CABAZON, Calif. (AP) -Former IBF super middleweight champion Jeff Lacy rallied over the final two rounds to beat Epifanio Mendoza of Colombia in a 10-round majority decision Wednesday night at the Morongo Casino. The fight was even on two of the three judges' scorecards heading into the ninth round, but Lacy (24-1, 17 knockouts) landed a late flurry of punches to win the round over a tiring Mendoza.
Mendoza (28-6-1, 24 knockouts) was hit hard by a right hand in the first round and a left hand in the fourth. Mendoza almost knocked down Lacy in the second, and three rounds later a right hand sent Lacy's mouthpiece flying across the ring. Mendoza landed a right uppercut in the seventh that had Lacy wobbling to his corner after the bell.
Lacy, from St. Petersburg, Fla., was staggered again in the next round from a right hand, but he grabbed on to Mendoza long enough to recover.
Two judges favored Lacy 97-93 and 96-94. The third scored the fight 95-95.
