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 not out on DVD, it’s a movie you don’t want to miss.***
How the mighty have fallen.
The roller coaster ride that serves as a description on the career of Mike Tyson has come to an abrupt end. What began as a meteor ended up in a dust pile, as Tyson found that Father Time waits for no man.
Everyone gets older and slows down as a result. That’s not earth shaking news, but rather common knowledge.
But for Mike Tyson to lose badly to a hand picked opponent in burly Kevin McBride, is not just shocking, it’s a clear signal that his career in boxing is over.
Badly? How bad is it when in desperation in round five, you deliberately butt your opponent and then try to break his arm? That behavior doesn’t belong in sports, or society for that matter.
Mike had a chance at winning his previous fight against Danny Williams and was ahead when his leg gave way in round four. The extra layoff turned out to be a disaster for the career of “Iron Mike”. And the ship sunk ‘if not stunk’ in Washington, D.C.
Taking nothing away from McBride, who happens to be very slow and predictable, but now, simply put Tyson, at age 39, is even slower, something I didn’t think was possible.
Mike now says that his ring career is over. We’ve heard it many times before, from many fighters, who don’t know when their ring time is up, but I hope Mike means it. While I can’t think of any job that Mike is qualified that would earn him as much money as boxing does, he’s no longer capable of giving the paying and betting public their money’s worth.***
Laila Ali and Sharmba Mitchell won their bouts as expected.
Miguel Cotto stopped Muhammad Abduellev with a TKO in round nine, in their fight at Madison Sq. Garden in NYC. No surprise as Cotto is expected to become one of the best fighters in the game, if he’s not already.
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 take issue with the way the Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean is insulting the loyal (or not) opposition. You can agree or disagree with the opposing party without being insulting. Many of my friends are loyal Republicans and they all work for a living. And most are Christians. Nothing wrong with either or both, but Dean in his anger, makes it sound like it’s a crime to be a Christian and work for an honest days wages. It’s stupid, it’s ugly and it has to stop!
Isn’t it bad enough that our President who said he was a uniter not a divider, yet has split this country to it’s very roots by allowing his religious beliefs to blind his judgment by appointing right wing judges to the Court of Appeals, judges who were previously rejected.
The one thing that bothers me the most about our leader is that he is quicker to forgive the debts that other nations owe to us, while at the same time approving a bankruptcy bill that hurts the working poor in this country.
Does anyone else see the irony in this?
Yet, President Bush continues to run up the highest deficits in our history, further weakening the security of our great land.
As Howard Dean is deeply dividing our country with his words of anger towards fellow Americans of another political persuasion, our President does far worse with his deeds that may make us look good in the eyes of the rest of the world, (at least in his mind) but hurts the very core of American society. And if you think the brashness of a John Bolton at the UN will improve our image in the world, I want some of whatever you’re drinking.
Remember all of the great civilizations in the history of the world fell from within, before being conquered from without.
Dean or Bush are both radical in their views, but whom is more dangerous? Is it the radical, wild-eyed rhetoric from Dean on the far left, or the pro business, anti science (embryonic stem cell research funding) and free trade and pro military actions of our country’s leader on the far right?
Both Dean and Bush are splitting the country, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who’s doing the most damage. Actions always speak louder than words.
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.