
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 17, 1994                   TAG: 9408170067
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NORFOLK                                  LENGTH: Medium

WHITAKER MAY HAVE `FINAL SAY' AGAINST MCGIRT

NORFOLK FIGHTER Pernell ``Sweet Pea'' Whitaker takes on Buddy McGirt for the WBC welterweight title Oct.1 at the Scope.

The welterweight title rematch announced Tuesday between Pernell ``Sweet Pea'' Whitaker and James ``Buddy'' McGirt is billed as ``The Final Say,'' but not everyone agrees with the label.

``I don't know why they call this The Final Say,'' said Bobby Goodman, McGirt's promoter, referring to the fight scheduled for Oct.1 at Norfolk's Scope. ``It should be called The Payback.''

Whitaker (33-1-1, 15 knockouts) took the World Boxing Council title from McGirt (64-3-1, 44 knockouts) at Madison Square Garden in March 1993. Losing before a home crowd was tough for McGirt, a Long Island native.

McGirt has insisted on another chance, calling Whitaker a ``punk'' and suggesting the 1984 Olympic gold medalist was avoiding him.

``Rather than payback or anything else, I think this is a fight between these two guys for their inner selves,'' said Lou Duva, Whitaker's handler.

The 12-round bout ``has the potential for being the greatest fight that's ever been held in the commonwealth,'' said Doug Beavers, Virginia's boxing commissioner.

Whitaker-McGirt II will be shown by the Home Box Office cable network. Mike Boorman, a spokesman for the Main Events fight promotion firm, said Atlantic City and Reno, Nev., also bid for the fight.

Whitaker is known to favor Norfolk. He grew up in the Virginia port city and fought his last fight there, an April 9 decision over Santos Cardona.

``This is not going to be an average fight,'' Whitaker said during a news conference where most of the tough talk came from the promoters rather than the boxers. ``It's going to be an event.''

McGirt had little to say other than he planned on ``regaining my championship.''

McGirt won a split decision Aug.7 over Pat Coleman, his fourth fight this year. He fought on the undercard of the Whitaker-Cardona bout in April, winning a 12-round decision over Livingstone Bramble.

Keywords:
BOXING

by CNB