Ringside Boxing Report: Jeff Lacy – Scott Pemberton

Click for larger image © Mark DeSisto SaddoBoxing.com

Headlining the Gary Shaw Productions – Showtime televised card last night from Cesar’s Tahoe in Reno, Nevada was the much awaited Jeff Lacy – Scott Pemberton IBF/IBO world title fight. The reigning champion from Florida came into the contest with a pristine record and had yet to be seriously troubled in any of his fights thus far. After twelve years as a professional, thirty eight year old Pemberton had finally earned his chance for a world title and

vowed to make the most of the opportunity.

Once the bell rang, Lacy constantly came forward, working both up and down on the challenger, who didn’t have the strength or the endurance to compete as Pemberton was visibly gassed after surviving the first round.

It was clear that Lacy was in the ring for one reason, and that was to get his opponent out of there quickly. Lacy worked in a constant “seek and destroy” mode , often with an intimidating scowl towards Pemberton as he hunted the challenger down and mercifully finished the contest with the booming overhand right at 2:59 of round two. From ringside, the crushing right hand sounded like a shotgun upon impact on Pemberton’s skull.

Click for larger image © Mark DeSisto/SaddoBoxing.com

Pemberton collapsed and the referee immediately waved off the anti-climactic bout. The man from New Bedford, MA, simply had no answer for the super middleweight monster “Left Hook” Lacy , who could have been called “Right Cross” tonight, after putting Pemberton on the canvas twice with the right hand.

The odds were heavily stacked against Pemberton when this fight was initially made. Although deserving of the title shot after years of fighting hard in New England and two well earned signature victories over Omar Sheika, boxing is largely a young man’s game, and at age thirty eight, with over a year since his last fight, Pemberton never had a chance against a true champion in his prime.

Jeff Lacy moves to 21-0 (17) by continuing to show why he is perhaps the most feared and in the opinion of many, the best 168 pound fighter in the world today. IBF and IBO title holder Lacy easily dismissed challenger Scott Pemberton, now 29-4-1 (24), by second round stoppage and it seems that the sky is the limit for the super middleweight champion.

Contact Mark DeSisto: bostonsmarkd@yahoo.com