Joe Calzaghe vs. Jeff Lacy
Encyclopedia
Joe Calzaghe vs. Jeff Lacy was a boxing
Super Middleweight
fight that took place on March 4, 2006 in Manchester, England for the WBO, IBF
and the Ring titles. Dubbed "Judgement day", it pitted long time champion WBO champion Calzaghe
against up and coming IBF champion and American challenger Jeff "Left Hook" Lacy
.
for the vacant title in 1997. He had held onto his belt for 17 defences and was considered on the fringes of being one of the best fighters of the world.
Jeff Lacy was an American champion who had been compared to Mike Tyson
in size and was considered one of the hottest prospects in American boxing. In 2004 he won the IBF title against Syd Vanderpool
by TKO in the eighth round. Most American journalists wrote off Calzaghe's chances of victory and the odds were against Calzaghe despite having an equally perfect record and even people in the UK doubted him. prior to the fight, Calzaghe was worried about his left hand after breaking it against Evans Ashira
, he contemplated pulling out of the fight only for his father Enzo
and Frank Warren to persuade him to take a potentially life changing fight. The fight was staged at 2.00am local time
at the MEN Arena in Manchester and topped the bill on Frank Warren's
Sport Network and was live on ITV
in the UK and Showtime in the United States. The Ring announcer was Jimmy Lennon, Jr. and the referee was Raul Caiz
was a deducted point for punching round Lacy's back at the break in the 11th. the amount of blows was 351/948 for Calzaghe and Lacy landed 116/444.
Scores of 119-105, 119-107 and 119-107 meant a decisive victory for Calzaghe that cemented his place at the top of the super middleweight
ranks.
EDIT: Joe Calzaghe landed 1,006 punches on Jeff Lacy during this fight. Joe Calzaghe on Lacy rematch: "Lacy Beating Would 'Get Me Arrested'."
. Calzaghe however was propelled into the limelight and went on to achieve bigger and better things and was finally recognised in the pound for pound lists. Calzaghe said: "Eight years I've been champion and I've been written off by a lot of people. This fight has been on my mind morning, noon and night. I demolished him and outclassed him. His punches didn't trouble me in the slightest. I was expecting more. I saw them coming from miles away. I knew I was going to win the fight. How's that for a slapper? Those slaps had his legs going all over the place."
Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard
, who admitted to knowing little of Calzaghe before the fight, said: "Within two rounds I was a Calzaghe supporter, I stood up in front of the TV shouting, 'Wow, look at this guy'!.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
Super Middleweight
Super middleweight
Super Middleweight is a boxing and Muay Thai weight division that has a weight limit of 168 pounds .- 1960s–1983 :There was interest in a division between Middleweight and Light Heavyweight in the late 1960s, the mid-1970s, and the early 1980s...
fight that took place on March 4, 2006 in Manchester, England for the WBO, IBF
IBF
IBF may refer to:*International Boxing Federation is one of several boxing organisations* International Bandy Federation former name of Federation of International Bandy , an international governing body for bandy...
and the Ring titles. Dubbed "Judgement day", it pitted long time champion WBO champion Calzaghe
Joe Calzaghe
Joseph William Calzaghe, CBE, MBE is a Welsh former professional boxer. He is the former WBO, WBA, WBC, IBF, The Ring & British super middleweight champion and The Ring light heavyweight champion....
against up and coming IBF champion and American challenger Jeff "Left Hook" Lacy
Jeff Lacy
Jeffrey Scott Lacy is an American boxer. He is a former International Boxing Federation super middleweight champion.-Amateur career:...
.
Build-up
Joe Calzaghe had been WBO Super Middleweight champion for seven-and-a-half years having beaten Chris EubankChris Eubank
Chris Eubank, Lord of the Manor of Brighton is a retired British boxer who held world titles at middleweight and super middleweight...
for the vacant title in 1997. He had held onto his belt for 17 defences and was considered on the fringes of being one of the best fighters of the world.
