Jeff Lacy

Last updated
Jeff Lacy
Born
Jeffrey Scott Lacy

(1977-05-12) May 12, 1977 (age 47)
St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.
Other namesLeft Hook
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 10+1⁄2 in (179 cm)
Reach74 in (188 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights34
Wins27
Wins by KO18
Losses6
No contests1

Jeffrey Scott Lacy (born May 12, 1977) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 2001 to 2015. He held the IBF super middleweight title from 2004 to 2006, and the IBO super middleweight title from 2005 to 2006. Lacy rose to prominence in the early to mid-2000s as a feared puncher in the division, with his physique and knockout record making him one of boxing's top-rated prospects at the time.

Contents

Amateur career

Lacy had over two hundred fights as an amateur, winning the 1999 National PAL amateur champion at 165 pounds, the 1998 U.S. National amateur champion at 165 pounds, and the 1998 National PAL amateur champion at 165 pounds. Lacy fought at the 1996 Eastern Olympic Trials, stopping Kenneth Head in the first round. In the quarter-finals, Lacy defeated Rubin Williams. In the semi-finals, Lacy lost to Darnell Wilson and finished third.

In the 1997 National Golden Gloves, Lacy again defeated Rubin Williams, but lost against Randy Griffin in the semi-finals and finished in third place. In the quarter-finals of the 2000 Olympic Team trials, Lacy won a decision over Brad Austin. In the semi-finals, Lacy won a decision over Jerson Ravelo. During the finals, Lacy won a 26–10 decision over Randy Griffin.

During the 2000 Olympic Team Box-offs, Lacy lost to Arthur Palac. In his second fight, Lacy defeated him on the scorecards. He was a member of the 2000 United States Olympic boxing team along with future undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor. During his first bout in Sydney, Australia, Lacy knocked out Cleiton Conceição of Brazil at 0:58 of the third round. During his second bout, Lacy defeated Pawel Kakietek of Poland, en route to a 21-7 decision. During the third bout, Lacy was stopped at 1:49 of the third round by Gaidarbek Gaidarbekov of Russia.

Lacy completed an amateur record of 209 wins, 12 losses.

Professional career

Rise to stardom

Lacy made his professional debut against Jerald Lowe on February 2, 2001, knocking him out in the first round. He won his next eight fights by way of knockout and won the WBC Continental Americas super middleweight title against Anwar Oshana, by way of technical knockout in round two.

On July 15, 2003, he won the USBA and NABA super middleweight titles after beating Richard Grant by unanimous decision. He defended all three of his belts against Donnell Wiggins by TKO 8. He later fought Syd Vanderpool for the vacant IBF super middleweight title on October 2, 2004, winning by TKO in 8 rounds. He defended it against Omar Sheika, Rubin Williams, former champion Robin Reid, and Scott Pemberton.

Loss to Joe Calzaghe

On March 5, 2006, at the MEN Arena in Manchester, England, Lacy lost his title to Joe Calzaghe. Despite being a favorite going into the fight, Lacy lost by a unanimous points decision and was knocked down in the twelfth round. Lacy, who had promised a knockout victory pre fight, was the betting favorite largely due to his age and the nature of his recent title defenses. He started the fight very aggressively but was immediately troubled by Calzaghe's work-rate and handspeed. Lacy was hit with a plethora of hurtful punches as Calzaghe managed to consistently land a staggeringly high volume of shots. Lacy continued to try and feint his way in quickly to land his famous left hook but Calzaghe was able to evade or ride the shot. As the match wore on Lacy became increasingly disheartened, and his face a bloody mess. The fight became more and more punishing throughout the middle, and into the later rounds with many expecting the referee to halt the action and save Lacy from such a horrendous beating. To the criticism of onlookers, Lacy's corner continued with the fight in the belief that he could still turn the fight around with one punch. In the end the result was extremely one sided with final scores of 119-105, 119-107 and 119-107. A point deducted from Calzaghe in the 11th round was all that prevented Lacy from losing every round on every card. Many observers have been vocal in their belief that the nature of the loss to Calzaghe meant that Lacy was from then on a shell of his former self.

After Calzaghe

Lacy fought a rematch with Vitali Tsypko on December 2, 2006, in Tampa, Florida, on the same card as Winky Wright's fight against Ike Quartey. This was the second time he had fought Tsypko, the first fight in 2004 which ended in a majority decision. Lacy won the fight by scores of 96-94, 96-94, 95-95. After the bout, it was revealed that Lacy had torn his rotator cuff and was injured throughout most of the fight. Lacy had surgery on the injury and did not fight for a year after the bout.

