Notes on a Scorecard - Sept. 10, 1992

Quick now, what do Razor Addo, Russell Mosley, Jaime (Rocky) Balboa, Kyung Duk Ahn, John Duplessis, Tommy Small, Lonnie Smith, Jorge Melian, Ignacio Perdomo, Juan Soberanes, Angel Hernandez and Frank Mitchell have in common? . . .

These fellows, who form a virtual “who’s that?” of boxing, have been Julio Cesar Chavez’s opponents his last dozen bouts or ever since he stopped Meldrick Taylor in the waning seconds of the 12th round of perhaps the greatest match ever fought in Las Vegas. . . .

Instead of capitalizing on that dramatic victory 30 months ago, the unbeaten Chavez wound up working for modest wages in towns such as Culiacan, Hermosillo, Mazatlan and La Paz in his native Mexico and playing a supporting role on cards that featured other fighters. . . .

Legal hassles and the preoccupation of Chavez’s promoter, Don King, with heavyweights have been blamed. . . .

“Last summer I offered $3 million to Meldrick Taylor for a rematch, $3 million to Macho Camacho, and $1 million to Pernell Whitaker,” King said. “Nobody took me up.” . . .

Well, Camacho reconsidered when $3 million was waved in his face again and he and Chavez, guaranteed the same amount although Chavez is the champion, will meet for the World Boxing Council super-lightweight title Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center on the Nevada Las Vegas campus. . . .

For the first time, Chavez, at 30 and with a record of 81-0 that includes 70 knockouts, will headline a pay-per-view television show. . . .

He will have a chance to spread his reputation as the best fighter in any division. . . .

Camacho, a hit-and-run artist who has mostly run the last few years, is not an easy guy to look good against. But the earnest, persistent and accurate-punching Chavez should get the job done, wearing Camacho down with a body attack and winning a unanimous decision. . . .

I just hope Chavez doesn’t follow it up with a rematch against Razor Addo. . . .

*

It should not come as a surprise that heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield and challenger Riddick Bowe will stage sparring sessions at the 108th and Broadway Gym in Los Angeles today and a news conference in Las Vegas Friday. . . .

The heavyweight title bout isn’t until Nov. 13, and this is a chance for Dan Duva to steer a little attention away from King’s promotion. Of course, King held a news conference in Las Vegas just before the Holyfield-Larry Holmes fight that was promoted by Duva. . . .

It was 24 years ago that George Parnassus, surveying the damage after fans reacted bitterly to what actually was a clear-cut decision given bantamweight champion Lionel Rose over Chucho Castillo, said he would never promote again at the Forum. . . .

Parnassus changed his mind after counting the profits and then had a long, successful series of shows, often featuring world champions in the lower weight divisions from Mexico. . . .

The current regime has not enjoyed such success, but no other large arena in the nation has been able to average 17 programs per year and stage 21 World Boxing Council, six World Boxing Assn., and six International Boxing Federation title bouts since 1982. . . .

The third and fourth largest crowds during that stretch have been drawn by the smallest attraction: 5-1, 108-pound Humberto Gonzalez of Mexico City, who will defend his WBC junior-flyweight championship against Napa Kiatwanchai of Thailand on Monday night. . . .

*

The story going around that the Oakland Athletics traded Jose Canseco so they could better afford to sign potential free agents Barry Bonds or Kirby Puckett after the season makes sense. . . .

Don’t try telling me that Robin Yount will be a member of the 3,000-hit club who won’t belong in the Hall of Fame. . . .

Thumbs-up to the umpires who wore “Fay” on the back of their caps in tribute to the former baseball commissioner. . . .

Mr. Consistency: Toronto Blue Jay outfielder Joe Carter has driven in at least 100 runs in six of the last seven seasons. . . .

Crowd forecast for the UCLA-Cal State Fullerton game at the Rose Bowl Saturday night is 40,000. . . .

L.A. pro football update: The Rams have lost 11 consecutive regular-season games and the Raiders five consecutive regular-season and playoff games. . . .

Just call them the Indiana Bruins now that the Pacers have a backcourt of Pooh Richardson and Reggie Miller. . . .

I watched the first three hours of the Ivan Lendl-Boris Becker match on cable TV Tuesday, went to dinner, took a drive, went shopping, came back home, and saw two guys playing who looked exactly like Lendl and Becker.