THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 17, 1994 TAG: 9408170543
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
James ``Buddy'' McGirt can be rude, crude and insulting, until he gets what he wants.
Now that he has it, the former world champion insists he'll let his fists do the rest of his talking.
The two sides of McGirt were on display at a press conference at the Omni International Hotel on Tuesday, formally announcing ``The Final Say,'' McGirt's rematch against Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker, to be held Oct. 1 at Scope.
The press conference opened with a videotape of a snarling McGirt ripping Whitaker for not giving him a rematch. During the tirade, McGirt labeled Whitaker a ``punk'' and vowed to ``go to Virginia and kick his butt in the street.''
But none of that hostility was in evidence Tuesday as McGirt used his brief time at the podium to thank Whitaker and the promoters for the chance to avenge his March 12, 1993, defeat to Whitaker, which cost him his WBC welterweight title. ``I just want to get it on now,'' McGirt said.
Whitaker (33-1-1) echoed similar sentiments. The champion, who has fought just once since his controversial draw with Julio Caesar Chavez last September, had grown frustrated by the inactivity and even threatened to retire. But with the McGirt fight now on the horizon, all seemed right in Whitaker's world Tuesday. And given McGirt's comments, motivation should hardly be a problem.
``This one's personal,'' Whitaker said.
McGirt (64-3-1) blamed his previous loss to Whitaker on a shoulder injury, which angered Whitaker because McGirt had been asked about his shoulder prior to the fight and replied that it was fine.
McGirt had surgery to repair the shoulder a week after the Whitaker fight, and has had three solid but uninspiring victories since. The last two of McGirt's victims, Pat Coleman and Kevin Pompey, are now sparring partners for Whitaker. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MOTOYA NAKAMURA
Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker, left, and James ``Buddy'' McGirt have
a score to settle Oct. 1 at Scope in ``The Final Say.''
AT A GLANCE
When: Saturday, Oct. 1.
Where: Norfolk Scope.
Time: First bout, 7:30 p.m.; main event, 10 p.m.
Distance: 12 rounds.
At stake: Whitaker's WBC welterweight championship.
Promoter: Main Events/Monitor and Garden State Boxing.
Tickets: $100 (ringside), $50, $30 and $20, available at the
Scope box office, Wareing's Gym (491-0700) and all TicketMaster
outlets, or by calling 671-8100 or 872-8100.
by CNB