Jeff Lacy


Jeffrey Scott Lacy 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.

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 toughness 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, 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.
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 undefeated professional heavyweight Kenny Lacy middleweight Marshawn Lacy and son of professional heavyweight Hydra Lacy, Sr.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
34Loss27–6 Sullivan BarreraTKO4, 2:05Jan 30, 2015 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.
33Win27–5 Timothy Hall Jr.UD8Dec 11, 2014 TradeWinds Island Grand Resort, St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.
32Loss26–5 Umberto SavigneTKO2, 2:04Jul 10, 2014 American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida, U.S.For vacant WBC Latino light heavyweight title
31Win26–4 Martin VerdinTKO3, 1:19Nov 30, 2013 Belle Casino, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
30Loss25–4 Dhafir SmithUD12Dec 11, 2010 Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.For vacant UBO International super middleweight title
29Loss25–3 Roy Jones Jr.RTD10, 3:00Aug 15, 2009 Coast Coliseum, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.For WBO–NABO light heavyweight title
28Win25–2 Otis GriffinMD10Apr 10, 2009 USF Sun Dome, Tampa, Florida, U.S.
27Loss24–2 Jermain TaylorUD12Nov 15, 2008 Memorial Gymnasium, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
26Win24–1 Epifanio MendozaMD10Jul 23, 2008 Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California, U.S.
25Win23–1 Peter Manfredo Jr.UD10Dec 8, 2007 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
24Win22–1 Vitali Tsypko10Dec 2, 2006 St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida, U.S.
23Loss21–1 Joe CalzagheUD12Mar 4, 2006 MEN Arena, Manchester, EnglandLost IBF super middleweight title;
For WBO, vacant The Ring and lineal super-middleweight titles
22Win21–0 Scott PembertonKO2, 2:59Nov 5, 2005 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.Retained IBF and IBO super middleweight titles
21Win20–0 Robin ReidRTD7, 2:54Aug 6, 2005 St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida, U.S.Retained IBF super middleweight title;
Won IBO super middleweight title
20Win19–0 Rubin WilliamsTKO7, 0:47Mar 5, 2005 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained IBF super middleweight title
19Win18–0 Omar SheikaUD12Dec 4, 2004 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained IBF super middleweight title
18Win17–0 Syd VanderpoolTKO8, 1:37Oct 2, 2004 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant IBF super middleweight title
1716–0 Vitali TsypkoNC2 Jun 5, 2004 Leggett & Platt Athletic Center, Joplin, Missouri, U.S.NC after Tsypko was cut from an accidental head clash
16Win16–0 Donnell WigginsTKO8, 2:33Dec 13, 2003 MEN Arena, Manchester, EnglandRetained WBC Continental Americas, WBA–NABA, and USBA super middleweight titles
15Win15–0 Richard GrantUD12Jul 15, 2003 Playboy Mansion, Beverly Hills, California, U.S.Retained WBC Continental Americas and USBA super middleweight titles;
Won vacant WBA–NABA super middleweight title
14Win14–0 Anwar OshanaTKO2, 1:49May 17, 2003 City Center Pavilion, Reno, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC Continental Americas super middleweight title
13Win13–0 James CrawfordTKO2, 2:57Feb 22, 2003 The Pyramid, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.Retained WBC Continental Americas super middleweight title;
Won vacant USBA super middleweight title
12Win12–0 Ross ThompsonUD12Nov 9, 2002 Coca-Cola Event Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.Won WBC Continental Americas super middleweight title
11Win11–0 Jason CollinsKO1, 2:25Aug 17, 2002 Cardiff Castle, Cardiff, Wales
10Win10–0 Kevin HallRTD3, 3:00Jun 8, 2002 The Pyramid, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
9Win9–0 Bobby Jones10Mar 30, 2002 Lucky Star Casino, Concho, Oklahoma, U.S.
8Win8–0 Glenn ThomasKO1 Feb 16, 2002 Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
7Win7–0 Fike WilsonTKO1, 0:50Jan 12, 2002 Cox Pavilion, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
6Win6–0 Bawa AdimeTKO3, 2:16Oct 13, 2001 Tropicana Casino & Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
5Win5–0 Tyler Hughes3, 3:00Sep 1, 2001 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
4Win4–0 Anthony GreeleyTKO1, 2:15Sep 1, 2001 Don Haskins Center, El Paso, Texas, U.S.
3Win3–0 Tony Pope1, 2:27May 19, 2001 Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
2Win2–0 Tommy AttardoKO1, 1:41Mar 2, 2001 Texas Station, North Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
1Win1–0 Jerald Lowe1, 2:00Feb 2, 2001 Celeste Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.