Lacy returned on December 8, 2007, to defeat Peter Manfredo Jr. by a unanimous decision. On July 23, 2008, beat Epifanio Mendoza by a majority decision. Lacy then fought former world middleweight champion Jermain Taylor on November 15, 2008, and lost the fight by unanimous decision, [1] making it only the second loss of his career.

On April 10, 2009, Jeff Lacy defeated Otis Griffin by a majority decision with the scores of 97-93, 96-94, 95-95.

Loss to Roy Jones Jr. and beyond

On August 15, 2009, Lacy suffered a 10th-round technical knockout to Roy Jones Jr.

Sixteen months after the loss to Jones Jr., Lacy returned to his hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida to face journeyman Dhafir Smith. Smith defeated Lacy by a unanimous decision.

After almost three years after the loss to Smith, Lacy returned on November 30, 2013 to win a 3rd-round TKO over Martin Verdin in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. [2]

Jeff Lacy was knocked out on July 10, 2014 by Umberto Savigne.

Jeff Lacy lost by TKO in the 4th round on January 30, 2015 to undefeated contender Sullivan Barrera.

Personal life

Lacy played the role of Malice Blake in the 2007 boxing movie, "The Hammer", starring and produced by Adam Carolla. Jeff is the younger brother of Hydra Lacy and older brother of professional heavyweight Kenny Lacy, middleweight Marshawn Lacy and son of professional heavyweight Hydra Lacy, Sr. [3] In 2018, Lacy sued RaceTrac for trademark infringement for their Left Hook Energy drink. [4]

Professional boxing record

34 fights27 wins6 losses
By knockout183
By decision93
No contests1
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
34Loss27–6 (1) Sullivan Barrera TKO4 (8), 2:05Jan 30, 2015 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.
33Win27–5 (1)Timothy Hall Jr.UD8Dec 11, 2014TradeWinds Island Grand Resort, St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.
32Loss26–5 (1)Umberto SavigneTKO2 (10), 2:04Jul 10, 2014 American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida, U.S.For vacant WBC Latino light heavyweight title
31Win26–4 (1)Martin VerdinTKO3 (10), 1:19Nov 30, 2013Belle Casino, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
30Loss25–4 (1) Dhafir Smith UD12Dec 11, 2010 Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.For vacant UBO International super middleweight title
29Loss25–3 (1) Roy Jones Jr. RTD10 (12), 3:00Aug 15, 2009 Coast Coliseum, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.For WBO–NABO light heavyweight title
28Win25–2 (1) Otis Griffin MD10Apr 10, 2009 USF Sun Dome, Tampa, Florida, U.S.
27Loss24–2 (1) Jermain Taylor UD12Nov 15, 2008 Memorial Gymnasium, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
26Win24–1 (1)Epifanio MendozaMD10Jul 23, 2008 Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California, U.S.
25Win23–1 (1) Peter Manfredo Jr. UD10 Dec 8, 2007 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
24Win22–1 (1) Vitali Tsypko MD10Dec 2, 2006St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida, U.S.
23Loss21–1 (1) Joe Calzaghe UD12 Mar 4, 2006 MEN Arena, Manchester, EnglandLost IBF super middleweight title;
For WBO and inaugural The Ring super-middleweight titles
22Win21–0 (1)Scott PembertonKO2 (12), 2:59Nov 5, 2005 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.Retained IBF and IBO super middleweight titles
21Win20–0 (1) Robin Reid RTD7 (12), 2:54Aug 6, 2005 St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida, U.S.Retained IBF super middleweight title;
Won IBO super middleweight title
20Win19–0 (1) Rubin Williams TKO7 (12), 0:47Mar 5, 2005Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained IBF super middleweight title
19Win18–0 (1) Omar Sheika UD12Dec 4, 2004Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained IBF super middleweight title
18Win17–0 (1) Syd Vanderpool TKO8 (12), 1:37Oct 2, 2004 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant IBF super middleweight title
17NC16–0 (1) Vitali Tsypko NC2 (12)Jun 5, 2004Leggett & Platt Athletic Center, Joplin, Missouri, U.S.Tsypko unable to continue after a cut from an accidental head clash
16Win16–0Donnell WigginsTKO8 (12), 2:33Dec 13, 2003 MEN Arena, Manchester, EnglandRetained WBC Continental Americas, WBA–NABA, and IBF–USBA super middleweight titles
15Win15–0Richard GrantUD12Jul 15, 2003 Playboy Mansion, Beverly Hills, California, U.S.Retained WBC Continental Americas and IBF–USBA super middleweight titles;
Won vacant WBA–NABA super middleweight title
14Win14–0 Anwar Oshana TKO2 (12), 1:49May 17, 2003City Center Pavilion, Reno, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC Continental Americas super middleweight title
13Win13–0James CrawfordTKO2 (12), 2:57 Feb 22, 2003 The Pyramid, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.Retained WBC Continental Americas super middleweight title;
Won vacant IBF–USBA super middleweight title
12Win12–0 Ross Thompson UD12Nov 9, 2002Coca-Cola Event Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.Won WBC Continental Americas super middleweight title
11Win11–0Jason CollinsKO1 (8), 2:25Aug 17, 2002 Cardiff Castle, Cardiff, Wales
10Win10–0Kevin HallRTD3 (8), 3:00 Jun 8, 2002 The Pyramid, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
9Win9–0Bobby JonesUD10Mar 30, 2002Lucky Star Casino, Concho, Oklahoma, U.S.
8Win8–0Glenn ThomasKO1 (10), 0:55)Feb 16, 2002Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
7Win7–0Fike WilsonTKO1 (6), 0:50Jan 12, 2002 Cox Pavilion, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
6Win6–0Bawa AdimeTKO3 (8), 2:16Oct 13, 2001 Tropicana Casino & Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
5Win5–0Tyler HughesRTD3 (6), 3:00Sep 1, 2001 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
4Win4–0Anthony GreeleyTKO1 (6), 2:15Sep 1, 2001 Don Haskins Center, El Paso, Texas, U.S.
3Win3–0Tony PopeTKO1 (6), 2:27May 19, 2001 Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
2Win2–0Tommy AttardoKO1 (4), 1:41Mar 2, 2001 Texas Station, North Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
1Win1–0Jerald LoweKO1 (4), 2:00Feb 2, 2001 Celeste Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roy Jones Jr.</span> American boxer

