THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 1, 1994 TAG: 9410010401
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C01 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Long : 144 lines
Tonight at Scope, they will be selling the sizzle as well as the steak.
When Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker defends his World Boxing Council welterweight title against James ``Buddy'' McGirt at about 10:30 p.m., don't just watch for hooks, jabs, footwork and feints. Watch for the subtle smile, a cocky look and the confident strut back to the corner between rounds.
Watch for salesmanship. That might help determine the outcome between two fighters with comparable styles.
``It's a sales job,'' Whitaker co-trainer/conditioning coach Bob Wareing said. ``Pete's great at it, and so is Buddy. It's a very strategic fight. The way you walk back to the corner can determine if you've won a round. You've got to sell.''
McGirt trainer/manager Al Certo said if Whitaker wins with salesmanship, ``Then shame on us.''
``That is what Whitaker does well, real well,'' Certo said. ``That's what gets me about him - he gets away with it and the judges fall for it. Buddy is a no-nonsense fighter. Buddy won't let him get away with it. He's going to be on his ass and he's going to be punching.''
As of Friday, Whitaker was a 6-1 favorite at the MGM Grand and Caesars Palace. The Mirage and Harrah's were among the Las Vegas casinos that had not posted odds as of late Friday afternoon because they regard Whitaker a prohibitive favorite.
Most of the national media in town view it as a closer fight than the oddsmakers. So do the two camps.
``This is an event,'' Whitaker said. ``A spectacle. It's being picked up by the world. For an event, we have to put our tap shoes on.''
And Hampton Roads is caught up in the spectacle, with a potential sellout crowd of 10,500 expected. According to Bill Luther, Norfolk's director of civic facilities, about 1,200 tickets remain, and the $100 and $50 seats are sold out. Scope's box office opens at 10 a.m. today.
What boxing commissioner Doug Beavers termed the most significant boxing event ever in Virginia likely will also be the best attended. The largest crowd ever for a live boxing event in Virginia is the 8,365 fans Whitaker drew in his first pro fight at Scope in 1985.
Nine years later, Whitaker (33-1-1) goes into the ring regarded as the world's best fighter, pound-for-pound. Some hold McGirt in almost as high regard. Promoter Dan Duva said the only fight this year approaching tonight's in terms of the quality of the matchup is Roy Jones vs. James Toney on Nov. 18.
``This is the two best fighters in the world,'' McGirt boasted earlier this week. ``We're going to be the Ali-Frazier of the 90s.''
Asked how he viewed the rematch of two boxing technicians, McGirt replied: ``I see it as a fast-paced chess match.''
McGirt (64-3-1) is trying to battle back from shoulder surgery that nearly meant checkmate to his career. He is the man seemingly with more to prove.
The last time they fought 19 months ago, he was hampered by a left shoulder problem that required rotator cuff surgery nine days after the fight. Many observers aren't sold he's the same fighter he used to be.
Whitaker isn't even sold the injury was legitimate.
``I don't know if he even had surgery,'' Whitaker scoffed. ``I think he just went home and went to sleep.''
Whitaker has repeatedly said McGirt just found an excuse for the loss. McGirt's camp bristles at that.
``It's not an excuse, it's an injury,'' Certo said. ``I want to see Whitaker handle a two-handed fighter. It's got to be a different result.''
Tonight marks a first for Whitaker. As a pro he has never had a rematch with a fighter he beat the first time. The only man he's fought twice is Jose Luis Ramirez, who Whitaker lost to in Paris and then beat 17 months later at Scope.
``I hope and pray he doesn't go in there with the thought in his mind `This is easy,' just because he beat him before,'' said George Benton, Whitaker's trainer.
``Sometimes the second fight with a guy is harder than the first time because the guy knows you and knows more about you. You get to know a guy pretty damn good in 12 rounds.''
Benton said Whitaker needs to make sure McGirt doesn't ``out-cute'' him.
``McGirt's a cutie,'' Benton said. ``He's very slick, he's tricky and he makes good moves. You can't let him out-slick you. He beats you with class, and the judges like the way he looks.''
Whitaker said he doesn't need to do anything extraordinary beyond what he normally does to win.
``Every day is Groundhog Day for me,'' Whitaker said. ``Every day is the same and everyone gets the same treatment.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff color photo by LAWRENCE JACKSON
Sweetpea Whitaker
Color photo by TOM CASINO
Buddy McGirt
Chart
Tale of the Tape
For copy of chart, see microfilm
Staff photo by CHRISTOPHER REDDICK
Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker weighs in at 147 for his fight tonight
at Scope against James ``Buddy'' McGirt.
FIGHT GLANCE
Who: Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker vs. James ``Buddy'' McGirt
What: 12-round World Boxing Council welterweight title fight
When: Tonight about 10:30 p.m.; first bout at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Scope
Odds: Whitaker is a 6-1 favorite
Tickets: $50, $30 and $20 ($100 ringside seats are sold out).
Available at Scope box office, Wareing's Gym and all TicketMaster
outlets.
TV: HBO, 10:15 p.m.
Radio: WGH, AM-1310, 9:45
Judges: Chuck Giampa of Nevada, Rudy Ortega of California and
Steve Weisfeld of New Jersey.
Referee: Bill Connors of Hialeah, Fla.
Last meeting: Whitaker took the WBC welterweight title from
McGirt March 6, 1993 at Madison Square Garden in a unanimous
decision scored 115-113, 117-111 and 115-114.
WHITAKER
Born: 1-2-64
Birthplace: Norfolk
Hometown: Virginia Beach
Trainer: George Benton
Manager: Shelly Finkel, Lou Duva
Promoter: Dan Duva
McGIRT
Born: 1-17-64
Birthplace: Brentwood, N.Y.
Hometown: Central Islip, N.Y.
Trainer: Al Certo
Manager: Al Certo
Promoter: Bobby Goodman
Chart
FIGHTERS' CAREERS
For copy of chart, see microfilm
by CNB