- 2 days ago
Undefeated Super Middleweight contender Jeff Lacy faces Scorpion Bawa on Shobox.
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:04because within six maybe six months three four more fights he'll be a contender not a prospect
00:10it's not just that bojato is kicking butt it's how he's doing it he's doing it with explosiveness
00:15technical proficiency and poise that simply belie his 18 years if you think about who the
00:22top guys have been coming out of olympics well in 76 it was ray leonard in 88 it was roy
00:28jones
00:28in 92 it was oscar bella hoya this is the kind of company panchito bojato is keeping that's pretty
00:33good company well bojato is seven for seven so far obviously looking to get even better and better as
00:39he improves his ring skills he hasn't been tested yet chin defense endurance and heart it's not his
00:46fault of course he's obliterated most of his opposition so quickly but what about his opponent
00:52today is eliazor contraris steve does he have the goods to force bojato to possibly raise his game
00:59contraris good amateur background probably the best fighter bojato has faced yet he's strictly a
01:05counter puncher if he doesn't land a right hand early in the fight to discourage bojato he could
01:09be in big trouble well first up on the card though is jeff lacy who since turning pro just last
01:14february
01:15has blitzed the opposition won all five bouts knocking out four of his opponents in the first
01:21round jeff lacy pure power he's had it from the beginning at the age of eight he said people used
01:26to stop in the gym and watch him hit the heavy bag as you could see he's beating these guys
01:31with every
01:32conceivable punch left hooks body punches right hands shots to the head shots the bike he's doing
01:38everything right jeff lacy to a man i asked all the members of the night of the 2000 olympic team
01:43who the hardest hitter on the team was every one of them told me without hesitating jeff lacy well
01:49the question though perhaps the only question for jeff lacy is can he go long he's never asked of
01:55course to do that as you said icing all five opponents in a total of only seven rounds the dilemma
02:00for his matchmaker then is to how to move him up get him competitive fights without throwing him to
02:06the wolves is scorpion bawa a wolf steve well scorpion bawa taking the fight on very short
02:12notice that's not good he's six foot three and he's a boxer and against a puncher like lacy if he
02:18doesn't establish that jab early he'll probably suffer the same fate that so many of lacy's other
02:23opponents have faced so it's jeff lacy of st petersburg florida about to get into the ring and here we
02:29see
02:29as we set the stage and hoping to make it another quick night is he but says he's prepared to
02:35go long
02:35if necessary against adimi scorpion bawa who had no hesitation about taking on the undefeated lacy
02:41which suggests he's come to fight and not just to get paid back to lacy he won 209 amateur bouts
02:49as we look at him now as he looked for more seasoning and searched in vain for an olympic medal
02:53before turning pro only eight months ago lacy's 24 coming off a third round ko just three weeks ago
02:59and his five and oh as we've mentioned every victory coming early by ko steve take us behind
03:04jeff lacy's numbers well jeff lacy's been perfect so far substitute opponents lacy's reputation
03:10apparently precedes him his pro debut was postponed because his opponent after seeing lacy at the weigh-in
03:15jumped on the next bus out of town bawa is lacy's fifth different opponent for today's fight nobody it
03:22seems wants to fight this guy reasonable competition given the fallouts and the quickie chaos you might think
03:27that lacy has feasted on easy prey perhaps so but all of his opponents have had winning records and
03:33that's not always the case when building a prospect in need of rounds lacy has fought seven rounds in
03:38five bouts he doesn't necessarily need to be tested he needs to be extended but right now steve lacy's
03:44opponent has a key thing going for him and that's lack of fear there he is scorpion bawa has been
03:5112 before
03:52and his attitude is basically who's jeff lacy the first thing bawa asked when he agreed to take
03:57this fight was where's the gym in atlantic city so i think we could expect to see a guy who's
04:01ready
04:02in condition to put up a fight bow is 10 and 2 with 8 knockouts steve take us behind his
04:06numbers scorpion
