Thursday, April 18, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
It is a streak that started late last year when Joseph Kiwanuka lost to Thomas Tate in suburban Detroit. Since then, almost without fail, Las Vegas-based fighters have been losing regularly in high-profile bouts of national interest.
Kiwanuka, a super middleweight who was undefeated at the time, was the first domino to topple. In the five months that have passed, eight Las Vegans have had major fights, all on the road. Seven of the eight lost, including:
* Cruiserweight Ramon Santos, who dropped a 10-round decision to top-ranked contender Ernie Magdaleno Dec. 28 in Irvine, Calif. (Magdaleno died a few days after the fight in a car wreck.)
* Junior lightweight James Crayton, who was stopped in the 10th round Jan. 12 in New York City in a fight with NABF champion Derrick Gainer.
* Super bantamweight Kennedy McKinney, who was a 12-round TKO loser Feb. 3 in Los Angeles when he was up against WBO champ Marco Antonio Barrera.
* Welterweight Ray Collins, who lost a 12-round decision to Yory Boy Campas March 4 in Los Angeles.
* Junior middleweight Skipper Kelp, who was a decision loser to Raul Marquez March 5 in Norfolk, Va.
* Cruiserweight Brian LaSpada, a ninth-round TKO loser to WBA champ Nate Miller March 23 in Miami.
* And welterweight Vince Phillips, beaten in three rounds by WBA champ Ike Quartey last Friday on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles.
Including Kiwanuka, that's eight fights, eight losses. The lone Las Vegan to come through this stretch with a significant win was WBC bantamweight champ Wayne McCullough, and his fight with Jose Luis Bueno March 30 in Ireland was a split-decision victory that some saw as disappointing.
So what's going on?
"I think what we're seeing is the result of having no new blood in the city after the 1992 Olympics," said Akbar Muhammad, a Las Vegas-based boxing manager and businessman.
"After the '88 Olympics, we had several outstanding amateurs move here who were turning pro. In '92, we didn't develop that crop. We didn't have the blue-chip turnover we need to keep turning out top-of-the-line fighters."
He said if nothing else, he'll instigate a change for the better following this summer's Olympics in Atlanta.
"We've had a four-year vacuum and a petering out of that '88 group," Muhammad said. "In '88, things were really rolling. There were a lot of shows in town and the environment was created for guys to move here and be able to fight regularly.
"We've since lost that continuity, but I think it will change. I'm going to pick up four, five, maybe six guys who are either on the Olympic team this year or are alternates for the team. I'm staying here and I'm bringing them here to train."
That said, he also insisted 1996 is far from over.
"Look, the year is still young," he said. "These guys from Las Vegas might be losing, but they've been in competitive fights. There's still time for any or all of them to turn it around."
Around the ring
* PHILLIPS UPDATE: WBA welterweight champ Ike Quartey drew praise for overwhelming local contender Vince Phillips last Friday at St. Maarten, winning their title fight by TKO at 2:31 of the third round. "Quartey was unbelievable," said Phillips' manager, Akbar Muhammad. "I'm telling you, he's right behind Roy Jones on my pound-for-pound list. Neither of the other welterweight champions can beat him, that's what I think of him. Vince hit him as hard as he could and Quartey said it was as hard as he's been hit, but it didn't even back him up." The loss was only the second for Phillips in 35 pro fights, but Muhammad said he's taking his man down from 147 to 140 pounds. "That's the way we have to go. If Vince works hard at 140, he can be to other guys what Quartey was to him." Phillips may get NABF 140-pound champ Charles Murray in June, Muhammad added.
* QUICK HITS: The date for the next local show, April 27 at the Aladdin, was approved by the Nevada State Athletic Commission at its meeting Wednesday. The commission also approved a May 1 outdoors amateur show to be held at the Fremont Street Experience. ... Julio Cesar Chavez arrives at Lake Tahoe today to continue training for his June 7 fight with Oscar De La Hoya at Caesars Palace. Ten members of Chavez's camp arrived Wednesday and the other 15 were said to be en route. They moved to Tahoe after a shooting last week in Toluca, Mexico, killed a Chavez sparring partner. Chavez will train at Caesars Tahoe and at a gym in Carson City owned by Ted Walker. ... Top Rank has added a June 4 card for Arizona Charlie's that will headline heavyweight Jeremy Williams. ... Bones Adams, 32-3-3, has signed to face 21-0 Eric Morales on the Chavez-De La Hoya undercard. ... Navy won the team title at last weekend's National Collegiate Boxing Championships in Reno. Nevada-Reno, which had one individual champion, tied for fourth in the team standings. Fourteen teams participated. ... Radio station KRLV (1340 AM) will begin airing a California-based weekly boxing show Saturdays at 8 p.m. Pedro Fernandez is the host. ... Former IBF flyweight champ Danny Romero has left Top Rank. ... Three promotional groups -- Top Rank, Don King Productions and Spencer Productions -- bid on a Riddick Bowe vs. Alex Zolkin heavyweight fight that went to purse bid this week. Spencer Promotions is said to have won the bid, although it has not yet delivered a certified check to secure the fight. Bowe and Zolkin may fight as soon as June, with the site to be determined.
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