Nunn’s Biggest Fight Is for Prime-Time TV

Michael Nunn, despite a 20-0 record and 12 knockouts, remains a not-ready-for-prime-time fighter.

Nunn, the California middleweight champion, will meet Willie Harris of Philadelphia in the main event Feb. 6 at The Country Club in Reseda.

The 23-year-old Harris, his 21-0 record and 18 knockouts notwithstanding, is not exactly what Nunn or his handlers would have preferred.

They wanted a major fight against a top-ranked contender on a major network for Nunn, 22, ranked ninth by the World Boxing Assn. Instead, Nunn will meet Harris on the ESPN cable network.

Nunn’s last decision came two months ago against Alex Ramos for the state middleweight title.

Promoter Bob Arum, who has Nunn under contract, doesn’t see such a bout in the immediate future for the North Hollywood fighter.

“The problem is,” Arum said, “that Nunn can beat anybody around, but we can’t sell him to a network. They just don’t want a guy who fights the way he does.”

Nunn, a brilliant defensive fighter who rarely loses a round, has yet to show much offensive power. He has been content to dance from opponents, leaving them flailing at thin air while Nunn smiles and racks up points.

But he hasn’t made enough points with the crowds, many of his fights ending with boos from dissatisfied fans. That has left Nunn and manager Dan Goossen in a quandary. What’s more important, winning or entertaining?

“I am sure,” Arum said, “that the winner of the Marvin Hagler-Ray Leonard middleweight title fight in April will retire. What will then probably happen is that the various boxing associations will break up the title and stage their own box-offs. I am sure we can get him into one of those box-offs.”

Arum believes that will happen some time this summer. But first, Nunn must fight his way through a winter of discontent.