Boxing News Boxing News
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING TO PRESENT IBF/IBO SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP, IBF BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE
IBF Super Middleweight Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy vs. IBF No. 5 Contender Scott “The Sandman” Pemberton
IBF Bantamweight Champion Rafael Marquez vs. IBO Bantamweight Champion/IBF No. 1 Contender Silence “African Spice” Mabuza
Saturday, Nov. 5, 2005, At 9 p.m. ET/PT
At Caesars Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, Nevada
NEW YORK (Sept. 28, 2005) – The long and winding path to superstardom is quickly approaching its zenith for talented, undefeated Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy, who will defend his International Boxing Federation (IBF) and International Boxing Organization (IBO) super middleweight titles against IBF No. 5 contender Scott “The Sandman” Pemberton on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Saturday, Nov. 5, 2005, at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast). Gary Shaw Productions, LLC will promote the event from Caesars Tahoe in Lake Tahoe, Nev.
In the co-feature, IBF Bantamweight Champion Rafael Marquez will defend his belt for the sixth time when he takes on International Boxing Organization (IBO) 118-pound Champion/IBF No. 1 contender, Silence Mabuza. Originally scheduled for Oct. 1, this title bout was postponed on Monday, Sept. 26, when promoter Gary Shaw reported that Marquez became ill during fight week.
“I go into every fight with the same mindset and that is to put on a good show and, most importantly, to win,” Lacy (20-0, 16 KOs), of St. Petersburg, Fla., said. “For me, it is all about winning.’’
One of the best and most feared pound-for-pound fighters today, Lacy will make his 14th SHOWTIME appearance and fourth defense of the IBF belt he won with an impressive eighth-round TKO over Syd Vanderpool Oct. 2, 2004, on SHOWTIME.
Most, including Lacy, thought his next fight would be against fellow unbeaten Joe Calzaghe in a world title 168-pound unification bout. However, Calzaghe reportedly suffered a broken hand during his unanimous decision win over Evans Ashira on Sept. 10, putting that fight on hold.
“I am concentrating on Pemberton and nobody else,” Lacy said. “This is going to be a great fight. There is no way I will underestimate him, or anybody who wants what I have. He is a really good fighter. We both fought Omar Sheika. He stopped him. I did not. The fans are going to be treated to a tremendous action fight.”
The first 2000 Olympian to capture a world title, Lacy successfully defended his crown in smashing fashion in his last start and his first before the hometown fans in Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla. In perhaps a career-best performance, Lacy dropped Reid twice in the fifth and once in the sixth and seventh rounds. He was ahead, 70-57, on all the scorecards at the time the bout was stopped.
In Lacy’s other title defenses, he registered a hard-fought 12-round unanimous decision over Sheika (117-111 and 115-113 twice) on Dec. 2, 2004, and an exciting seventh-round TKO over Rubin Williams in a fast-paced, terrific skirmish on March 5, 2005. Both bouts aired on SHOWTIME.
One of nine children, Lacy and three of his siblings were raised in St. Petersburg by their father, Hydra. A former boxer, Hydra competed in the 1968 U.S. Olympic Trials and went 13-4-1 in the pros. Jeff, who went 209-12 in the amateurs himself, won numerous competitions and made it to the second round of the 2000 Olympics.
Pemberton (29-3-1, 24 KOs), of Fair Haven, Mass., will enter the ring as the International Boxing Union (IBU) and North American Boxing Federation (NABF) 168-pound titleholder. This will be his first appearance in a world title bout.
“I welcome a fight with Lacy,” Pemberton said. “He is a warrior and I am a warrior. It will be great. I have been to two training camps this year, one for a proposed third bout with Sheika earlier in the year and one recently for a proposed fight with Danny Green. So, I know I am sharp and will be ready. I personally do not think Lacy has fought anyone that can hit as hard as I can.”
“This is not only a boxing match, it is an event,” said Pemberton’s promoter, Jimmy Burchfield. “We have so much respect for the champ for taking this because they could have taken an easier one. Pemberton is the hottest puncher in boxing. Lacy has never been in with anyone who can hit as hard. Styles make fights, and if they fight to their full potential, it could be the fight of the year in 2005.”
Pemberton captured the IBU crown on March 21, 2003. The following July 25, he claimed the NABF belt with a 12-round split decision over Sheika (scored 114-113 twice and 111-116). He followed that performance with a stunning 10th-round TKO of Sheika in a rematch on Jan. 23, 2004. Both slugfests were “Fight of the Year” candidates.
“I do not go into a fight thinking I am going to knock anyone out,’’ Pemberton said. “I get into the best shape possible and do the best I can. I never go looking for the knockout. I never thought I would knock out Sheika.’’
A winner of five in a row, including the last three by TKO, Pemberton will not be in with a total stranger on Nov. 5.
“I sparred with Lacy in Big Bear, Calif., a few years ago,” Pemberton said. “He is a great fighter and a dynamite guy. I like him, but that will not affect the fight. You can be best friends, but when you step into the ring, it is all business.’’
Before turning pro, Pemberton was in the United States Army stationed in Fort Bragg, N.C. While serving, he was a stinger, a gunner, and part of the 82nd airborne. Pemberton made his professional debut in Providence, R.I., on Oct. 26, 1994, with a first-round TKO over Manuel Feliz.
Marquez (34-3, 30 KOs), of Mexico City, Mexico, has successfully defended his title five times since knocking out previously undefeated champion Tim Austin in the eighth round on Feb. 23, 2002.
“I did not go for it early because Austin hit me with some shots to the body that really hurt,” Marquez said. “My corner told me I had to quit wasting time, so I just went for it all in the eighth.’’
Marquez, whose brother, Juan Manuel Marquez, is recognized as one of the most talented featherweights in the world, currently is riding a 13-bout winning streak that dates to December 2000. During the streak, he has knocked out former world champions Mark Johnson and Mauricio Pastrana.
In his most recent title defense, Marquez cruised to a 12-round decision over Ricardo Vargas on May 28, 2005, in Los Angeles. Marquez floored his opponent in the fight’s final minute to ensure the nod by the scores 116-111 twice and 118-109.
“I am ready to go,” Marquez said. “I cannot wait to get in the ring and silence Silence Mabuza. He has never fought anybody of my caliber, and on Nov. 5, I will give him a boxing lesson.”
Mabuza (18-0, 15 KOs), of Johannesburg, South Africa, captured the IBO bantamweight title in only his 11th professional bout by knocking out Jose Sanjuanelo in the sixth round of their March 2, 2002, bout in Brakpan, South Africa.
Undefeated as a pro, Mabuza successfully defended his title for a sixth time in his last bout by recording a 12-round unanimous decision over former world champion, Cruz Carbajal, on May 13, 2005, in Las Vegas.
“Marquez is a talented boxer with a distinguished ring record,” Mabuza said. “Beating him will add more value to my boxing career.
“I have tapes of Marquez’ last couple of fights and have been keeping tabs on him. He is a tough puncher who has a tight defense, but I feel I can take him out.”
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING’s Steve Albert and Al Bernstein will call the action from ringside with Jim Gray serving as roving reporter. The executive producer of the SHOWTIME telecast will be Jay Larkin, with David Dinkins, Jr. producing and Bob Dunphy directing.
For information on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and “ShoBox: The New Generation” telecasts, including complete fighter bios and records, related stories and more, please go the SHOWTIME website at https://www.sho.com/boxing.
