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Lacy Calls Off Tarver Fight Due To Shaw

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By EDDIE DANIELS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 12, 2008

Updated: 01/11/2008 11:45 pm

TAMPA - Seems a harmless press release by Showtime detailing the network's boxing schedule has stirred up a hornet's nest.

That stirring has to do with an April 12 card slated for the St. Pete Times Forum and a potential bout between Tampa light heavyweight Antonio Tarver and St. Petersburg super middleweight Jeff Lacy for Tarver's IBO championship.

Just as quickly as the send button was hit, releasing the fight list, Lacy shot down the fight because his former promoter, Gary Shaw, is assisting Tarver with the promotion of the fight.

"That fight's not something I'm looking forward to, being that Antonio Tarver has signed for two fights with Gary Shaw," Lacy said. "It would be kind of stupid for me to fire someone and turn around and fight somebody that is represented by him and make Shaw more money."

Lacy (23-1, 17 KOs) said he confirmed his unwillingness to fight on a Shaw-promoted or Shaw-involved card to his promoters at Golden Boy Promotions, the company he signed with in October.

"I don't know what's eating Jeff. I feel badly for him," Shaw said. "I think it's a wonderful opportunity for him. He doesn't have to talk to me, he doesn't have to eat with me, he doesn't have to shake my hand. His own promoter will introduce him at the press conferences. It's not about me. It shouldn't be about me. It should be about him and the fight."

Tarver (26-4, 19 KOs) said he and Shaw do not have a deal, and any money Shaw receives while assisting in the promotion of the fight will not come from Lacy's money.

"It's like pulling a guy to the guillotine; he don't want to go," Tarver joked.

Without revealing numbers, Tarver said the contract offered to Lacy is worth more than Lacy was given to fight Joe Calzaghe in England.

"It's all about economics, man," Tarver said. "This is the biggest fight for the biggest money for Jeff Lacy. In his career right now, there's not one fight that's promised to him. He's got to roll the dice. He's got to go for it. It's time for him to step up or step aside.

"Regardless, I'm going to be there, live and in color on April 12. Hopefully it'll be Jeff Lacy, but you can't make anyone fight."

Both fighters are coming off December victories. Tarver knocked out Danny Santiago in the fourth round Dec. 1 in Connecticut, and Lacy earned a 10-round unanimous-decision victory against Peter Manfredo Jr. on the Dec. 8 undercard of the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Ricky Hatton fight in Las Vegas.

Already signed to the April undercard at the Forum: Chad Dawson (25-0, 17 KOs) against Glen Johnson (46-11-2, 31 KOs) for Dawson's WBC light heavyweight title.

As for Lacy, the fight hinges upon Shaw's involvement.

"Like I said, me leaving him for reasons that I have," Lacy reiterated. "I don't see why I should put more money in his pocket."

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214 or edaniels@tampatrib.com.

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