Can He Overcome The Odds And Become The Exception Rather Than The Rule??
Can Lacy Overcome The Odds And Become The Exception Rather Than The Rule??
By JT Flaherty
It Was a Raucous crowd in Manchester England the Night of March 3 2006 a night in Which Supermiddleweight sensation Jeff "Left Hook" Lacy was supposed to invade England and Conquer Long reigning SuperMiddleweight King Joe Calzaghe which at a glance seemed like an easy nites work for Lacy.. A man that was heralded as the second coming of Mike Tyson he possessed Thunderous Power in each hand a Granite Chin and respectable Handspeed, Many in the U.S and even the U.K Including myself figured Lacy cleaning out the Welshman of his championship treasure was a for gone conclusion...Isn't this the same Lacy that Knocked down the Durable Robin Reid 5 times en route to a TKO stoppage??? The same man that lifted Scott Pemberton out of his shoes and left him on the mat in the Fetal position the fight before?? So why should this fight be any different??? Well many of us fans in the U.S were ready for Lacy's Triumphant return, Florida was gearing up for the victory party celebrating there native son in his crowning moment... BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If the Plan was for Joe Calzaghe to get thoroughly dominated and Knocked Out...Sounds good so far EXCEPT Joe didn't get the Memo, From the opening bell Joe Calzaghe put on a Virtuoso performance and one for the ages as he easily OutBoxed, OutClassed and Beat Jeff to the punch in every sense of the word... 6 rounds into the fight it was obvious that Jeff was in serious trouble, his face began showing signs of a battle blood pouring from his mouth it was clear that Jeff was going to need to land a Thunderbolt of a punch to turn the tide I sat on my couch screaming to the Boxing Gods to give Jeff that Charge...
Sadly to no avail as the rounds expired so did Jeff's chances, he valiantly pushed forward as he was getting punished by 1,2,3,4 punch combo's and as he flailed his mighty left hook in retaliation Joe was already gone and set to deliver another blistering flurry, almost like Jeff was fighting a ghost... Jeff showed tremendous heart, chin, determination and will to push on like a brave warrior.. As the 12th round approached Joe pummeled Jeff with uppercuts and Straight shots in a beautiful and brutal display of Boxing Mastery, Jeff suffered his 1st career Knock Down, as he rose to his feet he was eager to get back into battle even tho it might cause him his BOXING life.... When the final bell rang both stood in the middle of the ring.. One in the elation of victory the other in deflation of defeat. The judges didn't even have to hand in there cards it was no secret who the winner was.. I guess Joe had a Memo of his own that most of us didn't get it was his division and he wasn't laying down for no man......
The question is on that night or Morning did Jeff pay the ultimate price did he sacrifice his Boxing life and career???? Many of man have dissapeared into obscurity or have attempted to comeback only to suffer another setback that on a previous night the competition would have been considered a lesser man....
There is a dark shelf on the book case not easily visible thats carries many a label like "damaged goods" and "shot"....Question is tonight does Jeff Lacy take his seat on this shelf like the countless others??? or does this kids Heart and Humble attitude along with ample time since that dreadful nite prove to be plenty of energy to see this star rise once again to prominence???
There is no secret tonight about who I'll be rooting for... I think Jeff can be the Exception rather than the Rule... ;)
What do you think???
Re: Can He Overcome The Odds And Become The Exception Rather Than The Rule??
Nice read.
:coolclick:
It's hard to be unbiased when you are such a big fan of Lacy (like you & I) but it's good to see it from both ends of the spectrum if your'e going to cover such a sensitive topic as the masterclass that Joe put on that night.
As far as what Lacy can & will be...tonight is going to be a great barometer for it. Tsypko is no joke & the first fight was give & take up to the cut.
Honestly...I don't like him taking this tuff of an opponent with the long ass layoff...I just don't like it.
Re: Can He Overcome The Odds And Become The Exception Rather Than The Rule??
I have absolutely no Doubt that if there was ever an exeption.. Jeff is it..
He's far too talented, and has far too many great things going for him to let one defeat stop him..
immmm gona say he'll get a ko... around 5?!.. got a gut feeling ;)
Peace
Re: Can He Overcome The Odds And Become The Exception Rather Than The Rule??
I'll say this...Lacy looks good this go around & he seems...from photos & interviews atleast...to be ready & willing.
I just hope that he is.
Re: Can He Overcome The Odds And Become The Exception Rather Than The Rule??
Quote:
Originally Posted by wacko3205
Nice read.
