Nunn Seeks Title Shot Via TV Bout

Michael Nunn is campaigning. Just as surely as George Bush or Gary Hart or any of the other presidential hopefuls, the North Hollywood middleweight is trying to appeal to the voters.

In Nunn’s case, it’s a very select group of voters. Just those who decide the world boxing rankings.

Nunn, the North American Boxing Federation champion, wants a world title shot. He thought he had one in October after stopping Darnell Knox in Las Vegas in four rounds for the NABF title.

That vaulted Nunn into the No. 2 spot in the World Boxing Council rankings, behind only Marvelous Marvin Hagler, who may or may not be retired, depending on which of his statements on the subject you believe.

Nunn is third in the World Boxing Assn. rankings behind Mike McCallum and Hagler. He is also third in the International Boxing Federation behind Hagler and Michael Olajide.

With Hagler rumored to be fighting WBC champion Thomas Hearns in the spring and McCallum scheduled for a bout against WBA champ Sumbu Kalambay next month, Nunn reasoned he would be matched up with IBF titleholder Frank Tate. Especially when promoter Bob Arum reportedly offered Tate more than $300,000 to fight Nunn.

Tate instead is meeting unheralded Tony Sibson for considerably less.

So where does that leave Nunn?

At the Country Club in Reseda, where he will defend his NABF title in a 12-round match against Kevin Watts (17-3-1, 10 knockouts) of Pleasantville, N.J., in a nationally televised bout at 2 p.m. today.

Is Nunn just spinning his wheels?

“No,” said Dan Goossen, Nunn’s manager, “we feel that our opportunities will come. We feel opponents are staying away from Michael, so all we can do is keep fighting until Michael moves into the No. 1 spot in the rankings. That will create a situation where it will be mandatory for one of the champions to fight him.

“The key is Hagler. We have to wait to see what happens when he makes his decision. Michael is breathing down his neck. If Hagler retires, Michael should move right into his spot in the rankings. If Hagler fights, Michael will still move up, depending on what happens. Sooner or later, one of these champions is going to be unfortunate enough to have to get into the ring with Michael.”

Today, that role falls to Watts, a decided underdog, but a man who has proven that to him unbeaten fighters don’t necessarily mean unbeatable.

In the past year, Watts has fought Tate, Steve Darnell and Tyrone Frazier, all unbeaten at the time. Watts lost a one-point majority decision to Tate, beat Darnell in a unanimous decision and drew with Frazier.

For Nunn, a victory is not enough these days. He not only has to win points in the ring, but outside where he has been criticized for being too much of a defensive fighter, both in his style and in his choice of opponents.

The complaint about his lack of aggressiveness has been virtually dispelled by his 1987 performance that includes six knockouts in seven victories.

But an entertaining, aggressive performance today could not only get him votes in the rankings but new interest by television executives who have the financial power to create title fights.

“It’s great knowing the whole country is going to be watching,” said Nunn by phone from his training camp in Pine Valley, near San Diego, “but the No. 1 thing is to win. There’s no pressure. If the knockout comes, it comes.”

Will it?

“I think I’ll knock him out inside of eight rounds,” Nunn said. “If I don’t, he’ll wish he was knocked out.”

Watts likes his own position.

“The pressure’s on Nunn,” he said. “He’s the favorite. If he wins, it’s expected. It’s up to me to pull off the upset.”

Goossen does not downplay the importance of winning votes in network offices today as well.

“If Michael does well, it could mean better ratings the next time,” Goossen said. “And the better the ratings, the more they want you. It’s like a sitcom or a mystery or anything else on television.”

Nunn admitted, national forum and all, that this is a frustrating time.

“Michael Nunn should be fighting for a world title,” he said. “What more do I have to do?”

Today’s four-fight undercard starts at 12:30 p.m.

Featherweights Javier Macias (5-3, 4 knockouts) of Pacoima and Ralph Gutierrez (8-14-6, 5 knockouts) of Los Angeles will meet in a six-rounder. There will be a trio of four-rounders: Steve Lewis (2-1, 2 knockouts) of North Hollywood and Robert Smith (1-3-1, 1 knockout) of San Diego in a junior welterweight bout; Miguel Mendoza (2-0, 1 knockout) of North Hollywood and Felipe Ortiz (1-2-1, 1 knockout) of Los Angeles in a lightweight fight; and Joey Esquivel (1-1) of Van Nuys and Tony Olivas (1-1, 1 knockout) of Pasadena in a junior lightweight matchup.