Elbaum

At the back table in the restaurant on Eutaw Street, a fortune-teller with a mound of white hair is massaging a pair of black boxing gloves."These belong to someone who is very angry," she says.Then she is rubbing a jump rope."No," she says. "The person who uses these would rather be running."Then she is rubbing a pair of red boxing gloves. She frowns."I don't get a good feeling from these," she says. "No feeling at all."The television cameras are rolling. The newspapers are there. Don Elbaum is happy.

LAS VEGAS -- David Izegwire's unbeaten streak and brief reign as International Boxing Organization cruiserweight champion ended yesterday when the Nigerian native was stopped by Adolpho Washington of Lexington, Ky., at 2:49 of the eighth round of a nationally televised bout.Although Izegwire (18-1), who fights out of Washington and doubles as a high fashion designer, was leading on the cards of judges Al Siciliano and Art Lurie by a 67-66 margin after seven rounds, referee Ken Bayliss' decision to stop the fight drew only mild protest from the champion's manager, Don Elbaum.

His name is Carson McCaurry. We think."That's what it says on the poster, anyway," says Don Elbaum, the fight promoter. "It's the third spelling I've gotten."If there's confusion, it's because Carson McCaurry is really Skippy -----, which is the name he goes by, but which I was asked not to use on account of any possible outstanding lawsuits. McCaurry is the name he was born with, however, if that is indeed how it's spelled."Could be McCurry," says Larry Lowry, who is his handler.Whoever he is -- let's call him Skippy -- he's sitting in a crab house in Pasadena eating the catch of the day. Skippy's got a black eye, a scar over the bridge of his nose and a lot of mangled knuckles decorated with slashes that closely resemble teeth marks.

David Izegwire owns a crown, of sorts -- the International Boxing Organization's cruiserweight championship, a title he won in Aspen, Colo., last December by stopping Henry Milligan in the eighth round.But the Nigerian native, fighting out of Washington, would prefer having what his title challenger, Bobby Czyz, possesses: public recognition and the ability to demand six-figure fight purses."Yes, I'm proud to be the IBO champion," said Izegwire (16-0), who defends his crown against Czyz (40-5)

Tahlala Mason was going to run into the repair shop quickly, just long enough to pick up some shoes and a couple pairs of boots, while her boyfriend waited outside in the car.She came back empty handed."

David Izegwire owns a crown, of sorts -- the International Boxing Organization's cruiserweight championship, a title he won in Aspen, Colo., last December by stopping Henry Milligan in the eighth round.But the Nigerian native, fighting out of Washington, would prefer having what his title challenger, Bobby Czyz, possesses: public recognition and the ability to demand six-figure fight purses."Yes, I'm proud to be the IBO champion," said Izegwire (16-0), who defends his crown against Czyz (40-5)

LAS VEGAS -- David Izegwire's unbeaten streak and brief reign as International Boxing Organization cruiserweight champion ended yesterday when the Nigerian native was stopped by Adolpho Washington of Lexington, Ky., at 2:49 of the eighth round of a nationally televised bout.Although Izegwire (18-1), who fights out of Washington and doubles as a high fashion designer, was leading on the cards of judges Al Siciliano and Art Lurie by a 67-66 margin after seven rounds, referee Ken Bayliss' decision to stop the fight drew only mild protest from the champion's manager, Don Elbaum.

Simon Brown, the International Boxing Federation champion, has rejected a three-fight package leading to a $1 million match next spring against Roberto Duran while reaffirming his vow to sever boxing relations with manager Al Balboin and promoter Don Elbaum.Elbaum and Duran's promoter, Mike Acri of Erie, Pa., had set a Wednesday deadline for Brown's decision on fighting the former three-time world champion from Panama."I don't need any deadline, and I don't need Roberto Duran," Brown said yesterday from his home in Germantown.

With any luck, the fights will be as good as the news conference to announce them.Promoter Don Elbaum was in the process of letting the world know about a boxing show planned for the Arena March 4 when Eddie Van Kirk, one of the participants, casually mentioned what he thought might happen in another bout on the card.Besides Van Kirk taking on Victor Davis for the state welterweight title over 12 rounds, Vincent Pettway is scheduled in a 10-rounder against New Yorker Kato Wilson. "Wouldn't surprise me if Wilson knocked Pettway out," Eddie said none too innocently.

