THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 27, 1995 TAG: 9509270562
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Hector Camacho said no thanks, so Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker's next opponent will be former junior welterweight champion Jake Rodriguez.
The fight for Whitaker's World Boxing Council welterweight title will take place Nov. 18 in an Atlantic City Convention Center ballroom. International Boxing Federation welterweight champ Felix Trinidad (26-0) will fight a mandatory defense against Larry Barnes (39-1) on the undercard.
Whitaker's handlers hope to set up a fight with Trinidad sometime in 1996, if Trinidad can wriggle free of his contractual squabble with promoter Don King.
Rodriguez (28-3-2) was not the first choice to fill Whitaker's November schedule. But Camacho turned down an offer of $1.25 million, said president Dino Duva of Main Events, which promotes Whitaker (36-1-1).
``Camacho is out of it,'' Duva said. ``It's obvious he doesn't want to do the fight. He's been talking (trash) for two years about fighting Whitaker, and we offer him the fight and he turns it down.''
Camacho is now out of Whitaker's future, apparently.
``The chances of him fighting Hector Camacho are slim and none,'' Main Events publicist Mike Boorman said.
Rodriguez, who has yet to sign the contract to make it official, is a southpaw who became the IBF junior welterweight champ in February 1994 with a 12-round decision over Charles Murray. Rodriguez defended the title three times, losing it this January when he was knocked out by Konstantin Tszyu.
``He's a very credible opponent,'' Duva said. ``He's a former world champion and he's a tough guy.''
It could be a big week for Whitaker, who will earn approximately $2 million for the Rodriguez fight. His wife, Von, is due to deliver the couple's fourth son two days before the fight.
Duva said Yory Boy Campas likely will be next for Whitaker, with the fight to take place out West in March or April.
Whitaker is training in San Antonio and could not be reached for comment Tuesday. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Pernell Whitaker
by CNB