Lacy: A 2AM date in downtown Manchester.

mattyp151 · Post by **mattyp151** » 02 Mar 2006, 13:07

Terence wrote:I was there the other day and Jeff looked mean and sullen all the way through. He is supposed to be a good guy as well isn't he? I could be wrong but I got the impression from his team that they are just hear to knock Joe over and take his belt. I kept chasing Gary Shaw asking for a one on one and he was fair but firm in saying "Nope, we're out of here fella." The whoe gym had been excited about the prospect of seeing Jeff but the reality was not so great. Everyone has jumped over toJoe now.

Yesterday Joe gave us fifteen minutes and was relaxed and cracknig jokes about space cakes and such. I'd heard he was moody but he was a real gent and impressed everyone at the gym. Open, approachable and fairly engaging really. He looked like a man relishing the big occasion. His dad was ace too really good to speak too.

So where my head once said Lacy and my heart did too my heart now says go on Joe. Looking at it pragmatically though Lacy is young and will fight more often, he is more likely to fight Kessler and will give us more milage so I still go for Lacy in 5. He may have made a mistake in underestimating Joe though.

By the sounds of your adventure in Lacy's gym, it seems he's not underestimating Joe at all. He seems to be very focused from what I've read, and isn't getting caught up in prefight bullshit that comes with boxing. Either way, long or short, it's gonna be a memorable fight.

mattyp151 · Post by **mattyp151** » 02 Mar 2006, 13:45

Terence wrote:
Mattyp151 wrote:
Terence wrote:I was there the other day and Jeff looked mean and sullen all the way through. He is supposed to be a good guy as well isn't he? I could be wrong but I got the impression from his team that they are just hear to knock Joe over and take his belt. I kept chasing Gary Shaw asking for a one on one and he was fair but firm in saying "Nope, we're out of here fella." The whoe gym had been excited about the prospect of seeing Jeff but the reality was not so great. Everyone has jumped over toJoe now.

Yesterday Joe gave us fifteen minutes and was relaxed and cracknig jokes about space cakes and such. I'd heard he was moody but he was a real gent and impressed everyone at the gym. Open, approachable and fairly engaging really. He looked like a man relishing the big occasion. His dad was ace too really good to speak too.

So where my head once said Lacy and my heart did too my heart now says go on Joe. Looking at it pragmatically though Lacy is young and will fight more often, he is more likely to fight Kessler and will give us more milage so I still go for Lacy in 5. He may have made a mistake in underestimating Joe though.
By the sounds of your adventure in Lacy's gym, it seems he's not underestimating Joe at all. He seems to be very focused from what I've read, and isn't getting caught up in prefight bullshit that comes with boxing. Either way, long or short, it's gonna be a memorable fight.
I'm torn as were most impressions. Some said he looked focussed, others said he looked bored, Jeff said he was bored by the meida thing and some said he looked awed by it all. I thought he looked fornicating knackered and it was odd his training team were more at pains to make sure he didn't break a sweat whilst skipping. His trainer was a good guy though. I did get a feelint though that he has come here as favourite expecting the win. Joe seemed relaxed but conscious of what this fight entails for him. Lacy said this is the start for him.

I still go Lacy by spectacular KO in the 5th.

As for weights I'm not 100% but he looked like he has good supple muscles like the ones you get from chins and pushes.

I'd be hardpressed to find a top-level fighter that goes into any fight not expecting to win.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 02 Mar 2006, 21:09

LMAO!

Some nutter on ESB is betting 1200 on Lacy!

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/sho ... post127222

I agree with Matty he must do some weights even if it's just light ones.

esterday Joe gave us fifteen minutes and was relaxed and cracknig jokes about space cakes and such.

Tell your uncle Max about these Spacecake jokes.

I still think Joe will outbox him.

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 03 Mar 2006, 05:39

who's coming to the ring first or haven't they sorted that one yet. i would think calzaghe would probably be last in.

i wonder if lacy will come out to some born in the usa.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 03 Mar 2006, 06:19

Lovely insiders piece there Terrence me old china, top notch.

