THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 5, 1995 TAG: 9503050227
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker went big-game hunting with his move up to 154 pounds to challenge for Julio Cesar Vasquez's title. Saturday, Whitaker bagged another prize.
Whitaker (35-1-1) claimed the sixth world title of his career in a fourth weight division, winning Vasquez's World Boxing Association junior middleweight title before a sellout crowd of 3,100 in an Atlantic City Convention Center ballroom.
In doing so, Whitaker - a 7-1 favorite an hour before the fight - joined megastars Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran as fighters to win world championships in four weight classes.
``I think I had a great game plan going into the fight and I followed it to a T,'' Whitaker said. ``(Trainer) Ronnie Shields did a great job.''
Judge John Riley of New Jersey scored it 118-107, Guy Jutras of Canada had it 116-110 and Pinit Prayadsab of Thailand saw it 118-110, all for Whitaker.
``Whitaker was very well-prepared for this fight,'' Vasquez said through an interpreter. ``The decision was correct.''
The move up in weight for the sake of a challenge proved at times indeed to be just that for Whitaker, who was knocked down in the fourth round.
``What knockdown?'' Whitaker said afterward. ``It didn't really bother me at all. I just hopped back up and went back to business.''
Vasquez (52-2) kept the pressure on Whitaker all night and dished out perhaps the most punishment Whitaker has absorbed in his 10-year professional career.
Whitaker came into the ring wearing red trunks and shoes, which served as the perfect substitute for a matador's cape for the bullish charges of the Argentinian.
``I felt real strong at 154 because I didn't miss a meal,'' Whitaker said. ``I felt real natural about the weight, but I'm definitely going back to welterweight to fight the mandatory (title defense).''
Vasquez was the busier fighter, throwing 803 punches and landing 243, according to computer statistics. Whitaker threw just 564 but landed 320.
Whitaker had said he was going to showboat, and it didn't take him long to make good on his word. He frequently stuck his head out, daring Vasquez to clock him. Whitaker also dipped way below several punches, and in the second round slipped a punch and ended up directly behind Vasquez in a clinch.
In the third round, there wasn't much hugging. Whitaker connected with a solid overhand left early, but Vasquez landed a good combination late.
It would portend what was to come in the fourth. As Whitaker dipped to slip a punch, Vasquez caught him with a solid left and sent Whitaker to the canvas. Whitaker pulled Vasquez down with him, and for a moment both men rolled onto he canvas.
Referee Tony Orlando ruled it a knockdown for Vasquez. It was just the fourth time in 37 pro fights Whitaker has been knocked down. The others to send him to the canvas were Roger Mayweather, Rafael Williams and James ``Buddy'' McGirt.
``The first six rounds, I wanted to feel him out a little bit before I really started opening him up,'' Whitaker said. ``Plus, remember, I was moving up (in weight), so he was a bigger guy.''
In the seventh, Whitaker was effective moving and jabbing, keeping the Argentinian at bay. At the end of the round, Whitaker threw a behind-the-back punch, and then, after the bell, both men exchanged several blows.
As the fight wore on, Whitaker seemed to gain command. He stuck the jab effectively and scored with combinations, although Vasquez connected frequently as well.
In the ninth, Orlando deducted a point from Vasquez for holding behind the head. It was fortuitous time for a point for Whitaker, because without it the round would have been scored even.
Orlando deducted another point from Vasquez in the 11th, this time for punching behind the head in a clinch.
Whitaker's next two opponents won easily on the undercard. Gary Jacobs (41-5) of Scotland pounded but could not drop Jose Fernandez (6-6-1).
WBA welterweight champion Ike Quartey (28-0) of Ghana punished Korean Jung-Oh Park from the opening bell until the referee stopped the fight at 2:35 in the fourth round. Asked if any of his punches missed, Quartey retorted: ``Not too much.''
Whitaker is expected to return to welterweight and face Jacobs, the mandatory challenger to his World Boxing Council title, in the summer.
Whitaker said he'd like to see that fight at Harbor Park. He'll follow that by taking a run at a seventh world title late in the year against Quartey in a unification bout. by CNB