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.
Also we’ll be taking orders soon on 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 are available. ***
Black Cloud, a great boxing movie is now out on DVD, if you’re a true fight fan, it’s a movie you don’t want to miss.***
One really major fight this weekend, the rematch of an interesting give and take light heavyweight contest between Glen Johnson, who won a close decision last time over the same opponent, Antonio Tarver.
The event takes place Saturday, June 18, at the Fed Ex Forum in Memphis, Tennessee, and will be televised by HBO.
Some fights are easy to pick (although the outcome isn’t always as predictable as boxing writers like), but this match-up is far from easy.
Tarver, who I felt pulled out their first encounter, seemed very tentative and almost wanting to do just enough to win.
Johnson, a true road warrior, has been around the sport a lot of years, and doesn’t want to relinquish the championship belt that took him so long to win.
I can’t see this fight going much different than their first encounter. Neither fighter has one punch knockout power and both have solid chins.
If it goes as the first fight did, and goes to the scorecards, with different judges this time, then it could easily be a close or split decision win for Tarver. That’s how I see the fight going, but I certainly wouldn’t be shocked if it went the other way again. But I would be surprised if it didn’t go the distance.
Agree or disagree, I always welcome comments. Rusty@ringsports.com***
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.***
Glove2Glove:
My good friend and boxing judge Doug Tucker has lost his second daughter in less than a year, this time for a blood disease. Please pray for the soul of Deborah Fletcher and for the Lord to give the strength needed to cope with this tragedy to Doug. He’s a good guy who’s obviously being put to a test right now. One I know he will pass. Cards can be sent to Doug at 1369 Rancho Rd., Gardnerville, NV. 89410.
Prayers for boxing promoter and all around good guy Clem Crowley who could use a push in the get well ranks just about now. Also prayers for the return to health of Audrey Talmo, wife of Ed, a long-time boxing fan who cares about our sport.
A request for prayers for those who were injured/killed in an accident involving the Las Vegas Elite Boxing Team a few months back. Prayers are needed/requested for those who were injured in the tragic, fatal crash, and the souls of those who didn’t.
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 also requested for the Sheila Sepulveda, a long-time friend of this writer. Sheila is having some very serious health problems.
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: I find it interesting that in a recent poll on our website a majority of the readers felt that politics didn’t belong on a boxing site. Here’s a newsflash. Boxing is politics, and they go together whether we know it or like it, or not. Okay, it’s only a small sampling, but it says a lot about the readers.
It’s not surprising that a lot of people are too damn complacent to be interested in the world around them, and they are to be pitied, because they all can help. The attitude that prevails is the average American wants to sit back and do whatever Uncle Sam wants, and only read about sports and entertainment.
I wish I could say the world doesn’t work that way, but it does, at least in the good old USA.
What people haven’t noticed is that I include the relevant information and opinions at the very end of my articles, so people can read it if they choose to. In fact, many websites delete that part of the article because they’re afraid of the controversy it may bring.
I’m not afraid! I’m in boxing and I say ‘bring it on!’
You can’t force people to learn and I don’t intend to try. But poll or no poll, my voice won’t be silenced. The readers who choose to do so can continue to bury their heads in the sand, if they have no interest in the world around them, they are to be pitied.
If you take the time to check my back political pieces archived on the site, you will find that I’ve been correct about 85% of the time. No, I’m not a political genius, but I claim to have more than the average amount of common sense, and I get that by reading what other people take the time to write.
One thing I will say, by the numbers so far, that I do respect the views of everyone who took the time to vote, although I disagree with the majority opinion. Kind of like the last election we had in this country. But I’m not going to filibuster against the majority, nor will I compromise.
Another newsflash: If you keep burying your head in the sand, you may miss the next terrorist attack on our homeland, which is considerably more important than if Michael Jackson is guilty or not or if athletes are on steroids.***
And help me if I’m wrong here, but does anyone else see the irony of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a noted heart surgeon, being heavily invested in Krispy Kreme Doughnuts?
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.
