Boxing / Richard Hoffer : NBC Analyst Figured Somebody Should Tell Fans What Score Was

Dr. Ferdie Pacheco, NBC’s top fight analyst, makes the following observation regarding his controversial decision to announce the judges’ scoring after each round:

“Imagine if you came from another planet and were told that we hold these big sporting events with millions of dollars at stake but no one knows the score until the end of the fight. It’s an absurd way of doing things.”

Makes sense. On the other hand, imagine if you came from another planet and were told that boxing is an approved social activity. But that’s somebody else’s column.

Boxing Notes Undefeated Michael Nunn is the headliner at the Country Club in Reseda tonight, fighting Felipe Vaca. If it appears that Nunn is trying to chop Vaca down don’t be surprised. In an effort to put more punch in Nunn’s game, trainer Joe Goossen has gone to an ancient training regime that had his boxer chopping and splitting wood. In case you wondered why there was no wilderness in Van Nuys. . . . Tuesday, another of Goossen’s Ten Goose fighters will return to action, but not at the Reseda headquarters. Frankie Duarte of that stable will take on George Garcia in the semifinal of the bantamweight tournament at the Forum. The winner will fight undefeated Jesus Salud for the $50,000 first prize in July.

The Stroh’s heavyweight tournament at the Forum, which was supposed to continue on the Tuesday card, is in jeopardy. All three scheduled fights were unmade early last week. Former champion Greg Page’s opponent, Rocky Sekorski, hurt a knuckle. Dee Collier’s opponent, Mike Jameson, hurt a finger. Eric Curry’s opponent, Tony Fulilangi, cannot be located. And possible sub Proud Kilimanjaro, a soccer player until he turned boxer at the age of 25, is back in Zimbabwe. Wouldn’t you know it. Tough guys, all.

So the Forum has matched the two healthy heavyweights, Collier and Curry, and let it go at that. To compensate, the Forum has made a match for the California featherweight title between Ramon Pajarito Rico and Erving Mitchell. Mitchell, a member of the 1980 Olympic team, is known as the last man to beat Hector Camacho. That was in the Olympic trials, a long time ago.

Felipe Canela and Alfonso Long will headline the Irvine Marriott card May 27, fighting for the vacant state welterweight title. That bout replaces the Tomas Perez-Derrick Kelly fight, which fell out when Kelly withdrew for “personal reasons.” Promoter Don Fraser claims it’s the first time he had to scramble in 15 shows there. Also on that card, Dino Garza will make his pro debut. Dino is the younger brother of Jaime, who is making a comeback.

The World Boxing Hall of Fame has announced this year’s inductees, to be honored at a banquet at the LAX Marriott Nov. 1. Included are Muhammad Ali, Beau Jack, Carlos Ortiz, Jake LaMotta and Eder Joffrey. . . . Looks as if Gerry Cooney’s fight with Eddie Gregg will come off May 31, in San Francisco, as planned, but with a different promoter. The question is why. The new promoter reportedly has shelled out $350,000 in nonrefundable cashier’s checks to the fighters and must recoup all of that from the live gate at the Cow Palace. This is on a fight that will be televised locally by ABC on a delayed basis. The bout, incidentally is being televised as Earthquake II. Maybe, since we’re in a disaster mode, it should have been called Towering Inferno II. Cooney is 6-7, Gregg 6-5. Incidentally, you do know what Gregg is famous for, don’t you? He was the only man to knock down Randall (Tex) Cobb.

Remember in 1980 when NBC announced “Tomorrow’s Champions,” eight can’t-miss prospects? Can you name them? Of them, only Davey Moore and Johnny Bumphus have won titles and they lost them quickly enough. Tony Ayala is in jail. Chris McDonald is out of boxing. Bernard Taylor fought twice for a title, with a loss and a draw. Tony Tucker is undefeated and ranked No. 2 by the World Boxing Assn. but has yet to have an important fight. Alex Ramos is in limbo. And Mitch Green, who will fight Mike Tyson Tuesday night on HBO, lost to Trevor Berbick in his only important fight.

Rene Arredondo, who won the World Boxing Council super-lightweight title last week with a surprise knockout of Lonnie Smith, is considering a possible defense against Tsuyoshi Hamada in Tokyo. . . . Perennial comebacker Bobby Chacon has his boxing license back, after having taken both drug and neurological examinations. Promoter Don Chargin is looking for an opponent for him, up in Sacramento. . . . Chargin is also working on a fight for Olympian Paul Gonzales. He’ll fight the winner of the Duke McKenzie-Charlie Magri fight sometime in July, here or in London.

Local Olympian Henry Tillman was to have been the first member of the 1984 class to get a title shot when he was signed to fight Carlos DeLeon for the WBC cruiserweight championship June 22 at Las Vegas. But then Olympic teammate Steve McCrory was signed to fight Jeff Fenech for his WBC bantamweight title June 20. The real winner, of course, is he who holds it last.