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Jeff Lacy and Joe Calzaghe got together with their managers on Tuesday for a conference call to promote their March 4th Super middleweight title showdown. The bout is one of the more anticipated super middleweight bouts in years, and can be seen on Showtime on the 4th. The event will take place in Manchester, England; it will be broadcasted live at 9pm on the east coast. This means that the Lacy-Calzaghe bout will be scheduled for 2am local time. The fighters didn't have a whole lot to say, and actually it was the managers (Gary Shaw and Frank Warren) who did a lot of the talking.
Promoters Frank Warren and Gary Shaw seemed testy; maybe because of the recent departures of their former fighters, Ricky Hatton and Winky Wright. Warren seemed upset with any question that dealt with the quality of opposition that Calzaghe has faced. For the record, most of these type of questions were asked from British media. Shaw and Lacy just seemed like they wanted to get the ordeal over. Lacy, who at times can be vocal, was very restrained and held back on most questions. Shaw even cut the call short. Nevertheless, here's a little bit of what the two champions had to say:
Jeff Lacy
- On his training- I'm 110% ready for this battle. It's the beginning of my stardom as a professional. It's going to be a real good fight. I've been training hard and staying healthy.
-On Calzaghe's long title reign- He has dominated the division, but I wasn't here, and that's why I want to fight him. He has had a long reign, but there's going to be a 1 where that zero used to be after this fight.
-On how he plans to fight Calzaghe- There will be no backpedaling, I come to fight, and so does he. That's why this is going to be a great fight and everyone will get their money’s worth.
-On his readiness for this magnitude of a fight- I'm right here where I'm supposed to be. I'm learning more and more each fight. I'm getting my shot, and that's what I have been asking for.
-On whether Calzaghe is a big draw- He's not big box office attraction because he doesn't fight in the U.S. The regular public has not had a chance to see him.
-On whether some of his negative comments towards Calzaghe could become motivating- It doesn't matter, when you're in a fight, you're in a fight. I'm prepared more than you could ever imagine.
-On unifying the division- That's my goal, not my dream. I'm in the business to win titles.
Joe Calzaghe
-On fighting a fighter like Lacy- I've always risen to the occasion. I have the heart of a champion. This is the biggest super middleweight fight in years.
-On training for the 2:00 am start time- It's a real pain in the ass. It's winter time here and it's so freaking cold at night. So, I don't like it at all.
-On how he's gonna beat Lacy- I have speed and power, and I'll use that. What's he going to do with me is the better question.
-On what he learned from the Byron Mitchell fight- I learned a lot of lessons in the Mitchell fight, like keeping my chin down. But, you find out a lot about yourself when you get knocked down. I learned that I can come back from adversity and rise to the occasion.
-On finally landing a big fight- Better late then never. Tarver and Jones fell through, and I'm really happy this one is a go. I've been waiting for a long time, and I'm going to take out my frustrations on Jeff.
-On his preparations- I prepare for any course the fight takes. I prepare for a hard 12 rounds, but if the knockout comes, that's great.
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© Copyright / All Rights reserved: Doghouse Boxing 1998-2006
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By Tom Dickey (March 3, 2006)
