Cocky Calzaghe Disses Jeff Lacy
By Robert Ecksel September 21st, 2006Joe Calzaghe rubs salt in Jeff Lacy’s wound
Undefeated Welsh super middleweight sensation Joe Calzaghe, with his body healed and his confidence soaring, is in training to defend his IBF/WBO titles against Sakio Bika on Saturday, October 14, at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester, England.
On the other side of the pond, Jeff “Left Hook� Lacy is preparing for his first outing (on the undercard of Winky Wright vs. Ike Quartey) since the drubbing he suffered at the hands of Calzaghe in December.
Should both fighters get by their next opponents, Lacy, after he’s had a few more fights, said he wants another shot at Joe Calzaghe.
When Joe heard that Jeff wants a rematch of their title fight, he responded cheekily: “Is this guy crazy or is he still concussed?
“I can give Lacy a thousand and six good reasons why he should not get a rematch against me, because that’s the number of times I landed with punches on the night, and I can count the number of times he caught me on one hand – four.”
“Lacy will never be the same fighter again after the one-sided beating I gave him. And how can he call for a rematch when the first fight wasn’t even close or controversial? The only controversy is why his corner didn’t pull him out of the fight sooner.
“If Lacy gets in the ring with me again I’m scared I will get arrested for aggravated assault!”
Calzaghe has every right to crow, he’s boxed his way to the top of the world. He not only showed up Lacy that night, he showed up us Yanks who naively thought Calzaghe was DOA. But Joe already made his statement. He has bigger fish to fry than Lacy, bigger fish to fry than Sakio Bika.
“It’s his buddies in Florida that I’m gunning for. Winky Wright and Antonio Tarver, who are both on the run from me,â€? said Calzaghe. “The only way I’ll get them in the ring is if a bounty hunter manages to catch ‘em!”
I think that cheeky Welshman Joe Calzaghe may be right.
HBO’s Boxing After Dark will televise Calzaghe’s title defense against Bika at 11 P.M. ET/PT. The bout will be broadcast live in the UK on ITV1.
September 21st, 2006 at 10:28 am
Poor Lacy, Joe will never fight him again, and deservedly so…. Lacy will always have the blemish on his career even if he goes on to be undisputed champ. Joe is right on questioning why he should give him a rematch, It was a clear ass thumping.
The sad thing is that Lacy really didn’t look like himself in that fight, put that together with Joe being an outstanding fighter and that is a recipe for DOOM.
September 21st, 2006 at 11:39 am
this guy is a chump hes spent his career running from guys (hand trouble)now he beat lacy and thinks hes the man!if lacy is noone then why did it propel joe to superstardom, fight kessler u retard then we’ll see.oh and winky wins hands down traver has the punchers chance and b-hop, well lets not get into that joe!
September 21st, 2006 at 12:27 pm
I would love for Hopkins to come out of retirement and put Calzaghe in his place.
September 21st, 2006 at 1:03 pm
Calzaghe did lay a one-sided beating on Lacy and really, nobody needs to see that again. Calzaghe against Kessler would be good and I expect Kessler to get the best of Beyer in October to remain undefeated. But seriously “winky wins hands down” against Calzaghe?!? Let’s not forget Joe can box more than just a bit and punch while Winky is a supreme boxer with little pop. Joe is a natural 168 pound fighter with good power - he has been at 168 his entire career - and Winky fought mostly at 154. Yes, I know Wright walks around at 175 but the weight would be too much for him to overcome.
