DATE: Monday, April 7, 1997                 TAG: 9704050632

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C7   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CHANDLER, ARIZ.                   LENGTH:   49 lines

AFTER THE RING, THEN WHAT FOR SWEETPEA?

When Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker is done punching pugs, he envisions himself pushing pumps.

Whitaker has no concrete plans for when his boxing days are done, but one thing he's mulling over is opening a women's shoe store. Imagine the world champion boxer, after years of punching a bag, standing behind a counter bagging shoes and saying: Will that be cash or charge?

``For the last 10 years that's been my goal,'' Whitaker says. ``Women come in and shop, and they've got to have two and three pair of shoes.''

Whitaker's wife Von chuckles, saying he's never discussed it with her.

``I'd be the only one wearing them,'' Von says. ``I'm a shoe fanatic, and so's Pete.''

Von Whitaker says she has over 100 pair of shoes, and so does her husband.

``That's why we're moving, we have to have bigger closets,'' Von says. ``Right now, we're fighting over closet space.''

The Whitakers have plans for a new $1.2 million home in Church Point in Virginia Beach. Truthfully, Sweetpea doesn't know what he will do when he's done boxing, which worries Von.

``I don't think Pete really has a plan right now as to what he'll do when he retires,'' Von says. ``Everyone must have a plan. It will be good for him to have more time with the boys, but he'll get bored.''

Whitaker says his wife and four sons - ages 1 1/2 to 15 - will probably chase him out of the house, so eventually he may take a job training fighters. Home Box Office has expressed an interest in his becoming a commentator, but that's unlikely.

``It's two-faced,'' Whitaker says of the broadcasting biz.

So maybe two-footed fashion is where he's heading. No one seems to know for sure. But trainer Ronnie Shields is certain of one thing.

``When this guy quits, you'll see a fat, 200-pound guy and you'll say, `Is that Pernell Whitaker?' '' Shields says. ``In a year's time, you won't know him.''

Whitaker can still counter-punch: ``Look at him, he used to be 140,'' Whitaker says, noting Shields' rotund frame.

Then Whitaker smiles and raises an imaginary glass to his mouth.

``But I am going to be an arm-chair quarterback: `Somebody go to the ice box.' '' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]

Whitaker is not sure where he's headed after boxing, but he says

selling women's shoes has been a goal "for the last 10 years." KEYWORDS: INTERVIEW PROFILE

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