European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 1, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Saturday february 1, 1992 the stars and stripes Page 25 Hammer time arrives for undefeated Mercer by Phil Jackman the Baltimore evening Sun Larry Holmes has taken to calling himself a the Hammer a which will win him no awards for originality right . And Fred Williamson. The former heavyweight Champion just a few fights into a comeback at age 42, says he a going to take that Hammer alias his left Jab and do a number on Ray Mercer at the convention Center in Atlantic City on Friday. He says the unbeaten former olympic Gold medallist virtually has no shot against him a because Mercer has no Speed and lacks a a in a a better fighter now. I sit Back and listen and watch. My reflexes Arentt pne. In a not a Bert Cooper a Francesco Damiani or a Tommy Morrison All Guys who gave Mercer fits. In a Gonna Knock his head off with the left a boxing the sport of self delusion. A yeah in a surprised he took this fight a counters Mercer. A i think he should have fought a couple of Tough Guys. I think its too soon for him to fight but As Holmes Points out a one thing i done to have is time. And in a not a patient Man. I done to want to wait three years to get a shot against Guys i know i can whip. My goal is a title shot by the end of the year. If it does no to happen ill probably hang it up. I done to want to be fighting when in a 43.�?� Holmes discounts the notion he a fighting for the Money which flies against the Way he has spoken since first gaining a measure of notoriety As one of Muhammad alias sparring partners Back in the late �?T60s. A i never got the Money i should have fighting but that a been forgotten a he says. However he still remembers the Low Points losing two controversial decisions and his title to Michael Spinks and losing to Mike Tyson in an ill fated comeback four years ago. A i did no to like the Way i went out a he said. A i did no to like being beat up by Mike conversely Mercer says a a in a going where the Money is anything else would be stupid. I know when i get to be 40 years old ill be fishing. I done to want to run into a Young Mercer when in a that age.�?�. Mercer is giving up his nebulous who title to engage in this match explaining a i had to go with Holmes because he a a household name. Who a Michael Moorer a he says of the Guy the organization or dered him to fight under a mandatory defense agreement. In a Short series of comeback bouts Holmes has looked very soft around the edges arid very hit table. A i be surprised if i came into the ring at 228 to 233 pounds a he says while admitting he Hasni to weighed himself in three weeks. A but in a not concerned about a a not his own anyway a just George Foreman a. He decries big Georges comeback which is Well into its fourth year and got him a title shot against Evandor Holyfield. But Holmes says head like to test Foreman if a fight against the Champ Isnit forthcoming. A the Money would be Good a he says forgetting momentarily that he a not in it for the dough. Same goes for Mercer a a in a love to fight what both fighters Are praying for right now is that talk of a proposed Holyfield is. Riddick Bowe match in May disintegrates and the Champion opts to take on the Winner of their match. Holmes says when he fought to son a i did no to think i could beat him not after being out for 2vi years and training for just two months. I hoped i could get whether Holmes knows it or not much the same situation exists Here and now with Mercer. Sure Foreman went through a legion of stiffs on his Way Back but there were a lot of them and he got into the training and fighting regimen. Holmes dusted off a few Guys Ana figures he a Back to something near his former self. He thinks just wanting a title shot is enough. A a in a trying to follow in his footsteps a Mercer says of Holmes. I have to beat him though and i done to think about the other Guy when we re in the ring. If he comes out and tries to slug with me it will show me How much he a lost mentally in the time he a been a a a ring activity is picking up in Las vegas but the bouts Are about As unappealing As they can get. Don Kings a night of the Young heavyweights saturday is Down to Michael Moorer taking on Mike a the giant White 6-feet-10 with two left feet and no right hand and Lennox Lewis goes against Levi Billups who had to be talked out of retirement to fill in. Even worse is the razor Ruddock is. Greg Page thing feb. 