By Rusty Rubin, managing editor, of Ringsports.com, and author of “Off the Canvas”, an accurate view of American history and the social problems of the times, as witnessed by an 80-year old ex-champion. “Off the Canvas” takes you from the time of the Great Depression till the World Trade Center disaster and is a book that has been getting rave reviews. Copies are $15.00 each available at Ringsports.com and on-line major book retailers. For a list of the reviews please contact me.***
I rarely watch a replay of fights I’ve seen, but I made an exception on Saturday, watching the HBO rebroadcast of one of the great wars of recent memory, the Morales – Pacquiao contest.
Strangely, even though I knew the outcome I was engrossed in the non-stop give and take action.
Once again thanks HBO for allowing those who missed it last week to enjoy the war as it was fought.
The fight of the night was the return to ring action of Ferocious Fernando Vargas, after a 15 month layoff.
Fernando had almost as much trouble with referee Lawrence Cole, who missed a low blow, which Fernando would have liked to have had miss him. Cole was out of position to see the obvious foul, but things like that happen in boxing.
Vargas got in the work he needed winning an easy 10-round decision over Ray Joval, who is a tall, good boxer, with a solid chin, but nothing resembling a power punch. It was a comeback fight that Vargas needed.
It’s nice to see Fernando back in the picture either at middleweight or junior middleweight, as it’s always good to see an exciting warrior return to the squared circle, more so in times like this, when the big boys rarely show they can fight a lick.***
Which brings me to another point, Bernard Hopkins is the only middleweight in most fans/experts top 10 pound for pounders. Notice the others are below that weight. That should tell everyone what I’ve been saying all along, you’re wasting your money watching heavyweight action, at least with this group of pretenders. Sure some of these guys will more than give you your moneys worth some of the time, but with the lighter guys, you’re almost guaranteed great action in every fight.***
Al Bernstein, is now hosting an internet show, Ringside Report every Tuesday at 8 PM PST. Check out WWW.CEN.TV or go to the archives at www.cen.tv./shows/al/al.html. Knowing Al, I can promise that you won’t be disappointed.***
Agree or disagree, I always welcome comments.
My good friend Stephen B. Acunto, who founded the American Association for the Improvement of Boxing, along with Rocky Marciano, now has his book “Champions Boxing Guide” available in Spanish. For details visit Steve’s website: AAIB.org
Please help me with my upcoming new book. Send all boxing jokes, stories, quips and boxing oddities to (Rusty@ringsports.com), thanks, and members of the boxing media are free to send this most welcome information as well. All submissions used will be given full credit, if used in the book, and it will be given on who submits the story first, basis. Here’s your chance to have your name in print, instead of American’s Most Wanted posters.***
Agree or disagree, feel free to express your views.
Glove2Glove:
Prayers needed for the return to health of Danny Romero Sr. father of the former champion who is fighting a serious illness.
Prayers needed for the return to health of Sheila Sepulveda, widow of Reno based Ahora Spanish News Publisher Miguel, and mother of Steve Sepulveda.
Dub Harris, WWII hero and founder and past President of the World Boxing Hall of Fame has suffered a stroke in Southern California. Please pray for his quick return to health.***
Prayers needed for the return to health of Alfonso Luna, father of our outstanding photographer Ray Luna, who has taken ill in Southern California.
