Thanks: 
Likes: 
Dislikes: 
Lacy to Return In October
http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=7815&more=1
.08.06 - By Jeff Allinson: At long last it appears the wait for Jeff Lacy (21-1, 17 KO's) to return to the ring will shortly be over, as he will be taking on Alan Green (that's ok, I hadn't heard of him either) on October 7th, in Las Vegas. While Lacy's opponent isn't exactly who I had hoped for, seeing that he's fought mostly unfamiliar opponents, I sure am glad that Jeff is making the return, but what concerns me is his considerable time away from the ring, following his annihilation by Calaghe in March 2006.
Anybody will tell you, that if you fall off a bicicle and hurt yourself, you need to get back on as soon as possible. Likewise, if you have a car crash, you need to get back behind the wheel pretty quickly, too, just in case the fear sets in. And, in boxing, if you take a pasting, you need to get right back in the thick of it, also, before you start suffering from self doubt.
Yes, I'm fully aware that Lacy got the boxing lesson of his life against Calzaghe and desperately needed to work on his movement, agility, shortening his punches, and the good lord only knows what else. However, I think Lacy has been away from boxing for too long, and I hope that the he's not wondering if he can regain his past glory, (Personally, I'm sure he can), and instead, wanting to get back in there and tear Green's head off.
For example, take a look at Tommy Hearns. After his first defeat, a loss to "Sugar" Ray Leonard, Hearns was right back in there no more than 3 months later, fighting against a tough opponent, (Ernie Singletary) who had been in with good opposition. I firmly believe Lacy, in fact, should have been back in the ring after 3 months, as well, after his face healed up, that is. But who knows what was going on in his mind? I suppose only he knows when he is truly ready and has made that decision, rather than someone making his mind up for him and wishing him to go out before he's ready.
One particular bone of contention for me, however, is the way Lacy's so called fans have deserted him in droves, essentially abandoning him after his humiliating beat down by Calzaghe.
Clearly, Lacy, on fight night, was the most popular Super Middleweight out there. Nevertheless, after the drubbing, he hardly had a fan to speak of. The press that had built him up, added insult to injury by tearing into him calling him everything from a bum, to talentless and one dimensional, following his defeat. Boy, do people have short memories. They obviously forgot all the terrific beatings he dished out to his hapless opponents, taking them apart with beautiful punches. For me, I think this behavior by the press and general boxing observers, (they don't deserve to be called fans, in my opinion), is terrible. I mean, talk about jumping on a guy and hitting him when he is down.
But let's look on the bright side, Lacy is back, and I can't wait to see him in action. In truth, Joe Calzaghe won't be around forever (probably much to Lacy's relief), and I want to see Lacy back in with good opposition, preferably with guys that can box, so I can see him tested. After that, I want him to go after one of the belts, since other than Calazghe, Lacy could likely beat all the other super middleweights in the division, although Kessler will give him fits, I'm sure.
What I do want to find out, though, is how much the Calzaghe fight has taken out of Lacy, mentally, not just physically. Some guys are never the same after a long beating like the one he endured, just ask John Mugabi, who, I feel, wasn't the same fighter after losing to Marvin Hagler. All the same, I think Jeff will be ok, though. He's still young, hungry and has a great future ahead of him, I am sure of that.
Welcome back, Jeff Lacy. Come on, Eastside Boxing, let's all give him our support.
 |
|
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Cory Booker
Bookmarks