Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 24, 1993 TAG: 9305240069
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
"I think it's the biggest scandal in Washington since Watergate," Frank Maloney said of Bowe's second-round knockout of Jesse Ferguson, 36, on Saturday night before a sparse crowd at RFK Stadium.
In his first defense of the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association titles, Bowe had stopped out-of-shape Michael Dokes at 2:19 of the first round.
Maloney wasn't criticizing Bowe's performance, but the caliber of his opposition. He thinks the man in the ring with Bowe should be Lewis, the World Boxing Council champion from Britain.
Most fight fans agree, and Bowe has said often, "I'm hoping Lewis will be next."
Next, however, for Bowe apparently will be Evander Holyfield, from whom Bowe won the undisputed heavyweight championship on points Nov. 13.
Holyfield is scheduled to fight Alex Stewart on June 26 at Atlantic City, N.J.
Lewis became the WBC champion when Bowe refused to meet a deadline set by that group to sign for a defense against the Briton. He was unimpressive in outpointing fading Tony Tucker on May 8 at Las Vegas, and he next is scheduled to defend against Frank Bruno of Britain at London in September.
Next spring probably is when Bowe and Lewis will meet to decide who is the ruler of the decidedly weak heavyweight division, said Seth Abraham, president of sports for Time Warner.
Of course, the championship fight mix could change should Holyfield lose or look bad against Stewart or if Tommy Morrison becomes a hot attraction by beating George Foreman on June 26 at Atlantic City.
Bowe got $7 million to fight Ferguson, who got $500,000 for the title shot he earned by upsetting Ray Mercer on May 6, 1992.
"I'm not nervous because nobody expects me to win anyway," said Ferguson, who went into the fight with losses in four of his six previous bouts and a record of 19-10.
"I froze," the challenger from Philadelphia said after being knocked out 17 seconds into the second round. "I was overwhelmed and shocked by the fact I was fighting for the heavyweight championship."
Ferguson was overwhelmed physically, too.
Bowe, 6 feet 5 and 244 pounds, peppered 224-pound Ferguson with left jabs, hooks and right uppercuts. The champion hit Ferguson 65 times in the 3:17 the fight lasted and got hit 19 times in return.
Late in the first round, Bowe knocked down Ferguson with a left hook and right uppercut. I think it's the biggest scandal in Washington since Watergate. Frank Maloney Boxer Lennox Lewis' manager Ferguson struggled up at the count of nine, and the round was over. A fighter cannot be saved by the bell.
At the start of the second round, Bowe jumped on Ferguson with a six-punch barrage concluded with a long right. Ferguson went down, and referee Larry Hazzard started to count, then ruled the fight was over.
"If that was Lewis, the same thing would have happened to him," Bowe said.
In another fight, Ray Jones, 159 1/2, of Pensacola, Fla., outpointed Bernard Hopkins, 159, of Philadelphia, and won the IBF middleweight title, which had been vacant.
by CNB