Rusty Rubin, Managing Editor
www.ringsports.com

Shufford wins, boxing loses

It was an interesting main event at Caesars Tahoe on June 12, because despite a free HBO televised show in Las Vegas. And being the second fight card in two nights in Northern Nevada, this beautiful venue that overlooks one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, had an excellent turn-out for their CKP Heavyweight Explosion, fight card.

The main event proved a battle between a unemotional and tired looking Charles Shufford, 248, of Las Vegas, and Willie Chapman 225, very emotional, and who took his loss as I should have, because he did everything he had to do to win, except convince the judges.

It wasn’t a terrible decision, but it appeared t this writer that Shufford just didn’t throw enough punches or was aggressive enough to earn the majority decision win and run his record to 20-4.

Chapman, much shorter, was the aggressor throughout, and although no Compubox records were kept, I would estimate he out-threw Shufford by at least 4-1. The problem Chapman had however, was that when Shufford landed, he landed the far cleaner punches and in the end that’s how the judges decided the fight.

On the undercard, Simon Ruvalcaba, 143, took a majority decision over the taller Roman Polak, 134, for his third straight victory. After starting his pro career slowly, Simon now is 3-4-1. He seemed to injure his shoulder celebrating the win, but the report from the dressing room was that he was fine. Polak falls to 0-2.

It was a great night for the New Zealanders, as all three of Kevin Barry’s (trainer of David Tua) fighters were victorious.

Shane Cameron, 215, is now 4-0 with 4 KO’s, after stopping Vernon Woodward, 240, with a beautiful left hook at the 2:40 mark of the first round. Referee Vic Drakulich immediately waved off the contest.

Daniel Codling, 149, is also now 4-0, scoring a 4th round TKO over a game but outclassed Arthur Medina, 5-11.

Paula Mataele 260, threw a great combination of punches in stopping Jeremiah Constant, 257. 0-2, at the 1:10 mark of round one. Mataele is now 5-0 with 4 KO’s.

In the women’s bout, popular cutey Staphanie Dobbs 107, 8-8-2, won a 4-round majority decision over a game, Hollie Dunaway, 107, 2-3.

As for the boxing loses part of this headline, we saved the worst for last. Top ring announcer and good friend Mark Biero, who had lost some sight in his left eye, due to diabetes, has now lost the sight of his good eye, and may have to retire from announcing. Mark did a great job from ringside, with a little help from another old friend, Mike Houser, but told me that if he couldn’t get into the ring, he was going to have to hang up the microphone. Say some prayers for Mark Biero folks, he one of the class acts of our sport, not to mention a great guy.

Odds and ends:

For the record, we are still calling for Billy Soose to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Soose beat Tony Zale and fought a draw with Charley Burley, neither of which could be considered an easy opponent, and he did so as a converted puncher. He was a big banger early on, but a broken knuckle on his right hand caused him to become a boxer. The transition is one that very few have been able to make successfully.

As a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America, and a voter for those inducted into the IBHOF, I take personal offense that this former champion's name does not even appear on the ballot. The World Boxing Hall of Fame in LA had the good sense to induct Soose in 1994. Let's hope that common sense carries over to the IBHOF.***

Reader Ed Ramos is looking for a bottle of Old Kentucky Cabin bbq sauce, Muhammad Ali fashion shade sunglasses, Ali's high school yearbook, Ali large popcorn bags, Ali cookie box, Cassius Clay golden gloves and Olympic Boxing finals full tickets, Ali champ shoe bumper sticker and a Mousehammad cat toy. He is also seeking a 1960 Olympic-boxing program. If you have or know of someone who has these items call Ed at 1-860-246-9096, or e-mail him at Andinoramos@hotmail.com.

Our next boxing party at Spiros Sports Bar at Mira Loma and Longly, in Reno, will be held on June 26, and feature the Vanderpool – Vargas fight..

Glove2Glove: Is absolutely free and non-denominational, and the only time you will be contacted is if someone is in need of prayer and/or cards. You join by sending us an e-mail. It's that simple. And Glove2Glove is our way of showing that boxing folk genuinely care about each other and the world we live in. In short its called compassion!

