Down the road in Indianapolis, top U.S. boxers such as Kelcie Banks and Ken Gould want to be impressive in the Pan Am Games with one goal in mind:
improving their skills in hopes of making the 1988 U.S. Olympic team.
The reason is that Olympic gold usually means gold in the bank accounts of successful boxers.
Chicago`s Lee Roy Murphy had a similar dream a decade ago, but his went bust when the U.S. boycotted the 1980 Games, in which he was a favorite for a gold medal.
Saturday in St. Tropez, France, (Showtime cable, 9 p.m. tape delay)
Murphy, 29, tries–maybe for the last time–to grab the gold ring when he meets former light heavyweight and cruiserweight champion Dwight Muhammad Qawi, unquestionably Murphy`s toughest opponent ever.
There is a healthy reward if Murphy should get by Qawi, 34 going on 36, in the 10-round bout.
The winner will meet World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation cruiserweight champion Evander Holyfield, probably in the fall, assuming Holyfield defeats Ossie Ocasio on the same card.
”People say Holyfield`s unbeatable, but not me,” said Murphy (26-1).
”Holyfield doesn`t have a great defense. But I`ve got to take it one step at a time.”
And that is a big step.
Qawi (26-40) owns knockout wins over the likes of Matthew Saad Muhammad and Mike Rossman and has gone the distance in close losses to Michael Spinks and Holyfield.
Known as the ”Camden Buzzsaw,” the 5-foot-6-inch Qawi spent almost six years in prison for armed robbery. That was where he learned to box by sparring with former light heavyweight contender James Scott. Qawi is eager to get another shot at Holyfield, who many thought he beat in their fight last summer.
Murphy lost his IBF cruiserweight title last October, when Ricky Parkey knocked him out in the 10th round. Parkey subsequently was knocked out in three rounds by Holyfield.
Murphy also wants another shot at the title, and all indications are it would be his last.
”Lee Roy is in good shape,” said manager Jim Strickland, ”but I worry that he has talked about, win or lose, this being his last year and I hope that doesn`t take a little stimulus out of him, that his career is at the end of the road.”
Even Murphy concedes he`s ”not getting any younger.”
”Training takes an awful lot out of you and keeps you from doing so many of the things you want to do,” he said.
This time, it seems Murphy, who grew up in the South Side`s Robert Taylor Homes, has trained. He was out of shape when he lost to Parkey and for his comeback wins over Steve Mormino and Bobby Crabtree. Murphy was down to the 195-pound weight limit a week ago, and he said he feels strong.
”This time I`m prepared to go the distance,” Murphy said. ”He`s a good fighter and will keep the pressure on me.”
Which should make for a good fight.
Qawi is strong and aggressive, much like Murphy, who at 5-9 will be bigger than an opponent for a change. Murphy even has a fight plan other than just figuring to knock out his foe, which he did in 21 of his first 24 fights. ”He`s going to try to keep the pressure on,” Murphy said, ”so I`ll have to make him get off. I plan to use lots of movement, side to side, and body shots to slow him down.”
That makes sense, but Murphy`s handlers think Qawi might help.
”The big question is whether we see the Qawi who fought Spinks and Holyfield,” Strickland said, ”or the one who showed signs of aging (in losing to Ocasio this year). We don`t think Qawi is over the hill, but it will be important for Lee Roy to set the pace, stay busier. Qawi`s going to see that Lee Roy couldn`t knock out Crabtree, who many others have, and figure he can be aggressive.
”But Lee Roy`s trimmer and will have more speed and accuracy to his punches. Power`s going to decide this fight.”
And, Murphy hopes, give him one more trip down the road paved with gold.
