A boxing match between Strikeforce welterweight champ Nick Diaz and former IBF super middleweight champ Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy was announced on Friday via press release, for a possible date in October.
The matchup with Lacy was first announced by Diaz’s manager, Cesar Gracie last month, and had initially named Fernando Vargas as Diaz opponent, but a medical issue forced Vargas out of the fight.
Lacy, who holds a professional boxing record of 25-4-1, compared to Diaz 1-0 record, is just 3-3 in his last six bouts having lost back-to-back fights against Roy Jones Jr. and to Dhafir Smith.
Diaz has won his last ten mma bouts, and is coming off a first round TKO victory over Paul Daley at last months Strikeforce event in San Diego. The win was Diaz third straight title defense, and his fifth victory in almost a year-and-a-half.
Diaz manager Cesar Gracie has spoken to a number of websites, noting that the bout with Lacy is not final and could be cancelled, if the UFC offers them a title match with UFC champ Georgese St-Pierre.
“Yes, [the fight is on], unless Dana offers GSP as an alternate sacrifice,” Gracie said.
Despite Zuffa’s purchase of Strikeforce, Diaz contract predates the purchase and allows him to box once in 2011.
Diaz has constantly talked about not getting paid enough for his work in the cage, so he’s looking to score it big with a boxing match against Lacy, or to receive a large paycheck from the UFC to face St-Pierre.
Quote: Sherdog.com