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 Forrest Likely to get July 12 Rematch; Spinks Looks to Fight in St. Louis
By Johnnie Whitehead (April 2, 2003)
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Vernon Forrest appears headed toward a rematch with Ricardo Mayorga to regain his welterweight title. Both sides are in negotiation and close to a deal, according to HBO, and the network would televise the fight in its July 12 slot.
Though Indianapolis' Conseco Fieldhouse is a preferred venue -- where Forrest fought his rematch with Shane Mosley last year -- it wouldn't be during the Black Expo. That event, which took place during Mosley-Forrest II, is the following week and the network does not have a date available during that time. Mayorga's manager Carl King and Forrest's co-manager Charles Watson were unavailable for comment.
Mayorga, who owns the WBA and WBC belts, could have opted to face IBF title holder Cory Spinks first to become the division's first undisputed champion since Lloyd Honeyghan in 1987. However, Spinks' manager, Kevin Cunningham, was told by promoter Don King to work on an interim bout instead.
"That's what we wanted was unification," Cunningham said. "All we can do is try to find an attractive opponent, but outside of Vernon and Mayorga there isn't much. Don gave me the green light to put something together."
That probably will be in his hometown of St. Louis, and would take place Aug. 2 during the Missouri Black Expo, which has expressed interest in staging the fight card. Cunningham says they even have the support of rapper Nelly, a St. Louis native who is good friends with Spinks.
Who tops Cunningham's list for an opponent? Randall Bailey, a former junior welterweight who told MaxBoxing in January, before a 12-round decision loss to DeMarcus Corley, that he was considering moving up in weight.
"We're looking for a name guy," says Cunningham. "We'd really like Hector Camacho Jr. since he's now fighting at welterweight. But he's got no balls so we won't waste our time."
Spot for PacMan on Vargas undercard:
IBF super bantamweight titleholder Manny Pacquiao is likely to face Emmanuel Lucero (20-0-1, 12 knockouts) on HBO's July 26 card at Los Angeles' Olympic Auditorium, underneath Fernando Vargas' return against Fitz Vanderpool. Lucero is best known for his slugfest on ShoBox with Frankie Archuleta, who he knocked down once in the first round but who later dropped him twice in the same round. Lucero went on to score two more knockdowns to earn a unanimous decision.
Who's next in line for Mayweather?:
Since former lightweight champion Stevie Johnston won't be fighting Juan Lazcano for the WBC's mandatory position May 3 under Oscar de la Hoya-Yory Boy Campas for a shot at champion Floyd Mayweather, manager Cameron Dunkin wants Johnston to be moved to the mandatory because Lazcano declined the fight, citing he couldn't be ready in time. Don Chargin, Lazcano's promoter, still hopes a fight with Johnston can be made.
"First we were offered the fight for June or July, and after Juan's last fight (Feb. 3) he had three things to do: Buy a home, get some dental work done and take his family to Disneyland for five days," said promoter Don Chargin. "When they came back and said May 3rd it was too late. The dental work couldn't have been postponed. Juan had accepted the fight."
Mayweather's next bout is April 19 against Victoriano Sosa on HBO.
Contact Johnnie Whitehead at BoxingSoulChild@aol.com
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