Joe seems very relaxed. Is that a good or a bad sign though? Is he underestimating Lacy? The fact that Lacy is so surly and mean probably just means he is focussed. I'm not sure that all the joking and japing around is a great sign. Conjecture I know, but just putting forward an alternative point of view.

I have to say, Calzaghe's comment that Woods doesn't want to fight him sticks in the craw a bit, seeing as he twice pulled out of a bout with Woods, once because it transpired the fight wasn't an eliminator for the title I believe.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 03 Mar 2006, 06:49

Yep, that was a bit classless that remark. I didn't like it either. Calzaghe has always been a bit of a cocky sod, but then he's a professional fighter and a successful one, so it's not a major surprise. Sounds to me like he is enjoying having the limelight after so many so-so fights.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 03 Mar 2006, 06:54

Yeah that's a good piece Terence. No surprise if Lacy's a bit moody so close to D Day, and JC is obviously well pleased to be getting the big fight after all these years.

Brian McGee beat Lacy on points as an amateur.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 03 Mar 2006, 07:17

http://www.teamtalk.com/Images/51082.jpg

CALZAGHE READY FOR 'PATHETIC' LACY
By Mark Staniforth, PA Sport

Joe Calzaghe has laughed off Jeff Lacy's attempts to win over the Manchester fight fans ahead of the pair's world super-middleweight title unification showdown on Sunday morning.

Welshman Calzaghe branded the Lacy team's arrival at the head-to-head press conference dressed in English football shirts - with promoter Gary Shaw wielding a flag of St George - as "pathetic".

Lacy knows only too well the volume of the derision he is likely to face in the early hours, having sat ringside at the same MEN Arena venue for Ricky Hatton's famous win over Kostya Tszyu last June.

Shaw said: "When we go into the ring we are going to be defending English people because all you ever hear from Joe Calzaghe is about Italy and Wales.

"We expect over 19,000 people to be booing us when we get up into that ring but when we leave the ring after the fight those same 19,000 will be cheering Jeff Lacy."

Despite the scheduled 0230 GMT start time to accommodate the demands of American television, the clamour for tickets has been such that the venue has been extended beyond its original 16,000 capacity.

Calzaghe has been angling for such a career-defining fight for a number of years and despite continuing to drift with the bookmakers this week he is more confident than ever of success.

"I have been waiting eight years for this fight and I can't wait," said Calzaghe. "It is the sort of fight all boxers dream of and I cannot wait to unify the titles."

Florida 28-year-old Lacy continued to let his ebullient promoter Shaw do most of the talking as he came head to head with Calzaghe for the first time in fight week.

Lacy only became animated when he was accused of disrespecting Calzaghe recently by questioning the power of some of his punches - and vowed he is taking nothing for granted.

He said: "I have trained for this fight with more intensity, more focus and more desire. I have been sparring with Winky Wright and everything has been on a higher level.

"I never said Joe Calzaghe slapped. I respect what he has done and I see myself as the underdog. But I am just focused and ready for the fight."

Despite Lacy's assertions to the contrary he has come to be viewed as a narrow favourite to unify the titles after an impressive 2005 in contrast to more injury worries surrounding Calzaghe.

Lacy responded to a delay in their contest which had been originally slated for November by bashing up leading contender Scott Pemberton while Calzaghe recovered from another bad hand problem.

Until that point Lacy's lack of experience had been seen to be his major drawback against Calzaghe, who is unbeaten in almost twice as many fights as his opponent.

Promoter allegedly said: "It is a 50-50 fight and whichever way you look at it it is one of the most exciting fights I have been involved in.

"Every fight for every fighter is a career-defining fight but Joe has been dreaming of his chance to unify the super-middleweight titles. He is a fresh 33 years old and the longest reigning champ around."

E · Post by E » 03 Mar 2006, 08:02

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Yep, that was a bit classless that remark. I didn't like it either. Calzaghe has always been a bit of a cocky sod, but then he's a professional fighter and a successful one, so it's not a major surprise. Sounds to me like he is enjoying having the limelight after so many so-so fights.

