BIGPOPPAPUMP
03-04-2006, 10:32 PM
The biggest fight in the super middleweight division since Roy Jones Jr. met James Toney in 1994, lived up to the billing as Joe Calzaghe (41-0, 31 KOs) dominated Jeff Lacy (21-1, 17 KOs) to unify the IBF/WBO/IBO super middleweight titles. The live crowd at the MEN Arena in Manchester, England gave Calzaghe a standing obviation at the end of the bout as he successfully defended his title for the 18th time.
This was the signature bout to cap off the career of Joe Calzaghe, the longest reigning champion in boxing, holding his super middleweight title for over 8 years and running. Most questioned his skills, his strength and his heart - Calzaghe shut the critics up by making Lacy look like an amateur.
Calzaghe controlled Lacy from the start of the bout by working off the jab and tied Lacy up ever time the fighter from Florida tried to come inside. Lacy was unable to land any of his big punches as Calzaghe made him miss and countered with uppercuts and lead right hands.
By the fifth round, Lacy appeared tired, his nose was bleeding, his face was puffy and his eye was cut. Down the stretch, Calzaghe battered Lacy and punished him with power punches to the head and body. Lacy was never able to adjust or come up with a new game plan to turn the tide. In the final round, Lacy tasted the canvas for the first time in his career as Calzaghe was unloading with power. The positive for Lacy is the fact that the young fighter was able to make it to the final bell. The final scores were 119-105, 119-107 and 119-107, all for Calzaghe. [details (http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=3290)]
This was the signature bout to cap off the career of Joe Calzaghe, the longest reigning champion in boxing, holding his super middleweight title for over 8 years and running. Most questioned his skills, his strength and his heart - Calzaghe shut the critics up by making Lacy look like an amateur.
Calzaghe controlled Lacy from the start of the bout by working off the jab and tied Lacy up ever time the fighter from Florida tried to come inside. Lacy was unable to land any of his big punches as Calzaghe made him miss and countered with uppercuts and lead right hands.
By the fifth round, Lacy appeared tired, his nose was bleeding, his face was puffy and his eye was cut. Down the stretch, Calzaghe battered Lacy and punished him with power punches to the head and body. Lacy was never able to adjust or come up with a new game plan to turn the tide. In the final round, Lacy tasted the canvas for the first time in his career as Calzaghe was unloading with power. The positive for Lacy is the fact that the young fighter was able to make it to the final bell. The final scores were 119-105, 119-107 and 119-107, all for Calzaghe. [details (http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=3290)]