September 21st, 2006 at 1:10 pm
JAMIE -CALZAGE has 20 TITLE defences has never lost in the pros and is asking for WRIGHT,TARVER, or HOPKINS.What more does he have to do .I think he is going to keep running through NAME fighters untill no one will have anything to saybut will be forced to accept his talent.Before CALZAGHE fought LACY everybody and I mean everybody said LACY would eat him up and spit him out then after he took LACYS best shot and told his corner “the guy cant punch for shit” and then humiliated him ,right away the haters (jamie marshall) come back with LACY was overrated and CALZAGHE is still a bum.If he is such a bum why does TARVER come up with any excuse he can think of as to why he won’t fight him whenever CALZAGHE’S name is mentioned.CALZAGHE MY MAN,KEEP TAKING THEM DOWN AND FORGET WHAT PEOPLE WHO JUDGE BOXERS BY THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN OR WHAT COUNTRY THEIR FROM THINK.THE REAL FANS APPRECIATE REAL TALENT WHEN WE SEE IT AND ONLY TIME WILL SOLIDIFY YOUR GREATNESS IN BOXING.PEACE
September 21st, 2006 at 2:38 pm
Joe Calzaghe is an arrogant (!@#$%^). How could he be cocky after beating Lacy when he is fighting a another no name fighter. And the only reason Winky Wright won’t fight him is because Calzaghe isn’t offering him crap to fight him. Calzaghe wants the pay cut like 80/ 20 when Wright is still the better pound for pound fighter. Calzaghe is wrong for how is talking about Lacy show some respect for your past opponents your not Muhammad Ali or Joe Louis. Most people in America don’t even know who he is and probably will never no who he is because he refuses to take a chance and fight a good fighter in America.
September 21st, 2006 at 3:46 pm
He wants Wright. he’s got the titles, why should he bow down to him?
Calzaghe’s easily in the same league as most of the US stars - and he’d eat up tarver the same as Hopkins.
September 21st, 2006 at 4:01 pm
Everyone in the US knows who Calzaghe is. Hopkins and Wright are much too small for Joe…Regarding fighting a good fighter in the states, I ask, how many times did the great Carlos Monzon fight over there?? Answer is only once…I hope he will fight there one day (he will) but it may or may not enhance his career so to speak.
Once he clears out the rest of the division he WILL go down as the greatest super middleweight ever.
September 21st, 2006 at 4:12 pm
this cat can blow me. tarver winky and b-hop espescially dismantle this guy. and i heard on this site that winky came to him for a fight and joe said its not time for them ti fight yet. and hes calling out a reitred hopkins, and over the hill tarver… and winky, hes pretty prime and will out dance him anyday
September 21st, 2006 at 4:51 pm
I always thought Joe was one of the nice guys in boxing. How wrong I was. He’s just like the rest of them, talking shit about a former opponent.
Fine, so he did trash the living daylights outta Lacy, but it never occurred to him that Jeff showed a lot of heart and Joe couldn’t even stop him? Besides, everyone knows that Jeff is MUCH LESS SKILLED than Joe. Of course the older, wiser and more experienced fighter will win hands down.
Jeff took his beating like a man. Joe should at least give him more credit for that.
September 21st, 2006 at 5:35 pm
hagler do u know even what ur talkin about didn’t pokin joe get droped by mitchell and escaped but i supose that was a fluke huh?and teufel b hop looked geat at 175 member this is where he started.knish hands down might be a little strong but joe don’t hit like tito and couldn’t even test his chin what makes u think joe can.oh and hagler 20 defense against who guys like mitchell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 21st, 2006 at 6:16 pm
Further more, Joe’s comments are much worse than some of the comments others like Floyd Mayweather jr have made. At least PBF doesn’t talk crap after beating opponents. He actually shows respect for his foes - including Arturo Gatti.
September 21st, 2006 at 7:20 pm
hey hagler u can just call me sugar
September 21st, 2006 at 9:20 pm
If we can’t respect calzaghe here in the united states. Then maybe he is respected were boxing matters. Even mayweather said joe was the truth. Thats right we admire mayweather and mayweather admires joe. The american fight fans and jeff himself deserves those horrible taunts. Though I do feel sorry for jeff lacy and I hope he can improve and have a good career.
