It appears that the rumored fight between UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz has cleared at least one hurdle.
MMAJunkie.com is reporting that the boxing match between Diaz and former IBF champion Jeff Lacy has been called off. The Web site reports that a press release from boxing promoter Don Chagrin stated that Diaz felt that it was in his “best interest to focus on his primary combat sport and profession,” and that Diaz was opting out of the fight to pursue, “an opportunity of a lifetime as it pertains to his MMA career.”
As soon as news of the boxing match with Lacy being off emerged, speculation began that the Diaz versus St-Pierre bout had been signed. Not so, UFC president Dana White told MMAJunkie.com, “We will see, there are still a lot of hurdles.”
The rumors of the St-Pierre versus Diaz bout took on a life of their own last week when UFC Director of Canadian Operations Tom Wright appeared on Ringside Report Radio in Montreal, revealing that the UFC was considering a December date in Montreal and that as far as a main event, “Well, I’ve heard about the Nick Diaz (versus) GSP fight but it is too early (to tell).”
The fight is an intriguing proposition as both champions are on long winning streaks, Diaz at 10 fights, and St-Pierre at nine.
Diaz and St-Pierre are also looked at as two fighters that have cleaned out their respective divisions, with many believing that a fight between the two champions is the only fight that makes sense for either of them at this point.
But, as White said, there are more hurdles before this rumored fight becomes a reality.
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