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Lacy fired up for his big fight

The Associated Press

"It's hard to get up against a fighter you know you can beat, who doesn't propose a stiff challenge," says Jeff Lacy, right. "Roy Jones poses that challenge,"

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By EDDIE DANIELS

edaniels@tampatrib.com

Published: August 15, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG - This time last week, Jeff Lacy was in a sweltering gym and he was flooded with conflicting emotions.

The glint in his eyes during a light workout at Dan Birmingham's St. Pete Boxing Club was a sure sign of focus. The intent of each punch was to cause harm.

Later, the St. Petersburg native was excited, smiling at times.

Facing eight-time champion Roy Jones Jr. can do that to you.

"It's hard to get up against a fighter you know you can beat, who doesn't propose a stiff challenge. Roy Jones poses that challenge," said Lacy (25-2, 17 KOs). "Everything now is so much more. (You push) yourself that much more."

Tonight, he will get the opportunity of a lifetime when he faces Jones (53-5, 39 KOs) in a light heavyweight title showdown at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi.

The fight for Jones' NABO title will air live at 9 p.m. on pay-per-view.

To compete against a boxer whose career has been built on hand speed, Lacy's training has been geared toward preparing for the speed that Jones possesses.

When Jones moved up to the heavyweight division, he got away from the speedy combinations and focused on power. When he came back down, that reliance on power proved detrimental.

Jones was knocked out by Tampa's Antonio Tarver in the second round of their second fight. Then Glen Johnson rocked him in the ninth round, ending that fight.

"I got away from my punch pattern, and I concentrated more on power after coming back from the heavyweight division, that was my problem," Jones said. "I'm really a speed, combination puncher who has power."

Jones said he has returned to his old ways.

Lacy and Jones share several common opponents, but the most notable is undefeated champion Joe Calzaghe. Both suffered unanimous-decision losses, but Jones said his loss wasn't as bad.

"Calzaghe kind of murdered him. He didn't really murder me," Jones said. "He got me with a cut and then he took advantage of the situation. ... If I can't beat him worse than Calzaghe beat him, then I'm going to feel like there's something wrong with me. I still think I'm the better all-around fighter than him and Calzaghe."

Before the Calzaghe loss, Lacy was considered one of the best in the business, having once held on to the IBF and IBO super middleweight belts.

"I haven't felt this way since the Calzaghe fight," Lacy said. "This fight has really motivated me. It's the same feeling, because that chance of losing, it pushes you that much harder."

Neither fighter believes the fight will go 12 rounds, and Lacy said he wants to retire Jones.

"I want to make it in bold print," Lacy said. "Right before it says 'The End,' it says Jeff Lacy. I want that in bold print. I don't want to just go out there and beat him. I want to beat him convincingly. If I don't knock him out, I want to beat him to where everyone wishes the referee would have stopped the fight."

Keyword: Boxing, to read about

St. Petersburg's Lenroy Thomas, who will face Gabe Brown on the undercard tonight.

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