Lacy promises he'll be back (Article)

Boxing Lacy says fall fight will prove he's not done By JOHN C. COTEY, Times Staff Writer Published March 10, 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TAMPA - Former super-middleweight champion Jeff Lacy promised Thursday he'll be back, dismissing those who think his career is finished after Saturday's loss to Joe Calzaghe and saying an October fight at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa is all but finalized. Lacy, 28, said he will step away from boxing the next few months to enjoy life, then will answer the question about whether the 12-round beating he took from Calzaghe was severe enough to drown his once promising career. "I really don't think that's the case," said Lacy, who was unsure who his next opponent will be. "If it is, we'll find out in October." It was an upbeat Lacy who described his loss to Calzaghe as a learning experience, if still unable to fully explain why he was thoroughly dominated. Put simply, he said he just didn't have it Saturday night. For seven minutes Wednesday night, the St. Petersburg native watched the Showtime replay of a fighter getting hit at will, who wouldn't fight back, dazed and confused on his stool between rounds, well on his way to a lopsided loss - a unanimous decision - that surprised many in its completeness. Then he changed the channel. "I couldn't watch any more," Lacy said, over a lunch of cajun talapia and shrimp he barely touched. "I looked like I was lost. It looks like I'm drugged. That wasn't me. I was a punching bag out there." Lacy (21-1) said he felt stronger than he ever had before a fight, convinced in the locker room that he was going to win Calzaghe's WBO title by knockout. As they stood face to face during the referee's instructions, that belief grew stronger, he said. "I went back to the corner thinking I'm going to kill this guy," Lacy said. But after throwing one punch, a left jab that missed, everything went wrong for the former Olympian. Calzaghe handled him on the inside, peppered him with stinging combinations and dominated every minute of every round. In response to the Welsh fighter, Lacy could only answer with one or two wild haymakers a round, none landing. "I could hear what (trainer Dan Birmingham) was telling me, but as far as me throwing punches, I had no control," he said. "I'm thinking it in the ring, but it's not coming out. It's so hard to explain. It was like having no arms but you think you do. It's crazy. I sit back and hear myself talk, if the person doesn't really believe me they might think I'm crazy." It wasn't long before Lacy figured he was in for a long night. "At first, I figured I was just starting slow like I always do," he said. "The second round was a blur. The third round I was thinking, don't worry, you're going to get stronger. The sixth, seven, eighth round ... that's when I was like, man, what the hell is going on?" So Lacy prayed. "I said, "Lord, please, put me in this fight. Please, put me in this fight for just one round, and I swear I'll knock him out.' I could hear (my corner) talking to me, but I was asking the Lord to put me in the fight." There was no divine intervention, and Lacy finished the fight on his feet ... barely. There were warning signs before the fight, Lacy said, that a bad performance was forthcoming. He said he "lost that spark" about three weeks into training, but kept it from Birmingham. Coming off five fights in 13 months, the former IBF champ said he went into training every day thinking, "I need a vacation. "It's not an excuse, but I should have taken one," he said. And for the first time before a fight, Lacy dreamt he lost. "That's never happened," he said. "I mean, I woke up like what the (heck). I was so mad at myself." Lacy, 28, said he would like a rematch, though that appears unlikely. But he remains confident his career will get back on track. He had his stitches removed Thursday, four from above his left eye and two from above his right. Both eyes still have shiners, and his nose and mouth remain swollen. But he said his MRI exam and brain scan came back positive, and physically there is no lingering damage from the loss. Mentally, he's confident he will heal as well. "I've been looking for answers the last three days," Lacy said. "But why beat myself up. Everything happens for a reason. We're going to rebuild from here, and come October, I'm going to show people that that wasn't me." AREA AMATEUR LOSES: Clearwater's Keith Thurman of the St. Pete Boxing Club lost to Boyd Melson 46-44 in the semifinals of the 152-pound division of the U.S. amateur championships in Colorado Springs. Also, Luis Ramos upset two-time national champion Michael Evans 32-30 to reach the 132-pound final. Only one other defending champion has lost, 178-pounder William Rosinski to Alfonso Lopez in Thursday's semifinals. Seven defending champions reached finals: RauShee didn't lacy say this immediately after that ass kicking? ya'll musta forgot.....

So much for him learning from his mistakes.

I hope the Traver fight comes off and Lacy KO'S him.

Yeah I definetely think he should fight a guy like Joey Spina who is undefeated and Lacy could Kill first to get some rounds in and build up his confidence.I don't give a fuck what people say Tarver is still a very good fighter and could pose a major threat........

