Bet Ended in a Split Decision

Boxers sometimes secure business arrangements in the strangest manners.

Hector Monjardin, who lost his state junior lightweight championship to Isagani (Little Guns) Pumar Wednesday night at the Warner Center Marriott, hooked up with manager Robert Gonzalez because he lost a bet.

The bet was with Gonzalez, who later managed him to the title.

Monjardin, then a relatively inexperienced professional, was getting ready to fight David Sample, who was undefeated in more than a dozen pro fights.

Monjardin’s manager had all but guaranteed his fighter a victory. Gonzalez, who overheard Monjardin bragging at a gymnasium, predicted a defeat.

“You think you know so much,” Monjardin is said to have retorted. “If I lose, you can manage me!”

He lost.

After the fight, Monjardin approached Gonzalez again. “I’m yours,” he said. “Let’s go.”

Checks and balances: Pitcher Darrell Hussman, a right-hander from Quartz Hill High, is the only local player picked in the first 39 rounds of last month’s baseball draft who has not signed a professional contract.

But that’s not because the Detroit Tigers don’t want him.

“We think he can pitch,” Tiger scout Dennis Lieberthal said. “I think with just normal development with that kid, in three or four years, he will be in the big leagues.”

Hussman has been impressive in workouts this summer, meaning the Tigers will probably offer him more money than most other 31st-round picks.

But Lieberthal said the team will not begin to negotiate until the top picks are signed and the Tigers know how much money is left in the budget for Hussman.

Bump and grind: If a popularity poll had been taken after last Saturday’s races at Saugus Speedway it is unlikely that driver Oscar Sevilla of Arleta would have received any votes.

During a heat race in the figure eight, Sevilla is alleged to have purposely caused T.K. Karvasek to spin out.

Karvasek was so furious with Sevilla that he tried to return the favor. Finding that he couldn’t catch up, Karvasek went back to the pits and waited for his adversary.

When Sevilla pulled in after the race, Karvasek charged after him and the two nearly came to blows before they were separated by race officials.

Later, in the figure-eight main event, Sevilla forced Julianne Seeley to spin out.

Race officials had seen enough. Sevilla was immediately disqualified.

Honors

A team from Thousand Oaks won the Amateur Softball Assn. state title in the high school division, defeating the San Diego Bruisers, 7-4, in the championship game on Sunday in Artesia.

The California Stealth, a 16-and-under softball team, qualified for the ASA Nationals in Midland, Tex., by defeating Uniontown, Ohio, 8-0.

Sylmar High running back Durrell Price is listed among the Top 100 football recruits in the nation by the Bob Griese Football Yearbook.

Quotebook

“He speaks fastball, curveball: the important language.”

--Mike Challgren, manager of the Valley South American Legion team, on communicating with Japanese pitcher Taiki Yamaoka.

Things to Do

The 22nd annual Showcase For Skaters, a benefit for the Los Angeles Figure Skating Club, will be performed Saturday and Sunday at the Pickwick Ice Arena in Burbank. Show times are Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 10:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The late-model Winston West racing series comes to Saugus Speedway on Saturday night at 7. There also will be figure eight and oval competition in the Street Stock division.

United States Auto Club Western States Midgets and Three-Quarter Midgets will be featured at Ventura Raceway on Saturday night at 7.

Compiled by Mike Hiserman. Contributing: Darin Esper, Jeff Fletcher, Bryan Rodgers.