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Lacy Putting Taylor Friendship Aside

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By EDDIE DANIELS

edaniels@tampatrib.com

Published: November 14, 2008

TAMPA - Jeff Lacy was there in Colorado Springs when he and Jermain Taylor were amateurs trying to make the U.S. Olympic boxing team.

Lacy was there in 2005 when Taylor beat Bernard Hopkins to become the middleweight champion.

He also was there in 2003 when Taylor married his wife, Erica.

Now, Lacy (24-1, 17 KOs) wants to be there for Taylor's third consecutive loss. It has nothing to do with ill will. It's because Lacy will be the one standing in the opposite corner when they face off Saturday night in Nashville, Tenn. The broadcast on HBO begins at 10:15 p.m.

Though he considers Taylor (27-2-1, 17 KOs) a friend, both are at a crossroads in their careers. Taylor lost his last two fights, against Kelly Pavlik, while Lacy has won his last three, but he hasn't looked like his old self. This fight, dubbed "All or Nothing," is a WBC super middleweight title eliminator.

Will the friendship get in the way?

"That's what's going to make this fight exciting," Lacy said. "The talk about us being friends, people are looking at it like, they may go in there and try to not hurt each other. No, that's not the case. If your blood brother hits you with a shot that hurts you, you're going to try and hit him back. You're going to try and hit him as hard, if not harder.

"We both are very competitive, and neither one of us wants to lose."

Taylor's promoter Lou DiBella backs his guy, but he believes this could be a great fight.

"I think some people underestimate Lacy in a sense that Lacy's never been a stylist," DiBella said. "He's a puncher, and yes he's going to be open, yes he gets hit a lot, but if he lands, he still hurts you. It's a dangerous fight.

"I like my guy in the fight, but I know it's a fight. And I'll tell you what, the public isn't going to get cheated."

Lacy took his training camp to Houston this time and sparred against fighters that were 6-foot-2 or taller and had a long reach similar to Taylor. They were also considered boxer/punchers, and he says he performed well against them.

Lacy's daily commute to the Fifth Ward boxing gym he used in Houston gave him time to reflect on his training and what needs to happen Saturday night for a victory against a talented boxer.

"I've had that focus in the past, but I was on a winning streak. When you're on a winning streak, you don't really have to think about a lot of things you might be doing wrong. This was perfect timing for me to get away. And being that I was coming off of a shoulder injury my fights haven't been at their best, but I've been winning. The little things I needed to focus on, I did in this training camp."

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214.

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