ST. PETERSBURG, FL (October 20, 2004)  He was the first member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic team to win a world title and now undefeated IBF super middleweight champion JEFF "LEFT HOOK" LACY will become the first member of that same Olympic team to defend a world title, all within an eight week span. Promoted in association with Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, Lacy, 17-0 (14 KOs), from St. Petersburg, FL will defend his title against two-time world title challenger OMAR SHEIKA, 27-6 (17 KOs), from Paterson, NJ, in the co-main event to the José Luis Castillo ? Joel Casamayor WBC lightweight championship, Saturday, December 4.  Both fights will be televised on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing beginning at 9 P.M. ET / 9 P.M. PT.

 Lacy captured the vacant world title via an eighth-round technical knockout over No. 1 contender and two-time world title challenger Syd Vanderpool earlier this month at the new outdoor Amphitheatre at Caesars Palace.  Vanderpool, 35-3, who went the distance against world middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins, had more than twice as many professional fights than Lacy.  Yet it was Lacy who showed the poise and maturity of a veteran as he methodically broke down Vanderpool, ending his three-year, seven-bout winning streak ? five by knockout.  This was the first time Vanderpool had ever been knocked out in his professional career.

"That victory was my Olympics, my gold medal," said Lacy.  "Now it is time to give my new title a spin around the block.  I cannot wait to get back in the gym and prepare for my first title defense."

Sheika, the IBF?s No. 14-rated contender, returns to the ring riding a three-fight winning streak.  His resume boasts a victory over Glecoffe Johnson, the reigning IBF light heavyweight champion who knocked out Roy Jones, Jr.  in his recent title defense.