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, either me or Tom are available.***
The pick of Julio Cesar Chavez over Ivan Robinson (on another website) was an easy one. But not being a fan of the old timer’s tour, I decided that I’d pick Rafael Marquez to stop Ricardo Vargas.
As predicted, Vargas was game to the end, and his solid chin was questioned only one time, when Marquez put him to the canvas late in the bout. So it was a decision, albeit an easy one, instead of a knockout. But Rafael won easily.
Two big fights next weekend, in Manchester, UK, when on Saturday, on Showtime, Scott Harrison 23-2-2, takes on Michael Brodie, 35-2-1, for the featherweight title. Brodie has survived tough contests, one, a draw against Injin Chi, perhaps the division’s best featherweight. Harrison really hasn’t fought anyone of Brodie’s caliber up till now. Still that doesn’t discount Harrison’s ability.
On paper Brodie looks like the easy winner, but I don’t believe it will be that easy. Brodie by late stoppage.
In the June 4th, Saturday event, also on Showtime, Kostya Tszyu, 31-1, puts his title on the line against tough, undefeated Ricky Hatton, 38-0. No question here that Hatton has been brought along slowly and has never faced the powerful foe that Tszyu certainly is.
I can see this being a tough go and a very exciting fight. But I think Tszyu will be able to end it late, via a TKO, since Harrison has been known to cut, and Tszyu’s corner is certainly aware of it.
Both weekend fights from Wales should be great ones.
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.***
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. 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: The World in general and the U.S. in particular are facing severe threats of upcoming doom.
No, I’m not being paranoid. All you have to do is listen to the news, (maybe bad news is why a lot of people don’t). Besides the threat of nuclear terrorism by Islamic (and American) fanatics, we are also faced with the inevitability of a world pandemic. A flu bug that happens every 50 years or more, that wipes out millions of people.
And unlike fanatics, this deadly flu doesn’t choose its victims, it attacks anyone that gets in its way, Muslim, Jew, and Christian, it doesn’t play favorites.
Between these two major threats the entire world economy could be at risk.
What can we do about it?
Tighten our border security is just one step to solving the first problem. The fact that the United States is a free country with open borders seems to be the major problem in closing them. I have to wonder though, with the threat of nuclear terrorism, how many people would rather be a secure democracy than a free country? Anyone want to take that poll?
As far as the flu is concerned, we have some vaccine on hand and capable of making more, but certainly not enough to stop this deadly incursion in its tracks. So why aren’t we building more labs to handle what will be an enormous overflow? We seem to be willing to go deeper and deeper into debt for problems less threatening to our Country and the World.
I don’t have any answers to these questions. I don’t ask them out of fear; I’m too old to be afraid of death, not that I’m looking forward to it. It is inevitable for all of us. Death is the great equalizer.
Perhaps these are the questions that our Representatives should be asking instead of worrying about who represents us in the U.N. or who serves on the judicial courts. Seems like anyone who is pro life (and we all should be, in one sense or another) should care enough to deal with these problems before they happen. Instead they seem to be worrying about social security 41 years down the road.
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.