04:08bawa going the distance when you look at bawa's fight by fight record one thing jumps out he's been
04:1312 rounds in comparison lazy has been passed one round only one time road warrior bawa's first nine
04:20bouts were in his homeland since moving to the usa he's only one and two here today ghana tomorrow
04:27quality competition in his last bout bawa was stopped by fernando zuniga who's a fringe contender
04:32that's the type of quality competition lacy probably won't face for another nine months to a year so here
04:37today the scene is set we're about ready to go here at the tropicana showroom in atlantic city
04:42lacy against bawa in a super middleweight bout scheduled for eight let's go up to the center of
04:48ring where dean stone has the introductions ladies and gentlemen a very good afternoon to you and we
05:01welcome you to the tropicana casino and resort in atlantic city new jersey where main events and
05:09showtime television with no limits present showbox the new generation all belts are sanctioned by the
05:16new jersey state athletic control board boxing commissioner larry hazard senior ladies and
05:22gentlemen this match is scheduled for eight rounds in the super middleweight division the three judges
05:28scoring this bout on a 10 point must system will be deborah barnes al devito and ed leahy after the
05:39bell
05:39rings your referee in charge of the action earl morton introducing first in the
05:46blue corner wearing yellow red and green weighing in at 168 pounds his professional record ten victories
05:55eight coming by way of knockout with two defeats ladies and gentlemen from akra ghana africa presenting
06:03scorpion bow
06:06scorpion bow
06:09he's involved across the ring in the red corner wearing silver and black weighs in at 168 and one
06:16half pounds his professional record it's a perfect one five bouts five victories with all five coming
06:23by way of knockout in the year 2000 this outstanding athlete represented the united states in the olympic
06:31league games ladies and gentlemen from st petersburg florida presenting jeff
06:37the purple lacy
07:01as we get ready steve what's the tail of the tape bawa obviously an exceptionally tall super middleweight i've
07:08never seen a super middleweight taller than six foot three that and the six inch reach advantage
07:12he has to capitalize on that if he doesn't he's in big trouble and rules of the game rules of
07:17the
07:17fight here in new jersey uh as we see ten point must system three judges score the fight three knockdown
07:23rule
07:23not in effect no standing eight can't be saved by the bell and only the referee ed morton can stop
07:29the fight
07:33so we are ready to go and there it is the bell as we see bawa in the ganon colors
07:38of
07:38yellow green and red jeff lacy circling to his left is in the white
07:45lacy will find his find his range with the jab
07:54this guy coming up short early
07:59see with a combination as bawa swings wildly lacy's retreats and stays out of danger
08:09in a way nick lacy's power has almost worked against him he's frustrated by the fact that he
08:13can't show his boxing skills this is not the guy to try to go a few rounds as big as
08:19bawa is lacy has
08:20to get in get bawa in trouble and get out as bawa said steve they expect lacy to have to
08:26make this an
08:26inside fight and have to come in but if he tastes his jab enough it's going to discourage him let's
08:32see
08:32how effective it is so far it is getting through at times combination there staggers the african
08:38and he looks to be in trouble here covering up as lacy range blows on him here measuring him with
08:44the
08:44left and then unloading a right left combination
08:49trapped helplessly in the corner it looks trying to spin off the ropes but he's just laying there now
08:54trying to punch back lacy pulls him back into the corner and ed morton the referee
09:02gives bawa some breathing space but here comes lacy stalking looking to finish him off
09:10with still just inside a minute to go steve in the round well bawa's reach advantage doesn't have
09:15any effect when he's lying against the ropes that's where he's going right now bawa punching back though
09:20and they're off the ropes with a combination that lands as they trade here in front of us
09:30does he look like he's going to survive steve has to stare off the ropes for sure lacy's taking his
09:36time now you know he landed and hurt him with his first real clean shot so he has the confidence
09:41now
09:41and he knows he doesn't have to rush bawa now snaking the jab he's got an 80 inch reach so
