Rusty Rubin, Managing Editor
www.ringsports.com

A persons life is like a book, always needing some touching up (editing) and always being flexible enough to either add to or delete from. But there are moments in time (defining moments if you will) that can never be deleted.

It’s much the same as a fighter. He has his defining moments and moments he’d like to see edited out of his ring record, but a win will go down as a win and a loss, a loss. That cannot be changed.

Meet Manny Pacquaio, perhaps the best pure boxer-puncher to come out of the Philippines since Flash Elorde.

Pacquaio made Saturday night his defining moment, or chapter in the book if you will, by easily taking apart a naturally bigger and supposedly far better boxer in Marco Antonio Barrera.

The fight was stopped in round eleven in a very one-sided contest. Pacquaio’s power shots hurt Barrera throughout and Marco looked to be a beaten fighter before the start of the eighth round.

I truly thought that this chapter in the book of featherweights would be dominated by the better boxer, and maybe it was, only the better boxer, at least this night, was not Marco.

Barrera, who up till now always showed a great chin, seemed lost in the ring, being out-boxed by a banger who was never known for his ring skills. Then again, Pacquaio was far from a household name in most parts of the world.

It could have just been an off-day for Barrera, but I don’t think it was that simple. It wasn’t that Marco looked terrible, although he often did when the big power shots landed on his chin, it was that Pacquaio looked like he will be a world champion for years to come.

We’re not taking a thing away from Pacquaio and his upset win. Manny showed he could box (we knew he could punch) with the best in his class, leaving fight fans wondering where Eric Morales now fits into the changing featherweight picture.

The book remains out on Barrera at present and this chapter open, but there seem to be plenty of new chapters to be written in the career of the new featherweight champion.

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

Boxing Feedback:
Boxing feedback

Read your piece on women boxing. I agree that women should be honored as well but there is one problems. The best women boxers have yet to retired and women boxing is a recent happening. So the IHBOF should at least prepare and think about how they want to honor the Christy Martins and others….Tom Donelson.

Glove2Glove:

Please say prayers for former top-notch fighter Art Soto, who is having some severe health problems from Alzheimer’s and cancer.

Say a prayer for the return to health of great boxer Mando Ramos, who is badly hurting, a result of an unsuccessful back 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.

Your prayers have worked and Martin Sommers is no longer in hospice care, and in fact, is at home recovering. He and his family pass along their heartfelt thanks, and ask that your prayers continue.

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:

Interesting news coming out on the war in Iraq. First, from Washington DC, word comes that President Bush has set June for the date of pulling our troops out of Iraq. Interesting choice of months, but June does allow the President a lot of time to campaign for re-election.

I find it amazing that if the President says we’re pulling out, it’s okay. But if anyone else advocates this move, it’s cowardly.

I know it sounds cynical on my part, and that’s because it is, but I have a tough time believing the many stories that are being spun in our nations capital. The movie “Wag The Dog” showed what is often being done, not only in America but in nations throughout the world. And that is creating the spin that is both wanted by the administration, and needed to change public opinion.

The other bit of news that I again remain skeptical of, is the report that Iraq and Al Qaeda have been working together for many years, plotting attacks against Western interests. What makes this hard to believe is that if true, why didn’t our intelligence didn’t’ pick up on this in the past.

And it’s hard to imagine that two cold-blooded, power hungry foes, of opposite religious teachings, Usama and Sadaam would work together. After all, all Sadaam would have had to do is make the country pro-Taliban and continue to lead Iraq, and at the same time giving Bin Laden the resources he needs to fight his war on peace loving people throughout the world, who refuse to kiss his ugly butt.

History will decide if we made a bad decision going into Iraq. But if it proves wrong, that’s our big advantage of being boxing fans, we’re used to seeing bad decisions.

You can call me cynical, but believe me, I’ve been called much worse. And often.

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

Political feedback:

Just wanted to drop a line and say thanks my friend for posting my email on your article... First time I've ever been published... LOL

Today there are two reports on terrorism. One from the U.N. that states that Osama is determined to use WMD attacks and another from multiple intelligence agencies around the world including the CIA that states that Osama and Saddam had financial and tactical links all the way back as far as 1990 before the 1st Gulf War that ran all the way up to this year and included a visit to Iraq from Osama himself and an agreement was struck in which Saddam would secure Syrian passports for Osama's operatives. It even says that the Saudis, upon learning about these contacts, altered it's security structure out of worry. This report appears to be multi-sourced and has been sent to Congressional leaders on the Senate Intelligence Commitee.

I know this type of thing won't change any minds about whether or not it was wise to go into Iraq. Hell, sometimes even I find myself wondering. Honestly, the only thing in 2003 that's surprised me more than how well Tarver did against Jones is that we haven't found buckets of nerve gas in Iraq already. But I really don't see how any administration whose first mandate is to protect the lives and interest of Americans could simply ignore the threat or continue to play open-ended, high-minded games in the UN.

Justd…via e-mail.