Boxing Round By Round: Jeff Lacy – Scott Pemberton

Round One: The two power heavy punchers meet in the center of the ring, beginning with Pemberton jabbing early, but not landing anything. Lacy is already displaying defense, something his critics say is the IBF/IBO Champion’s biggest flaw. Lacy throws his first punch of the fight thirty seconds in, a big overhand right that fails to land. Pemberton is doing nothing but jabbing thus far, and he is jabbing a lot, putting his fist in Lacy’s face every time the stocky Floridian attempts to close the distance between the two fighters. Lacy, who is four inches shorter then Pemberton, lands an overhand right to Pemberton’s jaw with a minute left in the round, and is displaying impressive defense, fending off Pemberton’s jabs. Pemberton gets very stationary when he tries to follow up on his jab, which is why Lacy landed the big right hand. Other then that, it was a nice round for Pemberton, who succeeded in jabbing and establishing distance.

Round: Pemberton 10-9

Round Two: After a solid start, Pemberton comes out this round doing the same thing he did in the first, jabbing and keeping distance between himself and the heavy handed Lacy. Pemberton isn’t moving his feet much in the second, unlike during the initial frame in which he was constantly circling the ring and the challenger is allowing Lacy to get on the inside of his long reach. With a minute twenty left in the round, Jeff Lacy counters a Pemberton straight right hand with a left hook followed by an overhand right that sends Pemberton to the canvas. Pemberton gets up after a long ten count, but he is obviously hurt and has to survive the full minute left to go in the round. Lacy immediately swarms Pemberton upon the New Englander’s return to his feet. Lacy forces Pemberton to the ropes where the taller fighter crouches down, bending at the waist, and gets hit with two straight uppercuts before finally standing upright. The referee split the two and Pemberton looks to regain his composure. Lacy immediately pressures Pemberton, landing a left hook that rocks his rival. Lacy follows the hook up with a brutal overhand right that once again downs Pemberton. Pemberton falls limp, and the referee immediately stops to the fight and ushers in medical attention for the fallen fighter. Pemberton appears to be fine, but it was definitely a just stoppage and Jeff Lacy is awarded a second round knockout.

With the win, Jeff Lacy retains his IBF and IBO Super Middleweight titles and moves to 21-0 (17) while Scott Pemberton falls to 29-4-1 (24).