:coolclick:
It's hard to be unbiased when you are such a big fan of Lacy (like you & I) but it's good to see it from both ends of the spectrum if your'e going to cover such a sensitive topic as the masterclass that Joe put on that night.
As far as what Lacy can & will be...tonight is going to be a great barometer for it. Tsypko is no joke & the first fight was give & take up to the cut.
Honestly...I don't like him taking this tuff of an opponent with the long a** layoff...I just don't like it.
That was a hard fight for me to watch as a Lacy fan..At the time I figured Joe to be a Paper Tiger and Jeff would march in and out of there unscaved....
Now I have come to appreciate would a fine competitor Joe really is, no doubt he was the real McCoy all along..
Re: Can He Overcome The Odds And Become The Exception Rather Than The Rule??
CC for the great read;)
I will be looking forward to the lacy fight tonight more than the winky fight. IM still tipping lacy to go into 07 a much better fighter and finish that year as a 1 or 2 belt champion.
Re: Can He Overcome The Odds And Become The Exception Rather Than The Rule??
Quote:
Originally Posted by Preme
CC for the great read;)
I will be looking forward to the lacy fight tonight more than the winky fight. IM still tipping lacy to go into 07 a much better fighter and finish that year as a 1 or 2 belt champion.
:coolclick: in return
I agree and think that he has the Maturity to understand the magnitude of the situation..... So I look for a little more defense and maybe some jabs to set upi his combos and then get a KO instead of looking for the 1 punch.... If he looks good tonight a might be a step towards Kessler.... They both are willing to fight the best, if Jeff Impresses and warrants a bout with Mikkell that can be a great fight for the end of next year..
Re: Can He Overcome The Odds And Become The Exception Rather Than The Rule??
Good stuff
Lacy deserves alot of credit for taking such a tuff comeback fight
Hopefully for Lacy's (fans) sake he shows no ill effects from the Calzaghe fight and shows in Calzaghe he unfortunately ran into in an exceptional champion....plus his fans will be able to claim he had an "off night" in March ;)
Re: Can He Overcome The Odds And Become The Exception Rather Than The Rule??
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fenster
Lacy deserves alot of credit for taking such a tuff comeback fight
:coolclick: Glad someone else sees it that way.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fenster
Hopefully for Lacy's (fans) sake he shows no ill effects from the Calzaghe fight and shows in Calzaghe he unfortunately ran into in an exceptional champion....plus his fans will be able to claim he had an "off night" in March ;)
Honestly...as a Calzaghe fan also...I hope Lacy just blasts Tsypko out of the ring. It would speak bounds for Joe's performance also.
Re: Can He Overcome The Odds And Become The Exception Rather Than The Rule??
After the fight with Joe one thing I did notice, There wasnt hurt in his eyes he still had resolve. I think theres an important clue there
Re: Can He Overcome The Odds And Become The Exception Rather Than The Rule??
Lacy's championship days are over. He might pick up another ABC title before he retires, but he'll never be the superstar that many felt he would. And it's not cuz Calzaghe ruined him or some thing. Cuz he didn't. It's just that in reality Lacy never had that mark of greatness. He's a good fighter with very good power but that's about it. He knows only one way to fight and that's it. He's in his late 20's so I seriously doubt he will change his style. He'll always go with what got him to where he's at. And that's relying on his power. He'll probably win tonight and that will probably lead to a bunch of "Lacy is Back" talk. He'll be back. But it's not to championship material. Cuz he was never there. Lacy reminds me an awful lot of Antwan Echols. And that's probably cuz there the same type of fighters.
Re: Can He Overcome The Odds And Become The Exception Rather Than The Rule??
Quote:
Originally Posted by Violent Demise
Lacy's championship days are over. He might pick up another ABC title before he retires, but he'll never be the superstar that many felt he would. And it's not cuz Calzaghe ruined him or some thing. Cuz he didn't. It's just that in reality Lacy never had that mark of greatness. He's a good fighter with very good power but that's about it. He knows only one way to fight and that's it. He's in his late 20's so I seriously doubt he will change his style. He'll always go with what got him to where he's at. And that's relying on his power. He'll probably win tonight and that will probably lead to a bunch of "Lacy is Back" talk. He'll be back. But it's not to championship material. Cuz he was never there. Lacy reminds me an awful lot of Antwan Echols. And that's probably cuz there the same type of fighters.
Pains me to say it but I kind of agree with you. I really like Lacy as fighter and as a man, he comes across as an honest, humble guy as gracious in defeat as he is in victory.
However he only has one way to fight and as we saw emphatically against Calzaghe his style is no match for a master boxer with quick hands.
