Connect with us

Articles of 2003

Jeff Left Hook Lacy – A Work in Progress

Published

on

Tuesday night on ESPN2 we got a chance to see former Olympian Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy take a step up in class as he took on Richard “The Alien” Grant at the Playboy Mansion. Lacy has been brought along well and Grant was a step in the right direction, albeit subtle. While Grant does not have the best record (now 14-10-0 and still just 2 whacks) he certainly has been in with some solid competition. His upset win over James Butler proved that he could cause some fighters fits. Still, Grant had managed just 2 KOs in his 14 wins so he certainly was an appropriate opponent in that he was skilled enough to test Lacy but not good enough or powerful enough to beat him outright. Basically, that is exactly what we got.

Grant tasted the canvas in the first round and things looked like they would end sooner than you could say “Playboy Bunny”. Immediately after getting up, Grant did what he had to do to survive, and that became the theme for the evening. The after-fight party with the Playboy Bunnies would have to wait.

Behind an effective jab, some decent right hands, and changing from orthodox to southpaw every now and then, Grant survived twelve rounds of angry left hooks and heavy rights from Lacy. That's “hooks” and “rights” . Notice how I didn't mention “left jabs” in that sentence – and for good reason.

Jeff Lacy (15-0-0 with 12 wins coming by way of the short route) is an impressive physical specimen and carries good power in both hands. His left-hook is obviously the trademark and his weapon of choice, but that is not all there is to the guy.

In this fight we all learned a few things. First off, defense is a good thing to know. Lacy took too many straight rights from Grant and also ate his fair share of jabs from “The Alien”. As Lacy steps up in class, a better, stronger fighter is going to land crisp shots and cause a lot of problems for him.

Secondly, the road is long my son. After dropping Grant in the first, it seemed that Lacy assumed the veteran fighter would go out before the third round concluded. All 12 of his KO's before the Grant fight had come before the end of the third round, so why not this one as well. Not so. By neglecting the body early and trying to decapitate Grant with wicked left hooks, Lacy allowed Grant to stay in the fight with his legs still well beneath him. Had Lacy taken the body before the head, it seems he would have been able to catch Grant later and get the knockout he surely wanted. By forgetting about the body early in the bout he allowed Grant to jab, counter and move with success.

Thirdly, we learnt that Lacy handles adversity well. In the sixth round the two clashed heads and a nasty gash was opened on the left eyelid of Lacy. He didn't seem too pleased that he was cut by a head-butt and proceeded to take out his frustrations on Grant for the rest of the round. I like that.

Finally, we learned that he can go twelve rounds and still be very active. This is a good thing. Lacy looked strong at the end of the fight despite a solid work-rate and having to follow Grant around the ring for many rounds.

Still, Jeff Lacy has to be considered a work in progress for one major reason – his name is not Jeff “Left Jab” Lacy. While he throws his left hook with bad intentions and his right has knocked fighters out in the past, his jab is rather pedestrian at best. Throughout the bout Lacy merely pawed at his opponent with the jab – if he threw it at all. At times he left it short and brought it back in the same lackluster manner. Against a championship caliber opponent – dare I say, Bernard Hopkins – he would be jabbed and countered to death and eat heavy leather in the process. Only once in the fight do I recall the jab being thrown with purpose – it was such a rare occurrence that I recall it being in the eleventh round. Lacy threw a solid jab and followed with a thunderous right that nearly sent Grant down.

What the young fighter must learn still is that a jab can set up all the other punches that he clearly likes to throw and just connecting with the jab can put your opponent off-guard and susceptible for the big punch that follows. A few weeks ago we saw this in action as Diego Corrales set-up his wicked left hand in just such a fashion to end his fight with Damian Fuller in round 3. If your opponent can't see the punch coming, he can't stop it . . . other than with his face as Fuller did.

In the end Lacy is right on track, but his team certainly shouldn't be taking too great of “jumps in class” for their product just yet. Richard Grant was a good test and Lacy passed that with relative ease, just as he should have. He got the rounds in he needed and learned a few things, we hope.

Here's to seeing more of Jeff “Left Jab” Lacy in the near future. . . his alter ego “Left Hook” seems to be grabbing the spotlight a bit too much right now.

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles1 week ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Paro
Featured Articles1 week ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles5 days ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles1 week ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles2 days ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles6 days ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Avila-Perspective-Chap-332-Jake-Paul-vs-Chavez-Jr-plus-Mbilli-Deontay-and-More
Featured Articles6 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

When-Boxing-Was-Big-on-the-Fourth-of-July-A-TSS-Classic
Featured Articles8 hours ago

When Boxing was Big on the Fourth of July: A TSS Classic

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles2 days ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Mexico's-Francisco-Rodriguez-Jr-is-the-TSS-Fighter-of-the-Month-for-June
Featured Articles3 days ago

Mexico’s Francisco Rodriguez Jr is the TSS Fighter of the Month for June

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles5 days ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

Holly-Holm-Joshua-Edwards-and-Rene-Alvarado-Sparkle-on-the-Paul-Chavez-Undercard
Featured Articles5 days ago

Holly Holm, Joshua Edwards, and Rene Alvarado Sparkle on the Paul-Chavez Undercard

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles6 days ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Avila-Perspective-Chap-332-Jake-Paul-vs-Chavez-Jr-plus-Mbilli-Deontay-and-More
Featured Articles6 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles1 week ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Paro
Featured Articles1 week ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles1 week ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending