Rusty Rubin, Managing Editor
www.ringsports.com

We didn’t learn that much from the Don King fight card from Las Vegas on Oct. 4. We learned that Carmen Basilio and Gene Fullmer and even Marciano would have lost a few fights if Dr. Margaret Goodman was the ringside physician. But it’s hard to find fault with someone who perhaps erred in deference to the safety of the fighter.

I’ve always been in favor of stopping a fight early, rather then too late, which is why I have always supported Richard Steele stopping the fight between Julio Cesar Chavez and Meldrick Taylor.

The fight between Joel Casamayor and Diego Corrales was a bit of a strange stoppage, with both fighters banged up but Corrales having a lip cut so bad that you could stick a pole through it.

The stoppage after round six and the win by Casamayor wasn’t really the issue, at least not on the scorecards. Dr. Goodman said she stopped the fight because she thought Corrales had a broken jaw and that he was going to choke on the blood he was swallowing.

That’s a new one for me folks, and I picked Casamayor to score the upset. We’ve all seen fighters win with a broken jaw, most recently Davarryl Williamson against Corey Sanders. And I’ve never seen a fight stopped because of a badly cut lip.

But it’s history.

We also learned that Evander Holyfield should have retired after his first loss to John Ruiz, who was never much of a fighter anyway. You can beat your opponents, but no one, not even the “Real Deal” can beat Father Time. No, not even with perhaps the biggest heart in the history of boxing.

We also learned that James Toney hasn’t changed. He could always fight, although Holyfield may have helped him look a lot better then he should have. But give credit where it’s due, Toney dominated the fight. And Holyfield had better retire before he loses some of his support for the Hall of Fame. A class act, but way past his prime.

And then, as is his usual behavior, after the match Toney got into it with a fan and a couple of security guards. He’s been somewhat of a head case for a long time, but he’s also been a very good fighter for a long time as well.

I enjoy seeing a good counter-puncher like Toney is, fight, as long as he is in shape. But I have never enjoyed his maniacal antics outside the ring. Perhaps he will wind up in a mental hospital instead of Frank Bruno or Ike Ibeabucchi, except unlike Ike, James knows where he is and what he does. Bruno is just a classic case of depression. I’ll keep Tyson out of this. But hell, I’m not a doctor. There are some out there who doubt that I’m even a journalist.***
The Top Rank fight at the Staples Center in LA, on the same night provided lots of action, but few surprises. Eric Morales, Carlos Hernandez and Rafael Marquez all recorded wins.***

Finally, Wayne McCullough is looking for an experienced trainer he can work with. I don’t know the reasons he is making a switch, but I do know he has an upcoming fight in Europe in December and can use the help now. The Pocket Rocket is a friend of this scribe and an asset to our sport. We wish him and his family nothing but the best in all his future plans.

December marks the start of our 15th year in business. Anyone interested in advertising in our year end issue, or any issue throughout the year, at very special rates, please contact me and I’ll forward the info to our business office.

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

Boxing Feedback:

Another Opinion:

IM SORRY MY FRIEND BUT YOU ARE SADLY MISTAKEN ABOUT THE OOSCAR -MOSLEY FIGHT. MOSLEY DIDNT START TO ATTACK UNTIL THE 9TH RD & BY THAT TIME HAD TO KNOCK OUT THE CHAMP.

IVE READ YOUR COLUMNS MANY TIMES AND RESPECT YOU VERY MUCH BUT YOU ARE COMPLETELY WRONG ON THIS ONE. I BELIEVE IVE READ MANY TIMES WHERE YOUVE STATED THE CHALLENGER MUST DESIVELY DEFEAT THE CHAMP. THIS DID NOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO HAPPENNING.

