By Rusty Rubin
I wasn’t shocked that Wladamir Klitschko took a unanimous decision from Samuel Peter. As I stated it was speed vs. power and speed prevailed.
It was a great battle plan by Wlad’s trainer Emanuel Steward, who told Wlad to use his educated jab and keep off the ropes. The question was would Wlad have the stamina to do this for 12 rounds? He did.
Peter, slow and plodding also showed a great chin in the contest, but he couldn’t corner the younger Klitschko brother, and after round nine, it was Peter who seemed to be slowing down from chasing, not Wlad from running and jabbing.
On the HBO televised undercard: 22-1 Ricardo Torres of Columbia gave Miguel Cotto a scare before losing via a TKO midway.
Torres, who I had not seen before, did his best Ricardo Mayorga imitation hitting Cotto with power shots almost at will, and almost causing those who laid the big money to have heart failure.***
This week we have two great fights to view, one on HBO PPV, featuring Antonio Tarver defending his light heavyweight title against former champ Roy Jones Jr. in Florida.
Word is Jones has his health and confidence back, (didn’t know he was sick) and is training very well in Florida. Tarver always comes to fight, but his lack of the ‘killer instinct’ has always bothered me.
If Jones is back, Tarver will need the killer instinct and more to win the contest, but talk is cheap. Jones Jr. at his best could destroy anyone in this division right now, and I’m not convinced he’s at his best.
Tarver by late TKO or decision.***
On Showtime TV, a great triple header from Reno, featuring heavyweights Chris Byrd vs. DaVarryl Williamson and James Toney vs. Dominic Guinn, and a don’t turn your head featherweight match between Rafael Marquez and a top contender Silence Mabuza from South Africa. Both can bang, big time and if you were to wager on this contest, bet it doesn’t go the distance, or even close.
Late word that the Marquez – Mabuza bout was postponed to Nov. 5, as Marquez has come down with the flu...(No remarks about ‘yellow fever’ here as Marquez is a true warrior.
In the interest of space, and being cowardly by nature, I was going to pick just two of the three fights, anyhow, with Williamson surprising Chris Byrd and scoring a late TKO and Toney having little trouble with Guinn and halting him within six rounds.
Mark your calendar for Oct. 22, at the Crowne Plaza Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, where the LA based World Boxing Hall of Fame has their 26th annual induction ceremony. To get your tickets for this not-to-be-missed annual event, call (951)782-9688 or (909) 239-3541…For more information go www.wbhf.org.
There’s also a memorabilia and collectables show on the same day, from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Hope to see everyone at ringside.***
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 (or in my case, America’s Least Wanted’.***
And a new website for you to check out, (story upcoming in a future posting) Americanboxer.tv. They have a new concept that everyone should be interested in. Stand by.
Glove2Glove:
Prayers for the soul of 35-year-old former IBF champ Levander Johnson, who suffered a brain bleed after his fight on Sept. 17, and was in an induced coma for five days before passing away in Las Vegas.
Prayers needed for Dennis Wilcox, brother of boxing scribe David Wilcox, who is in an Oregon hospital suffering from Leukemia. The family and everyone at Glove2Glove asks for your prayers in his recovery.
Prayers for the return to health of Audrey Talmo, wife of Ed, a long-time boxing fan who cares about our sport.
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.***
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 have to tell you there are some ugly stories about how Americans have behaved during the recent hurricane disasters.
There was a story about New Orleans Police looting empty homes; Citizens stealing from and raping their fellow citizens and it was ugly.
In Houston, it was worse than the standard, cold-blooded gas gouging, some convenient stores were selling bottled drinking water for $30.00 to those who were trying to leave town.
If this is the images that people get of American behavior, then I can understand why they hate us. Hell, I hate these low lives myself. I wouldn’t mind having public castration of those who stoop to that level.
In fact, I don’t call people who take advantage of the less fortunate, Americans. They are nothing more than cold blooded scum, much like the gas companies who are making record profits off the backs of hard working Americans.
Fortunately, most Americans aren’t like these greedy bastards. Most Americans gave what they could during Katrina and also during Hurricane Rita. But sadly those aren’t the stories the third world countries will hear.
Is this the face of real America? God, I hope not. Most of the media in third world countries is controlled by the governments there, and will only show the dark side. Sadly, the dark side is something every nation has.
Do these third world nations see the face of “The Ugly American”? You bet! And you wonder why America is rejected by our possible allies and hated by our enemies?
We have seen the enemy and they are us.
Most of us are proud of our rich heritage and would bend over backwards, to help a fellow American in need. Most would willingly lay down their life to preserve the precious freedoms we have here.
But people who take advantage of fellow Americans shouldn’t be called Americans, they should be called what they are, sub-human scum.
Agree or disagree, I’d like to hear from you. I respect everyone’s opinion. (Rusty@ringsports.com).
We’re ready to start taking orders for autographed copies of “Billy Soose, The Champion Time Forgot” co-authored by Tom Donelson. Since we live in different parts of the country, it would be hard to co-ordinate a joint signing, both myself or Tom will available. The book is available now at Authorhouse.com (boos id #31809) and other fine on-line outlets.
There are many things far more important than watching the fights, and one of those has recently come up. One that I must make our readers aware of. Veteran ring announcer, good guy and good friend, Mark Beiro suffered a severe setback due to his diabetes, and we almost lost him. I ask that anyone interested in helping out with a roast to assist with his huge medical bills contact his wife Jackie at JDBeiro@aol.com.
Jackie has informed me that items are badly needed for the auction that evening, which is expected to raise the majority of the needed funds. Time to step up to the plate, be a boxing good guy and help. I know that Mark would do the same to any boxing guy in need. Mark Beiro has a heart and a voice of gold. Let’s go all out and tell Mark that we’re in his corner.
The event will be held at the Letter Carriers Hall in Tampa, Florida on Sept. 29, and while I would love to attend, as Mark is an old and very dear friend of this scribe, it doesn’t come close to fitting in with my tight schedule for that time of year.
Jackie e-mailed me about the event, and while I know it probably belongs in our Glove2Glove segment, I wanted to make sure everyone was made aware of it. You don’t have to attend to help. Find out how by writing to Jackie. You’ll feel very good about yourself if you do.
This is our big chance to show the world how great boxing fans really are, and what makes our sport, the best sport around. I ask that you don’t let us down! I’m sure many of us have done our share for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, let’s did a little deeper for a great guy. We only have one week left to show our heartfelt support.***
