Jeff Lacy Headlines Tyson-Etienne Undercard
05.02 - Undefeated WBC Continental Americas super middleweight champion JEFF "LEFT HOOK" LACY will headline the undercard of the Mike Tyson - Clifford Etienne extravaganza, Saturday, February 22, at The Pyramid in Memphis, TN. Lacy, 12-0 (10 KOs), from Tampa, FL, will rumble against former world title challenger James Crawford, 37-3-2 (16 KOs), from Grinnell, IA, in a 10-round super middleweight bout. Taped highlights of this fight will be featured on the SHOWTIME Championship Boxing / SHO HDTV telecast of Tyson-Etienne, beginning at 10 P.M. ET /10 P.M. PT.
Lacy returns to the ring fresh from his most impressive victory as a professional, where he stepped up in class of opposition to win a 12-round unanimous decision over WBC Continental Americas super middleweight champion and former world title challenger Ross Thompson, 25-6-1 (17 KOs), November 9, 2002. The fight was televised by SHOWTIME. It was only the second time Lacy had been extended past the third round as a professional. Not too bad considering Thompson had 10 year's worth of professional experience compared to Lacy's 18 months; and nearly three-times as many professional fights and a winning percentage exceeding 78%! The judges scored it 117-111, 118-10, 116-112. In addition to winning Thompson's title, Lacy also became the USBA's No. 1 contender.
Lacy, a former U.S. National Amateur champion, earned a spot on the 2000 U.S. Olympic team, with an amateur record of 209-12. In the Olympic Trials, Lacy went undefeated outscoring his opponents by the combined margin of 62-23. He followed that with a gold medal at the Olympic Box-Offs, earning him U.S. Olympian status.
Following the Olympics, where he made it to the third round, Lacy made his pro debut, February 2, 2001, knocking out Jerald Lowe in the first round. The lethal punch was a left hook to the body. Not bad for a pro debut that had to be postponed from January 31, 2001, when the scheduled opponent, Kevin Butts, pulled out of the bout the morning of the fight - despite having his purse TRIPLED! - rather than face this heralded Olympic bomber. Known for a great left hook, and superior hand speed and power punching, the "Lacy Express" is steaming to a long and promising boxing future.
Crawford, who goes by the ring name "The Smooth One," is on a four-bout winning streak since his unsuccessful world title challenge against undefeated IBF super middleweight champion Sven Ottke in 2001. Crawford's winning percentage of 88% is a product of his powerful jab and slick combinations. His resume boasts several regional titles as both a super middleweight and a light-heavyweight.