September 21st, 2006 at 9:36 pm
Joe is acting like a punk. It upsets me when a guy has ONE good fight then starts talking like he’s a Hall of Famer. I’ll give Joe credit in that he has beaten everyone they’ve put in front of him, but who have they put in front of him? Chris Eubank, Charles Brewer, Omar Shieka, Byron Mitchell….that’s a pretty flawed group to say the least, and hardly Hall of Fame material. Yes, he dominated Jeff Lacy, but I think Jeff was built up a little too much by the media leading into the fight.
Hagler, you’re outta your mind with your comments. Jamie Marshall, I agree with most of your takes on this subject, except one major one. You implied Sugar beat Hagler……and that didn’t happen. That fight was 115-113 Hagler.
September 21st, 2006 at 10:46 pm
HEY JAMIE DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKIN ABOUT DIDN’T POKIN BERNARD HOPKINS get dropped by MERCADO(WHO)twice and escaped.I SUPPOSE THAT WAS A FLUKE HUH?
September 21st, 2006 at 10:49 pm
g-pal what about my comments are so CRAZY?
September 21st, 2006 at 11:04 pm
Wow, you guys have short memories. Calzaghe has no class for talking about Lacy after they fought? Does anyone remember Lacy suggesting that Joe had faked an injury to avoid fighting him? Or Lacy calling Joe a ’slapper’ or saying that he would knock him out?
Calzaghe didn’t say anything before the fight. He waited until the night and beat Lacy twelve rounds out of twelve, giving him a brutal beating in the process.
Lacy’s trainer Dan Birmingham (who also trains Winky Wright) called Calzaghe’s performance maybe the best he had ever seen in his life.
All Calzaghe is saying is the truth. Lacy was outclassed against him and took the beating of his life. Who would want to see this fight again? The same people who want to see Wright-Trinidad 2 or Hopkins-Tarver 2?
September 22nd, 2006 at 2:16 am
Where is all this ONE GOOD WIN garbage coming from? JC also beat Eubank, Reid, Woodhall, Brewer, Mitchell way before he spanked Lacy. All top ten super middles, flawed maybe, but all capable of beating top ten fighters. These were all title holders and all either good or dangerous boxers who could punch. Makes me laugh that ppl are saying that “Lacy is a no name” - the intention being to say Calzaghe has beaten no one of worth.
A lot of you guys spewing this nonsense - I wonder what you were saying about Calzaghe before last March? Maybe that “Lacy will Ko him”? As to Joe’s comments, Lacy and Shaw disrespected him in the build up to that fight, and now Lacy - after getting OWNED - has the nerve to call him out again. It’s Lacy who’s being absurd.
Calzaghe is now in a position where he can either fully unify super middle. Or win a version of the light heavyweight crown. The funny thing is, if he unifies with the Kessler-Beyer winner, he will probably be demanded to fight Lacy - one or two good wins & Lacy would probably be ranked again! So can anyone not see why Calzaghe is voicing his opinion on this matter?
September 22nd, 2006 at 3:33 am
One short thought.
Let’s see Cal. go for the “Big Names”. Put up or shut up.
I’m courious.
September 22nd, 2006 at 5:30 am
Hagler, Hopkins didn’t really escape - It was a draw if I remember. Besides, by all accounts he wasn’t motivated.
September 22nd, 2006 at 7:11 am
Yeah, I agree with ya sanderson, Calzaghe did beat some good opponents before Lacey. Eubank and Reid were the 2 top super middle’s back then. If you all can recall, Lacey did quit a bit of trash talking himself, including the media. Everyone kept talking about Lacey’s “power” non-stop before the fight. Lets remember Calzaghe was 41-0 w/ 31 KO’s–that’s also power. Lets also not forget one thing: who did Lacey fight before Calzaghe? didn’t he fight a Scott Pemberton and an over-the-hill Robin Reid? Lacey was too overrated. Lacey should not even be thinking about a rematch with Calzaghe. I think Calzaghe should try and unify the super middle division and work something out with an american TV network so we can see more of his fights.
