Boxing

Lacy's focus is on pressure

By JOHN C. COTEY
Published March 5, 2005

In the months before a big fight, Jeff Lacy is as personable a fighter as you'll find.

In the weeks before a big fight, he's still gracious, if not gregarious.

In the days before a big fight, well ... just don't get too close.

Focused and ready for the second title defense of his career, Lacy steps into the ring tonight at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas with Rubin Williams to defend his IBF super middleweight championship.

The fight, set for about 10:30 p.m., will be televised by Showtime.

Lacy (18-0, 14 knockouts) has already tired of Williams' boasting leading up to tonight's fight. He warned Williams last week about it and seems intent on delivering a beating, trainer Dan Birmingham said.

"Jeff's a pretty mellow guy," Birmingham said. "They fought three times in amateurs, and Jeff won twice but the third time says he was robbed. So Rubin Williams thinks he has something going for himself by beating Jeff in the amateurs. But Rubin has been babied his whole career and hardly has any recognizable names on his ledger."

It's the same accusations Williams (26-1, 15 KOs) fires right back. The challenger thinks Lacy had the red carpet rolled out for him because he was on the Olympic team, the same charge Syd Vanderpool made before Lacy beat him for the title in October.

They were contemporaries as amateurs, but Williams' climb through the pro ranks has been slowed by a first-round knockout loss in a title fight. Trying for the NABA middleweight title, Williams was put away by Epifanio Mendoza in 2003.

He has rebounded by winning his next seven fights but hasn't fought anyone of note and is not ranked in the top 15 of any of the major boxing organizations.

He intends to break into those rankings by using his size advantage - he is 2 inches taller and 6 inches longer in reach - to outbox Lacy. But keeping Lacy off him will be no easy task.

"One thing I tend to do in my fights is keep coming on," Lacy said. "Pressure breaks pipes, and by me putting the pressure on Rubin, I think I will make him gamble a little bit more than he wants to. That is what is going to make the fight."

Williams watched Rydell Booker, a stablemate of his from the Cannon Recreation Center in Michigan, get his chance against James Toney recently and lose a lopsided decision.

Like Williams, Booker had height and reach advantages. But Williams said he will not repeat the mistakes of his buddy.

"Rydell did not take chances," Williams said. "He did not do any of the things he normally does or what he knows how to do. He was in good shape, but he did not fight his fight. I will fight my fight.

WHAT: World Championship Boxing.

WHEN/WHERE: 10:30; Las Vegas.

TV: Showtime.

WHO: St. Petersburg's Jeff Lacy (18-0) defends his IBF super middleweight championship against Rubin Williams (26-1). It is Lacy's second defense of the title he won in October against Syd Vanderpool. The main event features two-time and current World Boxing Council lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo taking on former International Boxing Federation titleholder Julio Diaz. Castillo (51-6-1, 45 KOs) makes the second defense of the title he won in June by beating Juan Lazcano. This will be the first major title fight for Diaz (30-2, 22 KOs).

[Last modified March 5, 2005, 00:42:15]