Jermain Taylor renews agreement with Everlast while Jeff Lacy latest to join the team

24.06 - Press Release - Everlast* Worldwide Inc. (Nasdaq: EVST), manufacturer, marketer and licensor of sporting goods and apparel under the Everlast brand name, today announced the signing of top rated 2000 Olympian Jeff Lacy as the latest boxer to join the Everlast team of endorsers. Everlast also announced that middleweight contender, Jermain Taylor, will continue to serve as an endorser through the renewal of his agreement. Taylor and Lacy join boxing greats Larry Holmes, former Heavyweight Champion; Chris Byrd, IBF Heavyweight Champion; and Acelino "Popo" Freitas, WBA and WBO Featherweight Champion, as star members of the Everlast team.

Everlast continues to advance its brand awareness program through the signing of professional boxers. Both Taylor and Lacy will endorse Everlast equipment and apparel through on-line initiatives, appearances at trade shows, in-store promotions, community activities and other special events. Additionally, both fighters will be promoting the Everlast young men's line in major advertising campaigns in urban and sports publications. During their upcoming fights, the fighters and their corner attendants will wear equipment and ring attire prominently displaying the Everlast logo.

"Taylor and Lacy are young, up-and-coming professionals who have been and will continue to be prominently featured on HBO and Showtime throughout the next few years. Our goal is to generate greater awareness for our brand by featuring athletes that appeal to a younger, hipper audience and, with these great athletes representing Everlast, we will achieve that goal," said George Q Horowitz, Chairman, President and CEO of Everlast Worldwide Inc. "The appeal and heritage of our brand are further enhanced when rising stars such as Taylor and Lacy choose to represent Everlast."

When 24-year-old Jermain Taylor watched the 1996 Olympics, he realized it was a dream of his to go to the Olympics. His dream came true when he went to the 2000 Olympics and won a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney in the light middleweight division. Since then Taylor has been featured on HBO, Pay-Per-View, ESPN, and Fox Sports and continues to excel at the professional level. Taylor will be headlining ESPN2 Friday Night Fights from Little Rock, AK on August 8, 2003. Taylor's current record is 16-0, 12 KO's and is trained by Pat Burns and promoted by DiBella Entertainment.

Jeff Lacy was also a 2000 Olympian and is regarded as one of the best from the class of 2000. Lacy has gone on to capture the USBA Super Middleweight Championship and the WBC Continental Americas Super Middleweight Championship, while being featured on Showtime and ESPN. Lacy will be headlining ESPN2 Tuesday Night Fights on July 15, 2003 from Beverly Hills, CA. His current record is 14-0, 12 KO's and is trained by Roger Bloodworth and promoted by Gary Shaw Productions.

Mr. Horowitz concluded, "We have gained considerable momentum as a result of the success of our endorsement program. Everlast products worn and used by these boxers, as well as many other professionals, are seen by millions of viewers on NBC, HBO, Showtime and ESPN. In addition to driving the success of our rejuvenated boxing line, the heightened awareness of the Everlast professional line has led to increased sales and the signing of new licensing agreements."