September 22nd, 2006 at 7:32 am
yes all capable fighters but not world level and he doesn’t knock out these guys out,you want to see a real record of names just look at titos
September 22nd, 2006 at 7:59 am
Geez, fight fans throw more trash than the fighters they’re trashing. Simple: This is not too much of a diss. Calzaghe is right, and he HAS given serious props to Lacy, showed a lot of class after the fight. Lacy showed lots of heart but showed nothing to suggest that he could even compete against Calzaghe. Calzaghe did not insult him or his heart - he said the obvious truth: Lacy would be risking his career and his life on a puncher’s chance if he got in the ring with Joe again. Lacy’s a good fighter, but let’s call it style makes fights, and leave it.
Besides, Calzaghe may be fighting a “no-name”, but let’s face it, this is also a professional sport in which the ranked fighter gets his shot, and the champ NEVER fights one world-beater after the next. Bika is ranked, has fought some good guys and only lost by MD to a guy who drove Winky nuts (Soliman). Take a look at the records of ALL the champs you’ve loved for the last, say, hundred years. They all fought a few amazing fights every few years, with a bunch of guys you don’t remember in between. All of them. Calzaghe has an unblemished record against many of the best of his generation, and he’s not hinting at retirement.
you talk trash whenever a fighter claims a broken hand or some other major injury? Pull your head out of the fridge for a moment - a fighter with a broken hand risks millions of dollars and the future of his career and family if he fights without his tools. He’s be a moron to fight if he isn’t healed. A bright fighter is one who picks his risks well. Except Hagler, and no, Roldan didn’t knowck him down. If they don’t get dropped, we say they’re untested; if they get dropped and get up and beat the haggis out of the best fighters in the world, we say they are CHAMPIONS. And they almost all eventually lose because there s someone out there better. If it doesn’t happen for a long time, then they proved themselves, and we say they were smart not to take too many stupid risks, because, look they’re not punch drunk and they have retirement money.
You may not like this or that fighter, but at least pay attention to the sport. Tell me what you think of him after another five years and with his record in front of you.
Keep punching -
MCOLA
September 22nd, 2006 at 11:46 am
SUPRISE SUPRISE!!!
The yanks come out in force when their man gets dissed spreading mouth bout how their men can whoop Calzaghes ass..PMSL Joes called everyone out and fact be known none wants to trade,at the end of the day if Calzaghe came to the States hed get the same dissing as Hatton, hed get bid outta fights, the dates with the sports networks wont find the days,,we’ve heard it all before,yes americas got some good fighters,,not super fighters, and god forbid it nobody who isnt american is allowed to be a great fighter,,at the end of the day like it or not Joe is going down as a hall of famer, he would beat Hopkins (was great but now past it,thats exactly what would be stated if joe beat him),wright and tarver would be credible opponents but never fought somone of Calzaghes calibre,,either way lets face it Joe doesnt need the states,,Tarver or Winky need him to be classed as the best,Hopkins sealed his destiny without the fight.
September 22nd, 2006 at 11:46 am
I think Joe is a good fighter but I think he’s a little out of his league calling out Winky Wright. Let’s admit it Lacey is garbage…going into the fight everyone knew that his defense was sub-parr at best. By the way, when will Joe ever fight outside of England. Winky is tried and true…he will fight anybody and any where. For Joe to even think Winky is ducking him, he needs to check Winky’s record of opponents. For Winky Joe is not a big name fighter here in the states and is somewhat pointless.
September 22nd, 2006 at 7:11 pm
I think Joe can beat Winky at the 168lb limit. Joe is a natural super middle and has good power. Winky is a 154-160lb fighter at his best. The super middle and light heavy divisions haven’t had the best recognition since Roy Jones. Roy Jones Jr. was always criticized for fighting “nobody’s”, but it wasn’t his his fault. He beat almost everyone (i know he never fought Dariusz Michalczewski, but neither fighter ever wanted to go to one another’s country to put up or shut up!) Joe Calzaghe should maybe try and line up a fight with Allan Green or Antonio Tarver.
