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"Undefeated"

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. vs. Ricky Hatton

December 8, 2007

MGM Grand-Las Vegas, Nevada

Super Middleweight (168 pounds) 10-Round Match:

Jeff Lacy (22-1 (1 NC), 17 KO's, 169 pounds) vs. Peter Manfredo, Jr. (28-4, 13 KO's, 169 pounds)

Lacy had a great amateur career winning numerous amateur titles on his way to representing the United States in boxing at 165 pounds in the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympic Games.

The resident of St. Petersburg, Florida was touted as the next hope for American boxing, and that coming out of the Olympics he was going to dominate boxing's 168 pound division for years. After winning 2 versions of the world title he traveled to the MEN Arena inManchester, England on March 4, 2006 to face Joe Calzaghe and determine an undisputed champion at 168 pounds. Lacy was dominated in that match losing every round andwas knocked down in round 12.

Lacy has only been in the ring once since the loss to Calzaghe. He won a majority decision over Vitali Tsypko on December 2, 2006 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. Lacy tore his left rotator cuff in round 2 of that match, which required a very serious surgery to repair.

Lacy is the number 4 ranked contender by The Ring to its champion at 168 pounds, Calzaghe.

Manfredo came to prominence through his appearance on "The Contender". However, he had already held the WBO NABO championship at 154 before the series began.

Manfredo has spent the majority of his career at 154 and 160 pounds. Hewas offered a title match with Calzaghe on April 7, 2007 at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Manfredo lost via technical knockout when the referee stopped the matchpossibly prematurely. However, the result in that match was inevitable. After the match, Manfredo spoke about not expecting to beat Calzaghe, but not being able to turn down a title shot. Manfredo hoped that a good showing in the match would springboard him into quality matches back down at a more natural weight of 160 pounds. That is what makes this match very odd. Especially, since with a win Manfredo, though not contractually obligated, is supposed to go face Antonio Tarver in April at 175 pounds. That is way above the weight Manfredo should be boxing at to be successful.

The Providence, Rhode Island native's last match was a 10-round unanimous decision victory over David Banks on June 20, 2006 at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

Manfredo is unranked by The Ring, but the number 10 ranked boxer at 168 pounds by boxrec.com.

Manfredo at 27-years-old is 3 years younger,then the 30-year-old Lacy. Both boxers stand 5' 10" tall, and have an arm length of 23" long. Lacy will have the weight advantage in the ring, rehydrating to 175 pounds, while Manfredo is at 173 pounds unofficially approaching match time. Both boxers will employ the orthodox stance. Lacy is better then a 4 to 1 betting favorite.

The referee is Robert Byrd.

Apparently, Calzaghe is also in the building, and looking to get a match made. He wants Bernard Hopkins, who is an employee of Golden Boy Promotions, and was running yesterday's weigh-ins/press conference. Before the entourages arrived, several thousand British fans got to hear Calzaghe call out Hopkins for a match, and those challenges are likely to continue on camera tonight.

Lacy may havetaken round 1, 10-9. Lederman scores round 1 for Manfredo, 10-9. Manfredo wins round 2, 10-9. Lederman awards round 2 to Manfredo, 10-9. Lacy looks slow punching in this match. Steward is suggestingthe slownessmake be because the boxer has added too much muscle, and he may have become "muscle bound". Manfredo wins round 3 on my scorecard, 10-9. After 3 rounds Manfredo leads on my scorecard, 29-28. Lederman gives round 3 to Lacy, 10-9. However, after 3 rounds Lederman has Manfredo winning the match, 29-28.

With 2:43 to go in round 4, a right hook from Lacy sends Manfredo to the canvas. Manfredo appears more stunned that the punch knocked him down, then hurt. The Providence native successfully answers the referee's count, and the match continues with 2:31 to go in the round. Lacy wins round 4 on Lederman and my scorecard, 10-8. Manfredo wins an uneventful round 5, 10-9. Lederman scores round 5 the same. Manfredo wins round 6, 10-9. Manfredo leads on my scorecard after 6 rounds, 57-56. Lederman scored round 6 for Lacy, 10-9, and hasthe Floridianwinning the match, 57-56.

At the start of round 7, Jim Lampley, doing play-by-play on this event for HBO, did not remember what happened in round 6. His mind was wandering, and he blacked out that awful 3 minutes that resembled boxing. With 1:07 to go in round 7, the referee halts the action to have some loose tape on the left glove of Manfredo re-taped. Lampley uses the opportunity to call this an under performing undercard, which is a huge understatement. This match, and the one before it looked good on paper, and have been horrific. Manfredo may have won round 7, 10-9. Lacy wins round 7 on Lederman's scorecard, 10-9. Lacy wins round 8 on Ledermanand my scorecard, 10-9. In round 9, a cut has opened up above the right eye of Lacy, probably the result of a clash of heads. Lacy may have won a very close round 9, 10-9. Through 9 roundseach boxer has landed 107 total punches. Lederman scores round 9 for Manfredo, 10-9. Lacy may have won round 10, 10-9. Manfredo wins round 10 on Lederman's scorecard, 10-9. Lederman has Lacy winning the match, 95-94. My final scorecard has Lacy winning, 95-94.

The judges have officially scored the match: 95-94, 96-93, 97-92, all to the winner by way of unanimous decision, Jeff "Left Hook" Lacy. The win moves Lacy to 23-1 with 17 of those wins coming by way of knockout, and 1 no contest.

Lacy will now get to face Tarver for Tarver's title at 175 pounds in April. The prospects of that matchmay cause nightmares based on two boxers'performances in 2007. The match could be awful to watch, but it will still happen. Overall this was a poor performance onLacy's part.Lacy won because Manfredo did less, not based on anything Lacy showed that indicates he deserves to be considered at the top of this weight class or the one above it.

Manfredo is at the wrong weight class. He does not have the power to compete with the stronger boxers at 168 pounds. Manfredo needs to move down to 160 pounds, and if possible 154 pounds would be better. Manfredo seemed tentative at points in this match, boxing more not to lose then to win. Lacy was standing in front of Manfredo and available to be hit, but Manfredo chose to play it safe, have a hugging contest, and try and steal a decision. The perception is this is in fear of Lacy's power. Until Manfredo moves down in weight class, a full andaccurate assessment of his boxing future cannot be made.