Boxing

Lacy quick to drop a pound

By JOHN C. COTEY
Published August 6, 2005

TAMPA - It wasn't even fight night, but Jeff Lacy still managed to put a charge into the crowd Friday by weighing in a pound over the 168-pound limit.

It was a minor event, not even all that rare and in the long run, inconsequential to tonight's fight. The buzzing in the crowd at the Tampa Downtown Hyatt, however, was palpable.

Under the rules, Lacy had two hours to drop the pound, but needed only 40 minutes to pop outside and run a little, dropping two pounds and weighing in at 167.

Lacy was unruffled, but questioned the accuracy of the scale.

"It was about a pound-and-a-half off," said Lacy.

The scale was not the traditional mechanical scale used at weigh-ins, but rather a HealthOMeter 349KL Digital Medical Scale. Terry Trekas of One Punch Productions provided the scale and said it was brand new, though a number of people said a similar scale was used at a fight card in St. Petersburg last month and many of the fighters were displeased with it.

"It self-calibrates every time it's turned on," Trekas said. "There's nothing wrong with it. Fighters are always going to blame the scale."

Strength and conditioning coach Darryl Hudson said Lacy weighed 169 pounds Thursday night, and was 167.5 at home in the morning. After arriving early to find the scale telling him he was 172.5, Lacy went back to his home in Lithia and ran. His scale at home then said 167.4, and they returned for the weigh-in.

"He's been at 170 pounds for two weeks," Hudson said. "And suddenly he weighs 172.5. He didn't eat or drink all day. Can't be."

DINNER BELL: Lacy said he would be indulging in "Pasta ... steak ... pasta ... and sugar" tonight. Reid said he was having "Jeff Lacy Steak ... over easy."

DISH SERVED COLD: Reid, still unhappy over a T-shirt that was presented to him Thursday saying "I Came To America And All I Got Was Knocked Out By Jeff Lacy", got his revenge.

After the traditional face off, he presented Lacy with a "belt" - a plaque with a belt taped to it - that said "This Is The Only Belt You're Taking Home Lacy."

Reid's longtime friend Antony Farnworth paid $150 to have the plaque made Thursday night at Levy Awards & Promotional Products on Kennedy Boulevard.

"We can play those silly games as well," Reid said.

Lacy had a much better sense of humor about it than Reid, however. While Reid crumpled up the T-shirt and left it on a table, Lacy smiled and posed with the belt.

"I'll give it back to you tomorrow after I whup you," Lacy yelled as Reid walked away.

SEMI-RETIREMENT? Jim McLoughlin, who trains David Santos, said he has been contacted by a promoter who wants Santos to fight again. McLoughlin said it will take at least $150,000 to get his fighter back in the ring, but the promoter said he could deliver.

"I just told him, send me the contract, let me see it."

If Santos looks impressive, and the money is right, don't be surprised to see him unretire.

BUBBLE-YUM! Promoter Gary Shaw presented Santos with two shopping bags full of gum.

As a kid, Santos was caught stealing a pack of gum, and his dad took him to the St. Pete Boxing Club to straighten him out. It was the start of his boxing career.

GLOVES: Lacy will wear Everlast gloves tonight, while Reid is wearing Grant. Ironically, when Winky Wright beat Trinidad this year, he wore Grant while Trinidad wore Everlast.

[Last modified August 6, 2005, 01:36:22]