Roy Jones Jr., still trying to remain relevant, will step into a ring again Saturday night in Biloxi, Miss.

Jones, 40, will face Tampa resident Jeff Lacy in a scheduled 12-round light-heavyweight bout. Although removed from an era when the Pensacola native was considered boxing's best pound-for-pound fighter, Jones continues to land pay-per-view bouts.

``Overall, I am one of the best that ever did it and I feel like I'm getting back to my potential now,'' Jones said in a conference call last week.

But many argue Jones never will match his potential again. In his past eight fights, Jones is 4-4 with only a lopsided decision over Felix Trinidad last year as a reminder of his career dominance.

Jones' descent from boxing's elite began with consecutive losses against Antonio Tarver and Miami's Glen Johnson in 2004. Jones also lost another bout against Tarver in 2005 and suffered a lopsided defeat to Joe Calzaghe last year.

So why does Jones extend his career at such an advanced boxing age?

Jones (53-5, 39 KOs) believes he can relive the years when he ruled the middleweight, super-middleweight and light-heavyweight divisions and made a brief stop at heavyweight, winning a world title belt against John Ruiz.

``I was a speed-combination puncher who has power, and when I went to the heavyweight division I focused on getting more power and less combination and speed,'' Jones said. ``Now I am focused on my combination and speed.

``Now I am back to that Roy Jones and that Roy Jones was a technician.''

Also back will be Jones' father, Roy Sr., as lead trainer. Throughout Jones' amateur career and his early days as a professional, Jones Sr. trained his son until they parted ways.

``My dad was with me from Day One and a guy that knew what I needed to do to beat Calzaghe,'' Jones said. ``I didn't have the knowledge of my skills in my corner that I needed to get through that fight.

``Then I got the cut and I didn't know I was going to have to go through something like that. I needed him to get me through that.''

BRANCHING OUT

Miami resident Yuriorkis Gamboa won a featherweight world title earlier this year, but on Aug. 21 Gamboa will temporarily trade his gloves for a business suit. Gamboa is part of a promotional team that will present its first show at the Miami Beach Ocean Resort.

The card tentatively consists of local fighters Joey Hernandez, Ed Paredes, Richard Abril, Jonathan Cepeda, Stalin Lopez and Angino Perez.

For information, call 305-917-5656.

GOING PRO

Yunier Dorticos, a 2006 World Cup champion while a member of the Cuban national team, will make his professional debut Friday night at Miccosukee Resort and Gaming. Dorticos will face Hilario Guzman in a scheduled four-round cruiserweight bout.

The card's main event will feature Jose Reyes and Antonio Pitalua for a regional lightweight title.

UNTIMELY DEATH

Boxing suffered another tragedy in an already unsettling summer for the sport. Former fighter Nicolas Cervera died July 25 in his native Colombia. Authorities ruled Cervera's death a suicide.

Cervera, who was 37, lived in Miami during the late 1990s when he headlined five local shows for retired promoter Felix ``Tuto'' Zabala. In 2003, Cervera was stopped in four rounds by then-middleweight contender Jermain Taylor.