid for the IBO version of the title in his hometown of St. Petersburg on August 6, 2005. His fight with Robin Reid ended in a technical knockout after Lacy knocked him down four times. Before the fight, Reid had never been knocked down. Lacy fought Scott Pemberton on November 5, 2005. Lacy knocked out Pemberton, a former contender who was now nearing the age of 40, down twice in the second round and ended the fight when he blasted Pemberton with an overhand right to the side of the head.

Loss to Joe Calzaghe

On March 5, 2006, at the MEN Arena in Manchester, England, Lacy lost his title to Joe Calzaghe. He was knocked down in the 12th round by Calzaghe, and lost by a unanimous points decision, (119-105; 119-107; 119-107). A point deducted from Calzaghe in the 11th round was all that prevented Lacy from losing every round on every card.

After Calzaghe

Lacy fought a rematch with Vitali Tsypko on December 2, 2006, in Tampa, Florida, on the same card as Winky Wright's fight against Ike Quartey. This was the second time he had fought Tsypko, the first fight in 2004 which ended in a no-contest. Lacy won by scores of 96-94, 96-94 95-95. After the bout, it was revealed that Lacy had torn his rotator cuff and was injured throughout most of the fight. Lacy had surgery on the injury and did not fight for a year after the bout.Since his comeback it has looked like he is suffering from his loss to Calzaghe but it may be caused by the torn rotator cuff injury.Lacy returned on December 8, 2007, on the Mayweather - Hatton undercard. In a lackluster bout Lacy defeated Peter Manfredo Jr. by a unanimous points decision. He scored a knockdown in the 4th, but looked unimpressive. On July 23, 2008, Lacy fought and earned a majority decision over Epifanio Mendoza in a thrilling fight. Though many were convinced Mendoza had done enough. Lacy was scheduled for a possible November 15 showdown against former world middleweight champion Jermain Taylor, but announced his retirement on July 26, 2008. A day later he announced that the fight would be back on.

tatistics

*Forearm: 12.5
*Weight: 168.0
*Thigh: 21.5
*Height: 5 ft 8 in
*Fist: 11.5
*Neck: 16.5
*Chest Expanded: 42.0
*Chest Normal: 41.5
*Wrist: 7.5
*Reach: 74.0
*Calf: 15.0
*Handed: Right

External links

*
* [http://www.sho.com/site/boxing/profile.do?fighter=524 Showtime biography]
* [http://www.fightnews.com/fightnews_2/headlines//EkEZpAkuAEwFERGQIb.html Jeff Lacy announces retirement.]