THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 12, 1994 TAG: 9408120738
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
James ``Buddy'' McGirt said a few months ago he wanted a rematch with Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker so badly that he'd fight Whitaker in his own back yard.
Hope he meant it.
Whitaker-McGirt II will take place Oct. 1 at Scope, which was virtually in Whitaker's back yard when he was growing up. It will complete the home-and-home series between two of the world's best fighters.
``I'm loving it,'' said Whitaker, when reached in San Antonio, where he is training. ``This is the guy who said he was going to come to my hometown and slap me. Well, now he has his chance.''
Whitaker won his World Boxing Council welterweight title from McGirt in March 1993 at Madison Square Garden. That amounted to a home ring for McGirt, a Long Island native.
The bout will be formally announced Tuesday in Norfolk at a press conference to be attended by both fighters and their management teams.
Although Whitaker has had world title fights in Hampton Roads before, a bout between two fighters regarded among the world's best pound-for-pound probably makes this the most significant boxing event the state has ever hosted.
``I'm coming home and we're going to have some fun,'' Whitaker said. ``This will be the first time Virginia has ever had a world title fight with two fighters of this caliber. I know the fans are going to come out and support me because i'm going to put something on him.''
And there will be some interesting sub-plots. The last time the two fought, McGirt was hampered by a shoulder problem that required rotator cuff surgery immediately after the fight.
Whitaker plays down how that may have affected the outcome.
``Bottom line, I fought him in New York and beat him. And now I'm going to crush him at home.
``I take this as a personal challenge, just like (Julio Cesar) Chavez. So I'm going to handle it the same way,'' he said.
And there's sure to be a sideshow involving the choice of officials. Virginia boxing commissioner Doug Beavers has maintained his referees should work world title fights within the state. McGirt trainer/manager Al Certo has already said he will balk at a Virginia ref or judge.
``Certo's going to rant and rave 'til the cows come home,'' said Mike Boorman, publicist for Main Events, which promotes Whitaker. ``Most of it will be show, but he's definitely going to scream bloody murder. With Doug Beavers, he'll be screaming at the wrong guy.''
Norfolk almost lost the fight to an 11th-hour bid by Reno, Nev. Boorman said the casinos in Reno offered a site fee in excess of $400,000 to host the fight. Scope offered $7,500 plus the gate, which Boorman said could approach a gross of $400,000 if it sells out. Scope holds about 11,000 for boxing, but attendance at previous Whitaker fights there have never exceeded 9,000.
Main Events seriously considered holding the fight at Harbor Park, and got a letter from Norfolk Tides president Ken Young Wednesday offering ideas about how it would work. The atmosphere at the ballpark on the river appealed to the promoters and Home Box Office - which will televise the bout. But the cost of erecting a canopy over the ring and the potential that a rainy night would obliterate the gate made it too risky.
Tickets prices will be $100 (ringside), $50, $30 and $20. by CNB