Roy Levesta Jones Jr. is an American-Russian professional boxer. He has held multiple world championships in four weight classes, including titles at middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight. As an amateur boxer he represented the United States at the 1988 Summer Olympics, winning a light middleweight silver medal.

Jermain Taylor is an American former professional boxer who competed from 2001 to 2014. He remains the most recent undisputed middleweight champion, having won the WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring middleweight titles in 2005 by beating Bernard Hopkins, and in doing so ending Hopkins' ten-year reign as middleweight champion. This made Taylor the first, and to date, only male boxer in history to claim each title from all four major boxing sanctioning organizations in a single fight. He once again defeated Hopkins six months later, making him the only fighter to have defeated Hopkins twice. He retired as a world champion in the months that followed his capture of the IBF middleweight title for a second time, after making a substantial recovery from a brain injury sustained earlier in his career.

Peter Manfredo Jr. is a former American professional boxer and former IBO middleweight champion. He has challenged twice for upper-level world titles, at middleweight and super middleweight, as well as having won the NABO, IBU and European Boxing Association (EBA) light middleweight titles.

Mike McCallum is a Jamaican former professional boxer who competed from 1981 to 1997. He held world championships in three weight classes, including the WBA super welterweight title from 1984 to 1988, the WBA middleweight title from 1989 to 1991, and the WBC light heavyweight title from 1994 to 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Collins</span> Irish boxer (born 1964)

Stephen Collins is an Irish former professional boxer who competed from 1986 to 1997. Known as the Celtic Warrior, Collins is the most successful male Irish boxer in recent professional boxing history, having held the WBO middleweight and super-middleweight titles simultaneously and never losing a fight as champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucian Bute</span> Romanian boxer

Lucian Bute is a Romanian-Canadian former professional boxer who competed from 2003 to 2017. He held the IBF super-middleweight title from 2007 to 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chad Dawson</span> American boxer

Chad Dawson is an American former professional boxer who competed from 2001 to 2019. He held multiple world championships at light heavyweight, and was one of the most highly regarded boxers in that weight class between 2006 and 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Mayweather</span> American boxer (1960–2020)

Roger L. Mayweather was an American professional boxer who competed from 1981 to 1999 and later on a boxing trainer. He was a two-division world champion, having held the WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles from 1983 to 1984, and the WBC light welterweight title from 1987 to 1989. Additionally he held the IBO light welterweight title in 1994, and the IBO welterweight title from 1994 to 1995.

