THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 20, 1994 TAG: 9410200496
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker apparently will have a new trainer in his corner the next time he fights.
The longtime relationship between trainer George Benton and co-manager Lou Duva is on life support, and one camp insider who asked not to be identified said a split ``is definite. It's in the works.''
Duva, who runs the training camps like the one under way at Wareing's Gym in Virginia Beach, won't specify what the problem is or what the resolution will be. But his words point to a breakup of a 15-year relationship with Benton.
``I'll put it to you this way here: Pernell Whitaker deals with a team, he doesn't deal with an individual,'' Duva said. ``He's got a team around him. There's nobody that's indispensable.''
Benton said he and Duva became embroiled a dispute shortly before Whitaker fought James ``Buddy'' McGirt at Scope on Oct. 1.
``I can't see any reconciliation,'' Benton said.
Neither Benton, 61, nor Duva, 72, would discuss details of the discord.
``The guy is wrong as two left shoes,'' Benton said. ``It's been his doing. He's been doing things and doing things and doing things, and finally he did one thing that made it come to a head.
``I have done absolutely nothing to cause our relationship to sour.''
Duva said Benton's fate will be determined within a couple weeks. Whitaker, the World Boxing Council welterweight champion, is working out regularly but is not expected to fight again until February or March.
Whitaker has been trained by Benton for all but one of his 36 professional fights. Benton is the teacher in camp and in the corner on fight night, and frequently has been credited by Whitaker for coming up with a winning game plan.
Duva is the more spotlight-conscious member of the corner, serving primarily as a motivator.
``I don't know what's going on with that,'' Whitaker said of the acrimony within the camp. ``I'm not going to touch it.''
Bob Wareing, Whitaker's co-trainer and conditioning coach, also declined comment.
Benton has alluded to tension between him and Whitaker several times in recent years. But he said if Whitaker wants him as the trainer, he will continue to be the trainer.
``Lou can't stop it,'' Benton said. ``But I don't know how I feel about it.''
Benton returned to Virginia Beach on Monday from London, where he interviewed to become former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis' trainer.
``I'm in favor of him getting the job,'' Duva said. If Benton gets the job, of course, cutting him loose would be easier.
In addition to Whitaker, Benton and Duva worked together as handlers of a Main Events stable of fighters that included former world champions Evander Holyfield, Meldrick Taylor, Johnny Bumphus and Rocky Lockridge.
Duva said arguments between them are nothing new.
``A guy and his wife might have an argument and people will say they're splitting up, but nothing is definite,'' Duva said.
Duva said if Benton is out of the picture, assistant trainer Ronnie Shields would take over and Wareing and Roger Bloodworth - another trainer in camp - would have expanded roles.
Duva emphatically said there can only be one boss in an organization, and he's it. He also said training fighters is a round-the-clock job, ``not a two-hour-a-day job with me.''
Asked if that meant Benton was not dedicated enough to the job and wanted to be the boss, Duva replied: ``You figure it out.'' ILLUSTRATION: Lou Duva
George Benton
by CNB