In Rusty’s Corner
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.***
First the bad news: John Ruiz the “Quiet Man” just wouldn’t stay quiet very long, and he now has reversed his short-lived retirement announcement. He wants to fight again (not that he ever could). Worst yet, is the news that the WBA and NYSAC would probably call the fight a no decision, and a heavyweight with no talent becomes the WBA champion again. Spare me!
Almost as bad is that we will still hear the obscene and obnoxious utterings from Norman Stone, his trainer and cornerman. Wish we could find a way to tape up his mouth the way they tape up a boxers hands.
And even worse news for Toney, who likely will be suspended and fined by the NYSAC for taking a banned substance. I’ve never seen someone juiced, look as out of shape as Toney did, but he did test positive for something.
Stand by, there will be an interesting story unfolding here.***
Now for the good news: This week’s big fight comes from Las Vegas, where Junior Middleweight Winky Wright takes on full blown middleweight Felix “Tito” Trinidad, who goes into this bout a solid favorite.
Wright, a cute southpaw with surprising power, when he chooses to use it, is stepping up against a tough, popular middleweight from Puerto Rico, who defeated (although most fans disagree with the scoring) Oscar de la Hoya, in Las Vegas before losing to Bernard Hopkins.
Trinidad is the favorite, and rightly so, but that doesn’t meant that this fight is not going to be an easy one for “Tito”, who is taking on someone you just can’t take lightly. And Felix can’t afford to ignore Wright and look ahead to a possible future rematch with Bernard Hopkins who says he’ll retire after this year. A fighter knows full well that he has to concentrate on the job in front of him in the ring, not look to bigger paydays in the future.
This fight features Wright’s speed vs. Trinidad’s power. Wright gets the edge on boxing skills as well, but keep in mind he’s much older and a wee bit smaller than Trinidad and it won’t be that easy to avoid Tito’s in your face style of boxing for 12 rounds.
Ultimately, I do think Tito will catch Wright, but can he do enough damage to win a fight that figures to go the distance?
I think he can and will, but this contest will be much closer than most people think. Tito by close decision.***
On another note, Eva Futch, wife of the late, legendary trainer Eddie, has requested that no one attend or support the event that Sterling Mcpherson wants to put on to ‘honor’ the ‘trainer of champions.’ Eva and I ask all my friends and boxing folks out there not to respond to this possible attempt to take advantage of the great well-earned reputation that Eddie built with his friends and loved ones. Eddie’s memory must be honored, not used.***
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:
Please say prayers for the return to health of ring announcer Mark Beiro, who is having health problems and complications from diabetes. Mark is a good friend of this scribe, and both of us need you in his corner right now.
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: Time to take on the Congressmen of both political persuasions again, this time on capital punishment and the appeals process.
Do you know that a guy convicted of murder can have up to 13 appeals? Why? Because lawyers make up the majority of Congress, and guess who they make laws to favor? Give yourself a Kojak lollipop if you answered other lawyers.
The appeals system is too long and drawn out, particularly for people who have committed these heinous crimes in front of witnesses, and there is absolutely no doubt about their guilt. One trial and one appeal max for these sleazebags and put them out of their misery. I don’t want to have to pay for them spending the rest of their lives, or most of it in jail.
For those of you who think it’s a good thing to keep cold blooded killers like Jerry Hobbs and the recent two Florida pedophile killers alive at taxpayer’s expense, can have the honor of paying for their lifetime incarceration themselves. All three are textbook cases for capital punishment. There lives have never had any value to the decent members of our society.
I know the lawyers will claim temporary insanity and appeal all the way up the line. They have to make a living, even if it’s off the death of innocent people. You can’t defend cold blooded murder, plain and simple.
Hobbs for example was in jail three times for assault. Every time that he was released he assaulted someone again. The fourth time he killed two young girls. Is this what we want to feed and clothe for the remainder of his worthless life?
Here’s the rub, the appeals system, although drawn out, does have some important elements, particularly if there’s any question about the defendant’s guilt. If there are no eye-witnesses, then limit the appeal process to no more than five.
As for the death penalty, yes, it’s murder, but isn’t keeping this scum alive cruel and unusual punishment for the rest of society? Don’t give me the “Thou shall not kill” routine here. The Bible also states “An eye for an eye”, and if you take a life, you should expect to pay for it with your own.
Look I don’t like paying taxes to make lawyers rich. The appeals process must be changed, to allow justice for both those who deserve it, justice for those who don’t, and justice for the taxpayers who pay for all these trials, appeals, and the jail time thereafter.
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.
