| Lacy vs. Smith is dubbed “Day I Rise”, and will be for the vacant UBO International Super Middleweight title. It will be Lacy’s first fight since losing to all-time-great Roy Jones Jr. last year, and Smith is expected present a stern challenge in the former IBF and IBO World Champions comeback fight. Smith, 23-19-7 (4), has been in with big names such as Andre Ward, Curtis Stevens, Ian Gardner, Shaun George, Dawid Kostecki, Adonis Stevenson, Henry Buchanan, Kingsley Ikeke and Jerson Ravelo, beat notables such as Kippy Warren, Brandon Mitchem, Janathan Reid, Rayco Saunders, Demetrius Davis and Marcos Primera, and been a part of six title fights previously. “If I fought someone who doesn’t want to fight, the show would not be good. I am taking on a real competitor, someone with real experience, in Dhafir Smith”, Jeff Lacy told 8 Count News. “I have been off for sixteen months, and this guy is not a tomato can”. After winning his first eight professional fights, Smith went 5-14-2 in his next twenty-one bouts and seemed to have developed into a real journeyman type of fighter. But a May 2006 draw with the 14-1 Nick Cook signaled the beginning of a new chapter in the career of “No Fear”, and he has since compiled a 10-5-5 run against very good opposition. Smith beat the undefeated Henry Mayes in August 2006, drew with undefeated Mike Pascal in October of that year, and won a regional title beating Kippy Warren a week later, before losing a decision to Curtis Steven in December. |
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In 2007 he drew with Omar Pittman (13-3) and Larry Marks (29-9), lost to Andre Ward and beat Brandon Mitchem (25-4-1), Jonathan Reid (34-6), and John Johnson (12-1). 2008 saw Smith get off to a good start when he outpointed Rayco Saunders (15-8-2) in February, but Adonis Stevenson (10-0) got the better of him in April when he prevailed in a fight for the WBC Continental Americas title. Good performances against Kingsley Ikeke (23-3) and Jerson Ravelo (18-3) followed, but resulted in decision defeats, and since then Smith has gone undefeated in his last four bouts. He will enter the Lacy fight full of confidence and determination, something that Lacy is well aware of: “I need a real challenge, and Smith will believe he can beat me, and he knows he can make a name for himself if he beats Jeff Lacy. That’s the drive he will enter this fight with”. Tickets for “Day I Rise”, Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy vs. Dhafir “No Fear” Smith for the UBO International Super Middleweight title on December 11 at Jannus Live in Saint Petersburg, Florida, is on sale via Ticket Master. Listen to the entire Jeff Lacy Interview from 8countnews.com HERE |
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