Published in Tampa Bay Tribune and on TBO.com

Thurs., July 28:

Wow - a little over a week away - I can't believe it is almost here.

With less than two weeks to go, I am training - hard. When I am not in training, I am resting. You would think that I am thinking about this fight all the time. But, when I lay down at night, I want to have a clear mind - I don't want to have anything on my mind. I need my rest, so I have to clear my mind so I can get a good night's sleep.

Someone asked me how I visualize the fight. It's simple. I am winning. Clean and simple. My determination is going to play a big factor in this fight. Robin Reid doesn't know what he's getting involved with. I'm not a big talker, but my determination is going to play a big role in this fight. I will make him fight MY fight.

This is my fourth world title fight in 10 months. I want to stay in the public eye and my quest is to be the unified champion by 20 fights. Reid's IBO belt will allow me to accomplish that goal. I may be going against guys who have more professional experience, but when you look at my amateur record and combine it with my professional one, it shows that I have more than enough experience in the ring. Reporters want to make a big deal about my short professional career, but I want the win as much or more than my opponent and my determination is what is most dangerous to them.

Robin Reid has landed and is in Tampa. He is training. How do I feel about him being in my town? I am glad. It is just one step closer to the fight. Now that he is here, I don't have to be worried about him backing out or him getting lost in the airport. He knows the way to the Forum and I will be there waiting. I am focused and I am ready for him.

Reid was pretty rude on our media conference call today. In fact, he hung up before it started. That's OK. After what Reid did - or didn't do today - I am renaming this fight the 'Tampa Tea Party.' But instead of Boston Harbor, I'm dropping Reid in the ring.

I am not looking past this fight. I am completely focused on what needs to be done on Aug. 6. This fight is on the top of my mind. Most fighters make the mistake of looking beyond what is right in front of them and not focusing on the here and now. I love this sport and know I have to focus to make sure I take care of business. Reid is in the way of my being the undisputed super middleweight champ. That's the only thing that I see. I am not looking past this fight and I'm not thinking about other fighters - just Robin Reid.

I hear tickets are almost gone. I am so surprised at the support we have gotten to this point, the closer we get to Aug. 6. Everyone is getting more nervous and anxious to see the fight. Me too! I am anxious to get in that ring and make the Bay area proud.

Tues., July 19:

My trainer Dan Birmingham promised me that this would be a tough week of training. We have begun to step up the number of rounds and sparring. We have also stepped up the pace in running - stepping up at every angle. I am right on schedule for my weight being three weeks away from the fight. I only have 6 pounds to drop. I don't want to drop the weight too early because it could drain my strength, so I am working to maintain this weight until the week of the fight. I could be at 168 pounds this week if I wanted to, but I don't want to drop the weight too early.

I am mentally ready now. I am at a point where time is going by really slow for me. I wish the fight was this week. I can't wait for Aug. 6 to get here. It is still three weeks away and it is going to really go by slow for me because I am ready now. I can feel the aggression building up ... a sign the fight is getting close and not a good omen for Robin Reid. I think about him a lot. I am reviewing his fights in my mind as well as the gameplan Dan and I have planned. I am visualizing everything that will happen in my fight against Reid. I am so well-prepared.

A lot of people have asked me my opinion on last weekend's fight between Bernard Hopkins and Jermain Taylor. Maybe I am a little biased because I am a world champion, but if you want be the undisputed world champion you have to go out there and really beat the undisputed champion. I watched the post-fight press conference and I got the feeling that Taylor didn't feel as though he had won. But in my book a win is a win. I thought the match should have been a draw. There was a rematch clause in the contract, so Taylor can use the rematch to show what he can really do and that he deserves to be world champion.

Tues., July 12:

We are sparring every other day now. On days I don't spar, I am jumping rope and working with the medicine ball. Every night I run 3-5 miles and once a week I take a long run and that is usually about 6-7 miles. I am so strong now and my endurance is approaching career-highs. I feel like Superman.

I have been studying footage on my opponent, Robin Reid, learning his boxing style. Training and preparing for Reid is easy. Reid is a counter puncher. He sits back and waits for his opponent to throw the punch and then he counter-punches. So I am working on punching and counter-punching his counter-punches. It sounds funny, but what it comes down to is speed and concentration. I have to be quicker than Reid and smarter than Reid. Anticipation of Reid's moves will be a key to my victory.

I had a great time on the set of a local TV program with Winky Wright and Antonio Tarver. The feature was to announce my upcoming world title defense and to recognize that there are three champions in the Bay area. I mean, the Bay area has THREE World Champions and we all want to fight in the Bay area. We are confident that the Bay area is behind us and will show their support at my event on Aug. 6. The world will see that the Bay area is a great place to fight and Winky Wright and Antonio Tarver will get their shot at fighting at home as well. I am so excited for this fight. I have a highway billboard and banners downtown advertising the my world title defense. I cannot wait for this to happen!

Everything is perfect with my trainer, Dan Birmingham. I have known Dan since I started boxing. He knows my abilities and how to push me even further. Working with Dan is like water for me. I can see the fire in Dan's eyes too. He is stoked for this fight. We are such a strong team.

Tues., July 5:

I am training every day. No days off until after I weigh-in. Right now, I am boxing in the morning and doing drills and running at night. I will switch that schedule about a week before the fight and will be boxing at night to get my body acclimated to fighting at night. It won't be that big of a difference because I am at home. It would be different if I were in a different city and a different time zone. I'm a night person, so I have that on my side.

While in training, I take in more protein than carbohydrates. That is the best way to cut back my weight without sacrificing strength and energy. I am not a big breakfast person, so I usually only have a banana with my vitamins. For lunch I will have tuna or something like that. I eat a lot of baked, broiled and blackened fish. For dinner I will add green vegetables. I might have green beans and stick with baked foods. When I am training so much, we will throw in some carbohydrates, like pasta, once or twice a week.

I am excited about the upcoming open workout at MacDill Air Force Base on July 17. These people play such a vital role in our country's well-being; it’s an honor for me to think that they are interested in watching me.

During training camp, holidays are usually just another day to me. I still workout out as if it were any other day. But July 4 is very special to me. I think about what this day represents, the thousands who have fought to protect my freedom. That is why I am so honored to be a guest at MacDill for my July 17 workout. This fight is my salute to the real heroes of this country. Even though Independence Day is just another day of training for me, I am thankful to live in the best country in the world, the United States of America.

I am thinking more and more about my opponent, Robin Reid. He is a veteran who is still at his peak, and that makes him dangerous. You can bet I am taking him seriously. As I get prepared for this fight, I know that he is coming here for a showdown. I am in great shape and I am ready for a showdown. I feel like a Minuteman waiting for the Redcoats to attack, just like they did back in 1776. I can't wait to ring his bell.
Tues., June 28:

Training camp continues to get better. As I said last week, I have gotten past the bumps and bruises. No more soreness. I am getting into great shape and that is partly due to coming into camp in great shape. That allows me to work on striving for more. Everything went well this week. I had great sparring. My sparring partners gave me real good work and my trainer Dan Birmingham and I agree that I am where I need to be at this point.

I get asked a lot if I consider myself a role model. The answer is an unqualified ''yes!'' When I was a kid, I looked up to celebrities who had accomplished goals and became hugely successful. Now that I am a world champion I am doing the things I used to admire when I was younger. And because my childhood heroes made such an impression on me, I now give it 110 percent in terms of effort as a professional athlete and as a person. My message to all the young people is this ... when you give 110 percent you will get out of it what you put into it. Stay focused on your goals and stay true to yourself, your family and your friends. There will be bumps along the way, it's never easy. But if you stay focused and push past those bumps, you will succeed. Everyone should have goals. Set those goals and go after them. That is what makes a leader. That is what makes me a world champion and yes, a role model. I set those goals. And after I achieve them, I establish a new set of goals because I like to stay challenged.

I was honored to hear that my friend David Santos chose my card to finish his successful fighting career. He has been fighting for a long time ... almost 14 years. I've known him since I walked into the gym the first time. For him to hang up his gloves on Aug. 6 ... WOW! I think the Tampa/St. Pete fans will give him one heck of a sendoff and I know, as usual, David will give his fans a great fight, only this time it will be as a going away gift.

