Lacy is ready to begin

St. Petersburg resident faces Brazilian who also is a Holyfield fan.

By JOHN ROMANO

SYDNEY, Australia -- They share some common ground. Jeff Lacy and Cleiton Conceicao both won national titles in 1998. Both pattern their styles after Evander Holyfield. And both begin their Olympic quest today.

Lacy, a graduate of Gibbs High, faces Brazil's Conceicao in a first-round bout in the middleweight class at the Sydney Exhibition Centre tonight.

Holyfield expects to be in Australia this week to view the competition, and Lacy expects to be around long enough for his idol to watch him. He also hopes to succeed where Holyfield failed.

The former heavyweight champion missed out on the gold medal in Los Angeles in 1984 after being disqualified for a late punch.

"Just having him here watching me would be great," Lacy said. "I know he had a bad decision, so maybe I can make up for that by winning a gold."

Lacy's fascination with Holyfield goes beyond the posters that he used to hang in his bedroom. Like Holyfield, Lacy is shorter than most of the boxers in his weight class and he must fight inside to be effective.

Lacy, at 165 pounds, is listed at 5 feet 11 but probably is an inch or two shorter. Like Holyfield, who began as a light heavyweight, Lacy has the physique of a much bigger fighter.

"I just love Holyfield's style and the way he moves around the ring," Lacy said. "He throws combination punches and uses his strength. I don't think people give him enough credit because he's always fighting guys bigger than him."

Conceicao will provide Lacy the same type of challenge. Listed at 6-0, the Brazilian will have a height and reach advantage. Lacy, however, has an edge in experience. Conceicao, 20, has been boxing for three years. Lacy, 23, said he has spent most of his life preparing for this moment and refuses to worry about the style or capabilities of his opponents.

"This all comes down to me," he said. "If I need to box, I'm going to box. If I need to punch, I'm going to punch. I can do whatever it takes. I'm very confident right now."