McCline’s stock on the rise after beating up on ‘Goofi’

Dean Juipe

Thursday, Dec. 6, 2001 | 9:57 a.m.

Perhaps only the people who saw Jameel McCline take less than one complete round to destroy consecutive fighters in Las Vegas realized he had what it took to beat Lance "Goofi" Whitaker.

Cast as a substantial underdog by the mainstream press (and oddsmakers, for that matter), McCline contributed to the rash of perceived upsets in boxing this year last Saturday when he took a unanimous decision over Whitaker in New York City.

The result: McCline has joined the ranks of the sport's elite.

"This means I'm a major player now," he said Wednesday by phone from New York. "I always knew it was there, even if people feel I snuck up on them."

For those who didn't see McCline crush King Ipitan in less than one round at the Hard Rock and then demolish world-ranked Michael Grant in 43 seconds at Caesars Palace, and for those who were infatuated with Whitaker and his new name, McCline's win did come as a surprise.

For others, it was sweet.

"I wonder about my future," McCline said, introspectively. "I'm a professional and I'm personable, but I'm not a media kind of guy. But I just beat two guys in a row who have had something like 12 fights on HBO, so I guess they'll have to start looking at me."

Promoted by Cedric Kushner, McCline has no immediate plans yet has a spot reserved in an ensuing big money fight or two in a heavyweight division that is begging for interesting, competitive bouts.

That he's in this position must be unsettling to the many fans and media representatives who figured Whitaker would handle him.

"(Whitaker) fought like he was taking care of business and he was as formidable as I thought he'd be," McCline said. "It's just that I'm the better fighter. I believe that even if he had been paying attention to me, there would have been the same outcome."

But Whitaker wasn't paying strict attention, as evidenced by his many conference calls, interviews and TV and radio appearances prior to the bout.

"It was 'Goofi this' and 'Goofi that,' " McCline said. "That was OK with me, but I realized I was only being mentioned in passing in all of this.

"It didn't bother me and it was better that way because I like to be left alone, but I remember wondering 'How's he getting any rest?' when I heard he was getting up at 5 a.m. to do different shows."

McCline, 31, won the fight by 4, 2 and 1 points on the judges' cards. He's now 27-2-3 with 16 knockouts and in a position to gloat if he were so inclined.

"I guess if anyone is to be faulted it's the majority of the press," he said. "For all the interviews with Whitaker, it doesn't seem like too many people were asking him about facing a guy who just knocked out Grant, who was supposed to be a star.

"But that's OK and there's no hard feelings on my part. I want to be accommodating to people who want to interview me, and I want the fans to realize I'm an explosive fighter who comes in shape to fight and prepared to throw big, hard shots for 12 rounds."

He wants something else, too.

"Do you think I should get Fighter of the Year?" he asked, before answering it himself.

"Well, maybe I won't. But how about Most Improved Fighter of the Year? I should get that for sure."

And Most Overlooked, although that distinction is soon to pass.