QUESTION FROM A READER:
Q: Not looking past your fight Aug. 6 at the Forum, if (when) you win, who do you size up next: Marcus Beyer, Mikkel Kessler, Joe Calzaghe or a bigger money fight? Also, do you foresee yourself moving up in weight to take on some of the bigger money fights available in a more talent-rich weight division like our Florida boys Roy Jones Jr. or Antonio Tarver? -- Chris Bennett, Tampa

A: Chris - Many fighters have made the mistake of looking past their upcoming fight and lost and I do not intend to repeat that mistake. Robin Reid is a legitimate threat and that is why I am working so hard in training camp. There is no way I would let my friends, family and hometown fans down by coming into the ring on Aug. 6 at anything less than my best.

After I win on Aug. 6, I would really like to challenge WBO champion Calzaghe in a title unification fight before the year is out. He seems to be the name the fans call out the most.
Regarding a move up in weight, it is something I would definitely consider, but first things first. Robin Reid and then unifying the super middleweight division titles.

Thank you very much for your question. I hope to see you and your friends at the St. Pete Times Forum on Aug. 6.

Best,
Jeff

Tues., June 21:

I am in my second week of hard, all-out training and the soreness is starting to wear off, which is always a good sign, much less a welcome one. I am getting into the mood of things - feeling loose and more comfortable with the daily training regimen. I have definitely started mashing the gash. I have been stretching and working out with conditioning coach Darryl Hudson and everything is coming along great. Adding Darryl to my team has already made a world of difference. He did such a great job with Winky Wright, supplementing Dan Birmingham's training, in preparing for Felix Trinidad. I know it will make a world of difference for me, too. I can just feel it. Unlike a lot of fighters, I work out in my off-time. I was already in decent shape before training camp started. Training camp is for training. A lot of fighters come into camp out of shape or overweight. Training camp shouldn't be about losing weight, it should be about preparing for your fight.

I have seen the artwork for the billboard that will be displayed, advertising my fight. All I can say is ''WOW!'' I think it is going to look awesome. I can't believe I am going to see my picture on a giant billboard – and it's not the lottery! It makes me appreciate all the more the hard journey I have endured to get to this point and it motivates me to work hard and continue my progress.
I am so proud of the way the Bay area has been getting behind this event. One thing about me – I deal with pressure extremely well. I'm not letting the hype take over my mind. Success will not spoil Jeff Lacy. I am dedicated to training my hardest and to winning the fight. I am a focused person and all the hype in the world will not change that. If anything, I have to concentrate on not training too much.

One final note. I want to congratulate Antonio Tarver on his victory over Glen Johnson. Antonio may have underestimated Johnson in the first fight, but he came in last Saturday in a little bit better shape and knew he had to fight for the title. A win is a win and Antonio made it happen.
Well, it's back to work for me. It was great talking with you. See you Aug. 6 at the St. Pete Times Forum!

- Best always,
Jeff

QUESTION FROM A READER:
Q: First, good luck on Aug. 6, you have a lot of fans in Chicago rooting for you. I wanted to ask you, though, are you at all worried about fighting in Tampa after seeing the outcome of a fight like the Corey Spinks/Zab Judah fight that took place in Corey's hometown of St. Louis? There are fighters out there that say they will never fight in their hometown because of all of the distractions. Do you make anything of that, or do you think that aspect of fighting is overblown? Thanks for your time, and again, best of luck to you. -- Derek, Chicago

A: Hi Derek! Thanks so much for your email and your question is a good one. The best weapon I have in defending my title in my hometown is focus. As much as I am enjoying the attention and the promotion, I cannot allow all that to become a distraction. Instead, I make it a motivation. The last thing I want to do is let down my family, friends and fans with anything less than a great performance. I have too much respect for them, my craft and the title I am defending. Even when I do not have a fight planned I train because I love the sport. It is my job, and the gym is my office. I feel guilty if I am not training. If anything, this hometown title defense has motivated me to train harder than ever. Now let me ask you something. Are the White Sox for real? --

Best, Jeff

Tues., June 14:

Some Opening Thoughts ...

