Lacy Onslaught Halts Williams in Seven
by George Elsasser
Showtime Saturday nite fights from Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV delivered a dandy
of a IBF super middleweight title fight, with defending undefeated champ Jeff
"Left Hook" Lacy overcoming early resistance before stopping challenger Rubin
Williams in candle seven.
In style, what we got was a text book boxer-puncher in Williams facing a strong,
nonstop power puncher in Lacy … and late in stanza six, it was clear it would
not go to the judges.
Over five busy rounds of action, it was Lacy giving Williams zero breathing room
as he fired away with both hands … the celebrated left hook scored time and
again, but the one with the sobriquet "Mr. Hollywood" handled the pressure while
banging back with combinations of his own.
The wear and tear showed in the eyes as stanza six drew to a close, with a hurt
and weary Williams in serious trouble - and then number seven with Lacy quickly
on the attack with a two-fisted barrage. Referee Tony Weeks then calls a halt at
the 47 seconds mark when seeing no return fire from a beaten Williams.
Lacy goes to 19 wins with 15 stops and Williams drops to 26-2, 15 KO’s.
Post Scripts: Lacy ~ From day one it was clear Lacy had himself a left hook … in
recent outings a right hand surfaced and would add to an already potent offense.
The Omar Sheika battle of attrition supported still another plus, one that many
other born punchers lacked, the ability to keep the pressure going. Finally,
just maybe, the one called "Left Hook" has included the icing on the cake as he
displayed a rock solid chin to go with everything else. The post-fite ring shout
of "bring on Calzaghe" wasn’t lip service, but more of a man on a mission, with
the goal of unified champion.
Williams ~Coming in, there was little known about this
fighter out of the motor city of Detroit other than a neat resume` of 26-1. The
sobriquet "Mr. Hollywood" meant little to those that had never seen him in
battle. What he showed before slowing from the wicked pace set by Lacy, was
quality skills, tremendous heart and a chin that held up under constant fire.
From start to finish he never once hit the deck, and time and again he would
counter in spurts with both hands while backed to the ropes. Call it his "Mr.
Hollywood" audition for another date with Showtime, but against a lesser entity
than "Left Hook" Lacy.
