I’ve often said that although there are a few bad apples, like you’d find anywhere, boxing people, as a group, are the greatest people in the world.

Most of them are hard working, blue collar folks. And while boxing fans may vehemently agree or disagree with things we write, the fact that they are so enthusiastic in their beliefs says a lot.

I wish I could name all the great people I’ve met in this sport, in my more then 40 year involvement in it, but I’d be offending a lot of folks who I might unintentionally forget, and I sure don’t want to do that. Let’s just say that I feel I’ve been blessed more then most, and I owe most of it to boxing.

As for the few bad apples, well, I don’t have to point out who they are. If you’ve dealt with them, you know. Fortunately most of my dealings over this time span are with class acts or at least people who have always treated me well.

I know sometimes people get their full of bad decisions in boxing and for that or similar reasons turn their back on our sport. But boxing burns in our blood, and we can turn against it for a short time, but in the long run, we all know we’ll be back.

I try not to let bad decisions bother me. They’re part of the game, and just because I may disagree with them, doesn’t make them wrong. I never laid claim to being a boxing judge, and most fans don’t qualify either. On close fights, I’ll let give the judges the benefit of the doubt.

On occasion we may see a fight that is obviously one-sided for a specific fighter and yet that fighter loses the decision. There’s no excuse for that, except that the judges were probably more influenced by the crowd noise then by the fight itself. It shouldn’t happen, but it does. And all it really proves is that judges are human.

There are problems with the ratings, which I personally think we at Ringsports.com have the best, as in our magazine and that you will be seeing on our new website, up in about a month. This new site will have the same great name and same great news.

Simply put, I have a lot to be thankful for as I approach my 62nd year on this Earth, and I owe much of it to the sport of boxing and all the great folks that are associated with it. You know who you are…Thank you.

Agree or disagree, I’d like to hear from you.

Glove2Glove:

We ask for your prayers for Martin Sommer, who passed away recently.

Please say prayers for solid boxing guy, member of the WBHOF and all around class act Sabitini Arbucci who is recovering from cancer surgery.

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.

Chas. Shandor, father in law of Ringsports.com writer Nick Constantine has been diagnosed with cancer and needs your prayers.

Prayers are asked for and welcomed for LaVerne Gaither of Atlanta, who is having some serious medical problems.

Also down but not out with cancer is Kathy Ceravola, sister of top referee Elmo Adolph, and my best friend and co-founder of Glove2Glove, Susiey Walker.
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.

Classified:
Reader Ed Ramos has the following articles available for sale. All come with letter of authenticity
1- Rocky Marciano golden gloves autographed 1968 trophy-$700.This trophy comes with a notarized letter of authenticity. The autograph was obtained by the son of the promoter of this tournament.
2-Muhummud Ali plaque -$1500.This plaque was given to Ali over 10 years ago and is in excellent condition.
3-Joe Louis-Max Shmeling vintage puppets from either the 1930s or 1940s-$300 set. These puppets are extremely rare and are in very good condition.
4-Sonny Liston cut signature-$1000.
5-Cassius Clay 1963 cut signature-$900.
6-Sugar Ray Robinson autographed collage poster-$400.
7-Boxing Illustrated autographed by Ali in 1974-1975-$300.This vintage Ali autographs is one of the best ones that I have ever seen on a magazine.
8-Cassius Clay autographed boxing glove from the early 1960s-$1500 or best
offer.

Touching on politics briefly:

As our readers know by now, I don’t do prejudice. But this latest incident in Cincinnati has caught my attention. And although it happened to a 350 pound black male, it could have happened to anyone. In short, I don’t think this incident was racially motivated.

First, it shouldn’t have happened at all, it should have been handled better. And I do prefer not to think of any law enforcement agency dealing with racial profiling, although we do know that it happens.

My problem with the group that is speaking out and calling the death a hate crime is the ‘logic’ they use.

Their spokesman said no one was being hurt and no crime was being committed by the victim.

To respond simply, I don’t want anyone, black or white or any other color who is on PCP or any mind altering drug, behind the wheel of a car. That’s a crime that can be equated with attempted murder. And this gentleman who was tragically killed was getting into his car when apprehended.

By the same token, I wouldn’t want any 350 pound man, who is on drugs that cloud the mind, charging after me under any conditions. I had enough of that when I played football, and they didn’t grow many guys that big in those days. Besides I was very slow.

Yes, it looked on film that excessive force may have been used, but that may have been necessary judging the size of the guy and the fact that he was strung out and attacking a police officer.

It was a tragedy, and perhaps one that could and should have been averted, but I don’t see how anyone can make this a racial issue. I certainly hope that race played no part in the end result.

Agree or disagree, all responses are welcome and the best will be published.