OSCAR WON 8 OF FIRST 10 RDS. MOSLEYS HARD ATTACKING BODY ONSLAUGHT WON HIM 3 OF LAST 4, BUT MUCH TO LITTLE TO LATE. AS FAR AS MOVING BACKWARDS HE DID THIS MUCH LIKE THE TITO FIGHT BECUZ HE HAD ALREADY WON THE FIGHT. DOES +100 PUNCHES SOUND FAMILIAR?

WHILE I THINK PUNCH STATS ARE TOO OFTEN ALLUDED TO & OVEREMPHISISED, THEY ALSO CAN BE USEFUL AS A SCORING TOOL .I BELIEVE THEY HELP TO PROVE THAT OSCAR DESISIVLY KICKED MOSLEYS ASS. 116-112 WAS A MORE ACCURATE FINAL.

YOU ARE THE ONLY PERSON IVE TALKED TO OR COMMUNICATED WITH WHO THINKS MOSLEY WON. THIS WAS NOT EVEN AN ILLUSION OF VICTORY BUT MORE AN ACT OF THIEVERY IN THE NIGHT. IN MY OPINION IT WAS A FIXED FIGHT, A GET BACK AT BOB ARUM OR A COMBIATION OF THE TWO.

RESPECTFULLY YOURS MICHAEL D. CRAWFORD, IDAHO.

I SPEAK FROM MY LOVE OF THE GAME AND FOR THE GOOD OF THE SPORT!

Glove2Glove:

Please say a prayer for the return to health of boxing promoter Moe Smith, who had a four by-pass surgery on Thursday. Moe has done much for our sport. Cards can be sent to Moe at: 2713 E. 1st St., Post Falls, ID. 82854. By the way I spoke to Moe late last week and he’s home and doing great. Can’t keep a good man down.

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

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

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 Cerola, 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.

Touching on politics briefly:
The recall in California is stupid and it’s even more stupid for both parties to be spending so much time on a race they are better off losing.

Before anyone thinks I’ve gone completely off the deep end, let me explain.

The next Governor of California, or the same if a no recall is the winner on next Tuesdays ballot, will have the responsibility of losing all those electorial votes next November.

No matter who wins, if the economy of California remains in the doldrums, and I’ve yet to hear anyone come out with a plan to fix it, they will drag their party down in the next Presidential election.

The recall is costing the State more then $75 million dollars, which could be put to better use by creating jobs for those in need.

And some of the planned solutions are not only stupid, but can be a danger to national security.

California is only different then most other states because they are bigger and have bigger problems. The economy nationwide leaves a lot to be desired.

The latest jobless numbers showed some signs of new jobs being created, which, if true is good. But don’t tell that to those who have used up all their unemployment benefits and still can’t find work.***

On something I personally view as a plus, it’s been reported that President Bush will not ask his Vice President Dick “Haliburton” Cheney to run with him again in 2004. Unfortunately there are others who will have to go as well or the Democrats will have to put up a very weak candidate, (which is very possible) in order for Bush to be re-elected.

I’m an independent voter and although registered in a party, vote for the candidate not the party line. Right now, I have no idea who I will be casting my vote for next year, and I have the feeling that most Americans feel the exact same way.***

Just a note on Rush Limbaugh. I’m not a big fan of his, but what he said about Donovan McNabb was his opinion, and as member of the media, who at times gets paid to do the same thing, I can’t support his firing/resigning.

Yes, what he said was stupid at worst and insensitive and wrong at best, but that’s what he was hired to do. Give his opinion and perhaps add a bit of controversy to the ESPN show. Just like I do in my occasional radio shows, and in the Ringsports.com website and magazine. And other journalists who editorialize have to feel that they may not be able to do the jobs they were hired for as a result.

First, McNabb is a solid quarterback and one of nine black quarterbacks in the NFL. But secondly, and most important, who the hell cares if he’s black or white or yellow? It’s time we looked at players for their ability not the color of their skin. It’s the same with boxing and all sports. A good player or boxer is just that, not a good black or white player or boxer.

Political feedback:

Again most welcome and will be posted as they arrive.