For the right price, boxer Jeff Lacy ready to silence Nick Diaz with a fist to the face

If you call them out, they will come.

Add former super middleweight world champion Jeff Lacy to the long list of pugilists willing to welcome Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz to "the sweet science."

Diaz is coming off one of the craziest opening rounds in MMA history, when the scrappy Stockton slugger scored an improbable come-from-behind victory via first round technical knockout over British striker Paul "Semtex" Daley back on April 9.

Following his Strikeforce win, The Cesar Gracie student told HDNet he "doesn't see much of a future for himself in the sport of MMA" and "he's better than all the guys Strikeforce has." So why not test his much-heralded stand-up against the boys in boxing?

No problem, according to "Left Hook," who responded to last week's call-out by Diaz with one of his own:

"Honestly, I was a little stunned. Nick has accomplished a great deal in mixed martial arts and is certainly one of the best in the sport. But getting in the ring with me for a boxing match is a path he needs to be very wary of taking. I’m willing to put it all on the line anytime, anywhere! For the right price, I’m more than interested in heading to his turf and put my fist in his mouth and silencing him."

Diaz has long been known for his unorthodox but effective striking style. Prior to slugging it out with Daley in San Diego, the foul-mouthed fightmonger tore through Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos en route to a second round submission win at the last San Jose-based event back in January.

The Stockton, Calif., native is riding a 10-fight win streak and has finished all but one of his opponents in dominating fashion.

Trainer Cesar Gracie also tells HDNet that Diaz has a "re-worked" contract that allows him to dabble in the sport of boxing, where you don't have to worry about takedowns or lay 'n pray.

But does anyone really give him a shot against someone of Lacy's caliber? Or any professional boxer at any level for that matter?

What say you?