THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 3, 1995 TAG: 9503030516
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
For only the second time in Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker's 10-year professional career, trainer George Benton will not be in his corner Saturday night.
Whitaker suffered his lone loss the other time Benton was absent in 1988.
The pressure is on new head trainer Ronnie Shields. The seasoned Benton is regarded as one of the best trainers in boxing and has tutored several world champs, including Whitaker, Evander Holyfield and Meldrick Taylor. But Benton and Whitaker manager Lou Duva underwent an acrimonious split last fall.
Shields, 36, was Benton's understudy for seven years. Saturday in an Atlantic City Convention Center ballroom, the understudy moves to center stage when Whitaker fights for Julio Cesar Vasquez's 154-pound title (10:15 p.m., HBO).
``George Benton was `The Professor,' a winner,'' Whitaker said. ``Now it's Ronnie's time to build off that and be consistent. You have to take a guy and make a winner out of him. If not, you'll be replaced.
``There's a lot of pressure on him. I'm looking forward to his performance in the corner.''
Whitaker and Shields are close, but that does not guarantee Shields job security. Whitaker quickly added that if he loses, Shields won't be the scapegoat if he does his job well.
Shields is just five years older than Whitaker, while Benton was twice the fighter's age. Whitaker and Benton worked together for a couple hours a day in the gym, but had little to do with each other before or after.
Whitaker said he will ``always have George in my heart.'' He credited Benton for teaching him how to be a pro and helping him win five world titles.
``I have nothing but great respect for `The Professor,' '' Whitaker said. ``We weren't close, but we got the job done.''
Shields and Whitaker spend much of the day together during training camp - they eat, hang around the hotel and often go to nightclubs together.
``But when it's time to go to work, we go to work,'' Whitaker said. ``This is his big chance, the lights are going to shine on him. We have a great game plan, now he has to go out there and stay in charge and not get nervous on me.''
Like an apprentice learning a trade, Shields is confident he's ready to do the job.
Whitaker needs monitoring more than instruction. Shields' job is to study tapes of the opponent, determine strategy and then keep Whitaker focused on fighting that way. He has to be calm, in control and able to advise Whitaker of necessary adjustments.
``You're still going to see the same Pete, the same fighter everyone says is the best, pound-for-pound, in the world,'' Shields said. ``I fought for 16 years and I've trained fighters for seven years. I know the ins and outs of this business.
``I expect some criticism. People say you have to be an older guy to understand this game.''
Shields was the North American Boxing Federation junior welterweight champion in the mid-1980s. He failed twice in world title bids.
Shields, who lives in Houston and is married with three children, has worked with Whitaker for 6 1/2 years. His first world title shot as head trainer was last month with Virginia Beach light heavyweight Egerton Marcus, who lost his challenge to German Henry Maske.
Shields said he could still work with Benton, but admitted ``every now and then, we had words.'' He said they have talked amicably since the breakup.
Duva and Benton have not. They have blamed each other for their dispute. Benton has charged that he was cheated out of money by Duva, who he calls a racist. Duva called both charges ludicrous Thursday, and alluded to Benton having a drinking problem that interfered with his work.
``The guy made over $5 million with me,'' Duva said. ``All of a sudden I'm a racist now? I've never had these here problems before. I think he's listening to the wrong people.
``We're going to have to come out punching. I never thought it would end like this.''
Duva called the removal of Benton ``one less obstacle,'' saying he created tension in camp. Duva said the closeness between Whitaker and Shields is an asset that outweighs the loss of Benton's experience and knowledge.
``In reality, Ronnie has trained Pernell before,'' Duva said. ``George would come in to the gym for an hour or two to point out a few things. The chemistry between Ronnie and Pernell is there.''
Saturday will begin to show if they have the same formula for success Benton and Whitaker did. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
DAVID B. HOLLINGSWORTH/Staff
``This is his big chance, the lights are going to shine on him,''
Sweetpea Whitaker says of new trainer Ronnie Shields, left.
by CNB