Why Tampa? I have wanted to fight in Tampa for a long time. The Bay area is my home. I want to see the excitement brought back to the Bay area like it was back in the day. We've had Roy Jones Jr., Sugar Ray and so many other great fights here. I wanted to come home and defend my title to help rekindle that excitement. This was a great city for boxing and I would like to see Tampa back on the map for great championship matches.

Press conference: When I arrived at The Forum for the press conference last week, I knew this was for real. I always knew that it was capable of happening. Up until the press conference it had just been an idea, but once that press conference began, I knew that idea had transformed into a reality. The first thing I said when I got up to speak was ''Finally,'' because I have waited so long for this day to come. It's like being on a ship for a long period of time and finally returning home. You kiss the ground and are so thankful to be home. I am so thankful to be able to defend my world title in my own backyard, in my home, in front of my friends and family.

Jim Wilkes: I owe so much to Jim Wilkes. If not for him believing in me and backing me, I wouldn't be where I am today. I give Jim credit for making me who I am. If people around you believe in you, it makes you want to reach for the stars. Jim believed in me and that's what I did. I am still reaching for the stars.

MacDill Air Force Base: Working with MacDill Air Force Base means a lot to me. I visited the base after the press conference last week. That visit brought out a different side in me. I thought about those men and women and what they do for our country. I have something in common with them. I fought for my country in the Olympics, and each of them fight for our country every day. But there is also a big difference. When I left for the Olympics, I knew that I could come back. When they enlist and get deployed, they don't know if they will get to come home. The name of this event says it all - ''A Champion's Salute to Our Heroes.'' We have a lot of people in this country that say ''it's not my fight,'' but these men and women fight for all of us. It's an honor to visit MacDill Air Force Base and have them tell me they are a fan. The truth is that I am a bigger fan of them. They risk their lives for my freedom. I want them to know how much I appreciate that, how much all of us appreciates that.

Training: I am so inspired for this fight because it is in Tampa and because some of the proceeds will benefit MacDill Air Force Base charities. My trainer, Dan Birmingham, has been putting me through some hard work already. I have also added Darryl Hudson, the great conditioning guru, to my team. Darryl worked with Winky Wright, preparing him for his great victory over Felix Trinidad. I cannot wait until Aug. 6, but there is a lot of hard work between now and then that has to be done.

Trip to England: Going over to England was different. We were talking about a fight for the future of my career. My future is WBO super middleweight champion Joe Galzaghe. Not to discredit, but Galzaghe is who I want next. And he wants me. We had a positive meeting. A lot of people feel he hasn't really fought anyone; that he has been pampered and fed fighters. This will be the fight of his life. We want to make sure it's going to happen, to have a confirmation. We both want and need this fight for the sport of boxing.

Receiving the key to St. Petersburg: I was telling everyone about when I was a little boy and the first time I ever heard about someone getting the key to the city. I thought they were getting a special key that would open every door to every building and every house in the city. I thought that person must really be special to receive the honor of having a key to everyone's house. Wow! I still think about that and think, ''What an honor.'' When I received that key, I went back to my childhood. Wow! It was such an honor to receive the key to the city where I grew up. I was overwhelmed by it.

Box Office Challenge - Scoring a knockout against Paco: It was funny that (WLLD's morning show host) Paco thought he was going to outsell me at my own event. It was a lose/lose situation for him. I had fun with the fans. People wanted me to sign autographs and that was fun. Now, since he lost the challenge, I am looking forward to sparring with him. This type of promotion helps keep me positive and staying focused to take my mind off the pressure that fighters have leading up to a fight in their hometown. I enjoyed it a whole lot more than I thought I would. It feels great to know the media and the city are really supporting me. I appreciate everyone that came out to buy tickets last week. I am proud that a portion of the ticket sales for this event are going to the McDill Air Force Base charities.

Outlook: I think seriously being that my fights are very competitive and guys that I am fighting have more experience. I think that with this fight in my backyard, it's really going to be a good fight. I think a lot of the good things people have seen me do in past fights are all going to come out in this one. I am not overlooking Reid, what you are going to see is going to be me - determined and ready to fight to defend my world championship title. I respect him for putting himself in that position, walking into that ring, knowing the ability that I have and the shape I will be in. He will have to kill me to win.