Robin Reid is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2012. He held the WBC super-middleweight title from 1996 to 1997, and the IBO super-middleweight title from 2004 to 2005. As an amateur, Reid represented Great Britain at 1992 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the light-middleweight division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Froch</span> English boxer

Carl Martin Froch, is a British former professional boxer who competed from 2002 to 2014, and has since worked as a boxing analyst and commentator. He held multiple super-middleweight world championships, including the World Boxing Council (WBC) title twice between 2008 and 2011, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) title from 2012 to 2015, and the World Boxing Association (WBA) title between 2013 and 2015. At regional level, he held the British and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles between 2004 and 2008, and won the Lonsdale Belt in 2006. As an amateur, in the middleweight division, Froch won a bronze medal at the 2001 World Championships, and the ABA title twice.

Sakio Bika is a Cameroonian-born Australian professional boxer. He held the WBC super-middleweight title from 2013 to 2014, and previously the IBO super-middleweight title from 2008 to 2010. In 2015 he challenged once for the unified light-heavyweight world title, and in 2007 won the third season of The Contender reality TV series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Molitor</span> Canadian boxer

Steve Molitor is a Canadian former professional boxer who competed from 2000 to 2012 and held the IBF super-bantamweight title twice between 2006 and 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Geale</span> Australian boxer

Daniel Geale is an Australian former professional boxer who competed from 2004 to 2016. He held the unified WBA (Super) and IBF middleweight titles between 2011 and 2013, and the IBO middleweight title from 2007 to 2009. As an amateur boxer, Geale won a welterweight gold medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Calzaghe</span> Welsh boxer

Joseph William Calzaghe is a Welsh former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2008. He held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including unified and lineal titles at super-middleweight, and the Ring magazine light-heavyweight title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernard Hopkins</span> American boxer

Bernard Hopkins Jr. is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 2016. He is one of the most successful boxers of the past three decades, having held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the undisputed middleweight title from 2001 to 2005, and the lineal light heavyweight title from 2011 to 2012.

Boxing in the 2010s includes notable events about boxing which occurred between 2010 and 2019. The decade saw high intensity action in the welterweight division. The match between veterans Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao broke PPV records. The broadcast of the fight in the Philippines was watched by nearly half the country's households. Mayweather retired at a record 50-0-0 while Pacquiao became the first eight division champion. The middleweight division saw immense action in the later years of the decade. After a draw in 2017, Canelo Alvarez ended Gennady Golovkin's long reign in 2018. The heavyweight division was dominated by Klitschko brothers before Wladimir's loss to Tyson Fury in 2015. Other talents that emerged were Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksander Usyk.

Branko Šobot is a Croatian former professional boxer, who held the IBF Inter-Continental middleweight and super middleweight titles and challenged for the WBO World Super middleweight title, losing against Joe Calzaghe by 3rd-round TKO.

Caleb Hunter Plant is an American professional boxer who held the IBF super middleweight title from 2019 to 2021 and the WBA Interim Super Middleweight title since September 2024.

Boxing in the 2020s is a list of notable fights and events in boxing during the decade from the year 2020 to 2029.

References

  1. ↑ [ dead link ]
  2. ↑ "Former IBF super-middleweight world champion Jeff Lacy will headline WFC 15!". World Fighting Championships. 2013-10-21. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  3. ↑ "Shock jock questions St. Petersburg administrator's loyalty after cop shootings". Tampa Bay Times . Archived from the original on 2016-08-18. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  4. ↑ "Olympian And Two Time World Champion Jeff "LEFT HOOK" Lacy Files $519 Million Dollar Lawsuit Against RaceTrac Petroleum For Trademark Infringement". PR Newswire (Press release). Retrieved 14 May 2021.
Sporting positions
Amateur boxing titles
Previous:
Jorge Hawley		 U.S. middleweight champion
1998		Next:
Arthur Palac
Regional boxing titles
Preceded by
Ross Thompson
 WBC Continental Americas
super middleweight champion
November 9, 2002 – June 2004
Vacated		Vacant
Title next held by
Éric Lucas
Vacant
Title last held by
Thomas Tate 		USBA super middleweight champion
February 22, 2003 – October 2, 2004
Won IBF title		Vacant
Title next held by
Yusaf Mack
Vacant
Title last held by
Antwun Echols 		WBA–NABA super middleweight champion
July 15, 2003 – March 2004
Vacated		Vacant
Title next held by
Librado Andrade
Minor world boxing titles
Preceded by IBO super middleweight champion
August 6, 2005 – March 5, 2006
Vacated		Vacant
Title next held by
Fulgencio Zúñiga
Major world boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Sven Ottke 		IBF super middleweight champion
October 2, 2004 – March 4, 2006 		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.