Jeff Lacy was an American champion who had been compared to Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
in size and was considered one of the hottest prospects in American boxing. In 2004 he won the IBF title against Syd Vanderpool
Syd Vanderpool
Syd “The Jewel” Vanderpool is a NABO champion boxer and a certified coach and trainer at the Game Day Fitness gym in Kitchener, Ontario...
by TKO in the eighth round. Most American journalists wrote off Calzaghe's chances of victory and the odds were against Calzaghe despite having an equally perfect record and even people in the UK doubted him. prior to the fight, Calzaghe was worried about his left hand after breaking it against Evans Ashira
Evans Ashira
Evans Ashira is a boxer who is best known for his loss to Joe Calzaghe in 2005.-External links:...
, he contemplated pulling out of the fight only for his father Enzo
Enzo Calzaghe
Enzo Calzaghe MBE is an Anglo-Italian boxing trainer. He is the father of Joe Calzaghe and the head trainer for Team Calzaghe at the Newbridge boxing club...
and Frank Warren to persuade him to take a potentially life changing fight. The fight was staged at 2.00am local time
Greenwich Mean Time
Greenwich Mean Time is a term originally referring to mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. It is arguably the same as Coordinated Universal Time and when this is viewed as a time zone the name Greenwich Mean Time is especially used by bodies connected with the United...
at the MEN Arena in Manchester and topped the bill on Frank Warren's
Frank Warren (promoter)
Frank Darren Warren is an English boxing manager and promoter.-Early life and early career:The son of a bookmaker, Warren trained as a solicitor's clerk with J Tickle & Co on Southampton Row in London....
Sport Network and was live on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
in the UK and Showtime in the United States. The Ring announcer was Jimmy Lennon, Jr. and the referee was Raul Caiz
The Fight
The fight was a one-sided beating of Lacy that involved him being rocked on several occasions and being knocked down for the first time of his career in the 12th round. In round one, Lacy had a blooded nose, by round four he was cut and his eyes were puffed up at the end of the fight. Lacy failed to land any of his trademark Left Hooks and the only thing that prevented Calzaghe from a shutoutShutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
was a deducted point for punching round Lacy's back at the break in the 11th. the amount of blows was 351/948 for Calzaghe and Lacy landed 116/444.
Scores of 119-105, 119-107 and 119-107 meant a decisive victory for Calzaghe that cemented his place at the top of the super middleweight
Super middleweight
Super Middleweight is a boxing and Muay Thai weight division that has a weight limit of 168 pounds .- 1960s–1983 :There was interest in a division between Middleweight and Light Heavyweight in the late 1960s, the mid-1970s, and the early 1980s...
ranks.
EDIT: Joe Calzaghe landed 1,006 punches on Jeff Lacy during this fight. Joe Calzaghe on Lacy rematch: "Lacy Beating Would 'Get Me Arrested'."
Aftermath
Jeff Lacy was never the same fighter again, lamely winning his next 3 fights before losing again to Jermain TaylorJermain Taylor
Jermain Taylor is an American professional boxer and former undisputed middleweight champion. He made his professional boxing debut in 2001 and won his first 25 bouts, which included victories over former champions Raúl Márquez and William Joppy...
. Calzaghe however was propelled into the limelight and went on to achieve bigger and better things and was finally recognised in the pound for pound lists. Calzaghe said: "Eight years I've been champion and I've been written off by a lot of people. This fight has been on my mind morning, noon and night. I demolished him and outclassed him. His punches didn't trouble me in the slightest. I was expecting more. I saw them coming from miles away. I knew I was going to win the fight. How's that for a slapper? Those slaps had his legs going all over the place."
Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard is an American retired professional boxer and occasional actor. He was named Ray Charles Leonard, after his mother's favorite singer, Ray Charles...
, who admitted to knowing little of Calzaghe before the fight, said: "Within two rounds I was a Calzaghe supporter, I stood up in front of the TV shouting, 'Wow, look at this guy'!.