Notes on a Scorecard - July 20, 1992

Evander Holyfield vs. Riddick Bowe figures to be a rarity--a competitive heavyweight championship fight. . . .

For the first time since Floyd Patterson signed to meet Sonny Liston in 1962, the odds for a heavyweight title bout have opened as even. . . .

Of course, the fight 30 years ago didn’t justify the odds. Liston dethroned Patterson in the first round. When they were rematched in 1963, Liston was a 5-1 favorite. He knocked out Patterson in the first round again. . . .

Holyfield and Bowe should stick around a lot longer Nov. 13 at the Thomas & Mack Center on the Nevada Las Vegas campus. . . .

Holyfield’s advantages: Conditioning, proven courage, and experience in title fights. Bowe’s advantages: Size and punching power. . . .

Bowe couldn’t knock down Pierre Coetzer with anything except a low blow during nearly seven rounds Saturday night at the Mirage and Holyfield would have been characterized again as a powder-puff puncher if he hadn’t been able to floor Coetzer. . . .

But Coetzer is a tough guy with a granite jaw. Bowe probably would have put him away in the next round if the bout hadn’t been stopped with one second remaining in the seventh, and the challenger should be trimmer, quicker and meaner the night of his title shot. . . .

At 245, Bowe seemed to be at least 10 pounds above his best fighting weight. His tailor no doubt would agree after watching Riddick’s trunks split in the back during the second round. . . .

The best fighter on the card was Pernell Whitaker, who made a good fighter, Rafael Pineda, appear to be a rank amateur. . . .

“The fight everyone wants to see is me and Julio Cesar Chavez,” Whitaker said after winning nearly all 12 rounds and the International Boxing Federation version of the 140-pound, junior-

welterweight title. “The two generals . . . it would be explosive.” . . .

For sure, it would be a classic contrast in styles, the hit-and-run tactics of Whitaker against the straight-ahead pressure of Chavez. . . .

Trainer Richie Giachetti got so fed up with the poor work habits of Hector (Macho) Camacho, who is scheduled to challenge Chavez for the World Boxing Council junior-welterweight title Sept. 12, that he quit last week. . . .

Terry Norris will defend his WBC middleweight title against Simon Brown Sept. 26 on HBO. . . .

Lou Duva has another prospective champion, Eddie Hopson, a 130-pounder from St. Louis who stretched his record to 18-0 on the undercard Saturday. . . .

Duva sent this telegram to Tom Lasorda recently: “The Dodgers lose 10 straight, and you get ripped by the media. Holyfield wins 10 straight, and I get ripped by the media. Don’t worry. You’re still the best manager in baseball and I’m still the best manager in boxing.” . . .

George Foreman, the famed HBO commentator, is talking about fighting Larry Holmes for the senior heavyweight title in January. . . .

The same fans who scoffed at the prospect of Foreman meeting Holmes after Holyfield beat Holmes will buy the pay-per-view telecast if the promotion is done in good humor and the match is billed as a farewell. . . .

“The American dream--a swimming pool in your back yard--turned into a nightmare for me,” said Foreman about the drowning death of his nephew at Foreman’s ranch in Marshall, Tex., July 11. Charlie Perry Steptoe, 21, broke his neck when he dived into the shallow end of the pool. . . .

Atlanta Braves’ pitcher Tom Glavine has his priorities in order--get bombed in the All-Star game, then pitch seven scoreless innings in your next start. . . .

Atlanta should finish ahead of the injury-plagued Cincinnati Reds in the NL West, especially if the Braves trade for a relief pitcher such as Lee Smith or Todd Worrell of the St. Louis Cardinals. . . .

Who can blame Greg Maddux, who has never won 20 games, for turning down a measly, five-year, $28-million offer to remain with the Chicago Cubs? . . .

Howard Johnson is exhibit A of what can happen to an outstanding hitter when he is told to change positions. . . .

Chuck Knoblauch and Jeff Bagwell don’t know what the sophomore jinx is all about. . . .

Kirby Puckett of the great state of Minnesota was the only player to have his name mentioned by a delegate at the Democratic convention.

It was nice to see the Dodgers get back into the groove with their one-run defeat in Philadelphia Sunday after all the troubles they had Friday and Saturday.