Thursday, Sept. 19, 2002 | 9:49 a.m.
As an up-and-coming fighter a few years ago, Derrick Jefferson hammered his way through an assortment of opponents and was preoccupied with knocking each and every one of them out.
And with only a couple of exceptions, that's what he did, building a record that glistened at 22-0-1.
But now he's 25-3-1 with 20 KOs and looking to not only rebuild his image as a slugger, but to add to it by showcasing newer skills.
"Early in my career I was always looking for the knockout," Jefferson said Wednesday by phone from his home in Detroit. "Actually, I still do, because that's the name of the game, but now I try to let it come to me.
"I've learned to rest on my jab and be patient, which I never used to do."
Jefferson's new look will be on display Saturday at the Stratosphere when he headlines a Cedric Kushner-promoted card in a 10-round heavyweight fight with Sedreck Fields. The latter replaces Fernely Feliz, who suffered a broken wrist in training.
Fields is a pedestrian 18-15-1 but is coming off a decision win over former cruiserweight world champ Al Cole Aug. 31 in Bridgehampton, N.Y. Fields, 30, also owns a win over one-time contender Shannon Briggs, and has notable losses to Oliver McCall and Jameel McCline.
"He's a little more durable than the other guy," Jefferson said of Fields, comparing him to Feliz. "I think it'll be just as good a fight."
Asked whether it's a plus or a minus that Fields just fought three weeks ago, Jefferson wasn't sure.
"It should be a plus for him, especially if he's a guy who stays in shape and waits for the phone to ring," he said. "But I don't really know how he spent his break time."
Either way, Jefferson is ready to put in some rounds.
"I was training to go 10 rounds, so not much has changed," he said. "There might even be a better chance that this guy will go 10 rounds, but we'll see."
Jefferson says he'll come into the ring trying to look good and attempting to make a statement.
"I've been on HBO and I know they still like me," he said. "They like my fighting style and know I'll give it my all, and I'd like to get back with them.
"What I need is a couple of good wins and I hope this will be one of them."
Jefferson is coming off a decision win over Phil Jackson in a fight held Feb. 16 in Las Vegas. A pro since 1995, he won his first 18 fights before a technical draw with Marcellus Brown in 1999, followed by wins over Bert Cooper and Obed Sullivan.
But then Jefferson was beaten by ninth-round knockout in a 2000 fight with David Izon, and beaten later that year by second-round TKO at the hands of Oleg Maskaev. A third loss by knockout, to Wladimir Klitschko last year, went only two rounds as well.
"Against Izon, I threw everything but the kitchen sink at him," Jefferson said. "Every single punch I was trying to knock him out, and I gassed myself out and didn't have anything left at the end."
Against Maskaev, an ankle injury led to the loss, and against Klitschko he was simply overwhelmed.
"I've had my little setbacks," Jefferson said.
Nor was he happy with his win over Jackson earlier this year.
"A lot of people patted me on the back and said I looked great, but I'm a harsh critic when it comes to myself and I saw a few mistakes I made when I went back and looked at the tape," he said. "I decided I needed to think a little bit more in the ring."
Jefferson is 34 years old, although he laughs and says his "boxing age" is only 30. Either way, if he's to regain his contender's status or fight for a worthwhile title, he knows the clock is ticking.
"Time waits for no one," he said. "Is there pressure on me? Maybe not too much, but I would say I'm anxious.
"There was a time when my career skyrocketed, then I had those losses and any loss is disappointing. But I've learned from them and I think I'm a better fighter for it."
Also scheduled on the Stratosphere card: Charles Shufford, 17-2, vs. Marcellus Brown, 24-14-1, six rounds, heavyweights; David Defiagbon, 17-0, vs. Earl Hayes, 7-14-1, six rounds, heavyweights; John McKinney, 8-1, vs. Larry Banks, 6-11, eight rounds, super middleweights; Herman Gipson, 1-0, vs. Darrel Harry, pro debut, four rounds, heavyweights; and Mandy LaPointe, 2-1-1, vs. Reiko Naruyama, 1-2, four rounds, women, bantamweights. First bell is 7:30 p.m.
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