By Rusty Rubin, managing editor, of Ringsports.com, and author of “Off the Canvas”, a view of American history and the social problems of the times, as witnessed by an 80-year old ex-champion. “Off the Canvas” 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.
April 19, is the fight date set for El Paso, Texas for what figures to be a war between WBO champ Joan Guzman and WBC champion Oscar Larrios and both titles will be on the line.
Guzman is a solid puncher, who can box well, Larrios is an outstanding boxer who knows how to use the ring. This should be a great fight.***
The BWAA, Boxing Writers Association of America have announced the winners of the A.J. Liebling Award for Excellence in Boxing Journalism. The winners are Edwin Pope and William Nack. Congratulations guys, well done indeed.***
Let’s see if we can agree on the meanings of two words that are often over-used and more often than not misused. These two words are not only used incorrectly in boxing circles but in almost every walk of life.
The two words I refer to are ‘great’ and ‘legendary’.
I get more than a bit annoyed when someone writes or calls and tells me what a great fighter such and such is. Most recent case in point is a very good middleweight named Felix Sturm, who fights out of Germany.
For those of you who forgot, Sturm gave Oscar de la Hoya all he could handle and more, in the “Golden Boy’s” debut at middleweight.
For the record, I agree that Sturm did more than enough to earn the decision, which he didn’t get. He deserved and got a lot of respect and accolades for this effort in Las Vegas.
But one fight, against a foe who perhaps took him too lightly, doesn’t necessarily make for a ‘great’ fighter. Great is a term that has to be earned by facing the best around, granted very hard to do these days with all the different sanctioning body champions, who can pretty much get to pick and choose their opponents.
Sturm may well turn out to be a ‘great’ fighter, but you can’t judge that on the basis of only one fight.
Now for the word ‘legendary’, which is mis-used more often then any word I can think of. What makes someone legendary? Why does this individual stand out and will remain a person talked about for eons?
I have met a lot of wonderful people in this business, but few I consider worthy of the term ‘legendary’. Eddie Futch, in my mind, was the greatest boxing trainer that ever lived. Arthur Mercante Sr. was perhaps the greatest referee this game has ever known, and Archie Moore who had more career knockouts than fighters today have fights, all can be considered the stuff that legends are made of.
I’m sure there are many more that could be added to this list, but I think you get my point. Don’t write or call me and tell me what a ‘great fighter’ so and so is, and don’t ever tell me that someone is ‘legendary’ unless you can back up these statements. In short, put your money where your mouth is, or think carefully before you speak or write things that are only opinions and based on little to nothing. I hold my legends in the highest esteem because they have earned that honor, and I doubt that most people can say the same for their favorites.
I respect everyone’s opinion and defend their right to state it, but I do object to making statements you can’t back up.
If you like a fighter or see potential in them, fine tell me they are outstanding prospects or you think they’re for real, but don’t call them great or legendary, please. Only very special people fit into the category that can best be described by those two, too often, misused terms.
Good News: “Black Cloud” the boxing movie that I’ve written about in the past, premiers on March 11, in NYC, L.A., Boston, Hartford, New Haven, and New London Ct. as well as Providence, RI. The Mohegan Sun in Connecticut is hosting a screening or you can visit Blackcloudthemovie.com. Don’t miss this one.***
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:
First please continue to say prayers for the victims of the Tsunami in Asia and their families. A lot of people are hurting right now.***
Please say prayers for the soul of boxing promoter (Guilty Boxing) Mark Liddy, who passed away suddenly last evening.***
Please say prayers for the return to health of Jeanette Nittoli, older sister of outstanding photographer and friend, Mary Ann Owen, who along with another long-time friend Butch Gotlieb, runs the Boxinginlasvegas.com website. ***
Prayers requested for the return to health of former New England featherweight champion, down but not out with a brain tumor as well as Ray Lampkin, former top contender who underwent triple bypass surgery recently.
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 wife of RS.com writer Marty Carson (auto accident) who is having health problems) of Indiana. Marty, who is a long time friend and a boxing expert, is also ailing a bit.***
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: I took notice, with interest, that the ratings for the Super Bowl, this year on Fox, was down 4%, which means the advertisers for the event may never have gotten their money’s worth.
I didn’t see the Super Bowl of Fox, much for the same reason I can’t watch PPV fights. The Dish Network (which now owns Fox) strikes again.
But this time it may have backfired on them, because those of us who wish to keep our large satellite dishes do so because we can choose what programs WE want to watch, not what packages the monopoly, that is the Dish Network forces us to pay for.
It’s much the same with cable TV, you have to purchase a package that includes loads of programs that you will never watch, and probably would ever want to.
My friends this is a monopoly and totally illegal by any government standards. The FCC has their heads so far up their butts they can’t see the forest for the trees, and instead of cracking down on these illegal groups, they are more concerned with censorship, which in a country founded in freedom, is nothing less than a farce. As Americans we should have the choice on what we pay to watch, not have a bunch of crap shoved down our throats.
Isn’t it amazing that the FCC tells you what you can’t watch but doesn’t do a thing about those that force you to watch what they want? A clear case of censorship as well as censorship in reverse.***
And speaking of censorship, now the State of Virginia wants to teach us how to dress. Huh? This is America guys, not Afghanistan. We don’t have to conform to any dress code in a free country. Well, maybe Virginia is becoming a Muslim Fundamentalist State now, and the women will have to wear burkas. Silly me, to think we were fighting for freedom in Iraq, when we’re having similar problems in one of own States.
As I recall, one of the first colonies in the U.S. was Jamestown, Virginia. And those that came here from England came because they wanted freedom. Now freedom is being suppressed there. What’s next full length dresses on mannequins?
The great State of Virginia, one of the original 13 colonies, the 10th State to join the Union, has been long known as the ‘Mother of Presidents’. Wonder what President from Virginia or anywhere else would have sanctioned this stupidity. I hope the voters in Virginia turn out to either impeach or elect new representatives, because if I truly believed that this is what representative government has to offer, I’d be packing my bags and moving to Canada.***
Feel free as always to forward this commentary to your friends and elected leaders including our beloved President and members of Congress, as well as the Virginia State legislature. Donating a dictionary for their use might help them understand the meaning of the word “monopoly”, as they obviously think it’s nothing more than a popular board game.
Agree or disagree, I’d like to hear from you (Rusty@ringsports.com)
