Former Two-Time World Super Middleweight Champion
Light-Heavyweight (175 lbs.)
Residence
St. Petersburg, Fla.
Height
5’10”
Boxing Record
35-2 (17 KOs) (as of July 2009)
Jeffrey Scott Lacy was born on May 12, 1977 in St. Petersburg, Fla. to Hydra
Lacy, Sr. and Sarah Hill. They were a large and close family unit, with six boys
and three
girls. In October of 2004, his mother passed away, just days before he became a
world champion.
When young Jeff was just in elementary school, his father sent him to the gym as
punishment for fighting in school. It may have been the very best thing that
Hydra
could have done for him.
“They put me in the ring with some guy that knew how to fight,” remembers Lacy.
“I got beat up that day. I kept coming back every day to fight him again. I went
to
the trainer in the gym who was Dan Birmingham. He told me not to worry about
that but to sign up and they would teach me, and that’s what I did.”
At Gibbs High School, he played basketball,and football.
“I didn’t like the team sports as much,” he says. “I tried them and didn’t like
them, but boxing was different and I was getting good at it.”
He was good at boxing indeed and went on to win the 1998 U.S. National Amateur
Championship; 1998 National PAL Championship,; 1888 National PAL Championship
and earned a spot on the 2000 United States Olympic Boxing Team.
In all, he had 210 amateur fights.
He turned to the professional ranks in 2001 and under the eye of Dan Birmingham
and manager Jay Prince’s guidance,, he won the IBF super middleweight title on
October 2, 2004 stopping tough southpaw Syd Vanderpool in the 8th round in Las
Vegas.. He successfully defended that title and added an IBO championship along
the way.
On March 4, 2006, he lost his crown to undefeated Britisher Joe Calzaghe in
Manchester, United Kingdom. over the distance.
:”Calzaghe was a great fighter and I learned a lot in that fight.” He admits.
“I’m moving up to meet Roy Jones, who is another great fighter and I’m going to
be well
prepared.”
Along the way, Jeff Lacy picked up the tag of “Left Hook” Lacy because of his
devastating left hook power. Roy Jones, Jr. has also been praised for having a
great
left hook.
“We’re going to see who has a better hook,” said Jones. “That’s why we tagged
this fight – Hook City.”
Jeff Lacy is still single and has no immediate plans to change that. He loves to
fish and do anything outdoors. He also likes watching good movies ;like
Peaceful Warrior and enjoys rap, country and R & B music.
As a young boxer, he loved watching Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield fight.
“Evander was my favorite fighter,” says Lacy. “He came to fight and gave it his
all,
every time. He was always in great condition too. I still have a lot of respect
for him.”
On August 15 in Biloxi, Mississippi, he’s facing one of the great boxers of
all-time in eight-time world champion Roy Jones, Jr.
“I’ve been a fan of Roy Jones, Jr. for a long time,” said Lacy. “He’s one of the
great fighters and has challenged all fighters. Roy is still one of the most
feared fighters in the game and like myself, loves to fight the best in the
business. We both come to fight and that will make it one of the most exciting
fights of the year. I’m looking forward to August 15.”
