Sober Randall lending a hand to kids

Dean Juipe

Thursday, June 25, 1998 | 10:44 a.m.

What makes Frankie Randall newsworthy is that he's in line to fight Oscar De La Hoya.

What makes him special, aside from being a three-time former world champion who has overcome drug and alcohol abuse to resurrect his career, is his ability as a Pied Piper.

A Las Vegas resident for less than a month, Randall has made an immediate impact at the Golden Gloves Gym. Not only has he welcomed the youngsters who have gravitated toward him, he's spending quality time with several of them.

"I've never seen anything like it," gym operator Faye Miller said. "He stays late every day after his workout to supervise the kids' workouts, and he's taking money out of his own pocket to treat the kids to different things around town.

"It's exciting to see. The kids love him."

Randall, 36, has always been a nice guy and is generally regarded a brilliant fighter. But he only recently had an awakening -- and it's one that has helped him on more than one front.

"I just had to quit drinking and doing things I shouldn't have been doing," he said. "And I was able to do it. I've been clean and sober now for two and a half months and I have no desire to go back.

"I can walk into the casinos and past the bars and not even be tempted."

As a result of his altered lifestyle, Randall struck a chord with promoter Bob Arum that has paid off in a four-fight deal that may lead to a bout with De La Hoya next February. On a more personal note, a clearer-thinking Randall has been setting aside countless hours for youngsters in need of a hero.

"I've cleaned up my act and decided I had to give something back," he said. "I know the kids look up to a three-time champion, but they've also become an inspiration to me.

"I'm taking time with them, in and outside the gym. It's something they need and something I like to do."

Just in the last two weeks the Las Vegas newcomer has treated his new friends to a night at the movies, an evening on the New York New York rollercoaster, and last week's pro boxing card at The Orleans.

"Why not?" Randall said. "Why look past these kids or ignore them when you can do something to show them there's a better life out there than doing drugs or getting into trouble?

"They know I speak from experience. It takes discipline to learn how to live a good life and that's what I'm trying to instill."

Four youngsters -- Carlos, Sergio, Eric and Ronald -- are the mainstays of Randall's clique, yet he says "they have their friends that sometimes join us" in the gym and on excursions around town. "But I always make sure their parents know what we're doing and where we're going to go," he's quick to add.

Do these kids know Randall was the first man to defeat Julio Cesar Chavez, who's fighting tonight in Connecticut with a 100-2-2 record? Or that Randall was "robbed" in the rematch? Or that he overcame a rather nondescript start in boxing to win three world titles at 140 pounds?

"I've had some great moments and I've had some disappointments," Randall said, reflecting on a pro career that dates from 1983. His stunning 1994 win over Chavez in Las Vegas was the obvious high point, while he bottomed out with a January, 1997, loss to Khalid Rahilou that cost him his World Boxing Association title.

He hasn't fought since then, his record of 53-5-1 with 40 knockouts stuck on hold through a series of personal problems and managerial squabbles.

"I had a lot of personal things that held me back and I had a lot of difficulties dealing with Don King Productions, then Mike Acri," he said. "The mental aspect of boxing took a hold of me. I never wanted to get out of boxing but I had to work through these things."

He split with King, then Acri, and found his way to Las Vegas and Arum.

"He seems to be a fair man and he's laid out a path for me," Randall said. "I think he knows what kind of person I am."

Randall jump starts his career July 10 in Miami, and has a spot on the De La Hoya vs. Chavez undercard Sept. 18 in Las Vegas. Following those tuneups, he's in with Oba Carr Nov. 27 at a site to be determined with the winner advancing to face De La Hoya Feb. 13.

Randall would also like to face Chavez again, "just to end this thing with him."

Yet he sounds like a contented man, regardless of how the remainder of his boxing career plays out.

"Thank God for this second chance," he said. "I've had a wife (Janice) that had faith in me even when I didn't, and now I've got another shot in boxing and in life.

"I feel good about myself and the way things have been going."