By Rusty Rubin, managing editor, of Ringsports.com, and author of “Off the Canvas”, a historically 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.***
Again, a great war from Las Vegas with Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo going toe to toe for much of the fight. I changed my wager at the last minute because I figured if it goes to a decision Castillo, the better boxer wins.
I bet Corrales by stoppage (under 11) and in the 10th round that’s exactly what happened, although it looked for all the world that Diego was going to be the one being stopped. What must be said here however is not who won or lost, but what a fantastic fight it was. Two great fights in less than five months, 2005 is going to be a great year for boxing.
Corrales, after tasting the canvas twice early in round 10, showed the heart, true champions are made of and came back to score a TKO over Castillo at the 2:06 mark of the round. It was a good stop by referee Tony Weeks. Castillo could have gotten seriously injured by the hard-punching Corrales had the fight continued.
My friends, this is exactly why I keep telling you to stop wasting your hard-earned money on today’s heavyweights. They can’t put on half the show that the little guys do. They have neither the speed or will (the will is understandable, who wants to get slapped around by a behemoth?)
Can anyone tell me when two heavyweights won ‘fight of the year’ honors? Or even came close for that matter?
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 ‘America’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 underwent some serious surgery and your prayers for a complete recovery seem to have been answered, as Harrin reports the surgery was a complete success.
Prayers for boxing promoter and all around good guy Clem Crowley who could use a push in the get well ranks just about now.
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.
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: I remember, not too many years ago, when Ronald Reagan was President, was the last time I was proud to be an American. His demand for the Russian Premier to “Tear down this wall,” was standing up for the freedom and democracy, we were taught to believe in.
Before anyone thinks I’ve gone of the deep end, let me explain I love this Country very much. I think it’s the greatest Country in the World, but I also think our government is hard at work changing that. I think we’re doing many things to lose that feeling of pride, rightfully earned throughout our history by the blood of brave American soldiers.
I’m not going to go into the stupidity of outsourcing (sending high paying American job overseas to get workers at a lower pay scale). I’m not going to go into the wide open borders with Our President’s friend in Mexico.
I don’t know how much different it was under Reagan or Kennedy. Maybe similar problems existed, but except for the Cuban blockade, I don’t recall ever feeling threatened by our lack of security on the border.
I lived through those days, being born under the FDR regime, but honestly I can’t remember much, except the feeling of pride in being an American that these two Presidents generated.
Reagan and Kennedy gave me that secure feeling. Our other Presidents have not. FDR said “We have nothing to fear but fear itself”, and the words of wisdom did help get us out of the great depression. Perhaps it was just a needed positive message of times past.
Harry S. Truman said ‘the buck stops here’. Richard Nixon passed that buck by saying “I am not a crook,” but was.
Dwight D. Eisenhower didn’t do much but he was likable and that made him a good President to some. He also had an outstanding appointed Cabinet.
JFK asked not what America could do for us, but what we could do for America.
Lyndon Johnson, helped the South integrate and followed JFK’s agenda after his assassination, but LBJ fell victim to a war in South East Asia.
Gerald Ford, pardoned Nixon, but otherwise was a likable chap.
Jimmy Carter was not an insider, didn’t want to be, and that’s what ultimately cost him re-election.
As for Clinton and both Bushes, none of the three have done much to inspire my faith and love of my country.
Maybe it’s that inspiration that is the special ingredient that makes a good President a great one, at least in our minds. In truth Reagan and Kennedy really didn’t accomplish a lot in their tenure in office.
Maybe I’m getting cynical in my old age. Maybe I was well before growing old. I just have a hard time relating to this slate of candidates we continually put before the voters, brought and paid for by big business, and whose only agenda is to make big business richer during their tenure in office, and repay their friends who got them elected. The thought of representing the people who voted for them has become passé.
It’s not just the White House folks. It’s members of Congress on both sides, who are so entrenched, they have no motivation to even think of solutions to our problems. Want to know why Rome fell? Look at Washington, and make some changes before the same things happen.
Agree or disagree, I’d like to hear from you ( Rusty@ringsports.com ), and feel free to pass this along to your representatives, most of whom aren’t really your representatives anyhow.
