By Rusty Rubin, managing editor, of Ringsports.com, and author of “Off the Canvas”, a view of American history and the social problems of the times, as witnessed by an 80-year old ex-champion. “Off the Canvas” 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.
The outcome of the two fights last weekend wasn’t very hard to predict, so I won’t pat myself on the back. I was surprised that Leija was able to do a bit of damage to Gatti’s eye, but not enough to endanger the fight by stoppage, and Arturo won by a 5th round TKO. I had expected the fight to go longer.
In the Kassim Ouma – Kofi Jantuah fight, you had the classic banger (Jantuah) vs. boxer match-up, with the difference being Ouma’s solid chin. Ouma out boxed Jantuah, who landed his best shots, but wasn’t able to dent the solid whiskers of his opponent. A decision for Kassim here wasn’t hard to pick either.***
Another quick glance at the Cory Spinks vs. Zab Judah fight this weekend tells us that we’re going to see a fight similar to Ouma – Jantuah, with Judah having to land a lot of solid punches to stop the slick boxing Spinks in his hometown of St. Louis. Judah doesn’t hit as hard as Jantuah, but Spinks doesn’t have the chin of Kassim either.
Unless Judah lands big, look for Spinks to win a fairly easy decision.
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 Rngsports@aol.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 American’s Most Wanted posters.***
Agree or disagree, feel free to express your views.
Glove2Glove:
First please continue to say prayers for the victims of the Tsunami in Asia and their families. A lot of people are hurting right now.***
Please say prayers for the return to health of Jeanette Nittoli, older sister of outstanding photographer and friend, Mary Ann Owen, who along with another long-time friend Butch Gotlieb, runs the Boxinginlasvegas.com website. ***
Prayers requested for the return to health of former New England featherweight champion, down but not out with a brain tumor as well as Ray Lampkin, former top contender who will be undergoing triple bypass surgery shortly.
Please say prayers for the soul of Doreen Tucker. The daughter of well respected boxing judge Doug Tucker, passed away from cancer, in a Reno hospital. She was 35.***
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 wife of RS.com writer Marty Carson (auto accident) who is having health problems) of Indiana. Marty, who is a long time friend and a boxing expert, is also ailing a bit.***
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. And to Arthur Terciera, father of writer Keith, also having heart related problems.***
Prayers are requested for Ringsports.com photo journalist Dale Hausner of Arizona, who is having problems with cancer.***
Prayers are requested for Kenneth E. Ryther father of our photo journalist Amy Green. Kenneth is suffering from Parkinson’s.***
Prayers for Ed “Whitey” Hadar, a former boxer who is having some serious health problems.***
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: It’s much too early to predict what the final outcome of the election in Iraq will bring. We can certainly applaud the great job that American troops did there in protecting the voters. We also can applaud the great courage showed by the Iraqi voters, risking their lives for freedom.
Something that may not have been mentioned is that few if any incidents of racial hatred here in the USA. The bigots, like the white power groups, didn’t show up to protest or effect the Arab vote here.
You really can’t be a boxing fan and be prejudiced, because you know and respect the risks that boxers take every time they enter the ring. The voters of Iraq deserve the same respect for their thumbing their noses at the terrorists who not only threatened their lives if they voted, they threatened their entire families as well.
Yes, it’s too early to access the future outcome of these elections and indeed the future of democracy in Iraq, but it’s not too early to salute the courage shown by our American soldiers and the Iraqi voters. Well done!
Agree or disagree, I’d like to hear from you.