by Luke Chance
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Lacy is a celebrated Olympian and a hyped prospect, and rightly so. With enormous amateur experience and a title shot at just sixteen fights, all at the tender age of 27, this young man is one of boxing's brightest stars. Pitted against him is the underrated and very talented Vanderpool, who Lacy will not be underestimating.
For Vanderpool this could be a make or break, for Lacy his ticket to the big time, their styles are perfect for this to be an absolute humdinger of a war and there is a huge amount at stake for both parties. This is what boxing needs today, tough fights that are close to call, and promise thrills and spills.
I can't bring myself to pick the winner at this stage, and many others will agree. Vanderpool has the pro experience, Lacy has the amateur pedigree. Vanderpool has speed, Lacy has technical brilliance and devastating power. Vanderpool has a dream unrealized to spur him on, Lacy has the hunger and desire of youth. Just don't be anywhere else except on your couch, watching Showtime on October 2nd.
TalkingBoxing.com caught up with Jeff Lacy to ask him for his take on the upcoming fight...
Luke Chance: So Jeff, you're the Number 2 rated IBF Super Middleweight in the World after just 16 fights, how's the training going for your title bid?
Jeff Lacy: Oh, well training is going well for me up to this point, I have very good sparring partners getting ready for Syd Vanderpool. I feel like everything's going really well.
Luke Chance: In your last outing against fellow prospect Vitali Tsypko, the fight was stopped early due to a head clash. How disappointed were you and do you think that having just two rounds of professional boxing this year will affect your performance?
Jeff Lacy: Well given the anticipation of the fight, it was a big fight for both of us. A fight for the number 2 position in the IBF eliminators spot, so you know, after all the hard training that we did to come out for only two rounds it was very disappointing. We both wanted to secure that spot to fight for the world title next. It was very disappointing for me at that time
You got to be up for it. Every style makes fights, you got to be up for it or you're not. He [Vanderpool] has to deal with the same thing. He might be active but its been a while since he fought. But it's enough for him, so we got to do what we do and that's why it's for a world championship. You rise to another level.
Luke Chance: This is a huge fight for you, and a lot of people are very excited about it. Are you approaching this fight differently to any of your previous fights?
Jeff Lacy: Yes. I'm approaching it differently because it's for all the marbles. It's for a world title. Not everybody, I mean I have sixteen professional fights, not everybody gets a shot at these championships, so I'm very excited. I'm going to be in great shape, and I'm looking at this as one of the fights where everything is going to come together for me.
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Jeff Lacy: Well we've been trying to get guys in the ring with fifteen and sixteen professional fights but I feel that although Vanderpool might have the experience as a professional, I feel I have the experience at fighting all different types of fighters. After being in the Olympics and having over 225 amateur fights, so I feel just because they want professional fights that shouldn't make me less capable of doing something than he is.
Luke Chance: This next fight is obviously going to be a big step up in class for you, how prepared are you for that?
Jeff Lacy: Oh of course, I see myself fighting amongst the top ten guys, it's just that this is for a world title and I can deal with pressure very well. I don't let it break me. I go along with it and take it as it is and continue to push.
Luke Chance: As a pro you have never been in with a southpaw anywhere near as good as vanderpool, are you at all worried by the southpaw jinx or doesn't stance affect you?
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Luke Chance: Some people might say you are too inexperienced to challenge for a world title, and trying to move things too fast, what do you have to say to them?
Jeff Lacy: Well like I said, in my previous fights, my 16 fights that I had as professional, some of them were guys that really didn't want to fight, so it's hard to really fight someone that doesn't want to fight. I know Vanderpool is coming to fight and so now they get to see what I have. When I have someone step up to the plate, bite down on their mouthpiece and say 'Lets go'. Now you're going to get to see it. I don't think Vanderpool is coming to lay down.
Luke Chance: Syd Vanderpool is quoted as saying 'I don't expect this fight to go 12 rounds'. How do you see it going? Are you predicting a KO or decision?
Jeff Lacy: I'm predicting myself to have that belt around my waist by the end of 12 rounds. I don't care how it happens, but it will be on my teams side.
Luke Chance: Vanderpool is coming into this fight confident and sees this as his big opportunity, do you think the pressure on him could work to your advantage?
Jeff Lacy: I think all the pressure is on him, yes. He's been there, he has the experience, he's been in this slot for a long time. I think the pressure that he has so much to deal with, on top of being in with a guy who is bigger and stronger than anyone he has ever faced. I think he as a lot to deal with. Coming into this fight with the pressure that he has to have on him, being that this is his do or die. He's been there for a long time, I'm on the rise. I'm just stepping in. He has more pressure than I do, and I'm going to make sure, like I said, that I'm going to have that belt around my waist. I'm going to use his pressure to my advantage.
Luke Chance: You are a very respected fighter in the Super Middleweight division, and a lot of people want to fight you. There are easier fights out there than Vanderpool, but do you believe that you have to fight competitive fights to be regarded as the best.
Jeff Lacy: Of course, you have to be in there with the best to really perform. Guys that I've fought, I mean I've fought some guys that move, I've fought some guys that come in just to survive. I'm always looking for that guy that's going to come to fight, and I think Vanderpool is going to be that person, who is going to come to fight, until I hit him. I think his game plan is going to be to box and box and box. He thinks he's going to be able to box me for 12-rounds. Well he forgot that this fight is in Las Vegas and you don't win from running.
Luke Chance: I know you won't be looking past this fight, but at the moment it seems there are a lot of good fights out there for you, and the division is wide open, is there anybody you would particularly like to fight?
Jeff Lacy: Well right now, as you said, I’m not going to look past the Vanderpool fight. Me coming out of this fight the winner has to give Tsypko the number one mandatory challenge. But right now I’m just focusing on getting through Vanderpool and securing the title with a win over Tsypko.
Luke Chance: You're just 27, you have a long career ahead of you, what are your long term plans? Are you happy to stay at Super Middle or would you like to become a multi weight champion one day?
Jeff Lacy: I want to become undisputed Super Middleweight Champion, perhaps move down. Or perhaps grab one or two titles at Super Middleweight, then go down to 160lbs and challenge the champion there. Whether that's Bernard Hopkins, or whomever that may be at that time, when the time comes. Then perhaps go up to Light Heavyweight and challenge the champions there. That's my goal.
TalkingBoxing.com would like to thank Jeff Lacy for giving up some time for this interview. It was an absolute pleasure to speak to him!