What remark was made about the sweeping and by who?

Calzaghe apparently is very funny and charismatic in real life, but unfortunately that never comes across on the TV...

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 03 Mar 2006, 08:12

E wrote:
jamesmcdonnell wrote:Yep, that was a bit classless that remark. I didn't like it either. Calzaghe has always been a bit of a cocky sod, but then he's a professional fighter and a successful one, so it's not a major surprise. Sounds to me like he is enjoying having the limelight after so many so-so fights.
What remark was made about the sweeping and by who?

Calzaghe apparently is very funny and charismatic in real life, but unfortunately that never comes across on the TV...

True, on TV we were treated to the timeless classic "They can't take my pooooooower" before going the full 12 rounds with a punching back on legs.

KO Artist · Post by **KO Artist** » 03 Mar 2006, 08:20

nickd wrote:
E wrote:
jamesmcdonnell wrote:Yep, that was a bit classless that remark. I didn't like it either. Calzaghe has always been a bit of a cocky sod, but then he's a professional fighter and a successful one, so it's not a major surprise. Sounds to me like he is enjoying having the limelight after so many so-so fights.
What remark was made about the sweeping and by who?

Calzaghe apparently is very funny and charismatic in real life, but unfortunately that never comes across on the TV...
True, on TV we were treated to the timeless classic "They can't take my pooooooower" before going the full 12 rounds with a punching back on legs.

:P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 03 Mar 2006, 08:33

Yeah I think Calzaghe just comes across badly when he's plonked in front of the camera. I remember before one of his fights, might have been the Byron Mitchell one, and they did this segment in his dressing room with him warming up, and it was really cringeworthy, he looked quite embarassed and awkward, and came out with some really cheesy quotes and had this cheesy grin on his face.

Some people just don't react well when the camera is trained on them.

at the end of the day it's all bollocks anyway, what matters is what he does in the ring, and if he twats the fuckries out of Lacy then I'll give him big props.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 03 Mar 2006, 09:15

then again, team lacy were vile pre/post their home town showing vs Robin Reid, so they'll just have to put up with it

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 03 Mar 2006, 09:58

Toney is a nutter though, and can be very very funny as well. He seems to have a split personality, apparently he's often quite quiet and mild mannered off camera, but can change in a split second and start wrecking the joint too. That shit with Danny Green where he threatened to shoot Fenech and shit seemed to be quite way out there, apparently Fenech was none too impressed.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 03 Mar 2006, 10:17

Shaw said: "When we go into the ring we are going to be defending English people because all you ever hear from Joe Calzaghe is about Italy and Wales.

Dumbest comment of the week?

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 03 Mar 2006, 10:20

I also have not forgiven him for posing with a chicken when discussing Woods that time.

I thought that was for Ottke? Woods seems to back Calzaghe and thinks he will win as well.

That BBC article was funny though. I thought Lacy and Shaw said Calzaghe slaps?

Hahah an American pretending he's English is quite funny too when I thought they knew that Joe was born in London himself.

Defending the English people! Man thats good posing to hype up a fight though/

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 03 Mar 2006, 10:24

calzaghe did once say that he wanted england to lose a few years ago

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 03 Mar 2006, 10:37

Terence wrote:I have sparring footage of his versus Green (culled from your site I think) and he is just giving it loads to Green, Green does Ok at first then seems to lose composure and James just gives him right-hand after right-hand counter.

He does seem to have a split personality as he can seem pretty charming at times when speaking to members of the press or public then another boxer walks in and away he goes. I have to agree with what he said to Jim Gray after the Holyfield fight, he brought Gray up after the Ruiz fight as well. Eubank looked like he had shit himself that time James threatened him, to his credit Benn looked like he was up for a war. Best interview I saw was on an old Friday night programme called "The Zoo" it was your typical channel 4 yoof bollocks but they had a report on Toney and went to his house. He emerged from a closet with a gun big enough to shoot planes down and asked the cameraman if Chris Eubank wanted some, then he threatened to batter Chris' mum. Complete nutter. Imagine a Toney - Tyson fight, great press from that one.

