Stronger Whitaker Prevails In Wbc Title Rematch Against Rivera

WBC welterweight champion Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker recovered from a fifth-round knockdown Friday night at Miami to win his rematch against Wilfredo Rivera with a unanimous decision.

Whitaker landed a knockdown punch of his own in the sixth round of the scheduled 12-round bout en route to his second victory over Rivera in six months.

Whitaker won a controversial split decision from the Puerto Rican on April 12, but the bout was so close that the WBC mandated the rematch. Whitaker faded in that fight and blamed the flu.

The 32-year-old Virginian, who claims to be the world’s best fighter pound-for-pound, improved to 39-1-1. Rivera, 27, fell to 23-2-1.

The judges scored the fight 115-113, 115-111 and 113-112. Whitaker received $1.5 million and Rivera $300,000.

Henry Tillman, a former heavyweight and 1984 Olympic gold medalist, was returned to Los Angeles from state prison to face murder charges.

Tillman, 36, was awaiting trial on credit card fraud charges when he allegedly shot Terreance Thomas to death Jan. 10 outside a Westchester nightclub.

Tillman was charged with murder and attempted murder late Thursday. He is expected to be arraigned early next week.

Julio Cesar Chavez will return to the ring for the first time since his loss to Oscar De La Hoya when he fights Oct. 12 in Anaheim, Calif.

Chavez will fight Joey Gamache in a bout that was to have taken place the same day in Las Vegas on the undercard of the De La Hoya-Miguel Angel Gonzalez title fight.

The main event was postponed earlier this week, however, because of tendinitis in De La Hoya’s shoulder.