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BRIEFSI
Boxing
Morrison TKOs
Ruddock
Tommy Morrison stopped
Donovan “Razor" Puddock with
five seconds remaining in the
sixth round to capture the vacant
International Boxing Council
heavyweight tittle at KansasCity
Mo. and breathed new life into
his waning career Morrison 45-
2-1 appeared tired in the fourth
round, but came back to knock
down Ruddock w ith a powerful
left hook early in the sixth round,
finishing him off with right left
combination.
Ruddock fighting only his
second bout in two years did not
go down but the fight was
stopped. Referee Ron Lipton
stepped in and said the Canadian
fighter was in trouble
“His eyes went back into his
head" Lipton said “ He wanted
to continue but he was hurt."
Duran Scores
Knock-Out
Roberto Duran improved on
his extensive career record with
a seventh round knock out Satur­
day night of Ron Matinez. The
match was a bout to decide the
IBC Supermiddle weight tittle.
Martinez lost for the first
time in 18 fights. He went down
from a vicious combination from
a charging Duran who improved
to 95-12 with 66 knock-outs.
TYSON IS BACK
With promoter Don King at his
side, Mike Tyson announced his re­
turn to boxing in a press conference
at the MGM Grand Hotel-Casino
where he will fight at least six times
under a new long-term contract.
" I’m ready to resume where I
left off," Tyson declared, displaying
an aggressive attitude
Tyson ( 4 1-l, with 36 knock­
outs) will initiate his comeback with
a fight on Pay-Pre-View TV against
little-k n o w n “ H u rric a n e ” P eter
McNeeley (3 6 -1) on Aug 19 at the
MGM Garden.
The former undisputed heavy­
weight champion has been inactive
four years while serving a prison
sentence for a controversial rape con­
viction
He was released from an Indi­
ana correctional facility March 25
and resumed training two weeks later
after realigning with Don King Pro­
ductions and signing two multi-mil-
lion d o lla r co n tra c ts--o n e w ith
Showtime Cable Network and one
with MGM
His, first five fights will be at the
hotel and Showtime w ill televise each
one, netting Tyson over $50 million.
Tyson’s last fight was June 28,
19 9 1 when he won a 12-round deci­
sion over Razor Ruddock in Las
Vegas. Earlier, he won 37 fights be­
fore losing the title to Buster Dou­
glas by a I Oth round knockout in
Tokyo, Japan on Feb. 11, 1990.
Sitting next to co-managers Rory
Hollow ay and John Home at the press
conference, Tyson wore a conserva­
tive black suit, white shirt and tie
with a straw hat and dark glasses. He
appeared at ease and confident in his
public comments as he answered 26
questions from a large gathering o f
print and electronic reporters—many
from the international press.
He responded to reporters’ ques­
tions carefully, speaking 15 minutes.
There was little doubt that Iron
Mike feels that he is ready to regain
the spotlight and solidify the title
again and even less doubt about w hat
kind o f fighter he expects to be.
And there was no signs that pris­
on tempered the inner fire that made
him one o f the most feared heavy­
weight champions ever.
“I don’t know how many fights
it will take. But I feel I can fight the
champ now,” he said, not specifying
which one
“ I haven't felt any ill effects
from the last four years. I’m sure I’ll
do well,” he said, implying that he is
on a mission to prove something.
" I ’ve looked good in the gym. I
feel good.” he continued, staying
positive.
Tyson chided a reporter for ask­
ing about his conversion to the Mus­
lim religion. Before the news confer­
ence, reporters were told to ask only
questions about boxing
"I don’t mean to sound abrupt,”
Tyson stated. “Yes, I'm a Muslim
That's all. If you wish me to stay here,
you have to ask me questions about
boxing. That’s what I'm her for."
“ W hatever falls upon us, falls
upon us in the name o f Allah," Tyson
said, alluding to his new-found faith.
On the surface, the Tyson-
McNeeley bout appears to be a mis­
match. Taken on face value, it’s easy
to see why. M cNeeley’s career is
best described as nondescript
The Boston native, a true 220-
pound heavyweight, is an ex-college
football player who started boxing at
the urging o f his father, a former
heavyweight fighter, after his foot­
ball career waned.
As a promising contender in
1961, the father Tom McNeeley,
challenged Floyd Patterson for the
heavyweight title after posting 23
consecutive victories
Patterson floored McNeeley
eight times before knocking him out
in the fourth round.
Y oung M cN eeley's grandfather
was a member o f the I928U.S. Olym­
pic boxing team and fought on the
first fight card in the Boston Garden
that same year. Hence, the boxing
pedigree.
