BOXING: NO UNIFICATION, SO LACY MARCHES ON.

Byline: ROBERT MORALES Boxing

Jeff Lacy is one of four super middleweight world champions, but he is arguably not the best of the lot. That would be Joe Calzaghe, who, since 1998, has made 17 defenses of his World Boxing Organization belt.

Lacy, the only American champion in the division, would like very much to square off with Calzaghe in a title unification fight. He had hoped it would be his next fight, but a deal wasn't made and Lacy will instead defend his International Boxing Federation belt Saturday against Scott Pemberton.

The fight will take place at Caesars Tahoe, and it will be televised by Showtime.

``By him taking a fight two months out, I knew our fight wasn't going to happen,'' Lacy said of Calzaghe, who Sept. 10 defended his belt against Evans Ashira in Cardiff, Wales; Calzaghe is from Newbridge, Wales.

``So, we just moved on,'' Lacy said. ``It was a disappointment that the fans will not get to see who the best 168-pound world champ is, but I have to carry on with my career.''

The other two champions are Markus Beyer (World Boxing Council) of Germany and Mikkel Kessler (World Boxing Association) of Denmark. They are unknown and their respective lists of opponents are nothing to brag about.

In other words, Calzaghe is the top dog until Lacy proves otherwise. But we'll have to wait a little longer for that matchup.

Meanwhile, Lacy (20-0, 16 KOs) will take on Pemberton in his fourth title defense. Although Pemberton (29-3-1, 24 KOs) is 38, he is a heavy hitter and he has two victories over tough Omar Sheika - one in 2003, one in 2004.

``Well, actually, I like fighting punchers more because you do not have to chase them,'' said Lacy, a 2000 U.S. Olympian from St. Petersburg, Fla. ``They have the confidence in standing there enough and trying to get their shots in.

``That is the best type of fight you ever want to have, especially for the boxing public. You have two warriors that are coming to fight and both of them are punchers.''

Pemberton, of New Bedford, Mass., seems to know what he is up against. Lacy is a big super middleweight and will probably fight at light heavyweight one day.

``They call him Jeff ``Left Hook'' Lacy, but he has a great right hand,'' said Pemberton, who is ranked No. 5 by the IBF. ``He is definitely a powerful man. You cannot just go in there and just sit there and be slapped or just sit there and bang with the guy. You will get your block knocked off.

``So you have to give angles and step around.''

During a recent conference call, Lacy kept getting questions about Calzaghe. And he will continue to get them until they fight. Then again, if he looks past Pemberton, Lacy may not ever fight Calzaghe.

``I am not worried about a Calzaghe fight,'' said Lacy, 28. ``It was supposed to happen (Saturday). Now, we have Scott Pemberton. He is the only person on my mind. I am not even thinking about Calzaghe.''

Yeah, sure.

--Bantamweights battle: The main undercard bout will feature Rafael Marquez making a defense of his IBF bantamweight belt against Silence Mabuza, the No. 1 contender.

This fight was supposed to happen Oct. 1, but Marquez pulled out four days before the fight after catching a flu bug.

``I had severe headaches, was kind of weak and did not feel ready to get in the ring,'' said Marquez, younger brother of WBA/IBF featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez. ``The doctor had also informed me that he would not give his approval for me to fight because I was not in good shape.

``I respect (Mabuza) as a fighter and an opponent, so I would not give him that advantage of walking in the ring without being completely ready to fight.''

Neither Marquez nor Mabuza talked much trash during a conference call last Tuesday. But Marquez gave an indication of his state of mind.

``I like to do most of my talking in the ring,'' Marquez said. ``But I intend to defend my title to the death.''

--Vargas-Mosley appears to be a go: It looks like there is a good chance that ``Sugar'' Shane Mosley and Fernando Vargas could fight each other next February. A couple of years ago, this would be a huge fight.

Today, it would be nothing more than a clash of former champions past their respective primes. That said, it could still do fairly well at the box office.

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