ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, November 12, 1996 TAG: 9611120083
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
THOMAS HEARNS' opponent for his Nov.29 bout at the Roanoke Civic Center will be Karl ``The Scorpion'' Willis.
Thomas Hearns, the only man to win world boxing titles in five weight classes, has found an opponent for his bout Nov.29 at the Roanoke Civic Center.
Hearns, 38, will fight 29-year-old Karl ``The Scorpion'' Willis in a 10-round light heavyweight bout, the main event of the second live boxing card in the civic center's 25-year history. A portion of the card, including the Hearns bout, will be televised live by ESPN2, but blacked out on cable systems within a 100-mile radius of the civic center.
Willis, with a career record of 23-5, ``could really push Tommy,'' according to Rick Hawkins, director of the Roanoke City Boxing Association and vice president of Steelhawk Promotions, which is staging the card.
Raised in Nashville, Tenn., and residing in Siesta Key, Fla., Willis has fought in four weight classes.
An addition to the card is a heavyweight fight featuring Steve Pannell, a 27-year-old former state wrestling champion at William Fleming High School. Pannell, 20-3 with two previous appearances on ESPN's ``Top Rank Boxing'' program, will fight an opponent to be named in a 10-round bout.
In the co-featured bout, Francisco ``El Tigre'' Arreola (31-1), the International Boxing Association junior lightweight champion, will defend his title against Mexico's Lalo Montes (16-8, 11 knockouts) in a 12-round fight.
The card includes eight bouts, four of which are scheduled for at least 10 rounds. Other matches include such notable fighters as 260-pound fan favorite Billy ``Bronco'' Wright (27-3, 21 KOs); 168-pounder Joe Harris (9-5), who is managed by Ed Griffin and Sugar Ray Leonard; and the debut of Lamon Brewster, a heavyweight managed by former NFL wide receiver Willie Gault.
Steelhawk Promotions expects a boost in interest and ticket sales on the heels of Evander Holyfield's surprising 11th-round TKO of Mike Tyson on Saturday night in Las Vegas. ``The best thing that could have happened was Saturday night,'' Hawkins said.
``I think it should definitely boost the attendance,'' said Steelhawk president Melanie Steele. ``It added a sense of credibility to a sport that has been lacking in recent years. It shows anything can happen in the ring.''
The only previous live boxing card at the civic center drew 1,500 spectators on Nov.24, 1973. That night's main event featured former U.S. Olympic heavyweight Duane Bobick, who was that era's Tommy Morrison. He beat John Hudgins on a second-round TKO.
Posters and advertisements are expected to hit the area by Thursday.
``It's like a fighter training,'' Hawkins said. ``You want to build up to have your peak audience the day of the fight. We expect to have a mad rush that day.''
LENGTH: Medium: 56 linesby CNB