THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 25, 1995 TAG: 9508250047
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
WILL IT BE a big deal in Atlantic City Saturday night when Norfolk's lord of the rings, Pernell Whitaker, defends his World Boxing Council welterweight title against Gary Jacobs? I don't think so.
Maybe the fight will pull a few high rollers away from the crap tables for an hour or two. You might even see a cocktail waitress or a pit boss catching a glimpse of the fight on HBO.
Whitaker-Jacobs is just another layer of glitter in a city knee-deep in it - at least in the neighborhood of the boardwalk casinos. If you want to feel the air crackle, hear a city buzz and see people really, really excited about a ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker fight, bring it to Norfolk.
Bring it to Scope under the sweeping Nervi dome.
When Whitaker fights in Norfolk, where he is revered, it makes for unforgettable television, according to the man who is producing the HBO telecast of the Whitaker-Jacobs 12-rounder at the Atlantic City Convention Center. Ross Greenburg also produced the HBO telecast in October of 1994 when Whitaker did, indeed, fight at Scope before 9,168 homeboys.
``An electric moment,'' said Greenburg when our paths crossed recently in Los Angeles at the Television Critics Association press tour.
``When Pernell fights in his hometown, it's great television.''
It's like everyone in the city is in the ring with Whitaker, said Greenburg.
If Whitaker fighting in Norfolk makes for rousing television, why not arrange it again, and soon, I asked Greenburg?
The man said he'd love to.
According to Greenburg, Whitaker has one more fight to go on his contract with HBO after he finishes with Jacobs in Atlantic City.
Great. Bring the fight to Scope.
That is not a decision for HBO to make, said Greenburg.
The promoters determine where the next Whitaker fight will take place. Greenburg pointed out that it's not so easy convincing the promoters and managers of his opponent that he should fight Whitaker in Whitaker's hometown.
And the hotels in Atlantic City and Las Vegas have the bucks to outbid Scope for his next fight. What if Whitaker's next match late in 1995 should be the big one - Whitaker against Hector Camacho or the rematch that boxing fans have been waiting for, Whitaker vs. Julio Cesar Chavez?
Could Norfolk outbid the betting capitals for those attractions?
Not likely, said Greenburg.
But Whitaker's next Big Fight could take place in Norfolk anyway if Sweetpea wants to climb into the ring before his friends and relatives again. ``He might be willing to leave an offer from Las Vegas or Atlantic City on the table to fight in Norfolk. That is how deeply he feels about fighting in his hometown,'' said Greenburg.
The HBO producer was so impressed with the look and feel of Scope when Whitaker fought there last October that he had camera crews roaming all over the place to film the reactions of the 9,158 people in the blue seats. He used those crowd shots in the HBO original film ``Tyson.''
``We loved being in Norfolk. . . . ''
One thing's for sure. You won't get ripped off watching Whitaker and Jacobs on HBO. The fight is a bonus for laying out $10 or $11 to subscribe to Home Box Office. This isn't Tyson-McNeeley. Nobody is asking viewers to pay $40 to $55 to see a convicted felon fight a stiff who barely has a pulse.
Greenburg is confident that Whitaker will sign again with the cable service in 1996. ```We expect him to be part of the HBO boxing equation for years to come,'' said Greenburg.
Greenburg announced that middleweight champion Roy Jones Jr., who has what it takes to challenge Whitaker for the mythical title of best boxer in the world, pound-for-pound, will be part of the HBO telecast along with Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant and Harold Lederman.
Will the high rollers in Atlantic City take notice? by CNB