09:47he should use it to
09:48his advantage to stay out of lacy's powerhouse which is there overhand right by bawa lacy's in the white
09:58combination by bawa as he steps and slips out of danger there which is what just what you said he
10:03has to do steve yeah bawa's trouble is he doesn't really put a lot of emphasis on the jab look
10:08how
10:08he just sticks it out there lacy on the other hand commits to every punch he throws here comes lacy
10:16after him now and morton the referee breaks them
10:24about 10 seconds to go in round one and it looks like scorpion bawa will survive to see another round
10:34swelling over the left eye
10:36so a vigorous first round here in atlantic city
10:44so you look at bawa make his stool and a needed one minute rest
11:13the key here combination punching by lacy
11:19there's a right and a left not one shot but two they both landed flush lacy kept his composure you'll
11:25see it again
11:28the left hand really was dressing it was the right hand to the chin that took away bawa's legs hey
11:32to
11:32his credit they will be around too very impressive though steve as he staggered scorpion bawa
11:40bawa out looking to pick up the pace trying to go to the body
11:45flinging that jab out snaking that 80-inch reach lacy though is cutting the ring off pretty effectively
11:53steve when you're when you're bringing a fighter up like lacy with the olympic category etc
11:58the key in the early portion of his career is to show him a lot of different styles well this
12:02is a
12:02style he has to see a tall guy chuck lacy's only 510 that's maybe average height for super middleweight
12:07fighting a guy 6'3 with an 80-inch reach show him different styles that's what he's seeing
12:12Bawa the taller man also Lacey saying if he stands tall we'll go to the body if
12:17he bends over we'll catch him to the head double jab there by the African and a
12:25rush by Lacey as Earl Morton the referee warns of hitting behind the neck what
12:31Lacey's trying to do is time that jab and count it with a right hand
12:35Whistle's a combination there digs two more to the body
12:43Bawa trying to fight back
12:52Steve Lacey's pressure is pretty relentless methodical but just with so much intent
12:57and one thing he's doing very intelligently every time he has Bawa square or along the ropes
13:03he immediately punches to the body he's not hitting
13:07Bawa with some bench pressing there probably arguably his best move in the night
13:15Bawa looks to me like the Kambi Mutombo a little bit in the face his reach is almost as long
13:20I think well he better play some defense like Mutombo here he comes Lacey again just making
13:27this a fight where you're not going to use all the ring he is just cornering
13:32McGonomin repeatedly loops a left hook and smashes one to the jaw
13:39Bawa in the corner again off the ropes fighting back though Steve
13:44again when Lacey struck there it was with a right hand and a left hook a combination
13:56Bawa back and away but keeping good distance now in zone from that jab and there he doubles starting with
14:17an uppercut
14:18using that left hand but getting beat to the punch there Lacey's in the silver
14:24Bawa's power punches or arm punches you can see that
14:28oh Lacey smacks the African to the right to the head and left to the body
14:33stop watching
14:33look at that
14:34look at that
14:35that's the end of round two and it has been spirited so far
14:43don't blow it up too much okay don't blow it up so much just break him down
14:49trying to kill him all with one shot
14:52take a deep breath
14:58count your heart down
15:01looking good you win every round ain't no problem
15:03don't start reaching for him alright
15:21again Lacey in combination right hand left hook if you get a counter punch and you can do it with
15:26two shots instead of one
15:27one of the shots is gonna land and you hear punchers loading up all the time with one shot
15:32well Bawa was lucky to get out of this round I'll tell you
15:35well you just hit the key phrase Roger Bloodworth Lacey's trainer said don't load up so much this time
15:39stop lunging work behind the jab
15:42Lacey now some head movement
15:45and Bawa still at a pretty hot pace there
15:49he has been backed up repeatedly but
15:53his work rate continues to be pretty impressive Steve
15:56keep the rhythm
15:58come to fight
16:01the tape we saw the most effective fighting he did was after he was hurt
16:07you see walking his man down again
16:11taking Budworth's advice so far trying to work in behind the jab
