Sports: Jones Jr. could revive Tampa

Jones Jr. could revive Tampa

A promoter hopes for more big bouts in the area.

By JOHN C. COTEY

TAMPA -- The eyes of the boxing world will be on Tampa on Saturday night as the self-acclaimed greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Roy Jones Jr., defends his light heavyweight title at the Ice Palace against Derrick Harmon.

But once the fight is over, how long will it take for those eyes to turn back toward the glitter of Las Vegas and the cha-ching of Indian casinos?

Though Tampa used to have a reputation as a fight town, that has diminished in recent years. Title fights have been absent, and as local prospect Winky Wright climbs the ranks, he does it away from home (though he promises to one day hold a title fight in his hometown, St. Petersburg).

Even smaller area shows, prevalent in the 1970s and '80s, failed to find a consistent high-profile (read: televised) forum.

Tampa laywer Steve Yerrid hopes he can change that. Phil Alessi thinks Yerrid can.

Yerrid is one of the people putting on the Jones Jr. fight, four years after he promoted his first fight, Jones' 1996 win over Mike McCallum at the Ice Palace.

Alessi is the name many associate with Tampa boxing. No longer active in the game he once ruled locally as the most prominent promoter, Alessi took his lumps and got out.

But his friendship with Yerrid has stirred his interest, and both hinted at possibly teaming up down the road.

The main goal: compete with Las Vegas and the casinos, and make Tampa a viable option for the world's best fights.

"Four years ago, when people were skeptical -- they said Tampa was no longer a fight town -- we proved them wrong," Yerrid said. "We've shown the world we can do sporting events. So I went back to Roy and told him, "We did right by you (drawing 14,000), and we need to do another event.' We want to get Tampa back in the thought process of people in boxing."

Ring announcer Mark Beiro, a Tampa native, says that for boxing to succeed in the area, deterioration of local amateur ranks must stop. But short term, promoters who have an in with big-name fighters such as Jones Jr. (who have an in with television, such as HBO) can make Tampa a legitimate site for future high-profile fights.

"With Steve Yerrid in charge, we have a fighting chance to do something on a regular basis," Beiro said. "He's got a connection to Roy Jones, and if Roy Jones needs a fight, he can call. That's a big open door to have."

Saturday's fight is another step (after John Mugabi vs. Terry Norris at the Sun Dome in 1990 and Jones-McCallum in '96), but Yerrid seems serious about taking a big step soon. Though he had the same goals and fell short, Alessi says Yerrid could succeed.

"Steve Yerrid is a perfect player," said Alessi, whose biggest fight was Mugabi-Norris. "He is a talented promoter in his own way, and I've seen him in action. He puts on some of the better news conferences, and he gathers together all the players that make the difference. And naturally, he has the resources. But does he want to do that all the time? If he did, he'd be in the big leagues."

Yerrid said he is not ready to stop being a lawyer. He has made his fame and fortune fighting and beating big tobacco companies, and he has handled many other high-profile cases.

Yet he says more big fights are in the offing. He said another might happen by the end of the year and that this time it won't be four years between big events.

"We've got great fighters in Florida, but we don't have any great fights to speak of," Yerrid said. "Why not Tampa? I don't see any tobacco cases on the horizon. If this works they way I think it will, it's going to be one of my top priorities. We're going to rejuvenate this city."

He might have help. Tarpon Springs' Pete Frissina will fight former bantamweight champion Arthur Johnson on Friday at the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory in Tampa, and St. Petersburg's "Diamond" David Santos fights at the same venue Thursday.