| Former World Champion Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy (25-3, 17 KOs) is training hard for his UBO title fight on December 11 at Jannus Live in Saint Petersburg, Florida. The fight will be promoted by Fightnight Productions and Left Hook Promotions. Lacy will take on tough-as-nails veteran Dhafir “No Fear” Smith (23-19-7, 4 KOs) for the International Super Middleweight title, and, after a long period of therapy to heal his left shoulder, he is focused on making this fight a successful first step back towards the very top of the division he once ruled. Lacy took time out of his preparations to do an interview with uboboxing.com, and this is what he had to say:
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| From what I understand, you have undergone therapy to heal your left shoulder. Is everything as it should be now, and how far back has the bad shoulder been a problem for you? Yes, my shoulder is surprisingly healed and I am very excited to have the confidence using it again. My left, as u know, is my bread and butter that has kept me winning and being sooo aggressive in the ring. Without that...it would be like having a nice, clean good looking car without a motor. Come fight time on December 11 you will have been inactive for sixteen months. Any concerns that fighting for a title over twelve rounds right away will be demanding too much of yourself?
Not at all because that's what the excitement is about, life and its challenges. Grabbing fans attention. That's something I have built my name from. If I didn't challenge myself every day after going thru what life has served me, I wouldn't be doing this interview with you talking about BOXING. It’s my hard work and dedication that demand that I do what I know I can do. I have a very strong self dedication to everything I wrap my mind around doing.
You are now back at Super Middleweight after campaigning at Light Heavyweight in your last two fights. Did you not feel comfortable at the higher weight?
I felt that I could still make the 168 lbs weight class where I dominated, an there is unfinished business there I'd like to take care of.
Looking at the outcome of the Roy Jones fight, some boxing insiders are of the opinion that Jeff Lacy is a spend force, never to be the same as you were before the Joe Calzaghe fight. What do you have to say to these people?
I'd have to say, December 11th you judge me after that night.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe it was after the Calzaghe fight that you formed your own promotional company, Left Hook Promotions. What made you take this step?
Well, when you have someone else like an manager or a promoter running your life as a professional an doing things in the way they want to and... I have to follow because it’s under contract, it don't always sit well. Every fighter that has been in this business long enough has started their own company. Just go down the list of fighters.
Besides promoting yourself, do you handle any other boxers? And is promoting something you want to continue doing after you eventually retire from the sport?
Yes, I have promoted other fighter locally here in the bay area. I love doing so. As an Olympian, and world champion fighter in this great sport, my fighters will feel the respect I show to each of them. I know where an what to understand as a fighter.
Exactly which promoters did you work with during your career, before becoming your own promoter?
I started out working with Main Events, then Gary Shaw and Golden Boy.
How does “Team Lacy” look these days?
Happier then I could ever imagine!
After almost ten years as a professional, the December 11 fight will be your first pro fight in your hometown Saint Petersburg. How come it has taken so long for you to get your “homecoming”, and what does it mean to you to be fighting in your backyard for the first time?
I fought in Tampa, which is about 20 minutes from St. Pete, my home town, but your right Tampa is not my home. The reason is because there wasn't a big enough arena here for me to fight here when I was under contract with my former promoters and manger.
You are fighting tough and experienced veteran Dhafir Smith in your comeback fight. Smith has been in with big names before, and had many title fights himself. How do you see Smith as a boxer, and how do you expect the fight to play out?
I see Smith as a challenge come December 11th, and he stands in my way. You watch and judge it. I'm on a mission of going thru, around, jump over, steam roll over, and nothing is gonna stop me from what I have in store, this chapter of my life!
Anything you want to say in closing, a message to your many fans perhaps?
December 11th is... "Day I Rise". If I was you, DON'T MISS THIS! |
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