29.07.05 – By Malik Lee: A week from tomorrow, we will see a rare event in the ring when two Championship belts holders clash with one super middleweight possibly coming out of the ring with more bling than when he entered. International Boxing Organization (IBO) belt holder Robin “Grim Reaper” Reid will fight International Boxing Federation (IBF) belt holder Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy, Saturday Aug 6 at 6 pm pacific time not on pay per view airing on Showtime East from St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida.
The tale of the tape for Robin Reid (38-4-1, 27 KO’s) vs. Jeff Lacy (19-0, 15 KOs) bout scheduled for 12 rounds reads as follows: English fighter Robin Reid, hometown Runcorn, England 34-years-old, standing 5’ 9” with a reach of 76” scrapping from a orthodox stance. American fighter Jeff Lacy, hometown St. Petersburg, Florida 28-years-old, standing 5’ 9” with a reach of 74” scrapping from a orthodox stance.
Reid is making his first trip state side landing in Lacy’s backyard for the union of the IBO and IBF entities. Reid having held the IBO belt since winning the belt in June of 2004 after beating Brian Magee in Northern Ireland. His next fight was a six rounder against Ramdane Serdjane (17-19-3) that he won on points in February of this year.
Lacy fighting in his hometown and home state for the first time ever in a prizefight, won his IBF Championship belt with a win over Syd Vanderpool in October 2004 (TKO 8). His second title defense and last appearance in the ring March of this year he beat up on Rubin Williams (TKO 7). Las Vegas, Nevada the site of his last three fights also had the chance to sell tickets to his first IBF title defense against Omar Sheika in December 2004 (UD 12).
Reid’s last lost was December of 2003 in a title bout against Sven Ottke (UD 12) with the IBF and WBA Super Middleweight belts. Reid won the WBF super middleweight belt in December of 2000 beating a late replacement Mike Gormley (TKO 1). He held the belt for five title defenses winning his last defense in July 2002 Reid had not lost since the millennium when he went (5-4) from 1997-2000. His first lose came to Thulane “Sugar Boy” Malinga to end 1997. Before the fight with Maglinga his fame in the ring led him to modeling for a women’s magazine doing nude photo-shoots, a great back up pay check that became more important after he lost his WBC championship belt making his fourth title defense.
Lacy has held a championship belt ever since winning the WBC Continental Americas Super Middleweight belt against Ross Thompson (November 2002) held at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (UD 12). Lacy defended the title five times capturing a few other belts during while making four belt defenses. The first the USBA championship belt in his first defense on February 2003 by roughing up James Crawford (TKO 2), then the NABA championship belt in his third defense July of 2003 a unanimous decision against Richard Grant at the Playboy Mansion nestled in lovely Beverly Hills within sunny California.
Reid started his pugilism for money in February 1993 at the weight of 159 pounds against Mark Lee Dawson (TKO 1). He weighed in at 159 pounds for his last appearance in the ring. Lacy began his pugilism for greenbacks in February 2001 at the weight of 170 pounds, putting to sleep Jerald Lowe (KO 1). He weighed in at 167 pounds for his last emergence in the ring.
If a one of the fighters wins, they will wear the IBO and IBF championship belts however to unify the super middleweight division the winner will need to beat the WBO belt held by Joe Calzaghe, WBC champ Markus Beyer, and WBA king Mikkel Kessler.
Reid’s past includeds a record in the ballpark of 100-30 in the amateurs at least 30 or 40 international fights including the Olympics. In 1992, he won the bronze medal in the Olympic games in Spain, a silver medal in the world juniors, a bronze in a Sardinia Multi Nations Tournament and a bronze in the Turkey Multi Nations Tournament.
Showtime reveals a look into Lacy’s past growing up one of nine children, Lacy and three of his siblings were raised in St. Petersburg by their father, Hydra. A former boxer, Hydra competed in the 1968 U.S. Olympic Trials and went 13-4-1 in the pros. Two of Lacy’s older brothers spent time in jail. Lacy went 209-12 in the amateurs, won numerous competitions and made it to the second round of the 2000 Olympics.