LAS VEGAS - Syd Vanderpool, like any veteran who has had to take fights in cities such as Northlake, Ill., Lula, Miss., and Taunton, Mass., is slightly annoyed.
His opponent tonight, Jeff Lacy, already has fought in Las Vegas more times, fought on television more times, fought at the Playboy Mansion more times, and most likely made more money than Vanderpool has ... in 20 fewer fights, seven fewer years as a pro.
So lest anyone think Vanderpool is honored just to be in the ring with Lacy, he offered some advice for the less experienced but 9-5 favorite in tonight's IBF super-middleweight title fight.
"If there's one thing I've learned in 11 years, it's that you have to pay your dues," he said to an audience of roughly 200 at Thursday's final news conference at Caesars Palace.
"You can't just skip class and get to the top."
Flashing a quick glance at Lacy, Vanderpool continued.
"That little lesson was free, Jeff. You don't have to pay me for that one. Just consider it a life lesson."
Lacy, St. Petersburg-born and currently living in Brandon, said he doesn't need a life lesson.
Yes, he has only had 17 pro fights. Yes, his quick ascent through the super-middleweight rankings makes him the first 2000 Olympian to fight for a major title.
And yes, he has been fortunate, as promotional deals with Showtime (which will televise tonight's fight beginning at 9) and Everlast have helped him build a name in the sport.
But too much too soon?
Hardly.
"I don't think so, at all," said Lacy, fidgeting with one of his blueberry-sized diamond earrings. "Everyone wants to say that, that I've only had (17) fights and he's had 35, 40 fights. But I was in the Olympics. I got to see a lot of different styles. I got to fight 125 times as an amateur. Me making it to the Olympics is the most prestigious thing you can do."
While Vanderpool dismisses the amateur and Olympic career of his opponent, Lacy falls back on it often.
He dodged trouble on the streets of St. Petersburg, the same trouble that netted some of his siblings, and made it to Sydney after 13 years of hard work, endless sacrifice and unwavering determination and focus.
Even if he wins tonight, it will remain his life's greatest accomplishment.
"It was a big deal, and it was tough to do," Lacy said. "It took 13 years; (tonight's) fight took four."
Vanderpool says Lacy is comparing apples and oranges.
"There's a huge difference," he said. "But in his mind if that's what it takes to get him into the ring, then whatever."
Vanderpool's biggest advantage though seems to be a head start. In the past four years, Lacy has gone 10 or more rounds three times, the same as Vanderpool, and has fought more fights (16-7) and rounds (63-54) than his more experienced opponent, even with seven first-round knockouts. The overall record of Lacy's opponents is much better than Vanderpool's.
Lacy, 27, isn't the first former Olympian to fight for a major title at a relatively early stage in his career. Leon Spinks beat Muhammad Ali (55-2 at the time) in his eighth fight. David Reid beat Laurent Boudouani (38-2-1 at the time) in his 12th fight for the junior middleweight championship. And in his 15th fight, Fernando Vargas made Luis Ramon Campos (72-2 at the time) quit in their junior middleweight title bout.
But Vanderpool (35-2, 23 KOs) is quick to dismiss those examples ("And what happened to them after they won?"), saying there is no substitute for experience.
Those in Lacy's camp, however, are unimpressed with Vanderpool's experience. The 32-year-old had his only notable fights in 2000, beating Glen Johnson (who knocked out Roy Jones Jr. last weekend) and losing his only major title fight, a unanimous decision to Bernard Hopkins.
He has fought seven relative no-names since, his last victory an uneven unanimous decision over Tito Mendoza at the Florida State Fairgrounds in April.
Lacy, who went to that fight to face down Mendoza, who was expected to be his next opponent, sat ringside and was unimpressed with Vanderpool's win. He saw a fighter he could beat now.
"I looked at his style and said, man, that is perfect for me," Lacy said. "His style is more suited for me than anyone I've ever fought as a pro. He thinks he can punch. Those are the fighters I like to fight."
Vanderpool may denigrate Lacy's lack of pro experience, but if he beats him it will be the biggest win of his career.
Lacy is as focused for tonight's fight as he has ever been. Since coming home and hooking up with former trainer Dan Birmingham, he has shored up his perceived weaknesses. Though highly regarded for his nasty left hook, he has a stronger defense, a trait of all of Birmingham's fighters, and big plans for his underappreciated jab. As always, Lacy is in remarkable shape, cut like a 167-pound body builder.
To prepare for Vanderpool, Lacy has trained extensively with stablemates Winky Wright and Antwun Echols. Like Vanderpool, Wright is a southpaw and at 5-91/2 the same size, but far more skilled.
Vanderpool may have offered a lesson Thursday, but Lacy wants to give his tonight.
"You can't win a fight in Vegas running," Lacy said. "He will have to come to me. I like the fact that he's got to stand in there and fight me at some point. And then he'll feel the left hook, and it won't be like anything he's felt before, and all his experience won't do him any good."
