Boxing

Fighting at Forum a dream for Lacy

Negotiations are under way for Brandon boxer to defend his IBF title here.

By JOHN C. COTEY
Published April 9, 2005

They seemed to like it so much during the 2000 Olympic trials at the Florida State Fairgrounds that Jeff Lacy promised he would bring his vaunted left hook and exciting, brawling style back to the Tampa Bay area for a professional title fight.

He is poised to deliver.

Lacy's promoter, Gary Shaw, confirmed Friday his company has "booked" an Aug. 6 date with the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, hoping to stage a boxing card headlined by Lacy's defense of his IBF super-middleweight championship.

"We're negotiating with the (Times Forum) to possibly do a fight there," said Shaw, who also promotes St. Petersburg middleweight Winky Wright. "I have the date on hold. It's going to be Jeff Lacy's homecoming, and a celebration of Winky's victory over Felix Trinidad."

It would be Lacy's first fight in Florida since turning pro in 2001.

"You have no idea how excited about this I am," said Lacy, a 27-year-old Brandon resident who was born and raised in St. Petersburg. "I mean, I think about it every day, I tell my friends every day, Aug. 6, Aug. 6. You just have no idea."

Times Forum vice president of communications Bill Wickett said the two parties have agreed on the Aug. 6 date, but nothing has been signed. Gary Shaw Promotions and the Times Forum have to agree on a number of financial matters, particularly the rental fee, or whether the two will co-promote the fight.

"We're not crossing the T's and dotting the I's yet, but we've talked enough to show that there's interest on both sides," Wickett said.

Showtime would televise the fight and plans to visit the Times Forum to examine its configurations, according to Shaw. He is also looking to secure a sponsor.

Lacy, 19-0, will defend his 168-pound title for the third time against a mandatory challenger. The highest ranked super-middleweight according to the IBF is No. 3 Robin Reid (Nos. 1 and 2 are vacant). Reid, a 34-year-old Briton who is 38-4 with 27 knockouts and ranked No. 3 by the WBA and No. 5 by the WBC, has fought in the United States once.

"That's who I'm looking at," Shaw said.

He said he'd like to draw 20,000 fans. The last major fight card at the Times Forum (then the Ice Palace) was in 2002, when an announced 14,233 watched Roy Jones batter Derrick Harmon, with Antonio Tarver winning on the undercard.

Shaw intends to fill his card with boxers the area is familiar with, and mentioned St. Petersburg's David Santos and Winter Haven's Andre Berto as possibilities.

"It's an economical decision," Shaw said. "How many people will support this? What kind of drawing power does Jeff Lacy have in St. Petersburg and Tampa? If this works, I will bring a fight there at least once a year."

Lacy's homecoming will be the highlight, much like it was in St. Louis last month when Cory Spinks defended his welterweight belts against Zab Judah.

Judah's TKO of the hometown boxer drew 22,370 to the Savvis Center, a record for an indoor fight.

"So the question is, will the people of St. Pete and Tampa come out for a title fight like the people in St. Louis did," Shaw said.

Lacy has his answer.

"I think the place will be jumping."

[Last modified April 9, 2005, 07:10:29]