THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 16, 1995 TAG: 9511160439
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
Both Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker and Jake Rodriguez know what they will be up against when they come face-to-face in the center of the ring Saturday night in Atlantic City.
They've been in a ring together many times.
Rodriguez will challenge for Whitaker's World Boxing Council welterweight title at the Atlantic City Convention Center (HBO, 10 p.m.; Whitaker-Rodriguez is scheduled for approximately 10:45 p.m.). The previous two times Whitaker defended the title, Rodriguez helped him prepare as a sparring partner in training camp.
``Jake's going to be coming at me,'' Whitaker said. ``He's not going to be hard to find, he'll be right in front of me. This fight can be as easy as possible, as long as I make it as easy as possible.''
Ronnie Shields, Whitaker's trainer, does not see it as a difficult fight for Whitaker (36-1-1, 15 knockouts). But he said because of the familiarity, they will give Rodriguez some different looks that he's not used to seeing from Whitaker.
``I know Jake,'' Shields said. ``He works hard. I know he'll be in great shape. I'm sure Jake hasn't forgotten the things he worked against with Pete.
``But Pete is the better fighter. And, in this fight, Pete is the better puncher, too. Jake is moving up from junior welterweight to welterweight.''
Rodriguez (28-3-2, 8 KOs) was the International Boxing Federation junior welterweight champion from February 1994 to January 1995, when he lost the crown to Constantine Tszyu.
ANOTHER LEFTY: Rodriguez is the third-consecutive southpaw to fight Whitaker, following Julio Cesar Vasquez and Gary Jacobs into the ring against the champ from Virginia Beach.
``I'm sick of these southpaws,'' Shields said.
NEXT UP: Highly regarded Felix Trinidad defends his welterweight title on the undercard against Larry Barnes.
Whitaker-Trinidad is tentatively on the docket for 1996. But first, Whitaker is likely to meet Yori Boy Campas in the spring, according to co-manager Lou Duva.
``I'm going to have to put the big push in for Trinidad while I still have the skills and reflexes,'' Whitaker said.
STORK NEWS: Whitaker's wife, Von, gave birth to the couple's fourth son on Halloween. Devon came about two weeks early.
``That was a relief,'' said Whitaker, who wondered if his wife would be in labor while he was away at the fight.
Whitaker said his expanding family is building a new house in the Church Point section of Virginia Beach after this fight. by CNB