Video: Roy Jones Jr; Jeff Lacy

Jones vs LacyPhoto by Tom Casino / Square Ring Promotions – Two of the best left-hook punchers in boxing, 8-time world boxing champion Roy Jones, Jr. (53-5, 39 KOs) and former 2-time super middleweight title-holder Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy (25-2, 17 KOs), will square-off August 15th in the 12-round main event to determine whom the better “hooker” really is today, headlining the “Hook City” pay-per-view show live from the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi. Jones defends his NABO light heavyweight title against Lacy in “Hook City,” presented by Square Ring Promotions in association with Left Hook Promotions.

“We are very excited to be promoting “Hook City” on August 15 in Biloxi to settle the question, once and for all, of who is the best professional hooker in the sport of boxing,” said John S. Wirt, CEO of Square Ring Promotions. “While Jeff claims to have the best left hook, come the morning of the 16th, I think he may well be in the market for a new ring name.”

The “Hook City” pay-per-view show is being distributed by Square Ring Promotions, Inc. at 9:00PM ET/6:00PM PT in North America on cable and satellite via iNDemand, TVN, DirecTV and Dish Network for a suggested retail price of $34.95..

The Hall of Fame bound-Jones, fighting out of his native Pensacola (FL), has been a world champion in four divisions – middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight – and currently ranks among the top seven light heavyweights in all four major boxing organizations (WBO #2) and The Ring magazine.

St. Petersburg (FL) power-punching Lacy, rated No. 6 by the IBF and No. 9 by the WBO, is moving up in weight to fight living legend Jones as a light heavyweight for the first time. Former IBF and IBO super middleweight title-holder Lacy is coming off of a win by 10-round decision against Otis Griffin this past April.

In the 12-round co-feature for the vacant IBO cruiserweight crown, former world champion Danny “Green Machine” Green fights in the United States for only the second time, taking on South American light heavyweight king Julio Cesar “La Furia” Dominguez (20-4-1, 14 KOs). Former WBA light heavyweight titlist Green, who was also the interim WBC super middleweight champion, is the pride of Australia. He last fought in the U.S. seven years ago, stopping Rhon Roberts in the third round of their fight in Las Vegas.

Lightweight contender Verquan “The Show” Kimbrough (21-1-2, 7 KOs), former NABA and USBA champion, is also scheduled to fight on the PPV card in a 10-round bout.

All bouts are subject to change.

Tickets, priced at $150.00, $125.00, $100.00, $75.00, $50.00 & $25.00 are on sale and available at all Ticketmaster locations by calling 800.745.3000, on line at Ticketmaster.com and at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.

PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

Roy Jones, Jr.: “As you know, when I come, I bring it like I bring it. See that guy there taking pictures (Tom Casino), he’s called me ‘Captain Hook’ for years. I thought about it and said, well, my left is like a hook. What can I say? I was chosen for the challenge. When you’re challenged, it’s simple. A lot of guys in boxing do a lot of talking, but when it’s time they don’t step up to the plate. Jeff Lacy said he wants to fight Roy Jones and we’ll get it on.

“I have the best left hook in the game. Jeff Lacy has a very good hook. So, when you get a challenge like that, how can you say no? You can’t, not where I come from. I don’t know any decent person who could, straight up. Me and Roger (trainer Bloodworth) have a long history together. I’ve watched Jeff a long time, too. I love watching him fight because he is exciting. He has power in both hands. He was labeled with that nickname but he has a very good right hand, too. I’m looking forward to a wonderful night. I’ll be in shape, fab and fit. One thing, it’ll be a war going on out there. If you can’t be at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, check it out on pay per view because it’s going to be the battle of the hooks. Roy Jones, Jr., aka Captain Hook – the best hook in the business versus Jeff ‘Left Hook’ Lacy, who thinks he has the best hook. We’ll see.”

Jeff Lacy: “I’d like to thank Roy Jones, Jr. for taking the challenge. I’ve always watched him. He’s a great fighter. I’m glad to be one of the names on his roster. Too bad I’m going to be beating him. It still will be good to be on the roster.

“I’ve never been the type of person to do much talking. I do my talking in the ring. Come August 15th this fight is going to happen. Roy Jones agreed to it; I agreed to it. He’s bringing his hook – calls himself ‘Captain Hook,’ as you can see he’s dressed up in a captain’s uniform. I come as ‘Left Hook,’ the original, and I’m going to show that. We’re going to have a ‘Hook Night.”

