My Top 10 Best Dominating Performances of the 2000's (UPDATED)

Ignorance is bliss, isn't it.

 

Yes. He was regarded as the best SMW by most experts entering the Calzaghe fight (personally I disagreed because I base rankings on resume) and a heavy favorite not only to win, but to win by overwhelming knockout. You cannot take that away retroactively, even if the fight may have proved the experts wrong (well, that only proved Calzaghe's quality in my book). The experts and writers used the same thinking they had been using over the decades, and most came up ranking Lacy 1st and picking Lacy to win, no brutal beatdown or unfortunate shoulder injury (which made a limited but physically very strong two-handed knockout artist a shadow of his former self) can take that away.

One of the worst things boxing fans do - many of them writers and experts - is thinking backwards in time, and if you do that, it's easy to come up with small Tito, small Pavlik, overrated Lacy, overrated Hamed, undertrained Barrera, but the reality is, AT THE TIME boxing regarded them as elite, and most people picked them to win bigtime, and that's what you can't take away.



ONTOPIC:

Very nice list, if I could add just 2 more, maybe I'd add Mijares UD Arce, such a superb display of technical skills vs. the heavily favored Arce, and Montiel TKO Castillo, a truly shocking beatdown of a great fighter.

 

Just because "experts" considered him elite doesn't make it so...

 

So what does then, if not the experts of our sport?

 

Using your argument, nothing is ever set in stone unless the experts say so. Most experts now admit that Lacy was overrated and that he was hyped up quite a bit, so what does that mean??... its easy to buy into hype, even for experts. The truth is, Lacy always had limited abilities and is just not all that good. Tell me how you think he is or ever was elite??? He never once beat another elite fighter or even a legitimate champion, so how did you come to this conclusion ?

 

oh and BTW -- what makes you elite .. is WINNING FIGHTS AND PROVING IT IN THE RING...... not what experts say outside the ring.

 

Does no one remember Mayweather v Gatti that was one of the most one sided beatings in the ring I've ever seen in my life honestly I don't think Gatti landed 1 punch despite whatever the compubox said.

 

no...

now There are many things of which a wise man might wish to be ignorant of, jeff lacy pre 2006 is'nt one of them, you however umhhh :think


The greatest ignorance is to reject something you know nothing about and roll out cliche after cliche,in an effort to discredit the opinion of another poster/boxer in order to suit your own agenda,now i suggest you take your pre pubescant rhetorical limitations and go suck a fart out of a rats arse because you will get more air out of that than of me forthwith....

no reply needed as no response forthcoming,now wipe yourself down dear your drooling.

 

He won enough fights for experts and most of you guys, probably you as well, put him on the top of the list and made him a heavy favorite over Calzaghe. You don't regard the best SMW, heavily favored to win the lineal/The Ring championship vs. #2, an elite figher? If not, let it be you problem. Experts did, and their opinion is better then mine or yours.

 

and just because you consider him 'not to be' makes it so??

oops i just contradicted myself by replying to him,and on ESB aswell,it must be a first,who'd have thought it!!

very short memories indeed,'fickle' and 'double standards' spring to mind.

 

yes he was over hyped..

but not to the extent you people make out,calzaghe took his soul that night he was never the same fighter afterwards,ANYONE WITH A HEAD CAN SEE THAT DUHHHH..

he was a stammering drooling wreck for months afterwards,watch his interviews!!

look at that idiot base'ing lacy's ability on his post calzaghe career,simpleton

 

Wow, looks like I got on someone's nerves You can calm down now, I have no interest in debating someone as dogmatic as you. You have the right to believe whatever you want, but the fact still remains... Lacy never proved himself once in the ring to be an elite fighter, just look at his record. The great thing about looking into the past is seeing things in hindsight.. And when looking back, it is quite easy to see that Lacy was an exciting fighter with a lot of KO's who was very marketable , I used to think he was the next big thing as well.. so it is easy to understand why he became hyped as an "elite" fighter... For whatever reason (I can assume you don't want Calzaghes resume to be weakened further, maybe not though) you still regard Lacy as a elite fighter when he faced Joe, while the majority of boxing fans have moved past that illusion.

 

Oh the good old "Calzaghe Ruined Him" argument .... you bring shame to the name Socrates.

 

JAMES TONEY
"Joe Calzaghe-Jeff Lacy is a mismatch. Lacy is going to destroy that boy. He's too strong, he's a fighter - he's proved himself. "Calzaghe never did anything. He beat Chris Eubank nine years ago, but what has he done since then? He's a joke, that's why he keeps pulling out of fights. I wouldn't be surprised if he pulled out of this one. Everybody in the UK is over-protected, but Lacy will be OK, because he's a fighter."

JONES JR
"Lacy wins, and I'll tell you why. One of the main factors that would lead to a Lacy win is Calzaghe's heart. "I'm not saying Calzaghe dosen't have heart, I'm saying he has too much! "When Lacy nails Calzaghe and hurts him then Joe will try to get payback, and then he will be open to really get hurt - which he will."

Hank Kaplan - Calzaghe is a smart fighter in the ring, but I think Lacy is too much for him. I like Lacy in this fight. I think Lacy should stop him.

Tim Smith - This is the toughest fight in the career of either man, but I like Lacy because of his strength and power. I like Lacy by decision.

Ron Borges - Although I give Calzaghe a chance to win, I think in the end age and too many years fighting inferior competition will get to him. So will a Jeff Lacy left hook, one that will drop him and hurt him badly enough that he can't continue. Jeff Lacy by TKO in 10.

Sammy Rozenberg - I see Calzaghe hustling Lacy for most of the fight with his boxing skills, until Lacy catches up to him in the later rounds and ends it. Lacy in 11 by KO.
Glenn Wilson - I've been looking forward to this for quite a while. Both fightes know that they are facing the best opponent they have ever been in the ring with. I see this going two rounds. Round one, Calzaghe picks his shots and grabs when he feels Lacy's power. Round two, both fighters opening up and Lacy catches Calzaghe to ends it. I believe there will be twelve rounds of action packed into two rounds.

David Sauvage - Jeff Lacy is going to come in strong and wild, looking to brawl and pummel. But the Welshman, though known for brawling himself, can safely be called a veteran of the game. Calzaghe could still end up like most of Lacy's other opponents, but my gut tells me a smart Calzaghe beats a green Lacy by way of an exciting twelve-round decision.

Eric Rineer - Joe Calzaghe has been the man in this division for a long time. He's got a remarkable record and he's the more experienced fighter. The match even takes place in England. All the odds seem to favor him. However, Jeff Lacy is an animal in the ring and he is hungry to add another title. He's fought in England before, and he's won in England before. I think the younger, hungrier man wins this fight regardless of where it's being held. Jeff Lacy by KO in 8 rounds.

Larry Tornambe - Jeff Lacy will see this opportunity as his crossing of the threshold to greatness. I am not saying that he'll be considered great by winning this fight, but it will be the beginning of what we'll be talking about in 10 years with respect to Lacy's career. Joe will do his best to use his experience, but it'll be Lacy winning by late TKO.

TK Stewart - I like Calzaghe in this one. I think overall he is a better fighter, has more experience, and has proven that when the going gets tough he can get going. Don't forget that Calzaghe has never lost and it always takes a lot to beat a seasoned, undefeated fighter fighting in front of a partisan crowd. I think a lot of Americans are going to be surprised by Calzaghe and I like him by stoppage, probably around the eighth or ninth round

Mark Workman - Short and sweet. I've never believed that Joe Calzaghe could stand up to the awesome power of the Tampa Bay banger, Jeff "Left Hook" Lacy. I expect Lacy to rain down a torrent of uppercuts and trademark left hooks upon Calzaghe and completely demolish him. I don't see it going beyond round nine.

Carlos Irusta - I see Lacy winning, because he has more power than Calzaghe, who never lived up to fans' expectations.

Evan Korn - Lacy will overwhelm Calzaghe en route to a second round KO.

Don Caputo - Out with the old, in with the new. Five years ago, Calzaghe's hand speed and limitless stamina may have been enough to tame the ferocious Lacy. But after years of stagnation against sub par opposition, it is very hard to see Joe emerging victorious on Saturday night against perhaps the most powerful opponent he has ever faced. Of course he will have the home advantage and still possesses superb boxing skills, but I'm going with the younger and considerably stronger Lacy by late stoppage. A barrage of punches around the 9th round will signal the end of the Welshmans long reign - but expect him to go out on his shield.

