Joe calzaghe v Jeff Lacy- How great a win was it?

[Madison Boxing]

Just rewatched this fight. i remember the build up for this fight, noone gave joe a prayer, jeff lacy was meant to be the second coming of mike tyson, and he put on a boxing clinic, joe looked sensational that night.

Ive seen polarising opinions, with some shrugging it off as lacy being overrated. Jeff lacy obviously didnt turn out to be a world beater after the fight, but was it because jeff lacy was not that good in the first place or could it be argued that after a schooling like that, no fighter is ever the same?

So what are peoples opinions about the fight? How highly do you rate it as a win? Does lacys poor achievements afterwards take the shine off the victory or is it unfair to penalise joe for this, when at the time lacy was seen as such a formidable opponent? And for wider discussion, can the credibility of a win on a fighters record diminish based on future performances of said loser?

EDIT: And check out some of the pre fight predictions on this when bearing in mind how jeff lacy was rated at the time!

http://www.boxingscene.com/boxingscene-staff-predictions-jeff-lacy-vs-joe-calzaghe--3266

[SterlingStained]

who did jeff lacy beat that was a great fighter?

[KeyboardWarrior]

Calzaghe ruined him. I recall at least 90% of people if not more we're going with Left Hook Lacy.

[Redd Foxx]

I think the importance of the win has faded with Lacy's subsequent losses. However, the value of this fight goes far beyond the weight of the win. It's a highly entertaining fight, in which an awkward underdog with an shows unwavering courage and brings hell to the network darling. Joe was relentless in the way he pressured Lacy, physically and psychologically. From a technical standpoint, there's brilliant timing and footwork on display.
It's #1 on my list of fun fights to watch and I've seen a lot of people say it's one of their favorites as far as entertainment goes.

[SN!PER]

Did anyone even know who Jeff Lacy was?

The promotional team tried to build him up when the fight was signed, but I don't think he had fought any big names. The Calzaghe fight was his first big opportunity and he blew it.

[Madison Boxing]

Calzaghe ruined him. I recall at least 90% of people if not more we're going with Left Hook Lacy.

yeah i edited it and put up a prediction thread. Didnt count it but the vast majority were for lacy, most by KO. My favourite one is lacy by 2nd round ko!

[Madison Boxing]

Did anyone even know who Jeff Lacy was?

The promotional team tried to build him up when the fight was signed, but I don't think he had fought any big names. The Calzaghe fight was his first big opportunity and he blew it.

But everyone was picking him, all the supposed 'experts'. Seems to me a bit harsh that this win gets played down when joe was such an underdog at the time. Think people forget just how highly lacy was rated, people thought he was just going to walk through joe.

[petero]

Joe was 3 to 1 underdog. His greatness won't be truly appreciated for at least 2 decades.
Joe was much more than a boxer. He had a relentless pressuring energy that would naw into the fighter and break their spirit. The Hopkins fake low blow victim was just a cry for help from the relentless pressure.

He took Lacy's fighting spirit right out him with the blistering combinations and that pressure. Rewatch some of his fights their is hidden brilliance in his style. 46 and 0 tells a very interesting story.

[yngwie]

It was like a pre-Porter Brook beating Spence.

[M Bison]

Well the people in the States hyping Jeff Lacy up are the ones that made the fight what it was it's sort of like what some of the people State side have done with Andre Ward you've made Ward out as If he is the boogeyman and that he has this magical outstandingly high boxing IQ...

I think Ward is better than Lacy but Ward is definitely a hype-job like Lacy.