Columnist Dean Juipe: Decision on Jones could give Harmon championship shot

Dean Juipe

Thursday, April 1, 1999 | 10:17 a.m.

Dean Juipe's boxing notebook appears Thursday. His sports column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Reach him at 259-4084 or juipe@ lasvegassun.com

It appears as if Las Vegas resident Derrick Harmon is in line for a crack at the WBC light heavyweight title, perhaps as early as this summer.

The key in this accelerated plan is the WBC's pending decision on its reigning champion at 175 pounds, Roy Jones. He's facing an April 12 deadline to either commit to a fight with interim champion Graziano Rocchigiani or be stripped of his title.

Jones, who also holds the WBA title, is looking to bypass Rocchigiani and accept a June 5 fight with IBF champion Reggie Johnson at the MGM in Las Vegas. Unless the WBC grants Jones a waiver, its title will become vacant and Rocchigiani and Harmon -- the No. 1 contender -- will be mandated to fight.

"The key issue is whether the WBC will step to the plate and enforce its own rules," said Harmon's manager, Arnie Rosenthal. "They've put Jones on notice, but the real question is whether they'll strip him or not."

A WBC spokesman would only say for the record that the issue should be resolved April 12 at the organization's office in Mexico City.

Harmon, who holds the NABF championship and is fighting Saturday on an America Presents card at the New Frontier, says he's perfectly willing to fight Rocchigiani on his home turf.

"I'll go to Germany and win," he said. "I actually think I can beat him by knockout."

Harmon is 17-0 with 10 knockouts. Rocchigiani is 40-4-2 with 19 KOs.

Does Harmon have enough experience for the challenge?

"I think he does," Rosenthal said. "I've seen Rocchigiani up close twice and he's not a heavy puncher. He does have a very good chin, but he's not knocking many people out at 175 and he's got to be stale."

Rocchigiani has not fought in 12 months, or since taking a decision victory over Michael Nunn.

Harmon, meanwhile, is starting to become more active and Saturday's fight with journeyman Greg Wright will be his second already this year. Wright, 14-5-2, has won only one of his last six fights.

"I look at everybody as a competent fighter," Harmon said. "I can't think I can just show up and walk over this guy."

That said, the 29-year-old southpaw should win fairly easy and retain his position atop the WBC rankings. And whether it's Rocchigiani or Jones he eventually fights for the world title, when that day comes Harmon will feel a real sense of satisfaction.

"People from my old neighborhood (in Chicago) didn't think I'd get this far, let alone win a WBC title," he said. "I heard a lot of comments when I was younger about how I'd never amount to anything, whether I was in boxing or not. But now people are starting to look at me a little differently."

* NEW FRONTIER CARD: Saturday's card not only includes Harmon vs. Wright, but two other fights of interest. In the 10-round main event, heavyweights Phil Jackson and Monte Barrett will fight after an earlier postponement, and in a 10-round fight at 147 pounds Derrell Coley takes on Ivan Ledon.

"I've got too many skills for Jackson," said Barrett, who is 19-0 and at least an emerging prospect at 27 years old. In the New Frontier sports book Wednesday, Barrett was a minus 140 favorite while Jackson was even.

But Jackson, who is 42-6 and five years older than his opponent, believes his experience level will be the difference.

"When he steps in the ring with me, he's going to be in a lot of trouble," Jackson said. "I may be an older heavyweight, but I have a younger and stronger punch."

Coley -- profiled here last week -- will put his 33-1-2 record and No. 1 status with the WBC on the line against the 12-2-1 Ledon.

Also scheduled to appear in a preliminary bout is local heavyweight Duncan Dokiwari, 12-1, against an opponent yet to be determined. Tickets are $30 and $20.

* QUICK HITS: Former heavyweight champ Greg Page of Las Vegas accepted a late offer to fight tonight in Worley, Idaho, against Art Pendergrass. Page, who is stepping in to replace Gerald Nobles, is 55-13-1, while Pendergrass is 14-13. ... The All-American Sports Park in Las Vegas has landed a May 7 Top Rank card that will be headlined by junior welterweights Antonio Diaz and Marlon Thomas. ... IBF cruiserweight champ Arthur Williams of Las Vegas may land an undercard spot on the Jones vs. Johnson card June 5 at the MGM. ... Oscar De La Hoya has become a father for the second time, as his fiancee, actress Shanna Moakler, gave birth to a baby girl Monday. De La Hoya has a 1-year-old son by another woman. ... A De La Hoya vs. Ike Quartey rematch is being discussed for September if a De La Hoya vs. Felix Trinidad fight cannot be made. ... Federal agents have f ound the remains of a Russian boxer, Sergei Kobozev, who held the USBA cruiserweight championship when he suddenly disappeared Nov. 8, 1995. Kobozev, 31, h

ad immigrated to the U.S. in 1991 and was living in Brooklyn, N.Y., before he came up missing. His remains were uncovered in the yard of a Livingston, N.J., home, about two miles from where he was last seen. ... Former heavyweight champ Oliver McCall was released from Martinsville, Va., city jail this week, although he remains in a drug rehabilitation program. McCall, 35, was arrested in October for assault and battery on a police officer. Promoter Don King spoke on his behalf at his parole hearing.