THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 27, 1995 TAG: 9508270198
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker vowed to have ``fizzazz,'' new moves and new tricks for Gary Jacobs.
But when he went back to his tried and true, Whitaker took command to score an easy victory over Scotland's Jacobs, who was decked twice in the final 30 seconds and appeared on the brink of getting knocked out when the final bell sounded.
Whitaker won a unanimous decision to retain his World Boxing Council welterweight title before a crowd of 3,083 in an Atlantic City Convention Center ballroom. Judge Gus Mercurio of Australia scored it 118-109, Tamotosu Tomihara of Hawaii had it 118-107, and Takeaki Kanaya called it 117-109.
Whitaker was ahead comfortably from the middle rounds on, but the final round - scored 10-7 for Whitaker on two cards and 10-6 on another with the two knockdowns and a point deducted from Jacobs for holding - contributed to the landslide.
The fight was within seconds of not needing a scorecard.
Whitaker (36-1-1) caught Jacobs flush with an overhand left and Jacobs flopped face first in the center of the ring.
``I hit him with everything I had,'' Whitaker said. ``I don't know why he got up.''
Jacobs undoubtedly wondered the same seconds later.
Whiitaker swarmed on him in Jacobs' corner and pummeled him again as Jacobs tried to escape. Jacobs was down again seconds later, and at the count of three the final bell sounded.
A fighter cannot be saved by the bell in New Jersey, but Jacobs (41-6) was up at about the count of four, wobbly and glassy-eyed. Chances are the fight would have been stopped by referee Ron Lipton had it not been over.
``I'm not disappointed about not getting a knockout,'' Whitaker said.
Whitaker started slowly. His jab lacked the sting it usually does, and he stood in to trade punches and get tangled up with Jacobs. The challenger did not look the least bit intimidated to be in the ring with a fighter who is one of only four men to win world titles in four different weight classes.
``He was real awkward, and that's why it took me a while to get to him,'' Whitaker said. ``I knew it was only a matter of time before I'd be able to get him out of there.''
After a slow start, Whitaker found his range in rounds six and seven, which Jacobs' puffy eye and swelling around the face attested to.
Whitaker began to move a bit more, sticking jabs and overhand lefts and getting out before Jacobs could retaliate. Whitaker began going to the body, jabbing and flustering the game Jacobs.
By round eight, Whitaker was in command and could have his fun. He dared Jacobs to punch him and then dodged the punches as if his head were attached to a short bungee cord. Jacobs, tiring and frustrated, began the dangerous habit of walking into Whitaker left hands.
After one bomb that connected, the fighters clinched and Whitaker raised his eyebrows and mouthed ``oooh.''
By the final three rounds, Jacobs was spent. His cornermen yelled repeatedly, ``Gary, grit your teeth and throw your punches.''
He got credit for a knockdown by barely throwing a punch in the 11th. Whitaker missed with a chopping left and his momentum carried him down to the canvas. Jacobs flailed at him, and Lipton dubiously ruled it a knockdown - officially the fifth time Whitaker has been down in his career.
``He went over, and the ref started counting,'' Jacobs said. ``I'm not goijng to say, `Listen, that's not a knockdown.' ''
According to CompuBox figures, Whitaker threw 667 punches and landed 45 percent. Jacobs threw 496 and connected on 38 percent.
Whitaker's next fight is scheduled for Nov. 18, with the opponent and site to be determined later. Two-time world champion Hector ``Macho'' Camacho and Yory Boy Campas are considered the strongest possibilities.
``It doesn't matter who I fight next,'' Whitaker said. ``We'll be able to find somebody to sign the paper without their hands shaking.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
``He was real awkward, and that's why it took me a while to get to
him,'' Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker said.
Photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pernell Whitaker pops Gary Jacobs, who avoided being knocked out by
the barest of margins.
by CNB