Columnist Dean Juipe: Campas says he has ‘formula’ to beat Oscar

Dean Juipe

Thursday, April 24, 2003 | 9:42 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4084.

When Yory Boy Campas arrives here Monday for his May 3 fight with Oscar De La Hoya at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, among the items in his baggage will be a vial containing an exotic potion.

In what may be a blatant publicity scheme, Campas said he has taken a potion given to him by an Indian shaman and that the elixir has made him stronger. When that news was relayed to De La Hoya, he protested to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which, in turn, is asking Campas to deliver a similar potion that it can test before the fight.

"It makes me nervous," De La Hoya said this week during a conference call. "It takes me out of my game plan. I don't want any fighter who's going up against me to have an advantage.

"These fighters are trying anything to beat me."

The latter reference was to Fernando Vargas' testing positive for steroids following his September fight with De La Hoya at Mandalay Bay.

"I don't trust anybody now," De La Hoya said.

But NSAC executive director Marc Ratner said Wednesday that De La Hoya needn't worry.

"De La Hoya's people brought this up to us, but I'm 100 percent sure there's nothing there," Ratner said. "Campas is an honest guy, but we'll do a drug screen (test) before the fight, and, of course, he'll have to give a post-fight urine sample."

Campas, 31, is a huge underdog in the junior middleweight title fight despite his 80-5 record.

De La Hoya, 30, is 35-2 and has already signed to fight Shane Mosley in September, plus he's eyeing a 2004 fight with middleweight champ Bernard Hopkins. He said he was not interested in fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr., as the latter is suggesting could happen next year.

"I have so much respect for his father (Floyd Mayweather Sr., who trains De La Hoya), that I wouldn't fight his kid," De La Hoya said, at least temporarily dismissing the subject. "It just won't happen."

He added that he's in top condition -- aside from having a slight cold -- for the fight with Campas and has been sparring regularly with Hector Quiroz and Danny Perez at his camp in Big Bear, Calif.

"I'm a little under the weather but I'll get over that," De La Hoya said. "I feel wonderful.

"I feel it'll be a very exciting fight whether it lasts three rounds or 12."

Officials were also assigned for a companion title fight between Erik Morales and Bobby Velardez. Kenny Bayless will referee, with Dave Moretti, Bert Clements and Arthur Mercante Sr. assigned as judges.

Promoter Sterling McPherson has moved a May 17 card featuring former heavyweight champ Frans Botha that was once targeted for the Orleans to the Virgin Islands. ... The Orleans will host the WBA/WBC welterweight title fight between Ricardo Mayorga and Vernon Forrest July 12 in its new arena. ... Two Las Vegas-based heavyweights have landed fights: Charles Shufford,19-3, will take on Jameel McCline, 28-3-3, May 9 in Atlantic City on ESPN2; and Cliff Couser meets Attila Levin May 24 at the Reno Hilton. ... Reno has also picked up a May 17 card that will feature junior welterweights Sharmba Mitchell, 51-3, and Ben Tackie, 24-3, in the main event. ... Eduardo Marquez, 11-5-2, and Ivan Calderon, 15-0, face off for a minor title at 105 pounds in a fight that has been added to the De La Hoya vs. Campas card May 3 at Mandalay Bay.