McCall, Lewis bout up for grabs

Dean Juipe

Friday, Jan. 10, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

A conference call designed to alleviate fears that Oliver McCall would pull out of his Feb. 7 World Boxing Council heavyweight title fight with Lennox Lewis at the Las Vegas Hilton did everything but offer that reassurance.

In fact, listeners were aghast not only that Thursday's call started 40 minutes late but that it immediately degenerated into an almost incomprehensible shouting match between rival promoters Don King and Dino Duva. Duva's promotional firm, Main Events, won a purse bid for the fight, which has McCall -- who is promoted by King -- vying against Lewis for the currently vacant WBC title.

Coupled with the fact McCall was arrested in Nashville, Tenn., on Dec. 15 and charged with vandalism, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, Thursday's developments only reinforced the notion that perhaps the fight won't come off.

"You're a goddamn crook," King screamed at Duva, his real or feigned ire the result of McCall not having received $250,000 in training expenses that Main Events is obliged to cover. Duva, while repeating that he will send a letter of credit for that amount "when the proper papers are filed" maintained he had no obligation to send the money in cash and specifically to King, as King demanded.

"As usual, 90 percent of what King said is propaganda and bulls--- and it means nothing," Duva said. "Main Events has never not paid a fighter and we're fully prepared to send Oliver McCall a letter of credit, no problem. But Don wants that letter made out to him or he wants it in cash, and we're not going to do it that way without the proper assignment."

McCall, surprisingly, given his problem-filled past, stepped in twice to ask the promoters to "hold down the foul language." Duva responded by apologizing, yet moments later he and King were at it again.

"We're very disgruntled," King said. "Duva hasn't paid this training camp money because he's afraid Oliver won't show up (Feb. 7). We're very unhappy campers and we don't want to help promote this fight.

"I just want to go on record: We want that $250,000 in cash, and Duva can take out insurance on it if he thinks McCall won't show up to fight."

Finding King's volume and unreasonableness difficult to overcome, Duva attempted to appeal directly to McCall.

"Oliver, that's not our intention (to not pay the training expenses)," he said. "Don's very clever here. He feels he can yell with these writers on the line in his effort to create an issue. Don, cut the bulls---. Oliver, all I'm asking is that you show up for the fight."

McCall, who is 28-6 and handed the 29-1 Lewis his only professional loss, had to work to get a word in, but when he did it was to say he would, indeed, fight on Feb. 7.

"If you could see the shape I'm in, you'd know I'm not only going to show up, I'm going to overpower Lennox Lewis," he said. "But (the failure to have access to the $250,000) has affected my training. I'm the one suffering out of this. I've got one sparring partner, while Lewis has everything that's needed; I'm pretty sure he's got a masseuse."

McCall is training in Nashville, where King has a fight card Saturday. Duva was in his New Jersey office. Lewis was not involved in the conference call.

"My obligation is to give McCall a letter of credit, and I will," Duva said. "I'll do it today if the proper paperwork gets filled out."

"You're a liar," King replied. "I'd tell you to your face that you're a liar. You just lie through your teeth."

Aside from the money for camp expenses, Duva will pay each fighter $3.1 million for the fight, scheduled to be held in the Hilton's Convention Center.

As for clarifying McCall's legal position in light of his third arrest of 1996, little was accomplished. McCall would only say "that will all be taken care of. You don't have to worry about Oliver McCall."

Whatever comfort it was to Hilton officials, McCall's tone of voice had a soothing quality to it amid the turmoil and bedlam King and Duva were creating.