ST. PETERSBURG, FL - Enjoying his birthday on Thursday morning with his family, former super middleweight boxing champion Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy has heard the rumors amidst the mixed martial arts world about his fight with Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz and wants to clear the air.

“I’ve agreed to the fight, his side sent out a press release saying he had agreed to the fight. But I’ve heard through the grapevine that he’s not serious about this, that maybe his so-called heavy hands can’t back up his big talk” said Lacy.

Lacy has moved forward with plans to open training camp and prepare for battle but wants to ensure that Diaz is up to the task.

“Diaz started this and I’m going to end it. He called me out, I accepted, that means we fight. That’s how it is in the boxing world; hopefully in the mixed martial arts business it works the same.”

“I’ve been hearing for years about MMA taking over boxing. We’ll see about that in the ring with Diaz and me.”

Titled “Breaking History”, the Lacy vs. Diaz match up would mark the first time an elite mixed martial arts athlete challenged an established boxer in the ring.

In his ten year professional career Lacy has amassed a record of 25-4 (17KO’s). Diaz, 25-7 in MMA, won a four round boxing match in 2005, his only entry into the squared circle.

News of the Lacy/Diaz bout has been the talk of both the boxing and MMA world in recent days with current super middleweight champion Andre Ward speaking about the bout to ESPN.com.

“I appreciate and admire [Diaz’s] courage,” Ward told ESPN.com, while in Las Vegas to watch Manny Pacquiao’s recent win over Shane Mosley. “It remains to be seen how well he’ll do, though.

“Nick has good hands, some of the best hands in MMA. But professional boxing is totally different. Totally different.”

“Lacy is dangerous,” Ward said. “I don’t know what everyone is talking about with Lacy. He is dangerous and he’s a very difficult fight for Nick. Jeff is a friend of mine and Nick is a friend of mine. I just want to sit back and watch it. It remains to be seen how it will all work out.”

Continued Lacy, “I’ve already picked out my ring walk music before I pummel Diaz. AC/DC’s “If You Want Blood, You Got It”. Hope to see you soon Nick.”