THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 22, 1994 TAG: 9407200133
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ABE GOLDBLATT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
Veteran boxing referee Al Rothenberg, who has worked 32 world championship fights and about a thousand others, claims he has never officiated a fight he thought was ``fixed.''
``But I officiated some bouts I thought smelled a little bit,'' he told the Portsmouth Sports Club Monday at its luncheon meeting at Holiday Inn-Portside.
``Nothing concrete, however, that I could prove to the boxing commission that the fight was fixed.
``I have stopped some fights because the boxer was completely outclassed and others simply because he was scared and running. No, I've never worked a fight I thought was fixed.''
He added that he handled a few that were ``pretty bad artistically.''
At 76, Rothenberg is the oldest active referee of major bouts in the country.
``If you're in shape, you can handle it,'' he said. He has worked national and international fights and has been on television frequently.
``Heavyweight fights are the easiest to handle,'' Rothenberg said. ``It's easier for a referee to stay away. But it's different in the lighter weights. They're faster and the referee has to move faster.''
He rates welterweight world champion Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker of Virginia Beach the best in the business when it comes to ring generalship.
``Sweepea is in control of every fight. Pound for pound, he's the best in the world. I thought he was robbed of the decision when the officials declared his fight with Julio Cesar Chavez a draw. I kept score and I thought Sweetpea won nine of the 10 rounds.''
Rothenberg praised official boxing timekeepers Stanley Gold and Louis Latham, both of Portsmouth, as among the best in boxing.
``When they're on the clock when I'm the referee, I don't have to worry.''
He called promoter Don King, who has been indicted by a federal grand jury, ``a disgrace to boxing.''
He also explained the rules a referee must abide by. Rothenberg says he favors the standing 8 count.
``It gives the referee time to study a fighter's injury and reflexes and decide whether to stop a fight or not.''
Added Rothenberg: ``Something different happens in every fight.'' by CNB