September 22nd, 2006 at 7:40 pm
I appreciate what dantae says but us Brits think exactly the opposite,to us Winky is only tested against over hyped fighters and Calzaghe is definatley under rated by those in the states, there is no one within the division that Calzaghe wouldnt dominate ,,,,,and with relative ease but trying to get the big name americans to fight him is a test itself,,Winky wont go there which is understandable,,ive not always been a Calzaghe fan but on seeing him fight in the flesh hes the real deal,,maybe not some gun ho fighter but having seen Winky and Tarver together he aint got nothing to fear from either and would double their work rate,,if he won on points it would be no worse than their fight.At the end of the day why should Calzaghe fight in the states ? why not Tarver or Winky in Britain,,fact be known they got they got no balls,,Joe would fight either side of the Atlantic,,they would fight neither side. All you gotta do is see what Don King is promoting these days to know boxing in the states is like american wrestling,,,a stage show!
Here in the UK we know the fight will be judged fairly and with credible opponents and not over hyping either opponent ,,Sorry dantae Winkys record might read big in the states but it certainly doesnt here in the uk,,and certainly no better than Joes
September 22nd, 2006 at 10:02 pm
Joe is great whether you like him or not. I understand why joe is insulting lacy, but fans talk about jeff being a bum only to discredit joes masterful win. I would like to see jeff get his stuff together and put an end to the insults from the boxing fans .at least he was or is still a warrior of the sport. If it would have been winky who destroyed lacy like that , then I’d doubt he’d fell off the map so quickly. Thanks to this kind of attitude towards joe we americans get to watch great fights like wright vs quartey and taylor vs ouma. Did our great roy jones get this kind of disrespect outside the u.s
September 23rd, 2006 at 1:16 pm
Hagler, perhaps I was a bit harsh in my assessment of your comments, and for that I apologize; however, I think you have been prone to hyperbole when discussing Joe’s career. It seems the label of “greatness” is being thrown around a little too loosely in today’s boxing. True he has beaten everyone they put in front of him, but it’s been an average lot of supermiddles since Joe has been there.
It’s fine for him to call out Tarver and Hopkins now, but they are 38 and 41 respectively.
September 23rd, 2006 at 7:00 pm
I wanted to remind people that Jeff Lacy dissed Calzaghe many times before they fought and Calzaghe reserved his right to respond until he started to do so with his gloved fists and superior talent in the ring. Secondly, how many of you all know that Jeff Lacy, the hypocrite wore an English jersey and said that he was fighting for the British people when he took on Calzaghe, who he said was basically Italian. Jeff Lacy cannot box and I would love to see Calzaghe in the ring with him again.
Juan.
September 24th, 2006 at 2:51 pm
With all do respect dan, for you to say that ‘Winky has defeated over hyped fighters’ and ‘Joe is the most under rated fighter’ in the same sentence is absurd. Also, let’s make something clear…my comments have nothing to do with British vs. Americans. It is simply dealing with the facts at hand. Winky has fought and defeated other boxers in their hometown. Joe can’t make that claim. A world champion who hasn’t fought outside his hometown, sounds a little lame to me. I think we all agree that we would simply like to see good matches. However, for you to suggest that Joe is not part of the problem and that it’s only U.S. fighters than any future comments you want to make should cease because it’s clear you are biased and not a true fan of the sport.
September 25th, 2006 at 2:56 am
Calzaghe always been the same he’s got a mouth on him. Joes beat loads of good fighters but obviously not the overhyped American superheroes. Shame they wouldnt and wont fight him.
