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.***
July 2, there will be a solid fight card in Reno to kick-off the July 4th weekend and honor the 95th anniversary of the Jack Johnson – Jim Jefferies fight in the ‘biggest little city in the world’.
This will also be the first boxing event at the brand new Reno Events Center, and with future heavyweight champion Samuel Peter headlining the card, if you’re in the area, coming out should be a no-brainer.***
Antonio Tarver by decision over Glen Johnson was not an easy pick, at least the decision part wasn’t. Because of the styles the outcome would depend on the judges, and the judges scored a close unanimous decision for Tarver.
It figures though, the one fight that I wasn’t absolutely sure of the outcome, I pick correctly…After Mike Tyson’s unpredicted loss to Kevin McBride, I was wondering when the upset streak would end.***
I know I may be a little behind the times, but I long for the good old days of boxing and really don’t hold the current group of fighters, with few exceptions, in high esteem.
I’m not questioning their dedication or desire, but rather the way the game has changed. To me the real champions were the ones who trained for fifteen round fights, the true test of a champion.
I readily recall the days when a fighter would willingly fight the best in their division not only because they had to but because they wanted to show they were the best and that can only be done by taking on and beating the best. Now, with the proliferation of sanctioning bodies, you just have to defend against the top fighter in your division.
True, there are some safety features that have been installed to protect the fighter, like thumb-less gloves, but I certainly doubt that the change from 15 to 12-rounds proves anything more than the TV stations can get the event to fit more easily into their schedule.
A uniform set of rules does help, but it only works in a State or Country that recognizes and enforces it.
And a Federal Commission would only add a not-needed layer of federal bullshit, probably with a person put in charge that doesn’t know the first thing about our sport.
Back on topic, the fighters in the past fought more often and fought the best, because they had to. The fighters I respect the most today are those who are willing to go outside their sanctioning body to take on the best, because that’s the only way to prove they are the best. The rest of the fighters out there refuse to take the chance, which is their prerogative, but don’t ask me to compare them with the greats of the past. They don’t compare at all!
One throwback to the good old days is fighting this weekend, when Arturo Gatti will take on tough, fast Floyd Mayweather in Atlantic City. The fact that Gatti is a fighter who would be exciting and game in any era does not negate the toughness of his opponent.
We know Mayweather can fight, the only question here is his heart. We know Gatti is as tough as nails, but I wonder how Mayweather will react if Gatti hurts him. We may find out the answer this weekend on HBO PPV.
Mayweather is a top five pound for pound fighter, but he’s also right up there with the best trash talkers as well. If he gets Gatti angry enough, it could turn out to be a major mistake for him. Mayweather has also pissed off some of the press and fight fans with his unsportsmanlike mouth.
This fight figures to be a strategic battle that could turn into a war. And a war favors Gatti. Mayweather has not shown that he is comfortable going toe to toe in a slugfest, but of course with his speed, he never had to worry about that happening.
If he can avoid the war, and I think he can, the pick is Mayweather winning by late TKO.***
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:
Please say prayers for the quick return to health of Linda Shampagne, a female boxer who suffered a subdural hematoma after a recent fight.
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 don’t claim to understand it. Although proven brain dead, and blind the Terri Schiavo case just won’t go away, the religious right won’t allow that to happen.
Now I’m not going to knock anyone who has deeply held religious beliefs, in truth it would be great if we all did. But to ignore the facts of the autopsy just doesn’t make any sense, at least to this old guy.
No Tom Delay, Terri was not then, nor at any time in recent years, ‘lucid’, not even close. Although since your chosen profession is an ‘exterminator’ you may not understand the meaning of the word. It is clear that you know the definition of the word ‘arrogance’.
I know that many people still believe that removing Schiavo’s feeding tube was tantamount to murder. And I certainly respect their beliefs, although in this case I disagree with them. In my view, when you’re brain dead, you have no life anyhow. I wouldn’t want to vegetate for 15 years as she did, when my time comes.
And of course, Florida Governor Jeb Bush decides to get involved again in the controversy that just won’t go away.
Hey guys, how about some new and good news for a change.***
At this time, many members of Congress, on both sides of the aisle, want the President to set a non-binding deadline to get American troops out of Iraq. You can read into this whatever you want, but the one thing that is clear is that many Republicans are running away from the President with the 2006 elections looming, and all the polls show that Americans are getting increasingly fed up with the casualties in the middle east.
Iraq was a tough issue from the get-go, and I never thought going in made much sense, as although Sadam was a cold-blooded tyrant, the nation was of no immediate threat to us. Attacking Afghanistan, particularly after 9/11 was logical and the right thing to do.
Let’s not debate what has already been done. Coalition forces are there and dying on a regular basis. The ‘mission accomplished’ statement made by President Bush a year or so back, is going to be stuck in his craw for many years to come, and may well become part of his legacy.
But it’s hard to say what will happen if we pull out now, and I still feel, even if our troops remain, we will see a Civil War take place in that war-torn country.***
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.