Taki... wrote:A super-confident (pre-Calzaghe) Lacy would've destroyed Tsypko. I don't think one should underestimate the psychological damage Calzaghe has done to Jeff Lacy. Lacy's management should've built their man back-up on a couple of pushovers before even considering a top 10 fighter.
As for revising Lacy's standing based on what he's doing AFTER being utterly outclassed by Calzaghe... only something Kessler buthuggers would bother doing. The same people who were trying to paint (the ancient and/or past it) Beyer, Lucas and Siaca as 'top quality'.
I agree, hindsight is a wonderful thing. I think both Lacy and Kessler's best opponents have suffered a little from overhyping before the event (especially Lucas and Siaca for Kessler).
Subsequent performances by Siaca has shown he is a overated/faded fighter. Likewise, Lucas look faded and Beyer has been a defeat waiting to happen for a while.
At the same time though, Lacy beat no-one of note pre Calzaghe to show us that he was the new "Mike Tyson" (as he was once hyped) or the new "Hagler". He looked good beating fringe contenders (which sadly Robin Reid is now) but indeed everytime he fought a live fighter (like Vanderpool, Sheika) he did struggle.
Yes, Calzaghe beat what was infront of him and beat him up well.... and most people thought Lacy was top quality and a world champion. Same with Kessler though, Siaca was a world champion and looked okay beating Mundine.... at the time he was considered "top quality" but then subsequently was later exposed as being shot. Lucas looked okay in his fight with Beyer and after it, but obviously his poor opposition post Beyer flattered him.
Bit like the DLH vs Julio Cesar Chavez scenerio. Chavez was the champion, but obviously post DLH just showed quite how finished he was.