`LEFT HOOK' ON STARDOM'S DOORSTEP.

Byline: MICHAEL ROSENTHAL Boxing

Jeff Lacy has a number of unusual qualities. Former Olympian. Unbeaten and largely unchallenged in 14 outings. Fights without a promotional contract. However, it's another trait that ultimately could separate him from his 2002 Olympic teammates.

Power.

Lacy, who faces Richard Grant in a super middleweight bout Tuesday at the Playboy Mansion, is nicknamed ``Left Hook'' for a reason: He uses that punch and others to end fights in an instant, which fascinates fans and often brings them back for more.

The St. Petersburg, Fla., resident has 12 knockouts, all inside three rounds and seven in the first round. He might be the biggest puncher pound-for-pound in boxing.

And that's not the only intimidating thing about him. The man scheduled to be his first opponent, Kevin Butts, reportedly ran for the nearest bus stop when he saw the unusually muscular Lacy shirtless during the weigh-in.

None of the above guarantees long-term success and untold riches, as many promising fighters discover, but Lacy has a chance to become one of the few stars in the sport if he can remain focused on his career.

``I just need to keep doing what I've been doing to this point,'' said Lacy, whose gentle, thoughtful demeanor belies his viciousness in the ring and could contribute to his popularity.

Lacy, 26, has had some problems outside the ring. He split with his original promoter, Main Events, last year to take more control of his career and a bigger piece of the pie each time he fights.

Boxing, he acknowledges, is a ``cut-throat business.''

However, with trainer Roger Bloodworth, manager Shelly Finkel and now promoter Gary Shaw (whom he hired on a fight-by-fight basis), his career doesn't appear to have suffered.

Lacy has fought regularly and won convincingly. As a result, he's nearing a top-10 ranking in two of the major sanctioning bodies, which means big-name opponents lay in his not-so-distant future.

That is if he can get one into the ring. At the moment, he represents significant risk for minimal gain because he doesn't generate big money yet. He says he's in no hurry.

``If I were fighting someone of my ability, I wouldn't do it for peanuts,'' he said. ``I just have to be patient. Everyone has their time. I'll have mine, I'll be tested. And I'll be ready for it. I want to be sure I have all the experience I need going into a championship fight.

``I can't go in there with only punching power. I want to go in there with boxing ability, with the ability to think under pressure in the late rounds. I want all that.''

Lacy doesn't want to go the way of fellow Olympians Ricardo Williams (U.S.) and Francisco Bojado (Mexico), who lost focus out of the ring and then suffered shocking defeats in it.

Lacy vows to avoid their fate.

``I try to learn from watching other people,'' he said. ``...These guys kind of let it happen to them. You have to have time to play (read: party) but you have to play cautiously. And in your off time, you still have to go to the gym. You can't just do nothing.

``(Opponents) are coming at you trying to make a name for themselves, just like we're trying to make names. Anything can happen at any time.''

Lacy's opponents will tell you the same thing.

His boxing skills are easily overlooked because of his size and strength. He's quick and athletic, well-schooled and appears to be an intelligent boxer, all tools that will serve him well in his career.

And Bloodworth said Lacy knows better than to rely solely on his power. He learned that against Ross Thompson in November, when he tried too hard to score a knockout and failed to do so as a result. He learned that night to box and let the knockouts come on their own.

At the same time, he and his handlers do acknowledge that it's his power that grabs your attention. Lacy described himself as a combination of Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson - with emphasis on the latter.

``Power is something you're born with, and he has it,'' Bloodworth said. ``...The thing that amazes me is that he has it in both hands. Some have it in one but not many have it in both.

``I don't think you can put a cap on what Jeff can do. I don't think you can compare him to anyone. I think, eventually, people will be compared to him.''

--By comparison: Thompson, a slick veteran, was one of only two fighters to take Lacy the distance. That was in Lacy's 12th fight.

Fernando Vargas faced Thompson at 154 pounds and knocked him out in four rounds, Vargas' 20th fight.

--Different duties: Calabasas product Mia St. John, who remains an active fighter, will be working the microphone for the Playboy Mansion card - as a roaming reporter for ESPN2.

The fit is perfect: St. John is bright and articulate and has posed for the magazine.

--Mayorga-Forrest: Ricardo Mayorga proved his knockout victory over then-unbeaten Vernon Forrest in January was no fluke, outpointing the former champion in their rematch Saturday.

The wild Nicaraguan overwhelmed one of the world's most-talented fighters for half a fight and then did enough in the final rounds to retain his welterweight championship, although one judge scored the fight a draw. He can knock you out and he can outpoint you.

And he confirmed what we already knew: He's a monster, Roberto Duran-like in ferocity and fearlessness, albeit not in skill.

The guy is as fun to watch as any fighter in the world. For example, the moment he stood with his arms down and allowed Forrest to punch him was precious.

Already, after his two victories over Forrest, he must be considered one of the best fighters pound-for-pound. And if he takes care of himself, this might only be the beginning.

Forrest? He must rebuild, much as Shane Mosley must do after his two losses to Forrest. However, Forrest left no doubt Saturday he's an exceptional fighter. He withstood the frighteningly relentless charges of a much-stronger man for six rounds and then took control of the fight, although too late in the eyes of the judges.

He has nothing to be ashamed of.

The losses to Mayorga will be indelible evidence of his vulnerability but he certainly has the ability to regain a championship sometime soon, particularly if his courage and determination Saturday are any indication.

--Staples card: Erik Morales will face Guty Espadas in a junior lightweight title-elimination bout Oct. 4 at Staples Center, it was formally announced.

Three title fights also are on the card: Carlos Hernandez defends his IBF junior lightweight title against Steve Forbes, and IBF bantamweight champ Rafael Marquez and WBC light flyweight champ Jorge Arce defend against opponents yet to be decided.

Morales defeated Espadas by a controversial decision in February 2001. However, Espadas, who said the disappointing setback sapped his spirit, has lost two of his past five fights and might not be as effective against Morales this time.

If Morales wins, he'll be in line to face the winner of the Aug. 15 Sirimongkol Singmanasak-Jesus Chavez fight for the WBC junior lightweight title. Then would come a third fight against Marco-Antonio Barrera, although it's not clear what weight they'd fight at.

Bob Arum, Morales' promoter, said they would fight at a 128-pound catch weight. However, Morales said he won't fight at less than 130.

Seventy-five percent of tickets at Staples are $100 or less.

HOW THEY'VE FARED

How the 2002 U.S. Olympic boxing-team members have done as pros:

Super heavyweight: Calvin Brock 15-0 (13 KOs)

Heavyweight: Michael Bennett 10-4 (8 KOs)

Light heavyweight: Olanda Anderson 2-0 (1 KO)

Middleweight: Jeff Lacy 14-0 (12 KOs)

Light middleweight: Jermain Taylor 16-0 (12 KOs)

Welterweight: Dante Craig 8-2 (6 KOs)

Light welterweight: Ricardo Williams 8-1 (5 KOs)

Lightweight: David Jackson 1-0 (1 KO)

Featherweight: Ricardo Juarez 16-0 (12 KOs)

Bantamweight: Clarence Vinson 12-1 (5 KOs)

Flyweight: Jose Navarro 17-0 (7 KOs)

Light flyweight: Brian Viloria 12-0 (7 KOs)

CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo:

Jeff Lacy, right, is nearing a top-10 ranking in two of the major sanctioning bodies thanks to some powerful punching.

Dave Martin/Associated Press

Box:

(1) HOW THEY'VE FARED (see text)

(2) COMING UP (see text)