By Dave Sholler
Former super middleweight champion Jeff Lacy has heard the rumblings about a potential fall clash with Jermain Taylor. He’s heard the rumors of a possible bout with light heavyweight Antonio Tarver too.
But for the native Floridian and former member of the 2000 United States Olympic Boxing team, his only concern is a July 23rd ESPN 2 fight with Epifanio Mendoza (28-5-1, 24 KOs).
“Right now, I’d rather not talk about a Jermain Taylor fight,” Lacy said. “It’s a fight I’d like to have in my future. But right now, it’s not the fight that lies ahead for me. I am taking this one fight at a time. Jermain would be a good opponent. I’m just not thinking that far ahead.”
While he said his focus is on Mendoza, Lacy (23-1, 17 KOs) hinted that he would like to eventually work toward a rematch with Joe Calzaghe. Calzaghe, the reigning Ring Magazine light heavyweight champion, defeated Lacy in 2006 to win a version of the super middleweight title. Many critics believe that Lacy hasn’t been the same since.
"I give Calzaghe credit,” Lacy, undefeated before losing to the Welshman in 2006, said. “He made his name off me and that’s when people started really noticing him. And I hear about how good he’s gotten from the public. But I sit on my hands and bite my tongue knowing that he did not fight me at my best. Thirty percent of me was not in the ring that night.
“I know a lot of people thought the Joe Calzaghe fight did something permanent to me,” Lacy continued. “But my (long-term) focus is to get a rematch with Joe Calzaghe. If I have to wait one or two years, then I have to do it. I am a young guy. It won’t take many fights for people to say that Jeff is back.”
