February 12, 1999
THE FUTURE IS NOW: Undefeated heavyweight sensation Michael Grant (29-0, 21 KO's), the fighter boxing insiders recognize as the future of the division, captured the NABF heavyweight crown on Saturday, January 30, crushing the durable Ahmad Abdin in 11 rounds (TKO 11). Shaking off some early ring rust, the result of an eight month layoff thanks to a bout with Hepatitis A, Grant pummeled the courageous Abdin in the middle rounds, and then dropped him once in round nine and twice more in round ten. Referee Ed Cotton halted the bout between rounds 10-11, following the recommendation of the ringside physician...
VARGAS: A "GARDEN" PARTY: Undefeated IBF junior middleweight champion "Ferocious" Fernando Vargas (15-0, 15 KO's) will defend his crown against the IBF's #13 ranked contender Howard Clarke on March 13 at Madison Square Garden on the undercard to the heavyweight unification bout between Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis. The bout will be televised as part of the pay-per-view telecast... This will be Vargas' first defense since capturing the title on December 2, 1998, when he dismantled "Yory Boy" Campas in seven rounds (TKO 7)... In his last bout on July 18, 1998, Clarke (26-10-2, 8 KO's) a West Ham, England native, decisioned Jason Papillion (W 8).
"STILL
AS SWEET?" Brooks, who is also training six-time world champion
Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker (41-2-1, 17 KO's) for his
February 20 showdown against IBF welterweight champion Felix Trinidad,
exudes confidence when discussing the upcoming welterweight war:
"Pete's in tremendous shape. He's going to capitalize on
Trinidad's mistakes. In fact, we're planning a surprise for Felix.
Everyone is used to watching a slick technician when they see
Pernell. Well, this time he's going to be more aggressive."
Brooks believes that Trinidad will be unable to handle Pernell's
pressure: "He (Trinidad) hasn't fought anybody. The guys
he fought didn't know what to do after they floored him. If he
makes a mistake in this fight, Pernell will make him pay—big
time"...
Pernell Whitaker
MISCELLANEOUS
Also on the January 30 fight card: heavyweight Elie-cer Castillo (16-1, 10 KO's) defeated Louis Monaco via an eight round decision (W 8), and undefeated IBF Pan-Pacific junior lightweight champion Robbie Peden (11-0, 7 KO's) captured an eight round decision over Damian Brazoban (W 8)...Undefeated NABF welterweight champion Vernon Forrest (26-0, 21 KO's) and undefeated lightweight bomber "Mr." Vivian Harris (11-0, 10 KO's) are both expected to box on the undercard of the Whitaker-Trinidad bout on February 20, 1999...
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