Roy Jones Interview

Jones vs LacyHe is a classic puncher and I’m a classic boxer. The best fights we’ve had – Ali-Frazier, Ali-Foreman…when you bring that mix together it is always a classic fight. He’s strong and he’s got a powerful punch with both hands. I know that and I can’t deny my fans that fight.

All it takes is having a decent name and if they want to call me out just say when and where and I will be there. When he challenged me, he should have known right there you are going to get what you ask for. As far as his expectations and confidence…I think my mom was pretty confident I was going to be a girl, and look at me now.

What about Danny Green?

For me, I just do whatever comes next. I am the easiest person in the world to make a fight with and I think Danny Green knows that too. Danny Green will be fighting for the IBO Cruiserweight title and I have never won a title in that division and with him doing that it sounds very intriguing to me to go to Australia and lift the title out of his hands when he gets it. And if he gets it on the 15th and then I get mine later in the night, then we will cross that bridge.

I love the challenge and if you look at the photos of the presser I enjoy the entertainment. I am in this business because that is what God has blessed me to do and I enjoy entertaining people. I am a hooker and I’ve got the best hook in the business and I dressed up as Captain Hook and you know I’m not playing about my hook.

I think I am enjoying it more now because people doubt me now. I love for my bak to be against the wall.

Roy Jones has got to look at it like this…when you call me out, I can’t think about the next one. I know he’s not going to whoop me but I know it’s not going to be easy. Just because he lost against Taylor? Why is it in boxing that if you lose you may as well go home and cut your legs off and cut your arms off? But in MMA you can lose 4 or 5 times and be on TV the next week?.

If someone can make a name off my name, God bless’em. It means they had to use me to make their name. How remarkable must I be for them to make a name off me? I understand what he wants to do but for him right now it is not a good time. It’s not going to work out for him but that doesn’t change how hard I will work. I know how high the stakes are every time I go in the ring.

I have never fought a Smokin’ Joe Frazer prototype. That’s why this is the most intriguing fight for me. I thought Ali was the best ever and I still do and I thought his best and favorite opponent was Joe Frazer. I have never had that type of fight in front of me and now I’ve got one. I can’t wait and I’ll have the time of my life.

It took me a couple of years to figure it out but I had to speed it up from 95 mph to 105 mph because I’m a little older. And instead of turning a left hook on 5 I have to turn it up to 8 so when I hit him I know it will do something to him. The straight right hand used to be in X mode and now it is in a K8 like the state troopers use – a different kind of radar – but that is about all.

Hi, it’s Bernard…

I don’t even like your first name but what’s happening?

It’s the other Bernard…have you had to make adjustments due to losing some speed?

I had to throw that safe stuff out the window. Keeping my hands up? That got me KO’d twice. I said ‘you know what?’ that’s wrong for me. I am not that orthodox original type of fighter. Fighting with my hands up I am no good. I had to go back and re-drop my hands back down by my side, get my mouthpiece to stick and stick out my tongue and piss people off before I knock them out because that’s what I used to do and that was what I was best at. You can walk on the road and get killed or you can make your own path off the road and walk all day long.

So the adjustment I made was wrong. I calmed down and put my hands up and it messed me all up. When you start thinking you are not the same guy you think you need to change and that’s when you get messed up and that’s what I did. I thought I had to put my hands up and I started getting knocked out. I thought I was getting too old to be Roy Jones and I didn’t have the energy but the real problem was I didn’t have the work ethic to be Roy Jones. But I soon realized I’ve got everything it takes to be Roy Jones and all I’ve got to do is work harder.

Jeff Lacy Interview

There is always a chance for good fights because you’ve got fighters willing to fight each other. Roy had always made his mandatory’s. Roy Jones is willing to fight me. I am a warrior that is not going to back down from anybody and that is going to make a good fight.

Me, old? At your age would you call 32 young or old? Look at Bernard Hopkins – he’s still going strong. You are only as old as you feel and if I had to put a number on it I would say I feel 23.

When you are a mental person as I am you deal with things differently. I am now doming around to understanding the business of boxing a little better and learning to deal with it.

I have always followed Roy Jones. He is a guy that is a gentleman outside of the ring and goes in there and takes care of business. So how could you not like him?