Adam Pollack - Should be a good one. I'm going with Calzaghe, but it will be a nail biter waiting to see what happens when he gets hit.

Tom Donelson - Calzaghe wins by a decision.

Joe Harrison - I think Jeff Lacy lacks the skills and experience that Joe Calzaghe has. However, Calzaghe is past his prime and this should be a very difficult fight for him. Surely, Lacy will eventually connect with one or two of those wild left and right hooks that not even Calzaghe can shake off.
Lacy over Calzaghe by 8th round KO

Johnny Ortiz -
Prediction: Calzaghe by decision

Dr. Peter Edwards - Lacy's defense is the difference in the fight. I've seen fighters like Omar Sheika stun Lacy with his big punches. I think Calzaghe will catch him cold with a big punch and puts him away in 10.

Paul Gallegos - Unless the world of boxing is turned upside down, I fully expect Jeff "Left Hook" Lacy to roll right through Calzaghe. This is Lacy time and as one of the few athletes in the sport who never lets himself get out of shape, this match shouldn't be a problem. Calzaghe has the experience edge and the crowd, but I really feel that youth must be served in this instance. There are holes in Lacy's shield as far as defense is concerned, but he has overcome many of these obstacles by reinventing himself with outstanding power and unfettered will. Lacy by KO in the seventh.

James Blears - This is going to be Jeff Lacy’s fight “hands down.” Lacy who’s known as “Left Hook,” has accused Joe Calzaghe of being a “Slapsie.” This has stung Joe, who’s recovering from a broken hand and who’s hands are notoriously brittle. I think the action is going to be explosive. Lacy looks ripped, ready and ravenous. It almost reminds me of Marvin Hagler vs. Alan Minter, all those years ago. Joe hasn’t faced a quality lineup in his career, yet Jeff is as awesome as they come at this weight. I don’t think it’ll go more than four rounds. During that time Jeff will overpower and knock out Joe. Joe has a champion’s heart and has never tasted professional defeat, so he will initially get up. There’ll be several thrills and spills before it ends. Let’s hope the Manchester crowd isn’t too disappointed and show their sporting class when this happens.

Matthew Hurley - Lacy TKO 8 Calzaghe

Matt Aguilar - I wonder if Lacy's airline will allow him to carry on all three belts (the IBF, IBO, and the WBO) as he returns home or if they will have to be checked?

Amy Green - Lacy might not be Steve Collins, but he is younger, stronger, and essentially fearless, and it’s hard to see how Calzaghe can keep him at bay all night. Joe is as game as they come, but look for Lacy to wear him down and possibly stop him in the late rounds.

George Kimball - Calzaghe has been dropped in the past and it may only take one of Lacy's jackhammers to turn the fight in his favor. I think he does land that punch, and it is all downhill for Calzaghe after that.

Joey Knish - Calzaghe will run but he can't hide from Lacy's pressing attack. When he's forced to fight, the southpaw from Wales will square up and resort to wide, slapping arm-punches. He will then get dropped – hard. Lacy's also guilty of occasionally loading up, especially the overhand right, but he's not as bad as his opponent. The Floridian's defense, speed and agility is improving with each bout. His brutal combinations never lose their force and snap. Youth and strength will trump experience Saturday night. Lacy KO 8.

Zachary Levin - Everybody's big on Jeff Lacy and some are discounting the prowess of Joe Calzaghe. Not me. I think the fight has great potential and may be the bout both fighters need to bring out the best of one another. Personally I think Calzaghe isn't given the credit he's due. He's a strong, determined and skilled fighter fighting in front of his crowd. Lacy has been looking better and better but is on enemy territory. Lacy's not all he's cracked up to be and Calzaghe has more than people give him credit for. On his home soil – Calzaghe via unanimous decision.

Scott Mallon - I think Lacy is going to have a lot tougher night than he expected, but his youth, speed, power, and ferocity should garner him a late round victory. Lacy TKO 10.

Bob Mladinich - Joe should have his early innings – between pride, hand speed and 40,000 at the MEN Arena screaming for him – but, ultimately, he’ll be
bludgeoned into the canvas by the eighth round.

Joe Rein - I see Calzaghe down for the count in Round 7.

Benn Schulberg - Lacy might be something special. Calzaghe should be the test to prove it. Lacy will past the test.