Nashville, TN Friendship will be set aside as 2000 USA Olympic teammates Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor (27-2-1, 17 KOs) and Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy (24-1, 17 KOs) put bragging rights and their boxing careers on the line in their super middleweight clash tonight at Vanderbilt University’s Memorial Gymnasium. The fight will be televised live at 10:30 PM Eastern / 7:30 PM Pacific on HBO’s World Championship Boxing.
Photo: Will Hart
This All-or-Nothing affair will breathe new life into the winner’s career. However, the loser risks slipping even further into mediocrity.
Both fighters come into this bout with something to prove. Taylor is coming off back-to-back losses to Kelly Pavlik, including their September 2007 WBO, WBC and Ring Magazine Middleweight title fight in Atlantic City. Meanwhile, Lacy has earned three difficult and uninspired wins over average opponents since losing a 12-round unanimous decision as well as his IBF Super Middleweight alpha-strap to Joe Calzaghe in 2006.
Lacy seems to have lost his hunger and drive since the loss to Calzaghe, and many are questioning whether Taylor will ever be the same after losing consecutive bouts to The Ghost.
I expect an exciting fight, as both fighters know the ramifications of the outcome. Taylor is clearly the superior boxer and, despite his average power, should be able to thwart off Lacy’s powerful, yet inconsistent attack. But if Lacy can get under Taylor’s skin and get him to fight his fight, we could be in for an all-out slug-fest.
I give the upper-hand to Taylor. He looked much better in the second Pavlik fight and seems to have the technical tools necessary to make a run at a Super Middleweight championship now that Calzaghe has moved up to Light Heavyweight.
Cov’s Prediction: Taylor by unanimous decision.
Vegas Odds: Taylor is a nearly 5-1 favorite.
Free on HBO. Shiiiiiiiiit
the G in MG
November 15th, 2008
That’s what I’m talking about. Good quality boxing that is NOT PPV.
Here’s hoping for a good, entertaining fight.
COV
November 15th, 2008