MAYWEATHER-HATTON UNDERCARD RESULTS
By Laz Izada

Las Vegas, NV (December 8,2007)-This Saturday night HBO PPV Boxing presented it’s last show for the year, at the MGM Grand. Mayweather vs. Hatton was the talk of the town and the boxing world. By now we all know what happen in that match up ( Mayweather ko’d Hatton in the 10Th) But what happen on the undercard ? The undercard had 8 bouts with the last 3 leading up to the main event, being the exciting and stellar undercard match ups of the night ? on paper anyway.

The Co-main event featured former IBF super middleweight champion Jeff (Left Hook) Lacy(23-1,17 KO’s) vs. The Contenders Peter (The Pride of Providence) Manfredo Jr. (28-5,13 KO’s) in a non title bout. Lacy’s super middleweight world rankings are as follows WBA 7th, IBF 5th,and WBO 9th. Manfredo Jr is ranked 13th by the WBC, coming into this match up, both fighters had lost to WBC,WBA, and WBO champ Joe Calzaghe (44-0,32 KO’s) Lacy losing by unanimous decision and Manfredo JR. losing to Calzaghe by tko in the 3rd round. Manfredo hired trainer Freddy Roach, for this important bout and Lacy was returning to the ring after a long layoff since (Dec 2006) after defeating Vitali Tsypko (21-2, 11 KO’s), in which he separated his left shoulder requiring surgery and rest.

This match up had Manfredo Jr. winning the 1st 3 rounds, Lacy was showing ring rust. Things changed early in the 4th round when Lacy came out firing and caught Manfredo Jr. with a big right hand knocking him down. From then on Manfredo wasn’t the same it felt like he was tentative avoiding getting hit again.

Lacy even though he won a unanimous decision by scores of 95-94,96-93,and 97-92, looked like he was stiff, too muscular, and his famous left hook was inactive throughout the bout. This was to be Lacy’s return to pre Calzaghe status and it tremendously felt short of that. I feel much has to be blamed to his inactivity, muscular physique, and the surgery that he has had to his left shoulder. I don’t think he will ever be the same, but I do hope he proves me wrong.

While Calzaghe reigns atop the Super Middleweight ( 168 Lbs) division ,we must wait and see if the winner of Taylor-Pavik II which is being fought at a non title 166 Lbs fight, will take on Calzaghe. Lets not forget also that there have been rumors of Bernard Hopkins and Calzaghe wanting to fight each other.

In another undercard bout WBO junior featherweight ( 122 Lbs) champion Daniel Ponce De Leon
( 34-1,30 KO’s) defended his title over Eduardo Escobedo ( 20-3, 14 KO’s) winning a unanimous
12 round decision by scores of 115-113,117-111, 118-110. Ponce De Leon disappointed by not showing his knockout capabilities throughout the fight. Escobedo’s defensive tactics prevented him from doing so.

In other action lightweight (130Lbs) Edner Cherry ( 23-5-2, 11 KO’s) defeated Wes Ferguson ( 17-3-1, 5 KO’s) by knocking him down twice, in the sixth round , with left hooks.

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