Boxing

Wright fight is set at Forum; Lacy also on card

After some wrangling, Winky Wright finalizes a deal to fight veteran Ike Quartey on Dec. 2.

By JOHN C. COTEY
Published September 19, 2006

Winky Wright is coming home.

After two weeks of half-deals and near-fights, Wright sealed a deal Monday to fight Ike Quartey on Dec. 2 at the St. Pete Times Forum.

And if that's not enough for local boxing fans, he's bringing close friend Jeff Lacy, who will begin his comeback, with him. The St. Petersburg fighters will headline a card that will likely be the most attended and anticipated card put on in Tampa.

"Finally," said Wright, "I get to come home."

After some last minute wrangling Monday - Quartey wanted more money to fight in Wright's "bedroom," as he put it - the contracts were drawn up and sent to promoter Lou Dibella to sign, which he says he will.

"Looks like we're coming to Tampa," said DiBella, who promotes Quartey. "They made us a fair offer, and we agree. Ike said he and Winky are both used to going into the lion's den, so he's willing to sign a contract. At this point I believe we have a deal."

Officials at the Forum confirmed Monday that Wright 50-3-1, 25 knockouts and his adviser Jim Wilkes had reserved Dec. 2, and said they were excited for the opportunity to host another big fight card.

Last year, Lacy fought before 16,000 fans at the Forum, paving the way for the Antonio Tarver-Roy Jones Jr. fight a few months later that drew 20,000.

Lacy hasn't fought since losing his IBF super middleweight title to Joe Calzaghe in March. He has made it clear recently he wanted his comeback to be on the same card as Wright.

Wilkes said trainer Dan Birmingham was discussing possible opponents for Lacy with HBO.

The main event, though, is sealed with Wright, who hasn't fought in Tampa since beating Carlos Santana in 1992 at the Hyatt Regency.

"I've been wanting to come back for a long time, but I just didn't have the television networks coming with me," said Wright. "But now I get the chance to show all my fans I appreciate them, and to thank them for following me out to Vegas and all the other little towns I've fought in."

When talks to match Wright and Taylor in a rematch of their June draw rotted, Quartey emerged as the most viable contender to meet Wright.

Originally presented the offer the offer to fight Wright in Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay, Quartey agreed. But the change in venue caused him to balk and initially decline.

DiBella spent two hours talking to Quartey, who was home in Ghana, on Friday and persuaded him to at least think about it over the weekend.

Exact financial terms weren't revealed, but Quartey, 36, will make just over $1-million.

Quartey is 35-3, the losses coming by decision to Forrest, Fernando Vargas and Oscar De La Hoya.

John C. Cotey can be reached at cotey@sptimes.com or (727) 869-6261.

[Last modified September 19, 2006, 01:35:53]