European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 23, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse The stars and stripes november 23, 1991 Page 32 i Holyfield a 22-1 pick in tonight s title bout Griffin slugs out decision by de Schuyler or. A boxing writer Sydney Australia a Eric Griffin wore a world championship Gold medal proudly a and he wore it for his teammates. A i want to dedicate this fight to the whole team for the hard decisions they got in this tournament a Griffin said. The 24-year-old Griffin won another 106-Pound world Amat cur boxing title with a 36-16 decision Over Ernest Marcelo Friday night. He now wants an olympic Gold medal then will turn pro. Vernon Forrest of Augusta ga., will Box for the 139-Pound title saturday night against Konstantin Tsuyu of the soviet Union. The Only other . Medallist was super heavyweight Larry Donald of Cincinnati who got a Bronze. . Team officials and coaches thought the medal count should have been higher and were highly critical of several decisions that went against . Boxers. Before his bout Griffin had said he had Marcelo a number. That number now is 4, As in four straight wins Over the cuban including a 17-13 decision in the 106-Pound final at the 1989 world championships at Moscow. This time Marcclo came out punching and he kept punching. A a this is the toughest he a Ever come at me but i was prepared a Griffin said. �?~�?~1 had nothing to lose. He was fighting my Griffin a punches were sharper than Marcelo a. He scored Well with right jabs and body punches and rocked Marcelo with a three punch combination to the head in the second round. Italy which had not gotten a Gold medal in five previous world championship tournaments finally got one when Tommaso Russo wore Down soviet Alexander Leziak with stiff jabs. The Only other soviet Boxer in action Friday night Artur Grigorian was out boxed 19-14 by Marko Rudolph of Germany at 132 pounds. By Tim Dahlberg Atlanta a evander holy Fields roller coaster ride to his second heavyweight title defense comes to a merciful end saturday night against the most unlikely of opponents in a most unlikely place. And if most boxing experts Are right smoking Bert Coopers week Long flirtation with the big time should end quickly along with it. Holyfield is an overwhelming 22-1 favorite to retain his undisputed heavyweight championship against Cooper a Journeyman who is a stand in for a stand in and who admits he Hasni to even sparred for nearly two weeks. The two meet not at a Las vegas Casino but at the Omni Arena in a scheduled 12-round fight for the world boxing association and International boxing federation versions of the title. A i Haven to fought a fight that was easy a Holyfield said. A some fights the opponents Arentt As Good As others but no fight is there a Little doubt this opponent is not As Good As Holyfield a original foe even though Cooper in Many ways physically resembles former heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson. He a not even As Good a Boxer As Tyson a first replacement Italy a Francesco Damiani whose turned ankle last weekend provided Cooper with his $750,000 payday and Chance at the heavyweight title. Coopers Only real Chance lies with his big left Hook a potent weapon that has helped him score 23 knockouts but May not be enough against a fighter who was last knocked off is feet As an Amateur in 1979. A a he a a very explosive higher a Holyfield said. A a he a More of a dangerous fighter than a better fighter. If he catches you he can put you Holyfield 26-0 with 21 knockouts passed up top heavyweights to fight Cooper whose Best ranking is a no. 11 by the world boxing Council which Isnit even sanctioning the fight. Evander Holyfield is so favored saturday Only one sports Book bothered to Post Odds. Challenger Bert Cooper has lost four of his six previous bouts three by knockouts. Cubs hand reins to Lefebvre Chicago up the Chicago cubs named Jim Lefebvre As their new manager Friday to replace the fired Jim Essian. Lefebvre was fired after leading the Seattle mariners to their first winning season in franchise history this year. Lefebvre 49, a native of Inglewood calif., flew to Chicago on thursday from Scottsdale ariz., to meet with new cubs general manager Larry Himes. Himes also picked Lefebvre As one of his three final candidates when he was searching for a new Chicago White sox manager in 1988. Himes former White sox general manager joined the cubs in that capacity just last week. Essian was named cubs manager in mid season replacing Don Zimmer but was unable to improve the performance of a team widely picked during the preseason As the favorite to win the National league East title. Instead the cubs wound up the season with a 77-83 record. Lefebvre managed the mariners for three seasons and this year led them to their first winning record in the teams 15-year history. He was fired amid reports he had lost support of the management and players. His National league experience includes coaching posts with the giants and dodgers from 1978 to 1982. In 1985, he won baseball americans manager of the year honors with the giants class aaa farm club. He also spent eight seasons As a switch hitting infielder with the dodgers compiling a lifetime .251 average with 74 Home runs 404 rib and eight stolen bases. He took no Rookie or the year honors in 1965. Two others who had been widely reported As finalists for the Manger Post were cub third base coach Chuck Cottier and former Milwaukee Manger Tom Trebelhorn. Perles won t choose Between coach and East Lansing Mich. Apr George Perles said Friday that he was rejecting Michigan state president John Dibiaggio a offer that he remain As athletic director but give up his Job As football coach. A it is my preference to coach the mus football team next fall a Perles said in a written statement. That Means he intends to keep his dual role which he has held since july 1, 1990, despite Dibiaggio a decision thursday that no one can hold both jobs at once said Ken Hoffman sports information director at Michigan state. A the release from Dibiaggio As written yesterday was unacceptable to him a Hoffman said. A the intends to continue working As both until either an acceptable offer is made or until he a however University spokesman Terry Denbow said Dibiaggio be making any other offer. A if his preference is to coach the mus football team the contract already is in place for that but he be athletic director a he said. A the dual appointment has been canned. He will have to make a decision. One person not George Perles no person can hold both the stands taken by Perles and Dibiaggio set the stage for a Legal Challenge to Dibiaggio a decision to split up the jobs. His attorney Donald Reisig said thursday that a court fight remains an option. A George has always taken the position that that a the last alternative but in theory if other alternatives done to pan out that becomes a very viable Choice but not because that is what he and i want a he said. A his football contract which pays him $123,000 a year has six years left on sports Oakland players Best paid a Page 25 College football on to tonight a Page 26 big schools tangle for title a Page 27 Quebec gets Back on track a Page 30