The McNeeley camp considers
the Tyson fight a chance o f a lifetime.
The underdog role seems to fuel their
fire.
Peter McNeeley has high expec­
tations and confidence in his ability.
"You have to be a professional and
you have to be able to adjust," he
said. “I'm ready for this challenge."
Possessing power in both hands,
the 26-year-old boxer is eager to
defy history . He has 21 first round
knockouts to prove his punching
prowess.
But most boxing writers in at­
tendance at the press conference re­
gard McNeeley as little more than a
blue light special for Tyson.
His chances are considered slim
and none.
“He’s a slow-moving guy and
he’s no big puncher, so Tyson can
afford to make mistakes," according
to veteran trainer Angelo Dundee,
who worked comeback fights in the
comers o f Muhammad Ali and Sugar
Ray Leonard
“He’ll stand in front o f Tyson
and give him the perfect fight.”
Dundee reasoned.
Offer Made
Hollywood Parek Chairman
R.D. Hubbard said Saturday he
has made a proposal to the Los
Angeles Raiders. The team is
contemplating moving back to
Oakland.
H o w ev er H u b b ard and
Raider owner Al Davis have been
in negotiations all week and
Hubbard expect an answer soon.
"This basically our final of­
fer to the Raiders. The league is
definitely go to have a team in
L.A. and w e’re going to enter
negotiations" said Hubbard who
also owns Multhnomah Grey­
hound Park.
Racing
Unfinished
Finishes Tops
Tennis
Summer
Tennis Camps
Scheduled
Kids N' Tennis is sponsor­
ing two tennis camps this sum­
mer to provide supervised ac­
tivities for children
Once again Irving Park in
northeast Portland and Roosevelt
High School in north Portland
will serve as sites for the camps
which will begin June 19 and
July 28. For more information
contact Don Johnson or Andre
St. James at St. Johns Racquet
Center at 823-3629 or 823-3630.
>4
Manager Vinny Vecchione dis­
agrees. “My fighter is a deserving
challenger motivated by pride. Peter
is resolute and determined to demon­
strate his boxing skills to prove he’s
no lark.”
Papa McNeeley bristles and con­
tends that “the world will be in for a
great surprise. My son is a worthy
contender and he’s not intimidated.”
King will announce a stellar
undercard for the gemstone attrac­
tion at a later date. “It will feature
some ofthe best fighters in the world,”
he said.
Tickets for the fight are scaled at
$200. $400. $600, $800, $ 1,000 and
$1,500.
Showtime Event Television and
King vision Pay-Per-View will air
the fight domestically and Don King
International, a division of Don King
Productions, will distribute the fight
to international markets.
The fight will be available to
nearly 25 million cable television
homes, plus closed-circuit locations,
select satellite delivery homes, bars
and commercial locations through­
out North America.
THANK YOU V.O. SIMINGTON
Football
U nfinished Sym ph, who
emerged as one the nation’s top
turf runners out dueled Bon Point
for the early lead then held off
Rapan Boy down the stretch for
the 165,900 Shoemaker Handi­
cap at Hollywood Park.
Promoter Don King: Don King announced Mike Tyson's first fight
since being released from prison in his quest to regain the
heavyweight championship at a press conference in Las Vegas
Wednesday. Tyson will fight Peter McNeeley on Aug. 19 at the
MGM Grand Hotel in a pay-per-view TV bout expected to cost $50
for home deliver. Last year, over 300,000 boxing fans watched King
promoted fights in the United States, Europe, Mexico, and South
America.
The Les Schwab Tires team at Riverside Little League stands proud on the field at Fernhill Park. The
players are entering the last two weeks of play with a 10-6 record.
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D uring the 1 9 8 0 ’s V .D .
Simington headed up the most suc­
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V.D. played high school basketball
at the old Washington high school
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brothers Willie and Charles. Who
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the great former Matt Dishman
coaches get full credit for a jo b well
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** n w i w c n r u L
c m
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o fth e college players prod uced by
the program :
Terrell Barndon
Damon Stoudam ire
Patrick Strickland
Erin Cowans
Carren Wilson
M arcel Brame
Solom on David
Canaan Chatm an
Orlando Williams
Kenny Warren
Under V.D Simington many
long hours were put in at the gym
and on the highways by his staff and
players. Two o f V .D .’s top assis­
tants were Booker Wells and Vemon
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Once again thank you V.D
Simington and staff for a job well
done. We haven’t forgotten!
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