Ricardo Williams Jr. and Dante Craig, the two Olympic boxers from Cincinnati making their hometown pro debuts Friday night at Cintas Center, said the six-bout card can be part of the city's healing process.

        “I know there's a lot more healing to go on, but this can be a first step, blacks and whites together at this fight,” Craig said during his workout Tuesday at the Mount Auburn Community Center. “I was born and raised here, Parktown, middle of the ghetto. This is my town. I love it here. I want it to heal.”

        Said Williams: “An event like this can bring people of all communities together to have a good time. It's going to be a good night. People should enjoy themselves. There's no reason for anybody to be afraid to come out. We want them to come out. We're going to put on a great show.”

        The card begins at 7:15p.m.; the ESPN2 por tion of the card, which will be televised nationally, begins at 9p.m. The headliners are Williams and Craig. They are each 2-0 and fighting six-round bouts for the first time. Williams fights Cuban-born Damian Gueria (9-1); Craig's opponent is Sherwin Davis (6-0).

        Because the civil unrest in Cincinnati has received so

        much attention, the publicity for this card has been late-arriving. Consequently, ticket sales have been hampered — although strong walk-up sales have always been a feature of the fight game, and promoters are hoping to capitalize on that. They wouldn't say how many tickets have been sold.

        Tickets are $20, $40, $60 and $100. Call the Cintas box office at 745-3900 for information.

        The promoters are promising plenty of well-lit, free parking at Xavier's on-campus arena. Buddy LaRosa, who is Williams' co-manager, has been part of the boxing community for seven decades and said the sweet science always has brought people of all races together. The only violence is inside the ring, not outside.

        “Boxing has always been an extended family,” he said. “It's symbolic of life: you're in there by yourself, knocked down, coming back from adversity.”

        LaRosa said he has toured the community and has a feel for it.

        “I've talked to police, to people on the street, and while there's a lot of work to be done, the healing process has started,” he said. “There's an awareness that there has to be some change. Baseball is going to bring people out, and so is boxing.”

        The featured bout is a 10-rounder of middleweights matching former world junior welterweight champion Bronco McKart (42-3, 29 KOs) vs. Michael Lerma (24-4-1, 18 KOs).

        “Both are southpaws, and they both fit into the title picture,” said promoter Lou Duva. “It's going to be one helluva fight. The reason it hasn't gotten the exposure is that the two local kids (Williams and Craig) have overshadowed it.”

        The entire card will be announced at noon today at Cintas Center.

        “Sure, we want to be able to make a grand entrance Friday night,” Duva said. “We want to be able to show the country Cincinnati has two terrific kids who can really fight. Do that, and HBO and the others are going to want to come in and do shows here, too. You've got fight fans; it's just a matter of bringing them out.”

        CRAIG RESPONDS: Craig, who paid $5,400 in overdue child support Monday and still faces a felony charge in the case, spoke for the first time Tuesday about the matter.

        “I'm prepared to fight and win (his boxing match Friday night) and support my daughter,” Craig said. “I don't know much about what is to come (he faces a hearing later this week and possibly a trial, depending on his plea). But I accept my responsibility. Pro boxing is my career and my way to support her.”

Top cops under review in beanbag shooting
Council hears frustration, hope
Two black cops quit union, citing Fangman
African-American appointed acting safety director
Law-and-order councilman draws ire of peers, blacks
Two proms moved out of unrest area
Looting charges dropped against Good Samaritan
Merchants need cash, new image
Police killing of felons examined
Race commission needs 'a big stick'
To Reds fans, cold more troubling than riots
Boxers want fights to foster peace