11/29/06 - In Rusty's Corner
In Rusty's Corner
By Rusty Rubin, editor-in-chief of the Ringsports.com publication and website advisor is the author
of "Off the Canvas", #22873, a view of American history and the social problems of the times,
as seen 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 authorhouse.com, (22873)
Ringsports.com and on-line major book retailers.
"Billy Soose, the Champion Time Forgot" #31809co-authored by Tom Donelson, is also available. Soose was the
middleweight champion of the world, beating greats like Tony Zale and Ken Overlin in less than a month's time.
The book is available at Authorhouse.com
(book id #31809) and other fine on-line outlets. Sales have been strong.
My newest book, "Woozel, Boxing and Me", Authorhouse.com #31810 (is a compilation of funny and true
boxing stories, oddities and quotes.) It is a final tribute
to my zany best friend of more than 25 years, who attended many boxing events with me. She passed away
in Feb. 2004. The reviews have all been great and the early demand
for this work, one of the funniest boxing books ever written, has been strong.
One of the stories that are included in this book is when Lou Duva was working with John John Molina in Virginia.
‘After a hard workout, Lou told Molina to run to the first red light and return to camp. It took a while until
Molina finally returned. Lou asked what took him so long. Molina calmly replied: “All the lights were green”’.
To purchase an autographed copy of any of these books, please advise me after Christmas at
Rusty@ringsports.com.***
Any of these books will make a great birthday present to add to the library of that special boxing fan in your life.
Being a journalist, I’ve found that the highest tribute that one can receive is positive comments about his
chosen field of work. I thank everyone who has made those comments to me, either in person or other means
of communication. Thank you.
Since this will be my last column until the New Year, I’ve decided to do something a bit different
and add some controversy.
First, the World Boxing Hall of Fame has announced an autograph signing show at the Light and Life School in Sylmar,
California. If you’re a collector or just a fan, a lot of great So. Cal. boxers will be on hand. Proceeds benefit
the school and the WBHF, as well as the boxers themselves. The date is December 9th and the event will be held
from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM. You won’t be disappointed.***
My East Coast Editor and friend, Jack Hirsch seems to appreciate the state that boxing is in today. I respectfully
disagree. While I agree that it still offers much excitement and probably the best man to man competition around,
there are some glaring problems which are hard to ignore and may well be even harder to fix.
Pay-Per-View may be a part of the problem, as they charge viewers for often predictable and usually lousy fights.
Not the fault of PPV. If the buyer knows boxing, he pretty much knows the value of what he/she is watching.
Knowledgeable fans know that over-the hill heavyweights are about as exciting to view as watching paint dry.
As long as people are willing to pay the price, PPV is going to sell it. (Not that it means I’d ever watch
most of these fights if they were for free).
And, to be sure, real fight fans know that guys like Paquiao, Morales and Barrera always come to fight. They
know what’s worth the buy and what’s not.
But this is not the only problem boxing has. How many more marketable fighters can you name, besides those
listed above? Who else would a true fight fan pay to see?
Floyd Mayweather? Pretty Boy is arguably the best pound for pound fighter out there, but simply can’t draw crowds
outside of Michigan. His ring-style isn’t normally conducive to excitement.
Jeff Lacy and Jermain Taylor can fight, but ‘Left Hook’ has to get his head on straight after his one-sided loss
to Joe Calzaghe Taylor draws well against big names and always at home in Arkansas, but elsewhere, against lesser
competition, don’t hold your breath.
Bernard Hopkins has announced the end to his brief retirement, which will help sustain fan interest. As good/great
as BHop is, he has never been a huge crowd pleaser either.
Jorge Arce is a warrior. Most fighters in the lower weight classes bring it, but casual fight fans usually
just say ‘who’s that’?
Oscar, Shane and Vargas can still fight, but not the way they used to. Oscar will always draw well, but these
three warriors are nearing the end of great careers, and with few exceptions, who is going to replace them.
Erik Morales, losing in the third round to Paquiao, has said one more fight and he’s done.
Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito are the two big up and coming names that people DO get excited about.
