Page 12-THE AQUINAS-March 24, 1983 Holmes' trainer says'champ is· ready BY MARK HENNICKE that point on, Larry will win handily," ECR Assistant Editor he predicted. ( Larry Holmes is coming back to In his career, Holmes has been accused Scranton out of a deep sense of of taking many opponents too lightly, gratitude to those people who helped the, most notably former WBA Champion champion get his start here 10 years Mike Weaver and high-ranking contender ago, according to Eddie Futch, trainer of Renaldo Snipes. According to Futch, the WBC heavyweight kingpin. Holmes will not make that mistake with "So many fighters forget their roots," the lightly-regarded Rodriguez. Futch said. "Larry didn't want to be "Larry has reached the point in his that kind of a fighter." career where he doesn't take anyone According to Futch, the fan support jghtly," Futch said. "He learned that Holmes has received since returning to lesson from the Snipes fight." Scranton for the title defense against Futch said he feels that one should European champion Lucien Rodriguez always give an opponent credit by this Sunday has been a great charge for always imagining him to be as good as the Easton, Pa., based fighter. yeu are. "It would be tough for anyone to beat "That way," said Futch, "if he isn't, him here," Futch said. "He feels like he it's easy. If he is, you're not surprised." is at home." As far as the future is concerned, As is the case with many world Futch said Holmes would like to retire championship prizefights, there have by the end of the year unless something been several questions concerning worthwhile for the champion comes Holmes' title defense set to take place at along. the Watres Armory in Scranton. "Cooney would be another big fight," One question has been whether or not stated Futch, "if he could qualify himself the reigning heavyweight champ has had again as worthy of another title shot. sufficient time to prepare for his battle Larry might not wait that long." with the relatively unknown fighter from As for now, according to Futch, France. Holmes is concentrating on his title "Larry is in better physical shape than defense against Rodriguez, and not I thought he would be at this point," looking down the road to his scheduled Futch said. "Mentally, he is in good match-up with the highly-regarded shape and for Larry, that's the key." contender Tim Witherspoon in May. Another question looming around "Larry is not looking past Rodriguez Sunday's fight is how much Holmes and to Witherspoon," noted Futch. "He his entourage really know about learned his lesson when he looked past Rodriguez, who once went 10 rounds in a Snipes toward Cooney." , losing effort with current WBA Though Futch does not expect Holmes heavyweight champion, Michael Doakes. to lose to Rodriguez, he refuses to ~ -', ~l:"»,(~ ...",::~;~ According to Futch, Holmes will be become complacent where his fighter is ~ ':[f!t~l'f-: careful in the early going of his fight concerned. , ref'( with with Rodriguez in order to assess "I'm not necessarily worried, but I'm Getting in shape for Sunday's championship bout, what the Frenchman is like in the ring. not overconfident," Futch said. "You heavyweight Larry Holmes, who started his career in "Larry will figure him 'out and put never know. When you start taking Scranton 10 years ago, will take on European together an effective attack in the first things for granted, you're on dangerous challenger Luc~n Rodriguez., Ph;to by Keith Taylor two or three rounds," Futch said. "From ground." Royals·named to all-stars BY PEGGY WHALEN team selection; said that he was pleased Aquinas Sports Editor for himself and for the other Royals, but In an announcement made yesterday, n?ted t~at he was very surprised.and sophomore forward Bill Bessoir was dIsappomted that semor Todd BaIley selected by the National Association of wasn't selected also., ., Basketball Coaches to the Division III Hutch note~, ~o?, that although It s, a All-America second team. great honor, mdiVldual a.cc~lades don t Bessoir said that he was honored to mean that much after wmmng the earn the distinction especially after na;¥onal.title. : " sitting out for a year. .' Nothing will be able to top that, he "Mer I sat out for a year," he 'said, stated. .' "I'm happy to have played as well as I Coach Bob BessOlr said that he was did." disappointed that Jones didn't receive Junior Mickey Banaswas recently more recognition. selected as this year's most valuable "Jeff is deserving, too," said Bessoir. player in the Middle Atlantic Conference. "I think he's been overlooked." , He, too, said that he felt honored, but Bessoir thought it especially that maybe the selection committee felt rewarding, ho~ever, that Kosin w3:s obligated to choose a player on the selected as an all-MAC player. Kosm was Royals. ' , . a third team al~-~merican las~ year and- "With all the other talent In the was the Royals SIXth man thIS year. league," said Banas, "'there were many "It shows the other coaches respect players w?o deserved.it as much as me. him," stated Besso~. .'. Being natIOnal champIOns makes us The. coach also saId that he thmks BIlly recognized." .. is still in con~ention for the Divis~on III The Eastern Collegiate Athletic player-of-the-year' award. T4~ voting for Conference Division III South All-Star all-America took place a month ago team was also named and among th~ 10 whereas the player of the year will \?e players chosen were Banas and Bessoir. announced soon and Bessoir was named Lou DeRogatis of Widener was chosen the most outstanding player in the as the most outstanding player in the NCAA regional tournament and in the league. final four. The MAC-North All-Star'team was In the .women's selctions for all-MAC, selected recently, too, and it has five only senior Fran Harkins was selected. ~ Royals on its roster. Banas and Bessoir She was named to the first team all- ... --- >.v,'~ ~ were named to the first team all-MAC MAC-Northeast. Although coach Michael :""" ... , ' , " . The Royals' all-American forward Bill Bessoir while seniors Mark Hutchinson and Tom Strong was pleased with the committee's pumps before releasing a jumper in the Royals' Kosin and junior Jeff Jones were ' selection of Harkins, he felt it was selected to the second team. ' '~.-- "unfortunate" that junior Melanie Bibak semifinal win over Roanoke on Friday. Photl. :0, t<eith Lane Hutchinson, a two-time all-MAC second was overlooked..