THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 30, 1994 TAG: 9409300652
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 107 lines
How odd.
According to several Nevada sports books and bookmakers, as of Thursday no odds had been posted on Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker's World Boxing Council welterweight title defense Saturday at Scope against James ``Buddy'' McGirt.
The promoters have billed it as two of the world's best fighters going head-to-head. The oddsmakers yawn and say it's a battle between a masterful although sometimes uninspiring to watch Whitaker against a washed-up McGirt.
``We don't think it's competitive because McGirt's shot,'' said Roxy Roxborough, whose Las Vegas Sports Consultants provides odds for bookmakers worldwide. ``We don't think there's any way McGirt can win it. This would be really weird for McGirt to win this. When boxers are gone, they're gone - and he's gone.''
Roxborough said there are 108 sports books in Nevada, and he knows of no one who has posted odds yet.
Harrah's race and sports book manager Howard Greenbaum concurred.
``Whitaker is such a strong favorite right now there is no line anywhere that I know of,'' Greenbaum said.
Caesars Palace and the Mirage said they anticipate posting odds today.
``It's so lopsided, who's going to bet on the 'dog?'' said Mirage race and sports book administrative manager Yolanda Acuna.
Herb Lambeck, a renowned boxing oddsmaker from Leroy's race and sports book, said his and several other sports books will post it today at 5-1.
Lambeck said there are a variety of reasons why Las Vegas has shied away from the fight, including:
Lack of interest among bettors, especially on a heavy college football day.
Casinos lost a bundle on underdog Oliver McCall's victory over Lennox Lewis last week in the WBC heavyweight title fight and are a little shell-shocked.
The first Whitaker-McGirt fight opened as a pick 'em and nobody bet McGirt because of his shoulder problem, causing a big losing day for the bookmakers, who figured McGirt took the $1 million payday and ran.
``The first fight was a disaster,'' Lambeck said. ``There's a little sour feeling from that fight. After watching McGirt in his last couple fights, I can't see him hitting Whitaker in the ass. And how is he going to beat Whitaker in Norfolk?''
McGirt trainer/manager Al Certo hears this and hits the roof.
``What are they, crazy or what?'' Certo howled. ``Whoever gave you that information is full of ----. It's got to be on the board, it's a major fight. That's so ------- ridiculous it isn't funny.''
Boxing Illustrated editor and publisher Bert Sugar said it seems funny indeed. In his ranking of the world's best fighters, pound-for-pound, Whitaker is first and McGirt fifth. Sugar said if he were handicapping it, he'd make Whitaker a 9-5 favorite.
Sugar said the casinos must figure if they post odds and all the money comes in on Whitaker and he wins, ``They've taken a stand on something they didn't want to take. They have nowhere to hide on this. It's a mismatch from a gambling standpoint, not a skills standpoint.''
Steve Farhood, editor-in-chief of The Ring, agreed.
``That is odd,'' said Farhood, whose publication has Whitaker No. 1 in the world pound-for-pound and McGirt unrated in the top 10. ``McGirt would not be that much of an underdog that they wouldn't post a line. I guess there's not that much interest.''
There's plenty of interest in Hampton Roads.
Promoter Dan Duva said close to 8,000 tickets have been distributed, leaving about 2,500 unsold. A sellout is expected, with mostly $30 and $20 tickets remaining.
While the fans buy up the tickets, Duva refuses to buy the oddsmakers' assertion it is not a competitive fight.
``This is the most danger Pete's ever had in his career of losing a fight,'' Duva said. MEMO: FIGHT FACTS
Who: Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker (33-1-1, 15 knockouts) vs. James
``Buddy'' McGirt (64-3-1, 44 knockouts) in a 12-round championship bout
When: Saturday about 10:30 p.m.; first bout is at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Scope
At stake: Whitaker's World Boxing Council welterweight title belt.
McGirt is the WBC's top-ranked challenger.
Tickets: Available at Scope box office, Wareing's Gym and all
TicketMaster outlets for $50, $30 and $20 ($100 ringside seats are sold
out).
TV: HBO
Radio: WGH, AM-1310
Also on the card: Heavyweights David Tua (15-0) vs. Ken Lakusta
(22-20-1); junior middleweights Raul Marquez (16-0) vs. Darryl Cherry
(12-4); cruiserweights Jade Scott (20-1) vs. Stacey McSwain (record
unavailable); super middleweights Tony Pope (4-0) vs. TBA; super
middleweights Elvis Alexander (2-0) vs. TBA; junior welterweights Dorin
Spivey (7-0) vs. Doug Edwards (2-0); heavyweights Courage Tshabalala
(6-0) vs. Mike Williams (2-0); junior middleweights Ruben Bell (record
unavailable) vs. Lonnell Strohman (record unavailable) ILLUSTRATION: Color photos by DAVID HOLLINGSWORTH (top) and BILL TIERNAN,
Staff
Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker, top, has his sights set on a higher
tax bracket. James ``Buddy'' McGirt, meanwhile, hammers away at a
comeback from shoulder surgery as Basir Muhammad, his head of
security, wipes sweat from the Portsmouth Athletic Club floor.
Photo by BILL TIERNAN, Staff
James ``Buddy'' McGirt has 44 knockouts, but none in his last nine
fights.
by CNB