
DATE: Monday, April 14, 1997                TAG: 9704140169

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: LAS VEGAS                         LENGTH:  141 lines

HEARTBROKEN WHITAKER WANTS REMATCH WITH DE LA HOYA

Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker sat in his hotel suite Sunday afternoon with the shades drawn, nursing the pain of Saturday night's loss with a bottle of beer.

No one can convince him he lost the fight. But it doesn't matter how Whitaker, the crowd of about 12,000 fans at the Thomas & Mack Center or millions around the world scored it. Three ringside judges gave Oscar De La Hoya a unanimous decision by a convincing margin.

For the first time in 98 months, Whitaker awoke Sunday and could not accurately be referred to as ``champ.'' Save for a two-month period in 1992 when he relinquished the undisputed lightweight championship to move up in weight, Whitaker had held a world title since 1989.

Whitaker's handlers said the fighter was despondent Saturday night. The dawn of a new day did little to improve his mood.

``It hurts,'' said Whitaker, who also awoke with his right eye almost swollen shut. ``It's hard to take. No one can tell me how to feel. It just feels different, because I put a lot into preparation for that fight. It just didn't go my way. The outcome was different than what I expected.''

Whitaker's camp expressed outrage at the decision in the World Boxing Council welterweight title fight, particularly at the lopsided scoring. Whitaker lost by six points on two judges' scorecards, by four on the other.

The question everyone was asking afterward was, ``How did you have it?''

National media members at ringside seemed to be split almost 50-50, some with De La Hoya winning by as many as four points, others with Whitaker by a similar spread. The varied opinions seemed to indicate a close fight.

De La Hoya was asked late Saturday night about differing views regarding who won.

``I have the belt right here,'' he said calmly, holding up the title belt while pointing out that only three men's views mattered.

Whitaker (40-2-1) was unquestionably the best he's been since fighting Julio Cesar Chavez in 1993. He had the legs and defensive skills of his prime, and De La Hoya (24-0) often became frustrated by flailing at the air, the constant clinches and Whitaker's dancing. But the challenger landed a good percentage of power punches and was the aggressor most of the night.

Whitaker scored mostly with jabs. Some observers thought his attempts to put on a show by shimmying, shaking and showboating may have hurt him in the eyes of the judges.

``Even though I feel I won the fight, it goes down as a loss, so I have to accept that,'' Whitaker said softly. ``We're going to work hard to get it back.

``If it was close, call it a draw. I could accept a draw. I can't accept a loss because I'm not a loser.''

De La Hoya said after the fight he would give Whitaker a rematch, but his promoter, Bob Arum, said no.< ``Once is enough,'' Arum said.

The promoter said De La Hoya now should command a $15 million payday. He added that fans would not pay to watch Whitaker fight again because they dislike his awkward style and his showboating.

``If (Whitaker's handlers) think they should get a rematch, God love them, put the money on the table,'' Arum said. ``Show me the money, then the fight will go on. But I'm not going to do it; I don't believe the fight should go on. We have to be realistic. Pernell Whitaker can't sell out a 1,200-seat ballroom in Atlantic City.

``They've got to understand their guy is a nice, lovely guy with a lot of talent who stinks out the joint.''

Sunday morning, Whitaker promoter Dino Duva promised to show Arum the money. Duva said a formal offer will be sent today to Arum guaranteeing De La Hoya $10 million for a rematch, with the possibility it could rise to $15 million based on pay-per-view sales. Duva said his company, Main Events, would take the financial risk.

``If Oscar is true to his words that he wants a rematch, and if Bob Arum is true to his words that he'll do a rematch, then this fight will happen in September,'' Duva said. ``We hope they'll stick to their word.''

Duva said he would also file a formal request that the WBC mandate an immediate rematch, as it did when Whitaker won a questionable split decision over Wilfredo Rivera last year. Duva said he would also petition the WBC to rank Whitaker No. 1 in the world, which would mean De La Hoya eventually would have to fight him as a mandatory defense, assuming De La Hoya remains at welterweight.

Duva said Sunday that he didn't question the integrity of the judges, but then he went right ahead and did.

``Money talks,'' Duva said. ``(De La Hoya) is a high-profile fighter who means more to the economy of Nevada. I don't know, maybe subconsciously the judges get into the mode where they favor the fighter who means more to the economy of Nevada.

``. . . Las Vegas is about glamour and money. The glamorous, money machines are naturally going to be favored.''

Whitaker needs glamour opponents to remain interested. If a rematch with De La Hoya can't be made, the hope is that a long-overdue rematch with Chavez can happen. Duva has already had talks with Chavez promoter Don King. Other possibilities are Ike Quartey or Hector ``Macho'' Camacho.

Whitaker, who only wants De La Hoya or Chavez, was asked what happens if neither of those deals can be worked out?

``I'd retire,'' Whitaker said. ``I don't feel anyone else would be able to draw as big and make it a big event. But I know I can get Chavez, that's what they told me last night. I guess that's supposed to pep me up a little bit.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color ASSOCIATED PRESS photos

Pernell Whitaker was quick on his feet, often causing Oscar De La

Hoya to miss badly with his right.

Apparently thinking he had won, Pernell Whitaker smiles as he hugs

Oscar De La Hoya following their WBC championship match Saturday in

Las Vegas.

Oscar De La Hoya often missed Sweetpea Whitaker Saturday, but didn't

miss this time as he lands a left on the top of Whitaker's head.

Oscar De La Hoya celebrates his unanimous victory Saturday night

over Norfolk native Sweetpea Whitaker in Las Vegas. De La Hoya

promised Whitaker a rematch, but De La Hoya's promoter says it won't

happen.

Oscar De La Hoya, left, scored a unanimous decision over Pernell