By Rusty Rubin
First, allow me to wish each and every one of you the very best that the year 2006 can offer.
There are some great fights that should take place this year, although they probably won’t be in the heavyweight division. While you don’t need great fighters to make great fights, I can’t see any possible match-ups this year that could excite me.
But first things, first. This year starts off with a couple of interesting fights on Saturday, and on the same card.
The first is a battle between Zab Judah and veteran Carlos Baldomir. This is an important fight for Judah and figures to be a tune-up for a bigger fight against Ricky Hatton or Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Important or not, Zab does have a weakness, his chin. Not that Baldomir is a huge puncher, he’s not, but when you have an iffy chin, that’s not always important.
I can see an upset possible here, but if Zab uses his ample speed, he should be able to take a convincing decision, and he needs the work.
The semi-main features Jean Marc Mormeck of France against O’Neil Bell. I’m not sure how Bell continues to survive and eek out tough wins, but he seems to have that talent, as well as pretty good whiskers.
Mormeck has faced stronger opposition and doesn’t usually need any help from the judges. Morkeck by late TKO or decision.
Agree or disagree, we’d like to hear from you. (Rngsportsr@aol.com).
Glove2Glove:
Let’s say a prayer for the father of Eva Futch, a great friend, and the widow of legendary trainer Eddie, who passed away in 2001. Eva’s father’s cancer has returned and needs all the support we can give him, and please pray that Eva has the strength to cope with this difficult challenge, so close to her having lost her husband.
Prayers needed for Elise Brown, grand daughter of Ringside Products head honcho and good boxing guy John Brown. Young Elise has heart problems.
Prayers have also helped but continue to be 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 ask for your prayers for his total 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: The monopoly created by Dish Network, Direct TV and digital cable continues without any sign that Congress is interested in stopping their illegal actions.
Word comes that CNN and Headline News will be going off the big dish and joining the monopolies, leaving those of us with the big satellite dish to fend for ourselves to keep informed. While in the computer age, it’s not that hard to do, it still can be an inconvenience at times.
For about a year it’s been impossible to watch any PPV fights because they are no longer available on satellite. Other stations have been gobbled up as well, and soon we will be either forced to join the greedy small dish companies or be unable to watch the news on television.
So what’s the problem with the monopoly? You have to pay a monthly charge to get the channels you want and that will include paying for networks you wouldn’t watch on a bet. Why should anybody be forced to pay for garbage that they don’t want?
With the monopoly you have to pay for whatever trash they choose to throw into the package, and if you want the good programming that big dish users used to get for nothing, you have to pay a lot of cash for programming that includes a bunch of junk.
Monopolies are illegal under the anti-trust act, and yet Congress allows them to exist. Do you think they pay by making big donations to the campaigns of these politicians? I do!
Agree or disagree, I’d like to hear from you. I respect everyone’s opinion. Rusty@ringsports.com).
