Boxing: Lacy vs Reid

[H2O Man]

Tonight on Showtime (or PPV) there is an interesting super middleweight bout between Jeff Lacy and Robin Reid. While Lacy has to be favored, it should be a competitive fight. Jeff is an exciting fighter, with good power -- especially, of course, in his left hook. But he has a habit of leaving his chin just a bit too high .... and as all boxers eventually learn, if you are going out to kick another man's ass, you got your own right behind you. Though Lacy has shown several times that he can take and recover from a good punch, it's far better to avoid being hit.

How many DU sports fans are planning to watch the fight?

[H2O Man]

1. For a while ....

there was quite a bit more interest in boxing among DUers.I'm surprised that a guy like Jeff Lacy doesn't generate more interest.

[dr.zoidberg]

2. Well, I haven't said anything about it

Mainly because I don't have Showtime. I can,however, still make a prediction. I see Lacy winning by UD.

[H2O Man]

3. Jeff by TKO .....

Robin Reid was a tough man, a very dirty fighter (who had two points taken for ugly fouls). Lacy decked him twice in the 5th, once in the 6th, and once in the 7th. His corner stopped the fight after the 7th.

Lacy looks very powerful. His attack was overwhelming in speed, accuracy, and an improved variety of punches. His left uppercut was a thing of beauty. One combination was 4 uppercuts, each landing cleanly and snapping Reid's head back.

He is a wonderful addition to the sport. No super middleweight can match him at this time.

[dr.zoidberg]

5. Good for Lacy.

I heard that the ref was utter shit, though. Lacy has Calzaghe next.
If Lacy cannot fight any better, than Calzaghe is going to beat him bad.

[dr.zoidberg]

4. Lacy wins.

From what I understand the ref was horrible. Always seeming to blame the clinches on Reid and allowing Lacy to hit after he breaks them up.
Lacy is now set to face Joe Calzaghe in November(at least that's Showtime says). Early prediction: Calzaghe by ass-whoopin'.
Edit: Fuck! beaten.

[H2O Man]

6. Lacy showed no

weaknesses. The ref warned Reid numerous times, and had threatened to take points away. Finally he did. The truth is that Reid was the one grabbing, and not just clinching. He was trying to pull Lacy so he could butt him, etc. The ref allowed Reid to get out of control.

There was no weaknesses shown by Lacy. He forced his will on a guy a young Calzaghe barely beat. If Joe C wins in September, they meet in November. Lacy will impose his will, and stop a former great fighter who has hung around too long. A few years ago, he may have beat Lacy, but he's long past his prime, and way too easy to hit.

[dr.zoidberg]

7. The Calzaghe fight is important for Lacy.

That fight will essentially make his legacy at 168. That's scary because Lacy has had only 19 or 20 fights.

[H2O Man]

8. True .....

and there is already talk about him moving up after that fight. Reid actually looked bigger last night. At least through the upper-body. It was interesting, in about the third round, when Lacy dug hard rights into Reid's left side, Reid raised his right foot. My son asked why it wasn't bringing his left foot up? Good question -- I think because of his frame. Always a good sign when your body punches lift the other fellow's foot!

Beating an old champion is a heck of a lot better than losing to one, as Ricky Hatton knows. But if Lacy does win in November, it will be against an older champ, past his peak.

[dr.zoidberg]

9. Lacy moving up.

I figured as much. Which division will he head to: Light-heavy?
To be honest, I was disappointed in Reid's performance. He just didn't show me what he had in the past.

[H2O Man]

10. Reid's career

has been high-lighted in matches (obviously) against Europeans. As was stated on Showtime last night, the division has been a European-dominated one for some time. The American style made a big difference. Lacy has some of the Cus D'Amato "peek-a-boo" offense. Reid is too slow to cope with that.

[dr.zoidberg]

11. The 168-pound division is so underrated.

The Super-middleweight division is probably the most underrated in boxing. This is probably because it is filled with European and Australian fighters. That and most fans in the US have never seen them fight. This division has Jeff Lacy, Joe Calzaghe, Marcus Beyer, Mikkel Kessler(considered by some to be the best in the division), Vitali Tsypko, and Scott Pemberton. If Lacy beats Calzaghe, which is not guaranteed, I would like to see him fight Kessler and Pemberton. Hell, there is a chance that Pemberton could be WBC champ by the end of the year because he is fighting Danny Green in a Eliminator fight and Beyer has to defend the belt 180 days after the conclusion of the eliminator. So, as I see it, Lacy would have every reason to fight Pemberton, that is if Pemberton wins. Mikkel Kessler is the WBA champ right now, as well. Lacy taking these fights would be great because they are unification bouts. these are the kind of fights that Showtime wants. Hopefully, they can make it happen.