CHICKS RULE PRESS MEETING

The post fight press conference for the Oscar De La Hoya-Pernell Whitaker 22 months ago included a heated exchange between yours truly and promoter Bob Arum. Why don't you fight Ike Quartey next, I asked?

Arum who was about to make Oscar filthy rich knew then of the danger. "Pedro, you do your radio show and I'll promote Oscar."

This was the first press conference I can remember where the public was invited to attend as it was held in what was left of the ring at the Thomas and Mack Arena in Las Vegas. Amid the shrieks of girls having visual orgasms, the working media was no match.

DREAM FIGHT THEN

Ever since I televised one of Ike Quartey's preliminary fights from the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, and watched him work in a Santa Monica gym, I was convinced that the then 140 lber. was a future champion, and maybe something of a special breed. So, I knew that this match up of Ike and Oscar was an eventuality ever since June of 1994, when Ike destroyed Crisanto Espana of Venezuela for the WBA 147 lb. title.

POTENT FATHER

Incredibly Quartey, 27, is the youngest of his parent's 27 children. Born in Ghana, Ike appeared unbeatable until he met Oba Carr. In that fight, Ike seemed to fade down the stretch. Then there was his last fight against division gatekeeper Jose Lopez. In the 12 rounder, Quartey was down twice officially.

SECOND TRIP HARD

But the second knockdown in the 11th round is the sequence that Oscar De La Hoya and his camp watch over and again on videotape. Why?  Two reasons. It was Ike's last fight. And this was his worst moment as a professional.

DIDN'T SEE COMBO

When the timekeeper banged on the canvas signaling there was 10 seconds left in the round, Frans Botha lost his concentration and got knocked out by Sheet Metal Mike a fortnight ago. Former welter king Marlon Starling got hit in a relaxed state by Tomas Molinares, and got KO'd after the bell. Recently Hasim Rahman got complacent, and he too was drilled at the bell.

ALL IN COMMAND

Just as Ike was against Lopez, all of these guys were in control until they suffered a lapse of concentration and had their heads handed to them. Quartey on the other hand, not only was able to survive and go the route, he had won eight of the twelve heats. Surely enough for adecision, right?

WRONG!

The myopic jurists went three different ways and the fight was declared a draw. But was Ike exposed as some say? I don't think so.

INACTIVITY KILLS RIGHT?

Well, there is inactivity and there there isn't. Yes, Ike hasn't fought in 1998, meaning the Lopez fight is now 16 months ago. But he has had several fights fall through while training. Pernell Whitaker's yen for Cocaine canceled two fights for Ike. Illness, injury, and promotional headaches with those French hobos, the Acaries Bros. nixed three other fight dates with Russian Andrei Pestraiev.

AT THE GATE

Like a horse scratched from the race at the starting gate, Ike has done the training. He just hasn't raced. His dedication to his craft, and this fight in particular is what makes me think he can make the issue of inactivity, a non issue.

OSCAR OUT OF LINE

The Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya recently criticized his promoter Bob Arum for pushing hard for a rematch clause in the De la Hoya-Quartey contract. Oscar's contention was that Arum must not have all that much confidence in his prize steed, if he pushed the rematch clause with such vigor.

WRONG!

That's just sound business. Suppose Oscar were to lose because of controversy, or even a cut? Where would his bargaining power be without having it in writing?

ARUM PRINCELY

As far as promoting De La Hoya, Arum has done a marvelous job. Here is Oscar in his first encounter involving peril, and it's his 30th pro fight. If you add to the equation the purses Arum has given him for these non-risk fights, Oscar should be kissing his ass, not ripping it on Mexican TV.

PRINCE ONLY TALKING

There is talk now of De La Hoya following in the footsteps of Prince Naseem Hamed and promoting his own fights. But Hamhead was only spoutingoff. The unbeaten featherweight will be promoted by a Kuwaiti group, aided by promoter Harold Smith, and movie man Max Keller.

SPEAKING OF

Hamhead will face Paul Engle, who is no relationship to Naseem's recently dumped and longtime trainer Brendan Engle, in Sheffield, UK in April, with HBO televising on a delayed basis.

(Note: On Saturday, the transcribed interview of HBO matchmaker Lou Di Bella's appearance last Saturday on Ring Talk will be featured here at www.fighters.com).

FOREMAN-HOLMES ALL THE WAY DEAD?

If another promoter was thinking about resurrecting the George Foreman-Larry Holmes fight, he would have to re work both purses. MY PPV guys say nobody wants to pay George $10 million. More like $5 plus a percentage of the Pay Per View.

STILL THINK IT'LL HAPPEN

Where else are these guys going to go? Foreman and Holmes both want another huge payday. In both of their cases, this just proves that enough is NEVER enough, as both men have the coin in pocket to make several generations of kin millionaires.

LEVITT OFFERED TOO MUCH

Promoter Roger Levitt threw George an offer of $10 million, a figure that at the time was about three to four million more than Foreman was expecting. So he grabbed it, and the $1 million non refundable deposit. Within minutes, Roger was kicking himself in the ass to the tune of at least $3 million at the hotel bar.

THEN LET GEORGE DICTATE

But the most crucial mistake Levitt made was when he didn't have the fight in October, when there was no chance of Mike Tyson appearing near you on Pay Per View. Levitt's financial backers went running for the hills when Tyson decided he would fight one week prior to theForeman-Holmes date of January 23.

KARMA KING OPENS MOUTH, SPEAKS SOME TRUTH

When IBF middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins was talking about being "blackballed in boxing," I started thinking. Hasn't Bernard just about alienated every person in the business except (hometown) Philly Daily News writer Bernard Fernandez?

TO GET IT, YOU GOT TO GIVE IT!

I'm speaking of respect, and Bernard's bitching because he doesn't get enough. Maybe it's divine retribution for his deplorable behavior of not tipping in restaurants. Hopkins doesn't offer gratuities because he feels he's been screwed by the boxing business.

HOPKINS THE TYSON NOBODY CARES ABOUT?

Has Bernard flipped out to the point where he is just another loudmouth athlete, who if it weren't for his sporting ability might be doing warehouse work from 3-11 PM?

TRY ANOTHER VOCATION

Seeing Bernard thinks the boxing business is screwing him because he only made $200 G's for fighting Robert Allen last week, I have a suggestion for him. He should take a Correspondence `course in managing fast food joints and join the Burger King group as a crew supervisor.

RING TALK POST FIGHT FROM VEGAS

Ring Talk will emanate from the Thomas and Mack Arena post De La Hoya-Quartey on the Talk America Radio Network. The first half hour will taped, with the show starting at 11:06 PM ET. We will be taking toll free phone calls and e mail during the show.

Guests will include Ray Charles Leonard, the "real" Golden Boy! AND many other superstars as Pedro promises you a star studded lineup!

LIVE INTERNET AUDIO

At www.talkamerica.com

FIRST TIMER?

Then you need to go the Talk America site at www.talkamerica.com and spend a couple of minutes downloading the free audio software. Once done, listening to Ring Talk is a breeze!

SUNDAY NIGHT ON TALK "2"

The Sunday show is an hour long at 11:06 PM ET, but Ring Talk Sunday airs on the Talk    America "2": Radio Network aka "The Deuce."

MERCHANT A SUNDAY REGULAR

HBO's Larry Merchant will discuss De La Hoya-Quartey post mortem.

BOTH HAVE LIVE INTERNET AUDIO

That's correct! Both Talk "1" and Talk "2" have separate LIVE Internet audio channels at
www.talkamerica.com

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