Douglas vs. Jones fight to go to Atlantic City

Dean Juipe

Monday, Jan. 26, 1998 | 9:12 a.m.

It's a fight promoter Bob Arum would like to put in Las Vegas, except the big Las Vegas resorts aren't in much of a fighting mode these days.

Arum said Sunday he expects to sign an already agreed-upon deal with Buster Douglas and Roy Jones this week, perhaps as early as Tuesday when Douglas arrives here from his Ohio home.

Douglas vs. Jones will go off May 8 or 9 in Atlantic City. Arum said the money involved is "considerable," although he declined to be dollar specific until the deal is consummated.

Douglas is a former heavyweight champion of the world, while Jones is the unofficial "pound-for-pound" champion who is moving up not one but two weight classes. He has repeatedly said he is moving to heavyweight because it is the only division where he sees a challenge.

"It's a fascinating fight," said Arum, who has promoted Douglas the last two years. "I'm hoping Buster can win but Jones is a very good athlete. He wants to prove he's a bona fide heavyweight and this is his marquee fight to do it."

Unfortunately for Las Vegas boxing fans, this marquee fight is headed elsewhere.

"By the looks of things, there aren't going to be any big fights in Las Vegas unless the Convention and Visitors Authority gets involved," Arum said. "None of the big hotels is willing to step up and give the type of financial guarantee it takes."

As recently as six months ago, Las Vegas had three major hotel casinos actively pursuing significant fights. But the MGM backed away after hosting the Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson rematch that led to a riotous situation in its casino; the Las Vegas Hilton cut its ties to the sport after a corporate reshuffling; and Caesars Palace is in the midst of a self-imposed hiatus while its upper management regroups.

"Forget about boxing in Las Vegas," Arum said. "For at least the first five months of 1998 there won't be one fight here promoted by myself or Don King or Dino Duva.

"All the casinos are looking to be sold and they don't want to make any commitments. They're in total disarray."

Adding that "the boxing business is dead here" for at least the present, Arum has the Douglas vs. Jones fight earmarked for the Atlantic City Convention Center the weekend of the Kentucky Derby.

It's a fight that will attract attention for its curiosities if nothing else.

Douglas, 37, is 36-5-1 with 23 knockouts. In what was, by far, his brightest moment in the sun, Douglas came off the canvas in the eighth round Feb. 11, 1990, in Tokyo to stop then-champion Mike Tyson in the 10th. It was a stunning upset and one always remembered for its 42-to-1 betting line at The Mirage.

Eight months later, Oct. 25, a blubbery Douglas lost his championship to Evander Holyfield when he was stopped in the third round of a fight held outdoors at The Mirage. Douglas then retired and ballooned to a reported 400 pounds before launching a comeback with Arum that has put him back in the heavyweight picture.

Douglas, however, has not fought a truly reputable opponent in his comeback and was also set back by a ligament injury in his right hand that forced him to withdraw from a fight with NABF champion John Ruiz last fall.

Jones, 29, is 35-1 with 30 knockouts. He is a former world champion in three weight classes: middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight. His only defeat was by disqualification to Montell Griffin, and he convincingly avenged that loss last year.

Jones is skipping the cruiserweight division and will likely come into the ring against Douglas at 215 or 220 pounds. Douglas should weigh around 235.

Matching Douglas with Jones became a next-best option for Arum after WBC heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis passed on Douglas and, instead, signed to fight Shannon Briggs in March.

"We've got a proposal that has been accepted by all parties," Arum said of the status of the Douglas vs. Jones negotiations. "I assume the fight is going to happen. It certainly looks like a go and that we'll get it signed this week."