Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 10, 1994 TAG: 9404100189
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium
Whitaker stayed in the challenger's face for most of the 12 rounds, slipping and blocking most of Cardona's punches while landing freely to the head and body.
Computer analysis showed Whitaker landed 526 of 860 punches thrown while Cardona could land only 214 out of 880.
"It's not about fighting for world titles for me anymore," the 30-year-old Whitaker said. "It's about defending the pound-for-pound title."
Several people in boxing consider Whitaker the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and he did nothing to dispel that notion before 7,868 fans at the Scope.
"I think the fans deserved a great show," he said.
Whitaker's one-sided, 12-round victory followed a one-sided, 12-round decision by James "Buddy" McGirt over Livingston Bramble.
McGirt, who lost the welterweight title to Whitaker on points on March 6, 1993, hopes to challenge Whitaker in the fall. Shelly Finkel, Whitaker's co-manager, and promoter Dan Duva both are talking about such a fight in September or October.
Whitaker said, however, "McGirt doesn't deserve a rematch, not because of his performance tonight, but because of his excuses."
Whitaker has become irritated by McGirt and his manager, Al Certo, saying that if McGirt hadn't fought with an injured left shoulder he would have beaten Whitaker.
McGirt had surgery for a ruptured tendon in the shoulder nine days after his loss to Whitaker.
Whitaker was fighting for the first time since his controversial majority draw with Julio Cesar Chavez last Sept. 10. Most ringsiders thought Whitaker clearly won that fight.
There were no doubts Saturday night. Judges Jimmy Trayler of Virginia Beach and Francisco Manzano of Puerto Rico each favored Whitaker 119-109. Larry O'Connell scored it 119-111 for the champion.
Whitaker, scoring with jabs and straight lefts, boxed Cardona into frustration through the first eight rounds and then took target practice against the Puerto Rican in the ninth, 10th and 11th.
Whitaker, now unbeaten in 19 fights dating to 1988, got $1.75 million for his 34th victory against one loss and one draw. The top-ranked Cardona, who was paid $250,000, had a 10-fight winning streak snapped. His record is 29-4.
McGirt, who won all 12 rounds on two cards and 11 rounds on the third, is 62-3-1. Bramble is 36-13-3.
by CNB