Jeff Lacy\’s Boxing Blog

KNOCKOUT BOUT
With a combined professional record of 61-0 (48 KOs), and a victory by knockout percentage of 78.6, Jeff Lacy, 21-0 (17 KOs), from St. Petersburg, FL, and Joe Calzaghe, 40-0 (31 KOs), from Newbridge, Wales, are headed to the division’s biggest showdown since Roy Jones, Jr. and James Toney rumbled in 1994.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER DAVID DINKINS Jr.
SHOWTIME Sports & Event Programming General Manager Ken Hershman announced that David Dinkins, Jr., has been named Executive Producer of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts. With over 20 years of television production experience, Dinkins has been producing boxing on SHOWTIME since the sport debuted on the network in 1986.

This two-time Emmy award winner has produced many of the most watched pay- per-view boxing events for SHOWTIME, including one of the biggest PPV events in history, Holyfield-Tyson II. The home video presentation of the Hagler –Leonard “Super Fight” produced by Dinkins remains one of the top selling sports videos of all time. As a sports producer/director, Dinkins has covered the Olympics and other major events throughout the United States and around the world. His entertainment credits include producing the broadcast of “Pavarotti in Central Park” and “The Making of the Three Tenors in L.A.”

A SNEAK PEAK AT LACY’S CORNER
Following a photo shoot with FHM in December that resulted in a two-page feature in the March issue of the popular men’s magazine, Jeff Lacy has been submitting diary entries to the FHM web site (www.FHMUS.com). Jeff’s most recent BLOG, not yet available to the public, really cuts to the heart of his preparation and expectations for Saturday night’s fight.

Lacy Blog #10 (excerpt): This will be my last blog before my big fight. Next time you hear from me I’ll have taken care of business. All I can picture right now is breaking Joe Calzaghe apart. I see myself holding his WBO belt over my head and adding it to my growing collection.

I am prepared for 20,000 Calzaghe fans to boo me when I walk into the M.E.N. Arena in Manchester, England. The same folks will be chanting “Left Hook Lacy” when I leave. They should be proud of (Calzaghe), a truly great champion – nine years and 17 defenses, his credentials can’t be denied. But they’ll have to learn to love a new king.

The entire Blog entry is attached. Or visit Lacy’s Corner at http://www.fhmus.com/incoming_blogs.asp?cnl_id=2&stn_id=70&pg=1

Podcasting and more at SHO.com
SHOWTIME continues to be a pioneer in sports television. In 2006, SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING began “podcasting” and “vodcasting” behind-the-scenes content to mobile audio and video players. Fans now have backstage access to every SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING production. Go to Sho.com (http://www.sho.com/site/boxing/podcast.do) to listen and watch private interviews between fighters and SHOWTIME’s announce team as well as various aspects of fight week preparations and highlights from the telecast.

Also at Sho.com/boxing, catch the newest photo gallery — Best of 2005 Photos — and sign in to participate in SHOWTIME’s newest interactive feature “Ask Al” which allows fans to ask questions of world-renowned analyst Al Bernstein. Then, tune in on March 4 to hear Bernstein answer some of those questions on the live telecast.

Bryant Onboard for March Telecast
Following her impressive debut performance on Showtime Championship Boxing’s February 4 telecast, accomplished TV host Karyn Bryant joins SHOWTIME’s announce team on March 4 for the highly-anticipated Super Middleweight unification bout between Jeff Lacy and Joe Calzaghe. The talented and versatile Bryant recently sat down with Lacy and his advisor and friend – noted attorney Jim Wilkes – at his home training camp in Tampa, Florida. The in-depth, personal interview will air during the March 4 telecast on SHOWTIME.

Up First:ShoBox…

The night before SHOWTIME will offer the eagerly anticipated Jeff Lacy-Joe Calzaghe showdown for the undisputed super middleweight championship, America’s No. 1 Boxing Network will continue to commemorate its 20th anniversary of televising world-class match-ups with an excellent world title fight Friday, March 3, on “ShoBox: The New Generation’’ (LIVE at 11 p.m. ET/PT delayed in the West), promoted by Gary Shaw Productions.

The International Boxing Federation IBF/IBO flyweight title bout between undefeated champion Vic Darchinyan and IBF No. 3/WBC No. 2 contender Diosdado Gabi has all the ingredients of being exciting, explosive and compelling. In the “ShoBox’’ co-feature from Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif., unbeaten Anthony Mora will face Rustam Nugaev in a 10-round lightweight bout. The doubleheader will be promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC.