15. Page Isnit even a Good sparring partner anymore and some say could be a punch or two away from resembling the old red Skelton character cauliflower a Pugg. Larry Holmes 42, expects to win handily on Friday. A Flat Ray Mercer expects to be fishing when he a Holmes run lifts Wiebe Pebble Beach Calif. Apr Mark Wiebe knew he was playing Well. He just did no to know How Well. A i birdied five holes in a Row and did no to even know it not until i was checking my scorecard a Wiebe said thursday after completing an 8-under-Par 64 in the first round of the Pebole Beach National pro am. That gave him a share of the Lead at least on the scoreboard if not in actuality with former pea Champion Jeff Sluman. Sluman like Wiebe played his opening round at Pebble Beach one of three Monterey Peninsula courses used for the first three Days of this celebrity Laden event. But Sluman declined to claim the Lead. Wiebe did no to even care. The 64 at Pebble Beach which he called his favorite course was Reward enough in itself. A this is the ultimate the Best it gets a said Wiebe who lost his playing rights on the pea tour due to Lack of performance last season and got into this event on a sponsors exemption. Tom Purtzer and p h. Horgan each shot 66 at Pebble Beach. Isles out slug skidding penguins by the associated press Pittsburgh Rob Dimaio and Tom Fitzgerald scored 21 seconds apart in the first period As the new York islanders built a four goal Lead withstood a third period rally and beat the Pittsburgh penguins 8-5 thursday night. The penguins who had been 4-0-1 against the islanders this season fell into fourth place in the Patrick division and slipped under .500 at Home with their fourth consecutive loss Overall and their fourth in a Row at Home. Their last four game Home ice losing Streak was oct. 1331,1989. In other games thursday Bruins 3, flames 1 Boston a Vladimir Ruzicka and Steve Leach each scored in the first period to trigger Boston to a 3-1 Victory Over Calgary for the Bruins eighth win in 10 games. Ruzicka a goal his sixth in the last four games was go his third straight game win Ner. Boston pulled eight Points behind the Adams division leading Montreal 5, North stars 3 Philadelphia Gariy galleys first goal As a flyer snapped a 3-3 tie and Mark Howe scored two goals As Philadelphia downed 4, Kings 1 Inglewood Calif. Mike Gartner broke a three game scoreless Streak with two goals and an assist in Patrick division leading new Yorkus win Over los Angeles. The Victory gave the rangers a 5-0-1 record in their last six games including 30-1 on their current Road trip. Their 33 17-2 record is the Best in the nil. Canucks 4, Blackhawk 1 Vancouver British Columbia a Petr Nedved scored two goals to Lead Vancouver Over Chicago. Nedved who recently demanded to be traded because of a Lack of playing time has three goals in two games and eight for the 4, Sharks 2 Daly City Calif. Brett scored his 51st and 52nd goals of the season to Lead St. Louis Over san Jose. Hull the no la a leading goal scorer and no. 2 in Points tallied from 10 feet out with 7 05 left in the second period to give the blues a 3-2 Lead. Then with 9 52 left in the game he shot from behind the Blue line in san Jose Send of the ice and put it past shark goalie Jeff Hackett to give St. Louis a two goal advantage. Fangio s record earns pole at Daytona Daytona Beach Fla. A Juan Fangio ii sped to a track qualifying record thursday putting his Toyota Eagle on the pole for this weekends rolex 24 sports car endurance race at Daytona International Speedway. The Argentine Driver Nephew of five time formula one Champion Juan Fangio ran Between rain showers As he turned a Lap of 1 minute 35.860 seconds which translates to 133.695 Mph. Fangio who was also fast Here in Winter testing by the Simsa Camel Ftp Drivers easily broke the Mark of 1 37.832, 131.000 by Frenchman Bob Wollek in a porsche 962 in 1990. In fact the eight fastest cars All broke the previous record. Davy Jones earned the outside spot on the front Row in a new Jaguar xjr-16 powered by a new v6 engine. He turned a Lap of 1 36.266, 133.131, on his last 3.56-mile Daytona circuit. That was Good enough to beat out the porsche 962 of Germany a Hans stuck who had posted a fast Lap of 131.476 moments earlier. Only the top two qualifiers in the opening session cliched starting spots in the twice around the clock race that begins saturday at 9 p.m., Central european time. The rest of the Field was to be set following another round of time trials on Friday
