By: Brad Marchetti
www.doghouseboxing.com
Jermain Taylor vs Jeff Lacy is a 12-round crossroads fight on steroids between two heavy-hitting 168 Lb. contenders at 10:15 PM ET on HBO. Taylor, 27-2-1, 17 KO’s, is coming back from consecutive losses to Middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik. Lacy, 24-1, 17 KO’s most recently had a 10-round life or death struggle with fringe contender Epifanio Mendoza on ESPN2. Both of these fighters are familiar with each other from the amateurs but have never faced off in the squared circle as pros. The Jermain Taylor vs Jeff Lacy boxing betting odds of Taylor as a heavy 5-1 favorite.
Jeff Lacy should try to be aggressive with the sometimes fragile minded Taylor. Jr. middleweight Cory Spinks had Taylor running for his life at the end of their bout, so the musclebound Lacy would be well-served to apply pressure. Lacy has been exposed himself since the beating he took from Joe Calzaghe two and half years ago. Lacy was wobbled and tagged easily by Mendoza who was a 10-1 underdog. Lacy has not shown the same inner fire since his loss to Calzaghe. Jeff had relied on intimidation and brute strength early in his career to carry him. After Calzaghe made his famous comments in the corner about Lacy’s lack of power saying “He can’t punch for shit!”, other fighters have taken notice and are longer scared of “Left Hook” Lacy. For all of his flaws, however, Lacy is still a well-conditioned and powerful man that is experienced. Lacy has fought most of his career at 168 to 175 Lbs. while Taylor has almost always been a 160 Lb. so Lacy could be the bigger man in the ring tonight. Taylor has slipped on his fundamentals and Lacy’s power could make him pay for his defensive lapses. The Jermain Taylor vs Jeff Lacy boxing betting odds OVER\UNDER is at 10.5 ROUNDS with the OVER at -155..
Taylor’s old trainer Pat Burns is my friend and he told me he isn’t surprised how badly Taylor has gotten since he got all his money; he now trains half-assed. Taylor is still a gifted athlete; long, fast and powerful. It’s hard to exactly put your finger where Taylor has slipped the most because there are so many areas. Jermain has an excellent left jab that will always make him tough to face but his fundamentals have waned. Other than the jab and his power Taylor hasn’t shown me much. Taylor can take a good punch but he has taken too many lately. Jermain keeps his hands low but he does not have the necessary footwork or head-movement to make that style very effective for him. Jermain seems caught between styles and fights unsure of himself. Taylor also runs out of gas almost on Que at around the 7th or 8th round in every fight, making him susceptible to late KO’s. The Jermain Taylor vs Jeff Lacy boxing betting odds have Taylor at -650 on the MONEYLINE.
On the undercard of the Taylor vs Lacy fight will be welterweights Kermit Cintron, 29-2, 27 KO’s, against Lovemore N’dou, 46-10-1, 31 KO’s. N’dou almost upset #1 contender in his last fight as a 8-1 underdog. The powerpunching Cintron is coming off a 6th round KO beating from the hands of Tony Margarito. Cintron is talented but he has never shown the defensive instincts to be anything better than a B- level fighter. N’dou is durable but slow so Cintron should be able to use his athleticism to win. The big question for Cintron is: How is his mental frame after he just got smashed?
Jermain Taylor
*Power: 8 (* indicates x200%)
Size: 8
Speed: 7
Stamina: 5
Defense: 6 (*indicates x200%)
Chin: 8
Cuts\Injury: 7
Heart\Killer Instinct: 7
Legs: 6
Jab\Reach: 9
In-Fighting: 6
Ring IQ: 7
Peak: 6
Marchetti Rating: 7.9 (1-10 Scale)
Jeff Lacy
*Power: 8 (* indicates x200%)
Size: 8
Speed: 5
Stamina: 7
Defense: 6 (*indicates x200%)
Chin: 7
Cuts\Injury: 7
Heart\Killer Instinct: 7
Legs: 6
Jab\Reach: 6
In-Fighting: 7
Ring IQ: 6
Peak: 6
Marchetti Rating: 7.4 (1-10 Scale)
Jermain Taylor vs Jeff Lacy Tale-of-The Tape
Taylor
Ht. 6’1″
Wt. 167.5 (160 most of career)
Age: 30
Reach: 76″
Record: 27-2-1 (17)
Style: Boxer\Puncher
Best Punch: Right Cross
Lacy
Ht. 5’10”
Wt. 167.5 (168-175 Most of career)
Age: 31
Reach: 74″
Record: 24-1, 17 KO’s
Style: Textbook Brawler
Best Punch: Left Hook