Lacy goes coast to coast, ends up back in familiar surroundings
By JOHN C. COTEY
Published April 13, 2004
After winning the junior middleweight championship, St. Petersburg gave the key to the city to Winky Wright.
Who knew Jeff Lacy would be the first one walking through the door?
After almost 15 years away from the man who was the first to teach him boxing, Lacy is back training with Dan Birmingham in St. Petersburg.
Landing Lacy is a coup for Birmingham, who trains Wright, former IBF super-featherweight champ Steven Forbes and super-middleweight contender Antwun Echols.
For Lacy, it will be his third trainer in two years. He started his professional career with Roger Bloodworth, left him last year for Freddie Roach and is making a change for what he hopes is the last time.
"I don't think he was comfortable out there in Hollywood," Birmingham said. "He called me and said, "Can I have my old trainer back?' I said, "Certainly.' "
Lacy started training with Dan and Mike Birmingham when he was 9 years old. But Wright turned pro in 1990, and from 1992-98 fought mostly overseas, leaving Lacy to find another trainer.
Now 16-0, Lacy, a super-middleweight, is ranked in the top 10 by the four major organizations.
Birmingham said Lacy is expected to headline a Showtime card on June 5 then continue his pursuit of a title fight.
BIG CARD: Not since Roy Jones Jr. fought at the Ice Palace has there been as impressive a card as the one Warrior's Boxing Promotions has lined up Saturday at the Florida State Fairgrounds Entertainment Hall.
Daniel Santos headlines the card as he defends his WBO junior middleweight title against Michael Lerma, one of four title fights on the card.
While considered fringe titles, there are some interesting and promising matchups: Elieser Castillo (26-3-2, 14 knockouts) defends his North American Boxing Federation heavyweight title against DaVarryl Williamson (19-2, 17 KOs), one-time hot contender Lance "Mount" Whitaker (27-2-1, 22 KOs) defends his North American Boxing Association heavyweight title against Friday Ahunanya (20-1-1) and United States Boxing Association light heavyweight titlist Daniel Judah (19-0-2, 9 KOs) takes on Julian Letterlough (20-5-2).
In an IBF super-middleweight eliminator, Syd Vanderpool (34-2, 23 KOs) fights Tito Mendoza (31-4, 24 KOs).
Locals Michael Rush and Gene Molen are also on the undercard, though their opponents haven't been determined.
Tickets are $30, $100, $125, $150 and $250 and are available at the Fairgrounds box office or Ticketmaster (813-287-8844 or 727-898-2100).
TRIVIA: Whitaker created some buzz in 2001 by announcing he was changing his name. To what was he changing it?
UNIFICATION, PART II: Santos says he wants to defend his WBO title once or twice before "truly" unifying the junior middleweight division against Wright, the WBC, WBA and IBF champ. Don't hold your breath. Santos isn't even on Wright's radar screen.
But Birmingham will be at Saturday's fights scouting Mendoza, who Lacy was supposed to fight March 6 before injuring his neck.
SWEET TOOTH: The Newark Star Ledger reported that Wladimir Klitschko was suffering from a very high blood sugar count Saturday when Lamon Brewster stunned him with a knockout to win the WBO heavyweight title.
CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK: Following in his father's footsteps, former local James McGirt Jr., who trained as an amateur at the Arena Boxing Club in St. Petersburg, is 2-0 as a pro after beating Amidou Nagnango in a super-middleweight bout.
TRIVIA ANSWER: Whitaker actually wanted to go by the name GOOFi in 2001, but has since - thankfully - changed his mind.