October 2nd, 2006 at 6:34 pm
Give me a break, just because Joe hasn’t fought anyone in the US doesn’t mean he’s not a good fighter. Lacy was absolutely destroying people and people were even comparing him to Tyson. Calzaghe beat the same no name fighters that Lacy beat: Reid, Sheika, and etc. The problem isn’t Calzaghe, but the lack of talent in the Super Middleweight. Check the current rankings!
http://www.fightnews.com/rankings2.htm
It amazes me that an American fighter can fight no name fighters and he is the next Tyson and when a European fighter fights the same people and wins he is a nobody. THEN, when that European fighter absolutely destroys the American fighter he becomes a chump that needs to be put in his place. If the American public can support Klitschko, Tszyu, Hatton, Lewis, etc., why not support Calzaghe? Calzaghe has been calling out Roy Jones Jr and Tarver for a while now and everyone has been dodging him. Calzaghe has repeatedly said he is after money since it is the end of his career so he is causing some waves to finally get noticed. After ignoring him, now people are calling him a loudmouth for getting the medias attention.
Is Kessler going to bring in any money? Absolutely not, so why fight him? Tarver needs to stop running like a wuss.
October 2nd, 2006 at 6:39 pm
Wright better not fight Calzaghe, it is a mismatch. Lacy could punch, let’s face the fact that Wright is not a one punch (or even multiple punch) knock out artist. If Lacy could not hit or hurt Calzaghe what makes you think Wright will?! Wright looked terrible against Taylor and Calzaghe is stronger and MUCH more active. If anything, the fight will be boring since Wright will spend all night in his shell and Calzaghe will win from his activity and boxing ability. I think that will be a boring fight. Tarver is where the money is at since Antonio actually has knock out power and his one hit reputation (similar Rahman) of the aging Jones Jr. Calzaghe can’t find a fight as there is no one in his class! Tayloer? Get outta here!!
October 9th, 2006 at 3:06 pm
Super JOE CALZAGHE is now a proven warrior in the ring and fighters are now standing up and taking notice of the italian dragon. Nobody wants to fight joe after his demolition of Jeff ‘no hook’ Lacy. Bring on any fighter at super middleweight or light heavyweight and watch him take them apart hopefully in the presence of the super welsh supporters in the millenium stadium.
November 23rd, 2006 at 4:04 pm
Calzaghes words straight after the lacy fight:
“Lacy is a true warrior and showed a lot of heart,” Calzaghe explained. “He was a gentleman throughout the entire promotion and I give him credit. I really thought I had him a few times, but he hung in there like a champion.”
He’s only said the words in this article in response to more lacy comments.
February 25th, 2007 at 8:11 am
some of the rubbish that americans come out with. the only reason that joe spoke out like this is because he’s bemused that lacy wants a rematch. its an insult for joe to be asked for a rematch. you usually get a rematch if the first fight was relatively close or controversial.
May 14th, 2007 at 5:35 am
What about jeff Lacy dissing Joe before the fight? calling him a slapper etc. He got his Balls knocked in and deserves the abuse he’s getting. As for calzaghe fighting nobodys, he’s beat 6 former world champions and one current world champion. And on top of that, immediately after the fight when he was being interviewed at ringside he gave Lacy the credit for with standing such a cruel beating. One more thing, does anyone have the same speed as joe in his divison? not by a long shot
June 18th, 2007 at 4:29 am
everyone talks about joe beating chris eubank, rubbish, joe fought an old man who was way out of his time.
lacy losing to joew was a big career error lacy, why because the man went to knock him out in the first round, instead boxing.
i dont think joe is a good fight, i think he was luck. the fight again the africa in the uk, that fight shows he is overrated.
if joe wants to prove he is a good fighter, let him rematch lacy. and trust he will get done good
May 1st, 2008 at 4:55 pm
I hear lacey never even really trained for the fight due to a shoulder injury and because he smashed pretty much everyone he fought he didn’t push it back