ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, October 25, 1996 TAG: 9610250079
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: BOXING
SOURCE: FROM STAFF AND ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS
Tickets for the scheduled Nov.29 boxing card featuring Thomas Hearns did not go on sale Thursday at the Roanoke Civic Center.
Steelhawk Promotions, the Roanoke-based firm that is promoting the card with Global Sports Network of California, had announced Monday during a news conference attended by Hearns that the tickets would go on sale Thursday.
However, civic center officials said the promoters had not returned a signed rental contract by closing time (5 p.m.) Thursday. Steelhawk officials could not be reached for comment.
The civic center box office will not put tickets on sale until it receives a signed agreement. It was announced that tickets for the event would be priced between $15 and $150.
The civic center box office had about 20 potential boxing customers come to the window and took approximately 20-25 calls about the Hearns card on Thursday. Civic center officials advise those interested in the fight to call the box office (540-981-1201) before coming to the civic center to check ticket availability.
LEONARD COMEBACK: Certain he can return to championship form, Sugar Ray Leonard is making another comeback. And this time, as an inspiration to youngsters, he says he'll be ``fighting for the kids.''
Leonard, more than five years removed from his last bout, said he will fight Hector Camacho in February, the site and exact date still to be decided.
``I'm pretty good at boxing, even at age 40,'' Leonard said during a news conference. ``I'm a young 40. I just happen to be a grandfather. I'm very excited about my venture back into the ring.
``Yeah, I could [win a championship]. When I'm motivated, when there's a reason to do something, nothing stands in my way. It's only been five years.''
The bout will be promoted by Bernie Dillon, who recently listed possible sites as New York; Las Vegas; Atlantic City, N.J., and San Antonio.
Leonard hasn't fought since losing a 12-round decision to Terry Norris in New York on Feb.9, 1991, a fight in which he took a terrific pounding.
Leonard, who has a 36-2-1 record with 25 knockouts, won an Olympic gold medal in 1976 and has been a champion as a pro in five weight classes.
Camacho, 34, is 62-3-1 following a sixth-round knockout of Heath Todd in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Oct.1. Camacho is a former three-time champion.
MORRISON FIGHT: Heavyweight Tommy Morrison will return to the ring for the first time since testing HIV positive when he takes on what likely will be a little-known opponent in Japan, the boxer said.
Morrison, who retired in February after learning he had the virus that causes AIDS, will test his powerful left hook Nov.3 on the undercard of the George Foreman-Crawford Grimsley bout in Tokyo.
A provision in his contract calls for the fight to end if Morrison suffers any heavy bleeding, he said.
``If I suffer an uncontrollable cut, I'll just forfeit the fight,'' he said.
His lawyer later clarified that the outcome will be determined by the scorecards if a referee halts the match because of bleeding by either fighter.
Morrison identified his opponent as Anthony Cooks, a boxer from Oklahoma who has a record of 9-5. Fight organizers were awaiting Cooks' contract late this afternoon.
The bout is considered a warm-up to a possible Foreman-Morrison fight in early 1997, Foreman's promoter Ron Weathers said. Morrison, 27, outpointed Foreman for the WBO title in 1993.
Cooks, at 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, lost in July to David Tua of New Zealand, who scored an easy first-round technical knockout when the referee declared a mandatory three-knockdown rule in a bout at Baltimore Teamsters' Hall.
LENGTH: Medium: 73 linesby CNB