DATE: Friday, October 31, 1997              TAG: 9710310850

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   34 lines

DECEMBER BOUT AT THE BEACH NOT ON WHITAKER'S FIGHT CARD

As expected, Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker has decided not to fight a Dec. 13 tuneup scheduled for the Virginia Beach Pavilion.

His promoter, Dino Duva, said the focus now is to land a high-profile fight for Whitaker in the spring.

Whitaker fought two weeks ago in Connecticut, winning a close decision over Russian Andrei Pestriaev in a welterweight elimination bout that sets him up as the World Boxing Association's No. 1 contender. Whitaker said after the fight that it was doubtful he would go through with what would have been his farewell bout in front of the home crowd against journeyman Willy Wise.

``Pernell decided he doesn't want to fight in December, and we agree with him,'' Duva said Thursday. ``He showed in the Pestriaev fight he's at a point in his career where he can't get motivated to train hard for those type of fights, and Pernell didn't want to embarrass himself.''

The fight in the spring likely will be against Ike Quartey, the WBA champ. However, Duva said they will make another pitch to Oscar De La Hoya for a rematch. De La Hoya promised a rematch after beating Whitaker in April, but he and promoter Bob Arum have balked at the idea ever since.

``We'll try to put as much pressure on them as possible,'' Duva said. ``If it happens, great. If not, Pernell's career needs to move on.''

Whitaker has said he probably only has one big fight left before he retires. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Pernell Whitaker's next fight likely will be in the spring against

WBA welterweight champ Ike Quartey.

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