ADAIR-ING MOVE TO BE FEMALE REFEREE.

Byline: MICHAEL ROSENTHAL Boxing

Gwen Adair has heard all the comments.

``You won't last in this game,'' was a typical one when she started refereeing and judging boxing matches. ``You outta be home with your family,'' was one she heard more often later on. ``This is no place for you'' was universal.

However, 19 years after she first stepped through the ropes, Adair is still at it.

Plying her trade in a field composed almost entirely by men hasn't been easy - ``I still get resistance'' - but she's evolved into a good referee who commands respect from her peers. She is believed to be the only woman ever to referee a world-title bout and one of two women refs working today.

Adair will be honored at the Golden State Boxer's Association luncheon next week.

``I was told by one of the (athletic) commissioners when I first got my license that I would have to work twice as hard as the guys to prove myself,'' she said Saturday before departing for Indio to officiate at a boxing card.

``I knew that if they allowed me to hang, though, I'd be well.'' Adair, who grew up in Los Angeles, was exposed to boxing early. Her mother - who Adair said was the founder of the Fatburger restaurant chain - took her as a child to the fights at the Olympic Auditorium. Later, in the 1970s, she and her former husband became ringside regulars there and had the opportunity to get to know many officials and fighters. One year, Adair earned ``Fan of the Year'' honors during an annual awards dinner at the Olympic.

Adair had another career going at this time. She did bit parts in television shows, including ``MASH,'' and in a few movies. She also was married and had four children.

However, this man's sport would soon play a dominating role in her life.

Her first taste of the business was as a manager. She guided the career of a young prospect who left her and the sport after 16 fights. She was hooked, though.

``I had gotten used to being involved in the fights, working the corner and all that. It was so exciting. That's when I inquired about being a referee,'' she said.

At that time, women played a role in the sport. For example, Aileen Eaton was the long-time, well-respected promoter at the Olympic.

However, a woman referee? Unheard of. Hence the unflattering comments and the challenges she has had to face.

She has sued the California Athletic Commission more than once and has threatened several more times to do so because of what she perceived as discrimination based on her gender. Most commonly, she claims, she has gone long periods without working as a referee (she also judges bouts) for no good reason.

Her biggest fight was the one that led to her one and only major world- championship bout.

For the past five years, she said, boxing officials intimated that her time would come, that 14 years of working smaller, less-significant bouts would finally lead her to one of boxing's biggest showcases. However, it didn't happen and it seemed it never would.

``At that time, my lawyer said we had a great case, go for the jugular, get some money,'' she said. ``That's not what I wanted to be about. I wanted my license, I wanted to be the first woman to work a (major) title fight.''

``At least give me a chance,'' she added. ``Then, if I screwed up, that would be that. I thought I deserved a chance, though.''

She got it from IBF president Bob Lee, whom she had met at an officials' convention in Orlando, Fla.

Yory ``Boy'' Campas was defending his IBF junior middleweight belt June 5, 1998, against journeyman Pedro Ortega in Tijuana, Mexico. Adair got the call for which she had long hoped and went off to make history.

``In Mexico, no woman is allowed to be ringside except the ring-card girls,'' she said. ``I remember, right before the fight, a cop came up and asked me for my passport. It was obvious he was upset that a woman was there doing what I was doing. Then, an official with the IBF made a call and said, `If you want championship fights here, you gotta go with who we bring as an official.'

``That was it. I became the first woman to referee a fight in Mexico, period, and made history.

``It didn't really settle in until I got home, but, yeah, it really felt good.''

Larry Rozadilla, a referee who evaluates his peers for the commission, wonders candidly whether Adair is overly defensive in regard to the gender issue.

At the same time, he said he appreciates the unique difficulties she has faced and admires her. He rated her ``an above average'' ref.

``I think her strength is her commitment to be a good referee,'' said Rozadilla, who has worked in the gym with Adair on her mechanics. ``She always wants to learn, to better herself, always.''

``And it took guts for her to do this,'' he said. ``If she falters even a little, she'll attract attention just because she's female, whereas a guy might not have to deal with that. That's something I think she's overcome.''

How long will Adair stay with it?

She wants to referee a major title fight in the United States. ``And, even after that, I think I'll stay involved in boxing. I'm not sure if I want to be a promoter, go back to management or what. I've also thought about being a commentator.

``I just love being around the sport.''

More women: Adair isn't the only woman who will be honored by the Golden State Boxer's Association.

The others: Carol Steindler, who operates the Main Street Gym downtown; Lilly Rodriguez, a pioneer in women's boxing; Debbia Garcia of Lancaster, California's only female timekeeper; Trudy Latka, longtime publicity director of the World Boxing Hall of Fame, and Ruth Fraser, one of the few women boxing promoters in the state (1985-1992).

Please, no: Mike Tyson-Buster Douglas II has a story line - but not much else.

Douglas' stunning knockout of Tyson in 1990 might've been the prelude to a fascinating rematch or the beginning of a series of bouts seven or eight years ago.

Now, it's too late. Tyson is no longer Tyson and Douglas is 39 and washed up. He was knockout by Lou Savarese in his last meaningful fight and has beaten two unknown journeymen since.

It would be an oldies matchup, one that has lost its appeal.

Of Tyson's prospective opponents, Zeljko Mavrovic is the most interesting. He's young, big and has proven to be a competent fighter. Some believe he'd give Tyson trouble, which is the kind of intrigue that makes for a legitimate fight.

Mouth: Naseem Hamed said he has offered to fight Luisito Espinosa five times but claims the Filipino is afraid to face him for fear of losing.

The nerve of this guy.

Obviously, this is Hamed's modus operandi: He's afraid to face a decent opponent for fear of losing. He has made a fortune fighting nobodies and has proven nothing as a result. Until he decides to take a challenge - Juan Manuel Marquez? - instead of mismatches, he should refrain from insulting other fighters.

Of course, that's asking too much of this walking mouth.

Hamed is due to defend his WBO featherweight title against a yet-to-be-determined contender in November.

Sad story: The boxing world could be deprived of perhaps its best heavyweight because he's unable to control himself.

Ike Ibeabuchi was arrested last week on sexual-assault charges in Las Vegas and authorities are taking another look at similar accusations made by another woman.

And he's run afoul of the law in past.

It's a shame: Ibeabuchi has the thunder of a young Tyson. He might have the ability to dominate the division if only . . .

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Photo

PHOTO Gwen Adair refereed last year's world-title bout between Yory ``Boy'' Campas, left, and Pedro Ortega.

Special to the Daily News