ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, January 24, 1997 TAG: 9701240091
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.
SOURCE: Associated Press
It's the main event, but Pernell Whitaker's WBC welterweight title defense Friday night really is just a preliminary to a bout with Oscar De La Hoya.
Whitaker, however, says all the right things and insists he's not looking past Diobelis Hurtado.
``I can honestly say I take every fight seriously,'' said Whitaker, who will be facing a little-known fighter in a 3,000-seat ballroom at the Convention Center.
On April 12, in an outdoor bout at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Whitaker is scheduled to defend against De La Hoya, who has become a star since his triumph at the 1992 Olympics.
De La Hoya, who retained the WBC super lightweight title on points over Miguel Angel Gonzalez last Saturday night, is to be at ringside for Whitaker's eighth defense of the 147-pound championship.
Whatever he says about Hurtado, Whitaker can't help thinking about De La Hoya.
``Right now De La Hoya has got to be dreaming about me,'' Whitaker, originally from Norfolk, said Thursday. ``He's never been on this level. I'm going to take him to a higher altitude. I hope he can breathe.''
Despite his 20-0 record, with 13 knockouts, and the buildup by those involved with this fight, Hurtado seems to be an unbeaten afterthought.
There is no betting line on the fight.
LENGTH: Short : 37 lines KEYWORDS: BOXINGby CNB