BoxRec

Secondsout.com -
By Ant Evans:

IBF super-middleweight champion Jeff Lacy believes he will carry the superior thirst for battle into the mouth-watering 168lbs war with WBO counterpart Joe Calzaghe on March 4.

Lacy and Calzaghe clash in the most meaningful 168lbs (12stone) fight in over a decade at the MEN Arena, Manchester, England, next Saturday. It is arguably the best match-up of the year, and a terrific way for Showtime to celebrate this 20th anniversary of screening boxing programming (ITV televise live in the UK).

It is a high-stakes match-up with the winner not only attaining the position as the undisputed No.1 super-middleweight on the planet but also potentially transcending the hardcore boxing audience into becoming a genuine sporting superstar.

Calzaghe said: "A lot of fighters talk too much, slagging off their opponents. I just fight. I think I am the better fighter, I have the experience."

The Welshman, unbeaten in his 13 year career, was as cool as a cucumber on the international conference call but his promoter allegedly fierily objected to a comment made in an interview with this writer for the current issue of Boxing Monthly magazine.

Speaking to BM, Lacy said: "Joe's biggest weakness is his heart. He doesn't have this heart everyone thinks he has. He looks to referees for help whenever he gets pressured. I'll give you an example, Byron Mitchell had him down (June 2003) and badly hurt and Joe came back a little and as soon as Joe landed two or three good shots he was looking at the ref to step in. Joe was knocked down and nearly out but he wanted the ref to stop it - and the referee did stop it controversially - while Mitchell was ok on his feet. With me, I don't stop punching until the guy is on the floor and the referee has to drag me away."

Calzaghe, who was fighting cruiserweights while a novice and has gotten up twice to maintain his unbeaten record, merely laughed off the accusation but promoter Warren took great exception.

"I was surprised to read those comments," Warren said. "I don't know how anyone can question Joe's heart after the career he has had. He's proved himself the No.1 in the division."

Lacy's promoter Gary Shaw countered: "If it makes Frank happy to believe that on behalf of myself and Team Lacy, we'll allow him to continue to believe that until March 4 (EST). No one fights bell to bell like Jeff Lacy."

"It is a high-stakes match-up with the winner not only attaining the position as the undisputed No.1 super-middleweight on the planet but also potentially transcending the hardcore boxing audience into becoming a genuine sporting superstar. "

This isn’t quite accurate. If Calzaghe beats Lacy not a huge amount will change for him. If Lacy beats Calzaghe, then the US media machine will go into overdirve and Lacy will have the potential to become a “genuine sporting superstar”.

Calzaghe doesn’t have the marketability.

Loftgroov wrote:"It is a high-stakes match-up with the winner not only attaining the position as the undisputed No.1 super-middleweight on the planet but also potentially transcending the hardcore boxing audience into becoming a genuine sporting superstar. "

This isn’t quite accurate. If Calzaghe beats Lacy not a huge amount will change for him. If Lacy beats Calzaghe, then the US media machine will go into overdirve and Lacy will have the potential to become a “genuine sporting superstar”.

Calzaghe doesn’t have the marketability.

Agreed. He already made his bed long ago.

The winner of Kessler vs. the winner of this would be a more appropriate #1.

Lacy is wrong to question Joe's heart. His legs on the other hand...

Manos de Oro wrote:

Loftgroov wrote:"It is a high-stakes match-up with the winner not only attaining the position as the undisputed No.1 super-middleweight on the planet but also potentially transcending the hardcore boxing audience into becoming a genuine sporting superstar. "

This isn’t quite accurate. If Calzaghe beats Lacy not a huge amount will change for him. If Lacy beats Calzaghe, then the US media machine will go into overdirve and Lacy will have the potential to become a “genuine sporting superstar”.

Calzaghe doesn’t have the marketability.

Agreed. He already made his bed long ago.

The winner of Kessler vs. the winner of this would be a more appropriate #1.

Lacy is wrong to question Joe's heart. His legs on the other hand...

Who cares about Kessler except for few hardcore fans?

Max Molyneux wrote:

Manos de Oro wrote:

Loftgroov wrote:"It is a high-stakes match-up with the winner not only attaining the position as the undisputed No.1 super-middleweight on the planet but also potentially transcending the hardcore boxing audience into becoming a genuine sporting superstar. "

This isn’t quite accurate. If Calzaghe beats Lacy not a huge amount will change for him. If Lacy beats Calzaghe, then the US media machine will go into overdirve and Lacy will have the potential to become a “genuine sporting superstar”.

Calzaghe doesn’t have the marketability.

Agreed. He already made his bed long ago.

The winner of Kessler vs. the winner of this would be a more appropriate #1.

Lacy is wrong to question Joe's heart. His legs on the other hand...

Who cares about Kessler except for few hardcore fans?

All knowledgeable boxing fans. Kessler is the clear #1 at super-middlweight and the worthy successor to Sven Ottke.
P

Max Molyneux wrote:Who cares about Kessler except for few hardcore fans?

Give it a rest, Max. It's obvious you've not followed Joe's career for as long as some people here, and have therefore never been burned by his antics in the past. Still, there might be some who will engage in bop bag banter with your simian logic, but I really don't have the time or inclination dude. Kudos to you, however, for not busting out the personal insults, even when everyone is against you.

pundit wrote:

Max Molyneux wrote:

Manos de Oro wrote: Agreed. He already made his bed long ago.

The winner of Kessler vs. the winner of this would be a more appropriate #1.

Lacy is wrong to question Joe's heart. His legs on the other hand...

Who cares about Kessler except for few hardcore fans?

