THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 14, 1996 TAG: 9604140194
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CUPECOY BAY, ST. MAARTEN LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
When he finished defending his WBC Welterweight title Friday night, Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker said he was through not just with one fighter, but with a whole class of fighters.
Whitaker not only bid farwell to challenger Wilfredo Rivera. He's saying adios to the Wilfredo Riveras of the boxing world: small names who do little to stoke his competitive fire.
At least, that's the plan. It's up to Whitaker's promoter, Main Events, to line up the big fights Whitaker craves.
Dino Duva, president of Main Events, said Friday's split-decision win over Rivera reinforced the need to get Whitaker a major fight.
``We need to get Pernell the biggest fight possible, because he needs to get motivated,'' Duva said. ``He's been doing this for 13 years.''
Rivera was tougher than expected. Although there was no doubt Whitaker won, the 32-year-old champion didn't appear to be in top form.
``I need the big fights,'' Whitaker said. ``Once I get one of those bums in the ring to give me a challenge, you'll see a great fight.''
The ``bums'' in question include International Boxing Federation welterweight champ Felix Trinidad, who is on top of Whitaker's list. Another possible opponent for his next fight - to be held in September or October - is World Boxing Assocation champ Ike Quartey. There's also been talk of a bout with Oscar De La Hoya, who will fight Julio Cesar Chavez in July.
Chavez and Whitaker fought to a controversial draw in 1993, and that was Whitaker's last major fight. Whitaker would love a rematch, but Don King, who manages Chavez, has refused to agree to one.
King also manages Trinidad, which could make lining up that fight a problem. The Duva family and King have a long history of feuding.
A Quartey fight would be much easier to arrange. Quartey's promoter, Michel Acaries, is a friend of the Duvas, and co-promoted Friday's card.
Quartey is also hankering for a shot at Whitaker.
``I want him now,'' Quartey said after an impressive third-round TKO of Vince Phillips Friday night.
Main Events and Home Box Office officials were concerned that Quartey was not well-known enough to make an attractive match with Whitaker. Friday's appearance on the cable network should have raised Quartey's profile.
Whitaker's legend, on the other hand, probably was not enhanced Friday. But he disputed suggestions that he did not fight well.
``That's not the way I live,'' he said. ``That's not the way I operate.''
Whitaker was battling a cold coming into the fight, but said it was not an excuse. He credited Rivera for coming after him. The challenger got stronger as the fight went on, and helped his cause by switching to southpaw in the third round, then back to righthanded late in the fight.
``Nothing was wrong with the way I trained,'' Whitaker said. ``No one knew that kid was going to fight righthanded then go lefthanded.''
Whitaker said before the fight that expectations were too high. He said the media had been spoiled after watching some of his technically perfect fights earlier in his career.
``If I lose a round or two, that's OK,'' he said. ``I'm human. I will lose rounds.''
But no longer to the likes of Rivera.
``I don't need any more of these small fights,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
``I don't need any more of these small fights,'' Sweetpea Whitaker
said after winning narrow decision in St. Maarten.
ASSOCIATED PRESS photo
It was all Pernell Whitaker could do to gain a split-decision
victory over Wilfredo Rivera.
by CNB