THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 17, 1994 TAG: 9407150243
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
Portsmouth's junior welterweight Rickey Fletcher and cruiserweight Carlton ``Wild Man'' West, both top-ranked in Virginia, have had 62 fights between them.
On Tuesday night, they'll be fighting before their hometown fans for the first time on Portsmouth's first pro boxing show since 1988 at David's Night Club at 430 High Street.
Fletcher will take on Greg Gallup, a three-time former champion from Richmond, for the Virginia kick boxing championship at the junior welterweight level in a 10-round main event.
In an eight-round co-main event, West will face unbeaten Joey Demarco of Pittsburgh.
The two Portsmouth boxers have fought indoors and outdoors, in hotels, bingo halls, gambling parlors and in a circus tent. They have heard the bell ring in 15 states and four countries, but never on a pro card in Portsmouth.
``Being a home warrior adds pressure to pro boxing, which is the toughest of all sports,'' says Fletcher. ``Always the underdog when you travel, you worry about short money, hometown decisions and fan violence. Thus I'm looking to fighting in my hometown for the first time with great pleasure.''
Fletcher claims he was ``robbed'' after he floored unbeaten Pico Faggins of Washington, D.C., twice and lost a split decision. He also remembers the night in Richmond when they awarded a split decision to hometown favorite Gallup for Virginia's junior welterweight championship.
``Ringsiders had me winning eight of 10 rounds,'' Fletcher recalls. ``I'll be fighting Gallup in my hometown this time, and I promise the championship will stay in Portsmouth.''
West, who has a 32-12 record with 11 knockouts, also remembers a number of questionable decisions he lost on the road.
He'll be facing a rising star in young Demarco, who is 8-0 with all the wins by knockouts.
`I'm not going to let a young kid spoil my homecoming,'' West said.
Tickets to the card are $20 each. They are on sale at David's, the Portsmouth Athletic Club gym at 359 Broad Street, and Nick's Hot Dogs at Rodman and Western Branch Blvd. Doors will open at 7 p.m. with the first bout at 8 p.m. For information, call 399-8454. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Rickey Fletcher
Carlton West
by CNB