By Rusty Rubin
Great boxing show scheduled for Caesars Tahoe on Nov. 5, headlined by Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy vs. Scott Pemberton and the blink and you lose match between Rafael Marquez and Silence Mabuza.
Quick picks: Lacy and Marquez, as much because I don’t know their opponents as well as I know the champs.
Lacy looks the strongest of the picks but Pemberton is far from a pushover.
Marquz – Mabuza is far more problematic as they both have huge punches and while we don’t know enough about their whiskers, we can safely say that the best bet here is the fight does not go the distance.***
I know it’s not politically correct to mix religion and politics. From a few of the readers, boxing and politics is more than enough, although most readers seem to favor this format and understand that boxing, like everything in this world, is all politics.
I hate to bring up another politically incorrect subject here, but someone has to defend boxing from the attacks of the Vatican. And since they started it, someone in boxing is obligated to have the guts to respond.
In Civilta Cattolica, a journal that is supposed to be approved by the Vatican’s Secretary of State, an article appeared calling boxing ”immoral, gravely and absolutely negative” and “manipulated by powerful economic groups which are often ruthless and cruel.”
I’m not going to attack any religion, as I do believe in a Supreme Being, and every legitimate religion on this planet believes in a God of love and peace.
But here’s the supposed voice of the Vatican, who Lord knows has enough problems dealing with their own scandals, getting involved where they really don’t belong. I’m sure none of those who wrote this piece would rather see a young man in the home of a pedophile priest than in the gym.
Maybe that’s not being fair, but this seems to be clearly the case of the pot calling the kettle black. Has the Vatican forgotten that our last Pope was a boxer?
Let’s look at the accusations and respond in kind.
First, all these accusations can be said of every sport. How many people are killed in soccer riots? How many games in other sports are either bet on by people who shouldn’t or are fixed? Why is boxing singled out here? Why doesn’t the Vatican ask all countries to ban every sport?
‘Immoral?’ What’s immoral about getting our kids off the street and away from gangs and drugs, and at the same time learning discipline? Consider the alternatives here, and what’s more immoral?
‘Gravely and absolutely negative?’ What’s negative about boxing is that some people would rather find fault than find a viable alternative. The rise of the extra sanctioning bodies gives a young man more titles to strive for. Is it negative to come from a poor neighborhood, get into boxing and return home to show off a championship belt? Is it immoral to give kids who feel they are in a helpless situation a chance to improve? I think not.
And I’m not sure what ‘powerful economic groups’ the Vatican refers to here. ‘Ruthless and cruel?’ If the Vatican was referring to sport here, it might make a bit of sense, but they refer to the powerful bodies that govern the sport, they are watching too many old fight films.
There’s no question that the sport should be regulated better, but I noticed no suggestions from the Vatican as to how to do that. Of course, boxing folks like me have been trying to find that answer for a long time, and cannot.
All sports, including boxing provide a valuable service to our world, and if it does nothing else, sports gives an angry young man a chance to vent that anger on the field he chooses to participate in, which is far better than taking that anger out on the community.
Agree or disagree, I’d like to hear from you. But for now, wait until I return from vacation on Nov. 2, to vent your anger.
It’s almost here: 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:
Your prayers have worked for the return to health of Kyra Gamache, niece of former top contender Joey. Six year old Kyra has bacterial meningitis. We thank you for caring.
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 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: Of late it seems like the current Bush Administration can best be described as “The Gang That Can’t Shoot Straight.”
The President’s popularity, even among his base, is below 50% and seems to be dropping on a regular basis. And even those who still support him are not doing so as enthusiastically as before.
Much of this problem comes from our President appointing his friends to important positions that they are not qualified for, such as Michael Brown with FEMA and perhaps Michael Levitt with the Health and Human Services group, with the possibility of a bird flu pandemic looming.
While his pick of John Roberts to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court seemed logical and was quickly confirmed, his choice of Harriet Meirs for an Associate Justice to the nation’s highest court warrants far more scrutiny.
No one seems to know very much about Meirs, and since she is not a judge she has no track record to go on. That makes her confirmation to the post, tenuous at best.
What scares me the most is that some of her writing shows she’s a big fan of President Bush, which makes me think her judgment needs a bit of a tune-up before deciding on issues on her own.
I won’t comment on the nomination. I know nothing about her, except what I’ve read, none of which qualifies her for the post, but doesn’t seem to disqualify her either. The confirmation hearings will be interesting.”
I’ll give the President this much, he does have one quality which I really respect him for, loyalty to his friends. Yet it puts me in a strange position, as he chooses to reward their friendship my appointing them to posts that they are not qualified to hold.
Agree or disagree, I’d like to hear from you. I respect everyone’s opinion. (Rusty@ringsports.com).
