Jeffrey Scott Lacy was born on May 12, 1977 in St. Petersburg, Fla. to Hydra Lacy, Sr. and Sarah Hill. They were a large and close family unit, with six boys and three girls. In October of 2004, his mother passed away, just days before he became a world champion. When young Jeff was just in elementary school, his father sent him to the gym as punishment for fighting in school. It may have been the very best thing that Hydra could have done for him. “They put me in the ring with some guy that knew how to fight,” remembers Lacy. “I got beat up that day. I kept coming back every day to fight him again. I went to the trainer in the gym who was Dan Birmingham. He told me not to worry about that but to sign up and they would teach me, and that’s what I did..”
At Gibbs High School, he played basketball,and football.
“I didn’t like the team sports as much,” he says. “I tried them and didn’t like them, but boxing was different and I was getting good at it.”
He was good at boxing indeed and went on to win the 1998 U.S. National Amateur Championship; 1998 National PAL Championship,; 1888 National PAL Championship and earned a spot on the 2000 United States Olympic Boxing Team.
In all, he had 210 amateur fights.
He turned to the professional ranks in 2001 and under the eye of Dan Birmingham and manager Jay Prince’s guidance,, he won the IBF super middleweight title on October 2, 2004 stopping tough southpaw Syd Vanderpool in the 8th round in Las Vegas.. He successfully defended that title and added an IBO championship along the way.
On March 4, 2006, he lost his crown to undefeated Britisher Joe Calzaghe in Manchester, United Kingdom. over the distance.
:”Calzaghe was a great fighter and I learned a lot in that fight.” He admits. “I’m moving up to meet Roy Jones, who is another great fighter and I’m going to be well
prepared.”
Along the way, Jeff Lacy picked up the tag of “Left Hook” Lacy because of his devastating left hook power. Roy Jones, Jr. has also been praised for having a great
left hook.
“We’re going to see who has a better hook,” said Jones. “That’s why we tagged this fight – Hook City.”
Jeff Lacy is still single and has no immediate plans to change that. He loves to fish and do anything outdoors. He also likes watching good movies ;like
Peaceful Warrior and enjoys rap, country and R & B music.
As a young boxer, he loved watching Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield fight.
“Evander was my favorite fighter,” says Lacy. “He came to fight and gave it his all,
every time. He was always in great condition too. I still have a lot of respect for him.”
On August 15 in Biloxi, Mississippi, he’s facing one of the great boxers of all-time in eight-time world champion Roy Jones, Jr.
“I’ve been a fan of Roy Jones, Jr. for a long time,” said Lacy. “He’s one of the great fighters and has challenged all fighters. Roy is still one of the most feared fighters in the game and like myself, loves to fight the best in the business. We both come to fight and that will make it one of the most exciting fights of the year. I’m looking forward to August 15.”
JEFF “Left Hook” LACY
Former Two-Time World Super Middleweight Champion
Born on May 12, 1977, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Height: 5’10” Weight: Light-Heavyweight (175 lbs.)
Record: 35-2 (17 KOs)