After a long and extensive training camp in Florida, former Super Middleweight World Champion Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy expects to arrive in California this Saturday in excellent mental and physical shape and ready for his July 23rd bout against Colombian Epifanio Mendoza on ESPN’s Wednesday Night Fights at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, California.. Mendoza will arrive on Sunday after closing his dual city training camp in Miami and Las Vegas.
A 2000 United States Olympian, Jeff ‘Left Hook’ Lacy (23-1, 17 KO’s) has been one of boxing’s most consistently exciting performers since he turned pro in 2001. The former World Super Middleweight Champion from St. Petersburg, Florida will face 32-year-old Colombian Epifanio Mendoza (28-5-1, 24 KOs) in a 10 round super middleweight bout.
After his last bout on December 8, 2007 with Peter Manfredo Jr., Lacy changed trainers and is now working with head trainer Roger Bloodworth. The former World Champion commented on his opponent and what it’s like training with Bloodworth:
“Mendoza is coming to fight and he’s a gutsy fighter so we’ll be ready. I’m stronger, more determined, I have my punching power and my excitement on my side…if you didn’t get enough fireworks on the 4th of July, you’ll get them on the 23rd. I will guarantee you I will win on Wednesday night.”
“I went back to the basics with Roger Bloodwoorth,” Lacy continued. “It meant a lot to me to work with Bloodworth again…To go back to the basics and relearn what I had got away from recently. Now I’m correcting everything I’ve been doing wrong and will surprise everyone with my performance on the 23rd.”
Bloodworth, Lacy’s experienced trainer added, “This is a tough fight for Jeff. This is not just an opponent for him. You can not call a guy an opponent when he is 28-5-1 with 24 knockouts, so this is a tough match for him. We did not want a fight for Jeff where he can just knock out a guy and look good, we wanted a challenge and Epifanio will be a challenge for us.”
Jeff Lacy will hold an open media workout on the main casino floor adjacent to Serrano Cafe on Saturday, July 19 at 5 p.m. at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa.
The Official Weigh-In will take place on Tuesday, July 22 at 5 p.m. at the Mystique Lounge at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa.
Special guests for the July 23rd event will be Former Three-Time World Champion Winky Wright and current Ring Magazine World Lightweight Champion Joel Casamayor.
Tickets, priced at $35, $75 and $125, are still available and can be purchased at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa Box Office at (951) 755-5391 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the first bell rings at 6:30 p.m.
Lacy vs. Mendoza, a 10 round super middleweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions, will air live on ESPN2 beginning at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. This bout marks the first ever ESPN Wednesday Night Fights card at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa.