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'New' Lacy Is Eager To Showcase Ability

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By EDDIE DANIELS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 23, 2008

TAMPA - He looks the same, the name hasn't changed, but Jeff Lacy is adamant: he's a brand-new boxer.

The St. Petersburg super middleweight admits he hasn't set the world on fire in his last three fights. He lost to Joe Calzaghe in 2006, losing his IBO super middleweight belt; he beat Vitali Tsypko by majority decision later that year; and he beat Peter Manfredo Jr. by unanimous decision in December.

When he steps in the ring tonight against Epifanio Mendoza in the main event of ESPN2's "Wednesday Night Fights" at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, Calif. - the old Lacy will be gone.

"People don't understand, when I had to fight Vitali Tsypko, I tore my rotator cuff in the second round and I had to struggle through that fight mentally and physically and say, 'You know what, I'm not going to let this guy beat me' and tough it out to win. ... A year later, coming off that torn rotator cuff and fighting Peter Manfredo, I had the muscle definition problem where it made me tight. I had to mentally and physically tough that fight out and pull out another unanimous decision victory.

"Now, this is the first fight where I feel I'm 110 percent mentally and physically strong and ready. I've dotted my I's, crossed my T's and I don't see anything stopping me from this point."

Lacy (23-1, 17 KOs) amicably split from trainer Dan Birmingham following the Manfredo fight and returned to trainer Roger Bloodworth, whom he worked with for 15 fights.

He also added a new strength and conditioning coach in Tony Brady, who has worked with the late Diego Corrales, a three-time title holder; and two-time champion Joel Casamayor, among others.

"He's a different fighter now than from the last time I trained him," Bloodworth said. "He's been through a lot, has had more experience. It's not like training a guy that's just starting. I was with Jeff from the beginning through the 15th fight and he had some things happen to him after that. He won his championship, lost his championship, was hurt twice. He's gone through that, so he's really a different person. I think he's a more determined fighter now. I think he feels he has some things to prove, and he is determined to prove it.

"He's worked very hard on regaining his skill level he needs and I think he, barring anything unforeseen happening, is going to have a good showing."

Despite the lack of name recognition, Mendoza (28-5-1) is a boxer Lacy believes will give him a challenge.

Mendoza's last fight came against light heavyweight and former WBC champ Chad Dawson in September. He lost via a fourth-round TKO.

"I know he's coming to fight, and by his ring record it shows I'm not taking an easy fight," Lacy said. "This guy is 28-5 with 24 knockouts. So I'm willing to get in there with somebody's who's going to fight me, not run. And I'm going to show everybody what I have to offer."

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214 or edaniels@tampatrib.com.

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