Even though I believe Tarver is almost finished as an elite lightheavy, he could give Lacy some problems. Lacy has some nerve to take on a tall southpaw with power for a second time in a row given that he lost the 1st time vs this style of fighter. Tarver is much less aggressive than Joe. Maybe this will allow Jeff to get off his shots and beat Tarver. This is kindof how i'm feeling about the matchup.. i just hope he's thinking more about his boxing present and future than money

Even though I believe Tarver is almost finished as an elite lightheavy, he could give Lacy some problems. Lacy has some nerve to take on a tall southpaw with power for a second time in a row given that he lost the 1st time vs this style of fighter. Tarver is much less aggressive than Joe. Maybe this will allow Jeff to get off his shots and beat Tarver.

I am very curious to see how he shows up when he returns. One fight certainly does not need to finish him but we don't know what is going inside his head. This experience could make him better or it could make him seriously scared of getting hit. I guess we'll see when he returns, I, for one, hope he does well, I like Lacy. It's just Calzaghe wasn't his fight.

If hes fighting Tarver then I dont think he is thinking whats good for him career wise. That fight does nothing for his career, it will just make him some money. If he wins people will just say that Tarver is washed up and was never that good blah blah....and if he loses, his career is in big trouble. A lose lose situation for Lacy IMO.

Why do people think he's finished after a one sided loss? I know he got an ass whooping, but i dont believe he's done. :dunno: I really don't know but I think he is going to be fine.

Why do people think he's finished after a one sided loss? I know he got an ass whooping, but i dont believe he's done.

Last night Lacy and Dan Birmingham were on Bay news 9 a local news station and they appear serious about fighting Tarver in Lacys first fight back.They said it was in the works and about a 75% chance.Lacy also said he was in top shape for Calzaghe and still can't believe how bad things went.......But seemed very confident that he will return better than ever.I was impressed he did not seem flustered at all and just was like well you know shit happens.I personally don't like the idea of fighting Tarver right away in his first fight since the Calzaghe fight but he seemed like he wanted it.....

be back to get his ass kicked!!

hes still young, he still can come back.

There are 2 fighters in boxing that I love.(not in a gay way) 2 fighters that I will support forever. Diego "Chico" Corrales and Jeff "Left Hook" Lacy When Corrales got KOd, I was up all night in my hotel nearly crying, I had never been so down in fucking YEARS! I was just sitting there in my hotel room, while everyone else was out, I told them to let me be alone for a few hours. I was just staring out at the Vegas lights late at night. The pain was too much, my trip to Vegas had gone down the drain, I was so down, it ain't even funny. It was one of the weirdest feelings ever.... I was so confident that Jeff "Left Hook" Lacy would win, I invited a bunch of people over because I said this guy is the future of boxing. Then I was so pumped when he was coming out, turned the volume UP on the big screen and all the lights off. Then I see Lacy getting killed. It sucked, didn't feel good for the rest of the night. but... The Chico one REALLY got to me, it took me about 4-5 days to stop thinking about it. The fact that I saw him get KOd by that cheating bitch Castillo....it sucked..

Jeff Lacy could change his style. He is still young to do that. As for Tito and B-Hops B-hops taken away Titos disadvangte from him and that is his power by comeing inside and punching to the body and then go back with the defense. It hard to learn an old dog new trick. That is the same with some boxer like Erik Morales and Corrales in Castillo fight who use the samething to win. They must be adapte to the other fighter

He should comeback. Most of the time when a person lost his last match he comesback more determine. He had the pressure of being undeafted. But now I think he is going to have a new Jeff Lacy that will dominate the Super Middle Wieght like Hopkins dominated the middle wieght after his loss to Jones I hope so and what you say here makes alot of sense.I think he can do it he seems so strong minded and focused with the exception of this fight and was very humble and proffesional in defeat.Lacy will be back and better than ever. :boxing:

He should comeback. Most of the time when a person lost his last match he comesback more determine. He had the pressure of being undeafted. But now I think he is going to have a new Jeff Lacy that will dominate the Super Middle Wieght like Hopkins dominated the middle wieght after his loss to Jones

I may not be very popular for saying this, but i think some of you guys are hypocrites. If Lacy had of been an up and coming British/euro fighter and Calzaghe was American, i think a lot of people would be saying he was exposed, he's euro garbage, and generally not being as compassionate etc, i'm not saying all of you, but some.

Waiting til October is a very bad idea. You don't take that much time off after a loss OR a victory. He seems to be ready to fall into that fight twice a year and call it a year bullshit. id like to see your ass fight twice a year...or once a year for that matter....or hell, maybe just fight once!

Bump for coagulator.