Jeff Lacy Comes Out of Retirement!!!!? Lacy-Taylor Back

After sitting and waiting for the perfect opportunity to reinstate himself back into the sport that he so adamantly retired from, Jeff Lacy has decided to come out of retirement - a retirement that lasted all of three and half days.

Lacy went on a rant a few days after his amateur-like close decision victory over Epifanio Mendoza. He was upset when he found out that the $500,000 purse that he was going to receive for his upcoming fight with Jermain Taylor was only increased by $50,000 after his horrible performance. Hoping to get a reaction, he retired. But, it seems no one really cared (including us; see article)

Apparently DiBella must have let him know that if he did well and raised the interest in the Jermain Taylor fight (which there is none of), then they might make the purse a little sweeter for him. But, he didn't so neither did they.

"It's back on," Lacy told the Tampa Tribune. It seems this revelation came about when Golden Boy COO, David Itskowitch said that he had to make a deal with Lacy. "I spoke to Jeff this morning and I asked him what the number was for him to take the fight and he told me and we got it done," said Itskowitch.

Another example of an overrated pre-madonna fighter, who is coming off three horribly close decisions to middle of the road fighters. He does not deserve even $200,000 for the fight, he doesn't even deserve a bout against a top boxer. There is no reason why Taylor shouldn't make an overwhelming comeback against Lacy, an opponent who has been one of the most highly overrated boxers in recent memory.

Jeff Lacy Done With Boxing?

The former super-middleweight champion, Jeff Left Hook Lacy (24-1 (17 Ko's) has told The Tampa Tribune that he is done with the sport of boxing. After his lack-luster performance on ESPN Wednesday Night fights in which he barely survived a ten round decision over Epifanio Mendoza, we think he might be making the correct move.

"I'm retiring," said the 31 yr old. "There will be no fight between me and Jermain... I'm just retiring... I'm done."

"This business is dirty. That's all I have to say. This is a very dirty business. I would advise anyone who has kids not to ever let them fight in this business."  

Nothing yet on what caused this disdain for the sport he has been involved in for his entire life. Its seems all of this came as surprising news to everyone involved with the up-coming fight, including his trainer, Roger Bloodworth and co-promoters of the Talor -Lacy fight, Lou DiBella and Golden Boy Promotions.  "Put it this way, I've heard nothing from anyone in his camp indicating anything other than the fight's happening," said DiBella.

Whether or not Lacy is serious about retirement or just upset with his last fight, this route may be the best way to go. After showing so many flaws in his most recent fight, there is no reason why the former undisputed middle weight champ of the world, Jermain Taylor, wouldn't absolutely destroy him in the ring. Lacy's retirement would inevitably force Taylor into taking a tougher and all around better fight - a shot a vacant title against the British contender Carl Froch.

Apparently Lacy has never fully recovered from his overwhelming loss to Joe Calzaghe two years ago. Since that fight, he has been lucky to sneak away with three very close decisions, including a victory over Peter Manfredo that many felt was undeserved. It may be best to avoid this upcoming bout with Taylor and take some time to think things over, then return to the thing that he knows how to do best.

Wednesday Night Fight Recap: Jeff Lacy vs. Epifanio Mendoza

In what started off as a pretty entertaining super middleweight slugfest then quickly became just two men trying to catch their breath, Jeff Lacy took a majority decision from Epifanio Mendoza.

By about the fifth round both fighters had unloaded some big shots on their opponent, but in the process they also unloaded any energy they had brought to the table. The remaining five rounds brought the viewers a sluggish, boring poor of boxing skill and stamina.  

There has been some talks suggesting that Jermain Taylor, the former undisputed middleweight champ of the world,  was going to turn down a shot at a vacant title against Carl Froch, to take a supposedly more lucrative fight with Lacy.  Anyone who had a vested interest in that fight may as well kiss it goodbye.  

Lacy looked horrible in this slight victory, lunging in at his opponent with his head down and not once employing a consistent jab or any real skill.  Jermain would pick Lacy apart.  

Carl Froch, the WBC #1 contender and undefeated prospect, has always been the better fight for Jermain (not to mention a chance to win a vacant belt). But, because money seems to be the end all be all as usual, and because the little-known Froch won't bring enough of it to the table, it most likely won't happen. 

Hopefully the lack luster display Lacy just put on tonight was enough to change Jermain's mind.