You know, I reckon Toney would probably intimidate Tyson. Inside it all, Tyson always fought scared, Toney wouldn't fear a fight if God was in the opposite corner.

Don't know about Eubank being scared, hard to envisage Eubank being scared of anyone, after all, he took on monsters like Carl Thompson and Nigel Benn.

Benn would have brought the fight to Toney, but he would have been on the end of one horrific battering.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 03 Mar 2006, 10:57

Terence wrote:I was there the other day and Jeff looked mean and sullen all the way through.

There are rumours he's struggling to make the weight. When's the weigh in?

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 03 Mar 2006, 10:58

Benn could of always changed it with a punch but skillwise would have to go to Toney. Was always a chance he'd come drained losing too much weight too.

MightyWarrior wrote:
Terence wrote:I was there the other day and Jeff looked mean and sullen all the way through.
There are rumours he's struggling to make the weight. When's the weigh in?

Didn't it take 3 times to make the weight when he fought Reid?

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 03 Mar 2006, 10:59

Warren rift puts Hatton in mood for a night in
By Ron Lewis

AT 2AM on Sunday, Ricky Hatton will be settling down in front of his television at his home in Hyde. A few miles away, at the MEN Arena, Manchester, Joe Calzaghe will embark on the biggest bout of his career when he faces Jeff Lacy in a world super-middleweight title unification match. Hatton would love to be there to cheer his old pal on but believes he would be stopped from getting in.
Such is the sad state of affairs between Hatton, the IBF and WBA light-welterweight champion, and allegedly, his former promoter, who also promotes Calzaghe. Nine months on from Hatton’s famous defeat of Kostya Tszyu, their relationship, once so close, has broken down completely.

“I can’t for the life of me see me being allowed in the venue. People have been stopped going in for less than has happened between me and Frank,” Hatton said. “I would love to have gone and been cheering on Joe on his big night, but I’ll watch at home. I’m in training and I don’t need the hassle. It would be terrible if I went down there and couldn’t get in. It’s pathetic.”

These days, Warren and Hatton only seem to communicate through lawyers. The promoter’s claim that Hatton broke a three-bout agreement is likely to be heard in the summer. Warren has also taken action for libel against Hatton’s father and business manager, Ray.

Warren, however, did say that he would be happy for Hatton to attend the event, adding: “I’ve sent him a text inviting him. He can sit next to me if he wants.”

Last week, when Hatton should have been training, he was in a New York courtroom giving evidence in a case brought by Souleymane M’baye, a French boxer, against the WBA. M’baye, who is promoted by Warren, is the WBA’s No 1 contender and was arguing that Hatton should be ordered to box him next.

“I have never been as scared in any fight as I was in that court,” Hatton, who was freed of any obligation to face M’baye, said. “No one in my family has ever been in court. As I stood there taking the oath, I just thought, how did it ever come to this?” In the world of boxing, it is not impossible to imagine Hatton and Warren burying their differences one day, although the legal action would prevent that happening any time soon.

“I was genuinely fond of Frank, but loyalty goes two ways,” Hatton said. “The offer he made us was lower than all the others and not just by a little bit. He has probably spent (in legal costs) triple of what I wanted.”

The continuing problem with Warren is not the only thing that is bothering Hatton, who still does not have an opponent for his next bout, due to be held on May 13 at Foxwoods, in Connecticut.

Arturo Gatti, Carlos Baldomir and Vivian Harris have been ruled out, leaving Juan Díaz, the WBA lightweight champion from Texas, or Naoufel Ben Rabah, the IBF’s mandatory contender from Australia, as the likely opponents.

Lacy arrived at yesterday’s head-to-head press conference with Calzaghe wearing an England football shirt, in the rather vain hope that he could convince the locals to back him against a Welshman. Once again the American was in a surly mood, certainly compared with the laid-back WBO champion. Rumours are rife that Lacy, the IBF champion from the United States, is struggling to make the weight.