Please say prayers for the return to health of Helen Wambolt, wife of our East Coast World Boxing Hall of Fame writer Danny Wambolt. Cards will also be most welcome.***
Please say prayers for the return to health of Orazio Esposito, father of our photographer Richard Esposito.***
Sandy Johnson a great gal as well as a staff member of the Nevada State Athletic Commission is fighting breast cancer. A call, e-mail or card, along with your prayers would really do a lot to raise the spirits of an old friend.***
Special prayers go out to Mills Lane for his complete recovery. Mills, who moved from Reno to New York, suffered a stroke a few years back. He may be down, but knowing him personally, he’s far from out.***
Prayers for the return to health of Don Donelson, father of writer Tom, and Gene Sebastian, brother of former middleweight champ Billy Soose. Both are suffering from congestive heart disease. And to Arthur Terciera, father of writer Keith, also having heart related problems.***
Prayers are requested for Ringsports.com photo journalist Dale Hausner of Arizona, who is having problems with cancer.***
Prayers are requested for Kenneth E. Ryther father of our photo journalist Amy Green. Kenneth is suffering from Parkinson’s.***
Prayers for Ed “Whitey” Hadar, a former boxer who is having some serious health problems.***
Please say prayers for Phill Grazide of Santa Rosa, CA. a big supporter of amateur boxing, who is suffering the crippling effects of rheumatoid arthritis.***
Needless to say we need prayers for the return to health of both former champs Greg Page and Gerald McClellan, both confined to wheelchairs.***
Glove2Glove is a non-denominational group set up to aide those boxing folks and their relatives in need of prayers and cards. We accept no money and only contact our members when someone is in need. It’s free to join. Simply send us your e-mail address. And even if you’re not a member, feel free to contact us if you are aware of some boxing person in need.***
Touching on politics briefly: It’s hard to sit back and do nothing as a loved one dies. Most of us have experienced the pain, and can understand the grief. Terri Schiavo is not dead as of this writing, but it is likely that she won’t be with us much longer.
The Schindlers fought the good fight and lost. They lost the fight and they lost their daughter. Let’s pray for their pain to be brief.
Terri Schiavo’s husband, Michael, also is going through a tough time. Although he must be grateful that Terri’s last wishes have been honored, he too is losing a loved one. He needs our prayers as well.
While it’s too late for Terry Schiavo and many others in her condition, what I personally find appalling are these people who complain about letting her die, yet many, by and large, oppose stem cell research, which may have improved her quality of life, if not saved it entirely. It certainly would have added to the grounds of ‘hope’ for recovery.
Yet, instead of these believers asking Congress and the President to fund more stem cell research, they don’t even bother to mention the issue. In short, they seem to want it both ways.
Human life is sacred, all life should be. But if these believers wanted Schiavo to have the best chance to recover, why weren’t their voices raised to Congress? Knowing that stem cell research may offer that one chance for the Schiavo’s of this world in the future, wouldn’t that have been the best argument to make, that indeed there is hope on the horizon?
We’ve all lost loved one who could have been saved by stem cell research. Ex beloved President Ronald Reagan could have led us a lot longer (as an advisor) if he was treated with the fruits of stem cell research. We watched actor Christopher Reeves die, and are watching many with Parkinson’s disease suffer, yet we turn a blind eye.
Boxing fans can relate to the once loquacious Muhammad Ali, who is no longer the spokesman for great causes because he can no longer speak properly. And how many other pugilists with varied forms of dementia could benefit?
Congressman Tom Delay of Texas led the fight for Schiavo in the House of Representatives, President George Bush of Texas, signed it, yet Texas remains one of the most backward states when it comes to stem cell research, and now they’re trying to outlaw it as well.
Delay also showed signs of foot in mouth disease when he stated over and over again that saving Shiavo was more important than the sanctity of marriage, an insult at best to the religious right.
The point here is simple; you can’t have it both ways. If you’re against stem cell research, you’re against making progress in giving hope to folks like Terri Schiavo. Yes, God can and does work miracles, but sometimes he needs a little help from those of us down here, something called research, that perhaps can someday cure all people with disabilities. But keep in mind the old saying that ‘God helps those who help themselves’.
Isn’t it hypocritical for people to ask Congress and the judiciary to take action, while they themselves refuse to do it? Worse, Congress acted brainlessly in using this as political football…and the fumble that resulted will surely have its repercussions in upcoming elections.
You see, most of these are exactly the same people who said that they wanted Schiavo to live, that are against stem cell research and the progress and promise it holds in store for future generations.
Again, you can’t have it both ways.
Three things that should have been learned by the Schiavo tragedy; all human beings have the right to life but also the right to die with dignity, they are flesh and blood, not political footballs, get a living will and support stem cell research.
Agree or disagree, I’d like to hear from you (Rusty@ringsports.com)