Both can box and punch and should be future champions.
Juan Manuel, Raul and Rafael Marquez along with Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo will always bring out the crowds.
Notice a pattern here? Almost all the crowd pleasers listed are Hispanic in origin and in the lighter weight
divisions. That part is not the problem.
Boxing needs new blood, new talent. It’s that simple. How many up and coming fighters excite the fan base? Name
five. OK, name two.
As of now, I see nothing exciting in the heavyweight, cruiserweight and light heavyweight classes, and nothing
upcoming in the foreseeable future.
Unlike other sports, expansion has hurt boxing. We have too many weight divisions and too many sanctioning bodies.
Fighters are no longer hungry. They no longer have to fight the best to be the best.
Will open scoring help? I hope it does, but it is certainly not a panacea for all that ails our sport today.
My feeling is that to bring back boxing to where it once was we have to begin in the amateur gyms and work
our way up to the Olympic program. These two things can be done, but it’s for naught if we can’t get the kids
into the gym in the first place.
Boxing is a sport of true gladiators and people will always pay to watch. Boxing will not change greatly.
The sport has been around for a long time and will never die. But I think we’d all like to go back to the
days of great champions that everyone could name. When real fighters fought every opponent out there, and fought often.
Putting lousy fights on PPV does boxing more harm than good. I doubt most fans would watch these caliber of
fights on free TV. When you’re over-the hill, it’s time to hang 'em up, not keep on fighting. Your name can
just take you so far.
Agree or disagree, (not about my age) I’d like to hear from you.
Finally, if you can find it in your heart to help keep the world famous Kronk Gym open, please e-mail me
and I’ll give you the address where to send your donations.***
(Rusty@ringsports.com)
Glove2Glove:
Please say prayers for the soul of former great champion Willie Pep who passed away on Nov. 24th at age 84.
The former great champion was suffering from Alzheimer’s.
Ryan O’Neal has requested prayers for his ex-wife and movie star Farah Fawcett, who is suffering from cancer.
I know they both will appreciate your support.
Prayers for the return to health of top of the line referee Chuck Hassett who is reportedly battling prostate cancer.
Prayers have also helped but continue to be needed for Dennis Wilcox, brother of boxing scribe David Wilcox,
who is going to re-cooperate at his California home with his closest relatives. Dennis is suffering from
Leukemia. The family and everyone at Glove2Glove ask for your prayers for his total recovery.
Prayers for the return to health of Audrey Talmo, wife of Ed, a long-time boxing fan who cares about our sport.
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 recovery of good friend and great boxing guy Norm Cote, Past President of the
World Boxing Hall of Fame, who is undergoing dialysis three times a week. Norm’s a great guy and a
real fighter and we have to be there in his corner.
Prayers also for former World Boxing Hall of Fame President Charlie Casas who are having some severe health problems as well.
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 absolutely
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 not-so briefly: Being a proud American citizen, there are a lot of things I’d like to get
off my chest. The most important being a question; whatever happened to government of the people by the people
and for the people? More to the point why don’t our elected leaders care about what the people really want?
Why don’t they listen to those who they are supposed to represent?
Government of, for and by the people has been replaced in recent years by government of the people, by the rich
and for big business. Our great credo has been almost completely perverted.
The two party system is one of the main reasons this has happened. We badly need a third party, as both Republicans
and Democrats are cut from the same cloth and their only interest is corporate donations that allow them to be
constantly re-elected.
I’ve never been a supporter of term limits before, because it removes people who have the experience and
knowledge to deal with ongoing crisis and leaves us with inexperienced leadership when our country is endangered.
That’s a scary thought, but can it be worse than it is now?
I haven’t completely changed my mind about term limits, but I’m starting to feel that today’s politicians are
complacent anyhow, how much difference does it really make?
The old saw still holds today, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The most honest of people
get elected and if they are not changed by the system they either resign or voted out of office because his/her
own party will not support them if they run again. In short, the rules are made and cannot be easily changed.
But there are ways to achieve positive change; a third major party would be an initial step in the right direction
as would term limits.