16:18he spoke to him yesterday he said one of his problems is he kind of tightens his shoulders it's a
16:22puncher's mentality
16:24you know he has to relax in the ring because when you do go 7, 8, 9, 10 rounds you
16:28have to be relaxed to carry your power
16:31good point Steve but why is Bawa bending over so much and nullifying his height advantage
16:40well if he bends over too much he's going to be right in the line of the left hook
16:45Lacey's reluctant to take those shots to the body because Lacey's knocked out people with it
16:52almost pulling the trigger there is Lacey with the right but pulling up
16:57he's got his hand trapped in the corner again
16:59here comes Lacey with a thundering right hand
17:08Lacey again digs a right to the body
17:17Lacey again digs a right to the body
17:24Bawa avoiding danger there his left hand is low now
17:32brings the jab again by Bawa
17:35Lacey takes a right hand there
17:37and Lacey has to remember to jab too he's not jabbing his way in
17:40rangefinder there but
17:43they're connecting with a looping left hand
17:48and an evening ending shot there
17:51as we see Bawa and Earl Morton the referee not even waiting for the count
17:57a thunderous left hook
18:00finishes off Scorpion Bawa in the third round
18:05Jeff Lacey with conviction Steve
18:08well the members of the 2000 US Olympic team who said Jeff Lacey's the hardest puncher
18:14that's what they were talking about
18:15you don't see it much in the amateur game
18:17you didn't see it in the Olympics with Lacey
18:18because of the nature of the Olympics of amateur boxing
18:23Lacey absolutely devastating
18:26what's your name
18:27Bawa on the stool right now
18:36that's a picture knockout
18:38that's a highlight knockout
18:39the kind you're going to see on the news
18:40the kind you're going to see in film clips
18:42for the rest of Jeff Lacey's career
18:44here we look at Bawa the doctor attending him
18:51and a study in contrast
18:53Jeff Lacey already posing for still photographers
18:58he is perfect in six fights
19:02okay Steve
19:03the beginning of the end and it was explosive
19:07I want to describe this before I see it again
19:09as a leaping left hook
19:10you know it wasn't
19:11there was actually a sweeping left hook
19:13Lacey didn't leave his feet
19:15and boy
19:16now you know why fighters aim to the point of the chin
19:19both hands of Bawa down
19:21nothing he could have done about that shot
19:23hit him perfectly
19:24and that's an instant concussion
19:27see it again
19:29and it's just as devastating
19:31and Nick a point you made
19:32which turned out to be very key
19:34watch Bawa bend over
19:36it's when he's coming up
19:37that he gets caught
19:38why was he bending over at all
19:39he's got to use that reach advantage
19:41and height advantage to his advantage
19:42he didn't do it
19:43he came down to Lacey's level
19:44Jeff Lacey looking like Superman there
19:47he's with our
19:47well first let's go to Dean Stone
19:50who will make it official
19:54ladies and gentlemen
19:55the official time is 2 minutes 16 seconds
19:58of round number three
19:59your winner by knockout
20:00and still undefeated
20:03Jeff Lacey
20:08let's turn it this way
20:09let's turn it back this way
20:12and I need him
20:13okay Jeff Lacey
20:16splendid in victory
20:19the way he looked today
20:20and dispatched Scorpion Bawa
20:22there will be many more to come
20:24that way
20:25well Nick I'll tell you
20:26the question is
20:28can he carry that power
20:28into the later rounds
20:29it may be several fights
20:30before we find out
20:31not his fault though
20:32is it Steve
20:34and we talked about
20:36dilemma of matching him up
20:37with the right people
20:38to test him
20:39Tim Smith
20:39he made it look easy
20:41didn't he
20:41he sure did Nick
20:42and an incredible performance
20:45tonight by you
20:46I mean your nickname
20:48is Left Hook
20:48and I guess you got the patent
20:50on that
20:50you put him on it
20:51yeah I knew I was just
20:52going to go out here
20:53and want my jab up
20:54and I just need to relax
20:55once I relax
20:57I'm quick as I don't know what
20:58but nobody don't know
20:59until they get in the ring
21:00with me
21:00but once I got it going
21:03and start relaxing
21:04with my combinations
21:05he went down
21:05now you showed
21:07a lot of patience
21:07and you were fighting
21:08a guy that was taller
21:09what kind of adjustments
21:10did you have to make
21:11to fight a guy this tall
21:12well me and he came in
21:13at the last minute
21:13I mean me and my coach
21:15Roger Bloodworth
21:16we train extremely hard
