Boxing

Calzaghe hedges on fighting Lacy on Nov. 5

By JOHN C. COTEY
Published August 17, 2005

A week ago, Gary Shaw was convinced St. Petersburg's Jeff Lacy would be fighting Joe Calzaghe Nov. 5 in Wales or London.

But a column written in the South Wales Argus over the weekend has left him a little less sure than before.

The author?

Calzaghe.

Already armed with a well-earned reputation for ducking the big fight, Calzaghe appeared to reinforce fears he will duck another top opponent in his weekly column for the Argus, despite a verbal agreement between his promoter Frank Warren and Shaw.

"I seem to be the only person around who is not talking about my proposed unification bout with IBF super-middleweight champion Jeff Lacy - and for two good reasons," Calzaghe wrote. "Firstly, I have the small matter of a record 17th WBO title defence at the Cardiff International Arena on September 10 to get through.

"And secondly, a fight with Lacy isn't, as everyone believes, signed and sealed."

That sent Shaw scurrying to his cell phone to reach Warren, whom he was been unable to reach until Tuesday.

Warren assured Shaw the fight was on, despite Calzaghe's column. Warren said he would put Calzaghe on the phone with Shaw today to assuage his fears.

"He guaranteed it," Shaw said.

While Calzaghe did write he eventually will fight Lacy, he lacks enthusiasm for the Nov. 5. date.

"I can't understand why everyone is getting carried away about Nov. 5 as the date. That comes from America, but there are many obstacles with that," Calzaghe wrote, also citing injuries.

Calzaghe twice backed out of a fight with Glen Johnson because of a back injury, and various maladies have torpedoed other potential bouts that British boxing fans have clamored for.

"Lots of things can also happen between now and then to upset the applecart, not least among them injuries, and I am a little bit injury-prone nowadays," Calzaghe wrote.

The talk of possible injury was especially disconcerting to Shaw, considering Calzaghe's history and his Sept. 10 defense against Evans Ashira, which the promoter fears provides a ready-made excuse.

"It doesn't help sell a fight," Shaw said. "On Sept. 11, of all days, after he fights on the 10th will he come out hurt and pull out of the fight?"

Shaw contacted the WBC to see if its champion, Markus Beyer, would be interested in fighting Lacy. Shaw also mentioned Anthony Mundine as a possible backup opponent.

WRIGHT-MAYWEATHER DEAD: Shaw said a possible fight between St. Petersburg's Winky Wright and Floyd Mayweather is officially dead after Monday's deadline passed. Shaw said Mayweather was offered $9-million but wanted more to fight Wright, whom he called out last month.

Shaw came off his demands for a 50-50 split and was willing to accept $6-million for Wright because his fighter stood to make an additional million based on pay-per-view sales.

"It would have been an easy $6-million for Winky," Shaw said.

Shaw said Wright will definitely fight Dec. 10 on HBO, though an opponent hasn't been signed.

[Last modified August 17, 2005, 01:10:12]