The success of the Glove2Glove program has provided some sensational results, and we can take credit in extending a number of lives. It also shows the world that boxing folks care about each other, and stand tall for them. In short, it enhances the sometimes-seedy reputation of our sport.***

Now we ask you to take a moment and pray for the soul of the mother of former heavyweight fighter and now trainer/manager Beau Williford, from Lafayette, LA. who passed away on June 7.

Say prayers and send get well cards to ring announcer Mark Biero, who has lost sight in both his eyes from the ravages of diabetes. You can write to Mark at 2700 N. MacDill Ave. #218, Tampa, FL. 33607-2273.

Also prayers for the return to health of Colleen Tucker, wife of NV boxing judge Doug Tucker. Colleen will be having heart surgery on June 30.

We ask for your prayers for the soul of Mass. outstanding sports and boxing writer/editor Pete Farley who passed away on June 29. Rest in peace fellow scribe. They don’t make writers like Pete much, anymore.

Glove2Glove is on a crusade to help former champions Gerald McClellan and Greg Page and their families. They were injured in the ring and have very high medical bills. We need your prayers for them. And remember that on July 4th, their freedoms have been taken away from them to a great degree, and we should do what we can to help.

And, to improve the image of our sport and the great people in it, we need you on board our Thanksgiving Cruise out of Miami, Nov. 23-30 to raise money for these great warriors who have given us so much and have received so little back. Hey guys, the Lord remembers a lot more than we choose to. We owe it to our fellow human beings and our sport to make the extra effort.

I know Thanksgiving traditionally should be spent with family, but what better way to celebrate the holiday than with your family, and the boxing family as well? We hope you take part in this event to show the world how strong and committed the boxing family is. I know a lot of folks think that all people in boxing should be committed anyway, so let's change their minds.

Thanks to Ron Borges of the Boston Globe for the extra coverage of this event. And thanks also to Alex Ramos of the Retired Boxers Federation who has jumped in to help the cause.

100% of the money we raise will go to these two families. And the price is very affordable and includes some extra boxing guests and entertainment. Join us. For information, please drop me a line at Rngsprts@cs.com. Or, if you can't make it, a cash donation to the RBF for Page/McClellan would be much appreciated.

Remember, fans, the worst things happen when you do nothing. And the feeling of trying, even if not successful, makes you a winner, no matter what!

URGENT!!!! We ask for your immediate prayers for the return to health of the sister of referee Elmo Adolph, Cathy Cerola, suffering from cancer. She has taken a turn for the worse and needs your fervent prayers. Only the Lord can help them now, and with our prayers, he will.

A very special prayer was answered and we received the best Christmas miracle imaginable, as the oncologist who had given her about three years to live, now said that four more chemos and we should get all of it. At last report, they did! Your prayers for the return to health of Glove to Glove CO-founder Sue Walker, has worked, and in the words of Robert Duval in the motion picture 'The Apostle', 'We're small but we're powerful'. If we can do this with a relatively small group, imagine what we can do if we had the big numbers.

We still need your prayers for Sue who suffered a seizure recently, and needs a complete and quick recovery.

Glove2Glove is absolutely free. The only thing we ask is an e-mail address so that we can notify you when a boxing person or a member of his family is ailing. Sue has been my best friend for 25 years and thanks to some of the wonderful people out there, she will be with me for a lot longer. But please keep those prayers coming. You can send a message of encouragement or prayer for her to our e-mail address (Rngsprts@cs.com) or drop a card to our Reno office. I'll see that it gets to her, personally.

Thanks and God bless.***

To answer a question I seem to be asked more and more frequently. Yes, the website and the magazine are seeking new investors, and hopefully working partners for further expansion. If you are interested, give me a call or drop me a line via PO or e-mail.

This opportunity will not last very much longer! Once we start our push to make the mag and the website the finest in the world, the opportunity will either be long-gone or very expensive. For any doubters, I suggest you watch our smoke.

Touching on politics briefly: Other then the “Pocket Rocket” Wayne McCullough, who we knew we could count on where still waiting for other fighters to stand up for one of their own. We knew for a long time that Wayne is a stand-up guy, but where are the others? Maybe they just want to seem like great, charitable guys who care about the sport. We’re waiting guys! Stand up and be counted!