21:19up there in Big Bear California
21:20so whenever
21:21like I said
21:22my guys back out
21:23at the last minute
21:24so I got to be ready
21:25for any competition
21:26that comes in
21:27at the last minute
21:28so we hopefully
21:29we was in shape
21:30for that fight
21:31for this fight
21:31to come out
21:32on the victory side
21:33now did you get
21:34an opportunity
21:35to display any
21:36of the things
21:37that you worked on
21:37in the gym
21:38well yeah
21:39I'm still
21:40I still got a lot
21:40to work on
21:41by me
21:42like I said
21:43I need to concentrate
21:43and relax
21:44and once I get down
21:45I mean
21:46I've already punched hard
21:47if I try to punch hard
21:48or if I don't
21:49my arm punches are hard
21:50I just got to need
21:51I just need to learn
21:51how to calm down
21:53and relax
21:53six fights
21:54six knockouts
21:56you're still young
21:57in your career
21:57you're still developing
21:58but with guys like
22:00Omar Sheikha
22:01and Tate out there
22:03how long do you think
22:04it will take you
22:05to contend with guys
22:06like that
22:07I feel like
22:07I'm going to sit down
22:08actually I'm going to sit down
22:09with my trainer
22:10Roger Bloodworth
22:11at main events
22:12Gary Shaw
22:12and Shelly Finkel
22:13and see what my next move
22:14is going to be
22:14because these guys
22:15are backing out
22:16at the last minute
22:16and we're bringing in
22:18replacements
22:18so we're going to see
22:19you're going to look
22:20for better things
22:21in the year to come
22:23okay Nick
22:24going to look for better things
22:25I don't know if they're getting
22:26much better than they did tonight
22:27well Tim I guess
22:28maybe the first thing
22:29Steve that Lacey should do
22:31is not wear a baggy
22:34sweatsuit
22:34maybe into the ring
22:35so they won't see
22:36how big this guy looks
22:38and how ready he is to go
22:39and maybe not check his record
22:40because people are bailing out
22:42they agree to fight him
22:43they take one look at him
22:44and then they reconsider
22:45we took one look at him
22:46right here above us
22:47on the ring ropes
22:48when he climbed the ropes
22:49did you see that physique
22:51incredible
22:51and you know what
22:53this guy took him
22:55for three rounds
22:56Jeff Lacey still hasn't
22:57been past three rounds
22:58and it's going to take
23:00a pretty good fighter
23:01and pretty much
23:02a tough 10 round fighter
23:03to go more than
23:04three rounds with him
23:05well speaking of guys
23:06who haven't done rounds
23:07simply because
23:08they are so explosive
23:09he's coming up next
23:11Panchito Bajato
23:14junior welterweight
23:15as he moves up
23:15in weight anyway
23:17to take on
23:18Eleazar Contraros
23:20in a junior welterweight bout
23:21that is coming up
23:22next here on Showbox
23:24and we want to remind you
23:25that later tonight
23:26here on Showtime
23:27it's the resurfacing
23:28of the ring
23:29of Mike Tyson
23:29who hasn't fought
23:31in a year
23:31and now steps in
23:32against Brian Nielsen
23:33of Denmark
23:34our Steve Albert
23:35is in Copenhagen
23:36to call the action
23:37and lays out
23:38the storyline
23:38for us now
23:41hi everybody
23:42I'm here in
23:43Copenhagen, Denmark
23:44where Mike Tyson
23:45continues his
23:46European tour
23:47against 1992
23:49Olympic bronze
23:50medalist
23:50Brian Nielsen
23:51now during
23:52the last few days
23:53this fight
23:53has caused
23:54quite a stir
23:55in this usually
23:56tranquil city
23:57take a look
24:00I'm just ready
24:01to fight
24:01it's time to fight
24:02I'm tired of training
24:05I feel 100%
24:06I feel great
24:09he's in a lot
24:10of trouble
24:11because I'm going
24:12to destroy him
24:14I just want to
24:15go out to fight
24:15with him
24:16not run from him
24:18Saturday night
24:19be there
24:20if you want
24:21to see Tyson
24:22down
24:25what does it
24:25take for
24:26Brian Nielsen
24:26to beat you
24:29chop off
24:30both my arms
24:32it's been a
24:33crazy week
24:34here in Copenhagen
24:35and it promises
24:36to get crazier
24:37so join me
24:37and my partner
24:38Bobby Chez
24:39ringside
24:39tonight for
24:40Mike Tyson
24:41versus
24:42Brian Nielsen
24:43hope you'll join
24:44Steve, Bobby
24:45and Jim Gray
24:46when Mike Tyson
24:47takes on hometown
24:48favorite Brian Nielsen
24:49in a 10 round
24:50heavyweight bout
24:51and WBO
24:52super middleweight
24:53champion
24:54Joe Calzaghe
24:55defends his title
24:56against Will McIntyre
24:57that's from
24:58Copenhagen, Denmark
24:59later
25:00later
25:00later
25:00hit the
Comments