I also think it’s time to call for a Constitutional Convention. We have to keep this great document a living one
to deal with the many problems of our times. We should find a way to keep it updated every 10-25 years to deal
with our quickly changing national and foreign policy.
As for Iraq, I can only paraphrase: “What hath Bush wrought?” It’s looking more and more like a Civil War and our
troops are right in the middle of it. The President and his advisors already have a lot of blood on their hands,
and no matter how this battle ends, the President must take full responsibility for it.
Our President again states that we will not leave Iraq till our mission is accomplished. We’re had enough mission
accomplished crap, it’s time for someone in authority to tell us what the damn mission is!
President Bush believes it’s America’s duty to bring the blessings of freedom to those who don’t understand it.
In other words, he wants the world to have freedom even if it means forcing them at gunpoint. Enough stupidity.
People cannot tell other people how to live. Remember the crusades? The French Revolution, even the American
Revolution. Just about every war known to man was because one country wanted to force their beliefs or
lifestyle upon another. When will it end?
Bush also blames Al Qaeda for most of the violence in Iraq. No doubt they are, but Al Qaeda wasn’t a problem
in Iraq until our forces took out Sadaam and his bloody regime. Sadaam was a cold blooded killer, but at least
he kept the country together. Taking him out started what looks to be an unavoidable civil war.
Once again I state, we have to right to force democracy down the throats of those whom we want to have it.
America is not the moral authority of the world, nor should it be. In order for any changes to have a chance
to work, first and foremost, the people of the land must want to make the change, not rulers of another government.
I respect the office of the President and have no clue why anyone would want it. My problem with Bush is that
he thinks God wants the world to be free for democracy. Even if he really believes that, it’s a dangerous thought.
Remember Rome was once the greatest force in the world, and look what happened to them when they branched
out to force their beliefs upon others.
I hate to bring up the subject of the Crusades, but check the history book. Didn’t the Pope try to force
Catholicism on the Arab world?
Why do you think Hitler attacked Russia and England? Same brain dead thinking, to impose his will on others or
to build a bigger empire.
How long will it take for world leaders to figure out that for freedom to work, the people have to want it and
it’s not that way in most of the world? We must let everyone have the right to decide what’s right for them,
not shove our beliefs down their throats!
I’m not suggesting that we pull out of Iraq at this point. I honestly don’t know the right answer. I do know that
we shouldn’t have gone into the region in the first place, without a goal or plan to accomplish a goal.
That’s just plain stupid.
Of course, if it’s our goal to force our will on others, that’s not only stupid, it’s dead wrong. This idiotic
thinking is flat out stupid, and does nothing more than weaken America.
This backwards thinking has destroyed many great nations, and it is one that is making us more vulnerable. The
troops and money we’ve spent in a war against a nation that was never a threat to us (Iraq) could be better used
to strengthen our ports and borders and make America much safer than it is today.
Speaking of which, it’s also time to stop giving the illegals and their children more rights than American
citizens have in regard to health care and schooling. We are quickly becoming a nation of ‘illegal immigrants’
and that has to stop now! Immigration is a gift we offer to those who deserve it, not those who break our laws.
It’s time we stopped being Uncle Sap and become Uncle Sam again. It’s time to stop exporting our jobs and it’s
time for an AMERICA FIRST policy.
Besides our elected leaders who are not doing their job and are in the pockets of big corporations, so who is
really looking out for the people?
It’s certainly not the ACLU, who somehow forgot what the “A” in the organization’s name, stands for. These
well-meaning folks tend to favor and work for the benefit of non-Americans, particularly in the issue of
immigration. They too have strayed far off course.
The ACLU represents many illegal aliens who are not Americans because they break our laws coming here. So
perhaps we should call them the NCLU, the Non American Civil Liberties Union.
I am not proud in admitting that I was once a member of the ACLU. That was a long time ago, and I was involved
for less than a year. I learned early and fast.
Support our troops and pray for their safe return.
I’m gone for the Month of December and the office will be closed during that time.
Agree, disagree or just want to help? I’d love to hear from you.
(Rusty@ringsports.com)
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