“We know that when Jeff goes to the ring there will be 19,920 people booing him,” Gary Shaw, Lacy’s promoter, said. “When he leaves the ring there will be 20,000 people cheering Jeff Lacy.”

Hatton believes Calzaghe can win. “Lacy is like a mini-Mike Tyson, he comes in with these big swinging punches, but we don’t know what happens when Joe hits him right down the middle,” Hatton said.

NELSON RIDDLE

JOE CALZAGHE was not the only Welshman with Italian heritage supposed to be having a career-defining bout at the MEN Arena, Manchester, tomorrow. Enzo Maccarinelli, the promising cruiserweight from Swansea, was supposed to be facing Johnny Nelson, the long-reigning WBO champion.

However, Nelson, 39, suffered a knee injury so serious the contest may now never take place. “Johnny is a great champion and a great ambassador for British boxing,” Maccarinelli said. “The way he prepares, if he can’t get back to 100 per cent fitness, I don’t think he will fight again.”

Instead, Maccarinelli will defend his lightly-regarded WBU title against Mark Hobson, the British and Commonwealth champion.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 03 Mar 2006, 11:51

jamesmcdonnell wrote:
Terence wrote:I have sparring footage of his versus Green (culled from your site I think) and he is just giving it loads to Green, Green does Ok at first then seems to lose composure and James just gives him right-hand after right-hand counter.

He does seem to have a split personality as he can seem pretty charming at times when speaking to members of the press or public then another boxer walks in and away he goes. I have to agree with what he said to Jim Gray after the Holyfield fight, he brought Gray up after the Ruiz fight as well. Eubank looked like he had shit himself that time James threatened him, to his credit Benn looked like he was up for a war. Best interview I saw was on an old Friday night programme called "The Zoo" it was your typical channel 4 yoof bollocks but they had a report on Toney and went to his house. He emerged from a closet with a gun big enough to shoot planes down and asked the cameraman if Chris Eubank wanted some, then he threatened to batter Chris' mum. Complete nutter. Imagine a Toney - Tyson fight, great press from that one.
You know, I reckon Toney would probably intimidate Tyson. Inside it all, Tyson always fought scared, Toney wouldn't fear a fight if God was in the opposite corner.

Don't know about Eubank being scared, hard to envisage Eubank being scared of anyone, after all, he took on monsters like Carl Thompson and Nigel Benn.

Benn would have brought the fight to Toney, but he would have been on the end of one horrific battering.

Toney vs Benn would've been something like Toney-PC Williams and Watson-Benn. Toney's mentally & physically one of the toughest of modern fighters and he's a very keen counter puncher. however, his desire and conditioning have slipped to shocking degrees at times & as a fan I'm really disappointed in the guy. even after the jirov comeback, 3 fights later he's described from various quarters as looking like "something that should be hunting ppl through a swamp" and "Buddha".

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 04 Mar 2006, 14:42

Eubank was just a bit non plussed at the insults Toney was hurling his way - talking about his mum and ugly women etc..

The Calzaghe/Lacy weigh in video is over at maxboxing now - the kiss ass American interviewer quetly asks Jeff if he thinks there's any chance Joe can duck out now, with 36 hours to go - what a plank.

But Lacy seems mighty confident - he says there's NO chance of the 12th bell sounding tonight.

I think he might be right.....but not in the manner he's expecting

BoxBuzz · Post by **BoxBuzz** » 04 Mar 2006, 14:56

Here's Jeff singin' that ol' song!
http://blvdcustoms.com/admin/gallery/Je ... %20130.jpg http://www.collectics.com/r070.jpg

Matchfixer · Post by **Matchfixer** » 04 Mar 2006, 19:17

Anyone else agree that Lacy's fight only lasting 2 rounds might work against him (i.e. lack of rounds) leading up to a fight this big?

Calzaghe had 12 rounds by comparison.