All knowledgeable boxing fans. Kessler is the clear #1 at super-middlweight and the worthy successor to Sven Ottke.
P

sven ottke & WORTHY SUCCESSOR shouldnt be mentioned in the same sentence, unless it was something like this---to qualify as a worthy successor of sven ottke your resume' would have to include:

1. barely scraping by B-level fighters like charles brewer & mads larsen with blatant hometown decisions!!

2. feasting on the likes of james butler, james "scrub" crawford, tocker pudwill, ali ennebati (pronounced ANYBODY) & yes---joe gatti---arturo's handicapped brother!!

if kessler is anywhere near what some here are claiming that's a SLAP IN THE FACE!! of course, if you are being sarcastic (60% chance) i'll give you 3 s!!

Manos de Oro wrote:Lacy is wrong to question Joe's heart. His legs on the other hand...

i beg to differ!! questioning joe's heart instead of his legs is a better way to get into his head

Manos de Oro wrote:

Max Molyneux wrote:Who cares about Kessler except for few hardcore fans?

Give it a rest, Max. It's obvious you've not followed Joe's career for as long as some people here, and have therefore never been burned by his antics in the past. Still, there might be some who will engage in bop bag banter with your simian logic, but I really don't have the time or inclination dude. Kudos to you, however, for not busting out the personal insults, even when everyone is against you.

I know I havent followed and know he hasn't fought the best of opp all the time!

Thanks as I find it disrespectful to insult someone for their opinions even though it was Livra!

Note how I didn't mention Joe Manos either, all I said was who cares much about Kessler except for the hardcore fans.

He needs a bit more time Kessler fighting Mundine and washed up Lucas doesn't say much at the moment.

ll knowledgeable boxing fans. Kessler is the clear #1 at super-middlweight and the worthy successor to Sven Ottke.

:P

I think Ottke was a good fighter - Brewer and Mitchell were pretty good fighters. so was Glen Johnson. I've seen these fights and there was nothing wrong with the decisions. All of those men fought well but didn't seem to do enough and bitched about it afterward. Ottke was a very clever boxer with no power who would fight stiffs whenever he felt like it and felt no inclination to have a defining fight with Calzaghe.

Ottke was lucky vs Larsen and Reid, but he was definitely fading by then. also, the first Thomas Tate fight was supposed to be controversial, when Ottke was cut poss by a punch and given a TD? something like that i hear (I know, what the fornicate was he doing fighting Thomas Tate?)

But Kessler shouldn't be compared with Ottke. He's far bigger, stronger, with a pulverising jab, more willing to trade and a dominant physical presence in the ring. wheras Ottke always gave the impression of just doing enough to win rounds, and skating around the opponent all the time. Also, Kessler had the balls to fly into his opponent's turf, when he beat Mundine.


seems like Lacy wants to goad Calzaghe into a slugging match.

Jesus christ Max how blinkered are you? Kessler fighting "Mundine and washed up Lucas" is still way better than anybody Calzaghe has fought in a long long time. Kessler is a tough fight for the winner of the Lacy v Calzaghe fight. Have you ever seen Kessler fight?

nickd wrote:Jesus christ Max how blinkered are you? Kessler fighting "Mundine and washed up Lucas" is still way better than anybody Calzaghe has fought in a long long time. Kessler is a tough fight for the winner of the Lacy v Calzaghe fight. Have you ever seen Kessler fight?

I didn't mention Joe though he did.

Yes I got Kessler Vs Lucas on my computer and he is good just needs more opp before we judge him.

Yes he's fought Mundine who has fought guys with journymen records except for Kessler, Siaca, Ottke and Echols and he lost to 3 of them otherwise don't see no one else special on there.

Yeah and Calzaghe had promising starts and he got hyped up at first like Kessler is so lets wait first before we judge him enough.

I know the opp Joe fights and has fought, you don't need to tell me.

Kessler is a match for Calzaghe or Lacy now that is clear to all who have seen his fights!

He wouldn't easy for both I reckon.

The dudes been inactive so he'd need another fight first though.

Kessler is a good fight for the winner to take next and will decide beyond doubt the best at the weight. Kessler has as much claim to it as the other two right now.

How on earth has he been inactive he just fought Lucas.

I think Kessler would take it as his next fight, in fact I am sure he would.

It will only decide it though for hardcore fans like most of us on here because he ain't much of a name otherwise other than outside Denmark.

Plus Joe wants to move up after Lacy being tight at the weight.

Well Calzaghe has been talking about moving up for years until he actually does it and gets in the ring at 175 take it with a pinch of salt.

Indeed but he does look tight for it.

I'm not sure he really does, its obviously going to be harder to make weight as he gets older but he doesn't really carry much muscle definition and never has. He's had his chances to move up namely the Johnson fight but for one reason or another has never done so. If he wins he might opt to stay in the UK and defend his 2 168 titles.

I've always found Calzaghe's suppose nightmares making weight odd, he's not a naturally massive bloke, isn't particularly broad shouldered or barrell chested, nor does he have tree trunk legs or whacking great muscles, so I don't see what weight he has to shift.

Dunno he said on some BBC audio interview he walked around with 14 stone and he sure doesn't look fat inbetween fights.

He is tall though so it could be that

Heartache - THIS is the ultimate Calzaghe pull-our excuse...

Terence wrote:Throw in a stone a piece for the chip on each shoulder, wonder how much his persecution complex weighs

Didn't he pull out off a fight due to problems with his missus? Lacy should get her to work his corner.

It was the Johnson fight, and it was a "bad back". ;)

Maybe he injured it doing her!

Max Molyneux wrote:Maybe he injured it doing her!

No she was off shagging some guy, rugby player I think. He's now living in the family home while Calzaghe foots the bills.

Mind you he's been sticking it in anything that moves!