In Rusty’s Corner
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.***
This weeks big fight comes from Massachusetts, where Jean Marc Mormeck of France takes on Wayne Braithwaite, a southpaw from Guyana, in an important cruiserweight clash…Okay, maybe it’s hard to use the words cruiserweight and important in the same sentence, but for rating purposes it has good value. How’s that for getting off the hook?
Braithwaite has more one-punch knockout power, while Mormeck, 33, tends to wear his opponents down before stopping them. Mormeck hasn’t seen much action outside of Eastern Europe, while Braithwaite, three years younger, has been a road warrior till he settled in the US a few years back.
Neither fighter has faced any really big names in the cruiserweight ranks, which could be because there are no really big names in that weight class.
In short, it’s a pick-em fight that can easily end in a draw, but I’ll go out on a limb here and take Braithwaite by late TKO.
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 for Crystal Platzner, wife of boxing good guy, Harrin. Crys will be undergoing some serious surgery and needs your prayers for a complete recovery.
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: Am I the only one who takes offense by all these stupid ads that President Bush wants to save Social Security? Let’s hope he does. That’s his job.
While Social Security has not reached crisis stage yet, (but the budget and trade deficit may have) it is an ongoing problem that will continue to worsen until someone with creative ideas steps forward with a plan. Fortunately there’s no rush for an answer just yet.
Here’s the real issue; How much money are those commercials costing the tax payers, money that can be used far better by putting in into the Social Security fund.
Taking this one step further, how about all the money the pharmaceutical companies waste on advertising products you cannot buy over the counter? These ads do nothing for anyone except the drug companies, who don’t have to advertise these products.
Why do they do it? That one is simple, to raise the price of their drugs. The more money they spend in advertising allows them to do this, and isn’t that the bottom line of all business, to continue to make money? It’s not illegal, but it is immoral. Drug prices are over-priced as it is.
And if anyone out there really thinks the President is concerned about the welfare of seniors, remember which group got zero in his tax cut.***
Tom Donelson: My friend, fellow scribe Tom Donelson, who is co-authoring a book with me, on former champ Billy Soose and his brother Gene Sebastian, had some kind words for me in a recent article.
I guess he expects me to get even and say nice things about him. Sorry Tom.
There is little I can add to all the other accolades that people have bestowed on you. But allow me to say that you are one of the hardest working people I know. I get tired just thinking about your schedule.
Donelson says that he often disagrees with my political views. And I’m glad. It would be a pretty sad world if we all felt the same about every political issue. We can disagree on the issues and respect each other’s views and still remain friends. Life as always imitates politics and vice versa.
Tom is a very good writer, an honest and decent man, although we have never met, I’m proud to call him a friend.
As for having a beer together. I stopped drinking beer when Budweiser pulled their ads. I switched to good scotch. They don’t advertise either, but at least it’s less filling (or does it taste great?)
Enough of being nice to Tom. I don’t want to give him a swelled head! As a friend, I owe him that much.***
Agree or disagree, I’d like to hear from you (Rusty@ringsports.com)