The Eddie Van Kirk-Victor Davis fight for the Maryland welterweight title is just about a month away (March 4), but a stormy news conference yesterday almost erupted into a tag-team match, with Van Kirk, Davis and welterweight-in-waiting Vincent Pettway exchanging angry words.One might suspect that veteran promoter Don Elbaum, a man not foreign to hyperbole, had rehearsed carefully the fighters in an effort to generate ticket sales for the first boxing card at the Baltimore Arena since Pettway outpointed Horace Shufford there three years ago.But this was not theater.

Tahlala Mason was going to run into the repair shop quickly, just long enough to pick up some shoes and a couple pairs of boots, while her boyfriend waited outside in the car.She came back empty handed."

Mention the name Aaron Smith to boxing promoter Don Elbaum and his face takes on the pained look of a man who has just swallowed a lemon."Why did you ruin my day?" Elbaum screamed.A reporter was seeking some background on Smith (10-10), the Gaithersburg junior middleweight who meets world-ranked Vincent Pettway (35-4) of Baltimore tonight in the 10-round main event at the Pikesville Armory."Two years ago," said Elbaum, "this guy Smith cost me a title shot for a kid I managed named Donny Poole."

DUNDALK -- Just in time for his 4:15 appointment yesterday afternoon, Chuck Sturm walked into the dimly lighted office of Dr. Thomas R. O'Rourk, an ophthalmologist with a private practice in Dundalk."

At the back table in the restaurant on Eutaw Street, a fortune-teller with a mound of white hair is massaging a pair of black boxing gloves."These belong to someone who is very angry," she says.Then she is rubbing a jump rope."No," she says. "The person who uses these would rather be running."Then she is rubbing a pair of red boxing gloves. She frowns."I don't get a good feeling from these," she says. "No feeling at all."The television cameras are rolling. The newspapers are there. Don Elbaum is happy.

His name is Carson McCaurry. We think."That's what it says on the poster, anyway," says Don Elbaum, the fight promoter. "It's the third spelling I've gotten."If there's confusion, it's because Carson McCaurry is really Skippy -----, which is the name he goes by, but which I was asked not to use on account of any possible outstanding lawsuits. McCaurry is the name he was born with, however, if that is indeed how it's spelled."Could be McCurry," says Larry Lowry, who is his handler.Whoever he is -- let's call him Skippy -- he's sitting in a crab house in Pasadena eating the catch of the day. Skippy's got a black eye, a scar over the bridge of his nose and a lot of mangled knuckles decorated with slashes that closely resemble teeth marks.

With any luck, the fights will be as good as the news conference to announce them.Promoter Don Elbaum was in the process of letting the world know about a boxing show planned for the Arena March 4 when Eddie Van Kirk, one of the participants, casually mentioned what he thought might happen in another bout on the card.Besides Van Kirk taking on Victor Davis for the state welterweight title over 12 rounds, Vincent Pettway is scheduled in a 10-rounder against New Yorker Kato Wilson. "Wouldn't surprise me if Wilson knocked Pettway out," Eddie said none too innocently.

Mention the name Aaron Smith to boxing promoter Don Elbaum and his face takes on the pained look of a man who has just swallowed a lemon."Why did you ruin my day?" Elbaum screamed.A reporter was seeking some background on Smith (10-10), the Gaithersburg junior middleweight who meets world-ranked Vincent Pettway (35-4) of Baltimore tonight in the 10-round main event at the Pikesville Armory."Two years ago," said Elbaum, "this guy Smith cost me a title shot for a kid I managed named Donny Poole."

DUNDALK -- Just in time for his 4:15 appointment yesterday afternoon, Chuck Sturm walked into the dimly lighted office of Dr. Thomas R. O'Rourk, an ophthalmologist with a private practice in Dundalk."

The Eddie Van Kirk-Victor Davis fight for the Maryland welterweight title is just about a month away (March 4), but a stormy news conference yesterday almost erupted into a tag-team match, with Van Kirk, Davis and welterweight-in-waiting Vincent Pettway exchanging angry words.One might suspect that veteran promoter Don Elbaum, a man not foreign to hyperbole, had rehearsed carefully the fighters in an effort to generate ticket sales for the first boxing card at the Baltimore Arena since Pettway outpointed Horace Shufford there three years ago.But this was not theater.

Simon Brown, the International Boxing Federation champion, has rejected a three-fight package leading to a $1 million match next spring against Roberto Duran while reaffirming his vow to sever boxing relations with manager Al Balboin and promoter Don Elbaum.Elbaum and Duran's promoter, Mike Acri of Erie, Pa., had set a Wednesday deadline for Brown's decision on fighting the former three-time world champion from Panama."I don't need any deadline, and I don't need Roberto Duran," Brown said yesterday from his home in Germantown.