In Rusty’s Corner

Rusty Rubin is the editor-in-chief of the Ringsports.com website and the author of three highly acclaimed boxing books!

The big fight this week is in Los Angeles where Oscar de la Hoya takes on Steve Forbes. Since the fight is at 150 lbs, pretty much a walking around weight for the “Golden Boy”, it gives him a solid advantage. The light hitting Forbes normally fights twenty pounds less.

A lot of people feel this is a tune-up for Oscar and a prelude to a re-match with Floyd Mayweather Jr. This may be true, but fighters like Oscar will, if they fight long enough run out of gas.

But I don’t see that here. Even if Oscar tires a bit more towards the end of the fight, he should have little trouble catching Forbes when he needs to, and thus take an easy decision over him.

With the odds being very high, I think the safest bet would be the fight goes the distance. Little risk of a knockout here, Of course a small parlay Oscar and may work a bit better.

Glove2Glove:

Sad news received on the passing of Irene Rose Samuels, 83, who passed away last weekend. Please say prayers for her soul. This fine lady is the mother of Top Rank publicist, good friend and class act Lee Samuels.

Please say a prayer for the complete recovery of ring announcer Michael Buffer who has been diagnosed with throat cancer.

Former President of the Golden State Boxers Assn. and wrestling great Count Billy Varga is in a So. Cal. nursing home and would love to hear from his fans....Please drop him a line at Brighton Gardens of Northridge, 17630 W. Devonshire St., Northridge, Cal 91330.

Prayers for the return to health of Patti Brandenburg, wife of boxing manager Gary.

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.

Please say a prayer for the recovery of Geneva Luna, mother of our ace photographer, Ray. Geneva suffered a stroke on Easter Sunday.

Prayers also for former World Boxing Hall of Fame President Charlie Casas who is having some severe health problems as well as one of the founders and past President, Dub Harris, who suffered a stroke.

Prayers for Audrey Talmo, wife of solid boxing guy, Ed. Also prayers for the recovery of Mills Lane and Denis Wilxox.

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.***