He will probably get a shot at his old IBF belt, now that Calzaghe has given it up but I can't see him beating Kessler. We don't yet know just how good the likes of Andrade, Bute and Froch can be though so I'm sure there are plenty of good scraps in the future out there for him.
I for one would love to see him knock the shit out of Allan Green :P
Re: Can He Overcome The Odds And Become The Exception Rather Than The Rule??
Jeff Lacy is far from gone...he's in great shape, he obviously can take a punch...several of them. Sure his pride took a big hit but he's going to come back and prove he's still good. He might not ever be able to beat Joe Calzaghe but hell Joe will retire or move out of the division soon enough....if Jeff can beat Froch and Kessler then he'll be THE MAN.
I would like to see Jeff take Tspyko out in the middle rounds...with such a big layoff he needs the work. I would also like to see an improved defense and more setting up the big shots than swinging for the fences.
He could very well lose such a tough fight but I have faith in him and he should win
Re: Can He Overcome The Odds And Become The Exception Rather Than The Rule??
Quote:
Originally Posted by JT Rock
Can Lacy Overcome The Odds And Become The Exception Rather Than The Rule??
By JT Flaherty
It Was a Raucous crowd in Manchester England the Night of March 3 2006 a night in Which Supermiddleweight sensation Jeff "Left Hook" Lacy was supposed to invade England and Conquer Long reigning SuperMiddleweight King Joe Calzaghe which at a glance seemed like an easy nites work for Lacy.. A man that was heralded as the second coming of Mike Tyson he possessed Thunderous Power in each hand a Granite Chin and respectable Handspeed, Many in the U.S and even the U.K Including myself figured Lacy cleaning out the Welshman of his championship treasure was a for gone conclusion...Isn't this the same Lacy that Knocked down the Durable Robin Reid 5 times en route to a TKO stoppage??? The same man that lifted Scott Pemberton out of his shoes and left him on the mat in the Fetal position the fight before?? So why should this fight be any different??? Well many of us fans in the U.S were ready for Lacy's Triumphant return, Florida was gearing up for the victory party celebrating there native son in his crowning moment... BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If the Plan was for Joe Calzaghe to get thoroughly dominated and Knocked Out...Sounds good so far EXCEPT Joe didn't get the Memo, From the opening bell Joe Calzaghe put on a Virtuoso performance and one for the ages as he easily OutBoxed, OutClassed and Beat Jeff to the punch in every sense of the word... 6 rounds into the fight it was obvious that Jeff was in serious trouble, his face began showing signs of a battle blood pouring from his mouth it was clear that Jeff was going to need to land a Thunderbolt of a punch to turn the tide I sat on my couch screaming to the Boxing Gods to give Jeff that Charge...
Sadly to no avail as the rounds expired so did Jeff's chances, he valiantly pushed forward as he was getting punished by 1,2,3,4 punch combo's and as he flailed his mighty left hook in retaliation Joe was already gone and set to deliver another blistering flurry, almost like Jeff was fighting a ghost... Jeff showed tremendous heart, chin, determination and will to push on like a brave warrior.. As the 12th round approached Joe pummeled Jeff with uppercuts and Straight shots in a beautiful and brutal display of Boxing Mastery, Jeff suffered his 1st career Knock Down, as he rose to his feet he was eager to get back into battle even tho it might cause him his BOXING life.... When the final bell rang both stood in the middle of the ring.. One in the elation of victory the other in deflation of defeat. The judges didn't even have to hand in there cards it was no secret who the winner was.. I guess Joe had a Memo of his own that most of us didn't get it was his division and he wasn't laying down for no man......
The question is on that night or Morning did Jeff pay the ultimate price did he sacrifice his Boxing life and career???? Many of man have dissapeared into obscurity or have attempted to comeback only to suffer another setback that on a previous night the competition would have been considered a lesser man....
There is a dark shelf on the book case not easily visible thats carries many a label like "damaged goods" and "shot"....Question is tonight does Jeff Lacy take his seat on this shelf like the countless others??? or does this kids Heart and Humble attitude along with ample time since that dreadful nite prove to be plenty of energy to see this star rise once again to prominence???
There is no secret tonight about who I'll be rooting for... I think Jeff can be the Exception rather than the Rule... ;)
What do you think???
:goodpost: :coolclick:
Ya may already know my thought's on this one mate ;)
Re: Can He Overcome The Odds And Become The Exception Rather Than The Rule??
More important to me then seeing him K The other guy TFO, is if Lacy can show tonight me that hes no longer all about power and that hes learned to throw combos and move in the ring then I'll be content with whatever way he wins as long as he looks good doing it.
