05.03.06 – By Wray Edwards: Photo – TOM CASINO / SHOWTIME – Shades of Mayweather – Gatti. There is very little one can say about the course of this fight. In front of thousands of cheering local fans Joe Calzaghe established his super middleweight legacy. Prior to the start of Branco – Cotto from Puerto Rico, we erased all but one round of the Lacy-Calzaghe encounter. Why?…because from first to last each and every round was virtually identical.
Each frame consisted of Joe unleashing furious combinations with moderate but effective power as Jeff attempted to move into his best range. When Jeff did manage to get inside Joe would either tie Jeff up to neutralize Lacy’s attack, or roll out, which very effectively avoided any substantial counter. Lacy was completely unable to establish an inside game as ninety per cent of the time Joe would trap Jeff’s left arm just above the elbow. This usually involved Calzaghe getting his right forearm and the inside of his elbow over Jeff’s left tricep, then rotating his glove in front of Jeff’s chest which caused a locking effect.
This made it almost impossible for Jeff to extricate his arm without expending major energy to get free. This and other tactics demonstrated Calzaghe’s superior knowledge of the game and its limitations. There is a fine line between holding and a classical tie-up..
It soon became obvious that Calzaghe’s tactical preparation for the fight was flawless. Despite the late hour and Joe’s complaints about lack of sleep, Calzaghe displayed twelve-round stamina and skill. Joe also timed Jeff at every turn…beating him to the punch and keeping his head just below the patented arc of Jeff’s sweeping whiffers. Calzaghe’s work rate made one wish that Compubox had been present to report on the apparently record-breaking totals pouring from Joe’s gloves.
Though Calzaghe did keep his hands low at times and did wing his shots from far and wide, the rapidity of his punches seemed to transfix Lacy’s mentality into inaction. Though Jeff attempted to bull in and establish forward momentum, Joe won most of the balance contests as Jeff fell to the canvass three or four times. Referee Roul Caiz did blow one call with an eight count against Jeff. The replay showed no effective punch whatsoever, and clearly revealed that Calzaghe pushed Jeff down.
No matter. The match was so completely one-sided that Lacy was reduced to circumstances in the final rounds which required a KO for him to win. That was not to be. This was territory where Calzaghe had lived for far longer than young Jeff. “The Pride of Wales” began to dance in triumphant rhythm, taunting Jeff and taking unanswered pot shots at Lacy’s head. As the fight progressed Lacy began to bleed from the nose…then the right eye…then the left eye. He suffered endlessly from the accuracy of Joe’s punches which appeared to be in the neighborhood of eighty per cent.
Calzaghe proved many people wrong about his age, his previous opponents and his prospects against the vaunted power of “Left Hook”. Calzaghe missed a complete shutout when Caiz made a weird point deduction from Joe for some sort of holding and hitting infraction. The fight ended having gone the distance and everybody knew that the scorecards were a mere formality.
This fight left Joe in a position to make a unified victory tour of tapered opponents leading to his well-earned retirement or, if he sees fit, surely his fans would relish a gathering of Kessler’s and Beyer’s straps and an undisputed notch on his ring-post. It must be tempting to retire undefeated…more tempting than an even greater P4P, HOF and greater financial rewards? He has always been fun to watch as he cannot ever
be faulted for lack of action.
Though the author has had far more exposure to Lacy’s career, it was, for some reason, not possible to feel secure in picking Jeff to dominate. He has never dealt with this level of experience and hand-speed. His power is effective but only, so far, in circumstances where his opponents have played into his hands. Joe was not about to do that. Interestingly Lacy’s reach advantage seemed non-existent as a factor…probably as a result of Joe’s superior foot-work.
Calzaghe fought the perfect fight to defeat Jeff. Lacy said so himself during the post fight interview with Jim Gray. The fight really turned out to be a mismatch and was not a matter of suspense after the seventh round. By then it was obvious that Jeff had no defensive skills which would give him the slightest opportunity to fend off Calzaghe’s onslaughts and provide cover for countering efforts.
Generally, the fight consisted of Jeff boring in taking ten or fifteen to deliver one or even whiff one for that matter. Calzaghe’s victory was a complete affirmation of his willingness, at last, to take on a challenge which was respected by the Boxing world whether or not that respect was based on any relevant evidence. Combined, Calzaghe’s underrating in relation to Jeff and Lacy’s overrating in relation to Joe produced, what turned out to be a false impression that this might be a pick’em contest. It turned into a classic schooling of a slugger by a skilled boxer.
Lacy was realistic and generous in his praise of Joe during his post fight interview. Just as the writer has suggested, a classy fighter will view a loss as an opportunity to learn. Lacy was professional in his disinterest in crying over spilt milk. At 28 he has many years of effective youth to spend in the pursuit of fame and fortune. ESB spoke with Jeff about the possibility that he might one day lose a fight. It didn’t seem to concern him in the least.
Lacy’s attitude about the sport is very mature. He loves to fight and considers wins and losses to be but two sides of the Boxing coin. It’s been said here before: “Often, one only achieves arrogance from victory…it is defeat which teaches the most valuable lessons.” How else may one discover limitations to be overcome? Jeff demonstrated supreme toughness and determination in the face of certain defeat.
Lacy’s answer to Jim Gray’s vapid question about whether Jeff had considered quitting demonstrated two things. First, that Mr. Gray had not the slightest understanding of Jeff Lacy the person, and second, what most of the rest of us already knew: Left Hook might be carried out but will never quit.
The fight lacked suspense and was basically a celebration for Joe’s fans. Any time a sporting event can bring so much jubilation to so many people it is a great success…at least for them. For Jeff’s fans it is a test of their loyalty, and tests their resolve that he overcome this setback and prove his resilience and dedication.
Congratulations to Joe Calzaghe for his victory. Thanks for Showtime’s decision to present such high profile events without resorting to PPV.
BTW…Cotto battered Branco with skilled power and clean punching. Miguel stopped Gianluca with crushing blows to his shoulders in the seventh and eighth rounds. A badly swollen cheek and possible broken jaw were probably additional factors contributing to his decision. That fight wasn’t much better, but did nicely showcase Cotto’s continued improvement. See you at the fights.