On Tuesday, the fighters took time out from training to participate in a media conference call. Some excerpts from that call follow.

Darchinyan: “If he doesn’t run and stays in front of me, it’ll be a first round knockout. I feel comfortable about my power. I want to show everyone what I can do on national TV, on SHOWTIME. I think everyone will like my style. I can go the distance, but I can knockout anyone in this division.”

Gabi: “I am ready to counter whatever I have to face. I know (Darchinyan) is a heavy handed fighter, but I am not scared of this fight or any fight.”

Gabi is trained by world-renowned trainer Freddie Roach. Roach had a few comments to add on Tuesday: “This is an honor for Gabi. An honor for his family and his country. So that’s something that is not to be taken lightly. We’ve been in the gym for two months. World title fights don’t come along everyday. We are ready!

SHOWTIME On Demand is replaying two exciting SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts featuring unbeaten IBF super middleweight champion Jeff Lacy (21-0, 17 KOs) and his WBO counterpart, undefeated Joe Calzaghe (40-0, 31 KOs). SHOWTIME subscribers can access both Lacy vs. Scott Pemberton (Nov. 5, 2005) and Calzaghe vs. Byron Mitchell (June 28, 2003) in their entirety, as well as interview footage from both fighters, at SHOWTIME On Demand now through March 4. Don’t miss your chance to see these knockout, power-punchers in action before they enter the ring on March 4, 2006.

JEFF LACY BLOG #10

This will be my last blog before my big fight. Next time you hear from me I’ll have taken care of business. All I can picture right now is breaking Joe Calzaghe apart. I see myself holding his WBO belt over my head and adding it to my growing collection.

I am prepared for 20,000 Calzaghe fans to boo me when I walk into the M.E.N. Arena in Manchester, England. The same folks will be chanting “Left Hook Lacy” when I leave. They should be proud of a truly great champion-nine years and 17 defenses as the champ, his credentials can’t be denied. But they’ll have to learn to love a new king.

They say he throws a lot of punches, that he’s got fast hands, that he’s got power-31 knockouts in 40 fights. His whole career he’s been a banger. I just don’t see him coming at me and trading punches. I hope he does: he won’t stand up to what I’ve got. But he’s not a boxer, either. And he’s never been a runner. If I get him doing those things, he’ll be out of his element, uncomfortable, unsure. That 32-year-old dog ain’t learning new tricks.

I’ve been living the boxer’s life for a long, long time. But I’ve never felt this way before. Never went about my work with this level of focus and intensity, never wanted anything so bad. Sometimes my people got to pull the reins on me. Halfway through our preparation, my weight dipped to 174. I was running too much, working it too hard. I had to chill, pack on 4 pounds. Every ounce accounted for, nothing left to chance.

This is my destiny. Everything in my life led me to this moment. March 4th will be career-defining. I feel blessed about how things are coming together-my team, my understanding of my body, my skill level, my desire, my focus…and the cameras and the money and the fans. How many of us get to live out a dream?

My trainer Dan Birmingham and Winky Wright spent years fighting in Europe, in people’s backyards. They know just how it’s done. We arrived in Manchester seven days before the fight. We are training on Florida time, to adjust to the 2 a.m. GMT fight time. (It’s happening at 2 a.m. in Manchester to accommodate the live Showtime broadcast in the U.S, which is 9 p.m. eastern standard.) We brought our own food; my conditioning coach Daryl Hudson is also my personal cook-he’s good.

All of these details matter. But at the end of the day, it’ll be Jeff and Joe alone in that ring. There ain’t nothin’ his fans can do to change that. No amount of booing is gonna help.

No, it’ll help me. I like being the underdog. The way I see it, it puts the pressure on him.

A while back, I explained why Evander Holyfield was my favorite fighter growing up. People used a lot of words to describe his greatness. They called him a “warrior.” They said he had “heart, “desire,” “will.” They talked about his body and conditioning.

I’ll use one word for Holyfield. And it’s the same word I’d use for myself-if I could only use one. It’s not a colorful word, not impressive-sounding. But trust me when I tell you how important this
ingredient is. Ready?

Consistency. It might be my favorite word. He was consistent-that’s the thing that gets lost in the discussion. He seemed to get stronger as the fight wore on, but he was just staying the same while the other guy faded. That’s me. I keep the heat on ’em, I never stop. It’s a way of life developing consistent strength and stamina. Most men fall apart under that pressure. Holyfield understands this. So do I.

Soon, Joe Calzaghe will too.