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Lacy tops Griffin in 10th, eyes Roy Jones Jr.

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By EDDIE DANIELS

edaniels@tampatrib.com

Published: April 11, 2009

TAMPA - When word arrived weeks ago that Jeff Lacy's opponent for Friday night's fight had been changed to Otis Griffin, Lacy welcomed the news.

"We wanted to go with someone who was more durable, with more recognition," Lacy said. "Basically, Griffin, being that he was from the Golden Boy "Next Great Champ" series, he was a great fighter for this first fight coming back, so we called him out."

Griffin gave Lacy all he wanted at the USF Sun Dome during the event dubbed "Homecoming," but Lacy (25-2, 17 KOs) won a 10-round majority decision against Griffin (19-5-2, 7 KOs).

After the bout, Lacy took the microphone and thanked Griffin for the fight, then turned his attention to Roy Jones Jr., who was in the audience.

"There's a chance we could have another big fight here in the Tampa Bay area," Lacy said. "I'm sure everyone saw him in the audience. I'm extending my hand to you right now, Roy Jones. Me and you ... but only in Tampa."

Griffin used a smothering style, constantly coming forward on Lacy in an attempt to keep him from taking big shots.

The pressure remained for much of the fight. In the eighth round, Griffin landed a nice right to the head, but Lacy ended the round with a big right, sending Griffin backward into the ropes.

Like Lacy, who lost to Jermain Taylor in November, Griffin was in the process of working back from a defeat. In November, Griffin lost to Enad Licina in Bamberg, Germany, via a third-round TKO.

In another fight Friday, St. Petersburg heavyweight Lenroy "TNT" Thomas scored a TKO against Wes Taylor.

In the opening moments of the second round, Thomas opened Taylor up with a left and went to work.

Following blow after blow, which weren't answered, referee Frank Gentile stopped the bout 1:16 into the second round.

UNDERCARD: In the opening bout, junior welterweight Danie Staden won a unanimous decision against Henry Mitchell. Staden dropped Mitchell once in the first and again in the second. ... Welterweight Said El Harrak collected a decisive, 40-36 unanimous decision victory against Darnell Jones. ... Tampa's female featherweight, Adawirky Lopez beat Caitlin Dance in a unanimous decision. ... Tampa's Kermit Gonzalez and Fort Myers' Derrick Wilson ended their tight contest with a draw. ... Roberto Failey won a split decision against Sarasota's Adam Jaco.

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