 8/27/06 - article by Howie Reed
Jose Castillo
TALKIN BOXIN
August 27, 2006
by Howie Reed
Many things in life have to be put in perspective.
With college football season on the horizon I'm sure
that I'll forget that statement but it's always good
to start with good intentions. As Irene Maude used to
say, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
I'll be traveling on a Super Highway.
Back in my childhood there was a very popular song
that went exactly like this (doesn't it just frost
your "whatevers" when a singer says, "I've recorded a
song tat goes something like this ?"). Here goes
exactly. "The faucet she is dripping and the fence
she's fallin' down. My pocket needs some money, so I
can't go into town. My brother isn't working and my
sister doesn't care. The car she needs a motor so I
can't go anywhere..manana, manana, manana is soon
enough for me..My mother's always working, she's
working very hard. But every time she looks for me I'm
sleeping in the yard. My mother thinks I'm lazy and
maybe she is right I'll go to work manana but I gotta
sleep tonight..manana, manana, manana is soon enough
for me..Oh, once I had some money but I gave it to my
friend. He said he'd pay me double, it was only for a
lend. But he said a little later that the horse she
was so slow, Why he give the horse my money is
something I don't know.manana, manana, manana My
brother took a suitcase and he went away to school, My
father said he only learned to be a silly fool. My
father said that I should learn to make a chile pot,
But then I burned the house down, the chile was too
hot..manana, manana, manana is soon enough for me."
That was a hit song for Ms. Peggy Lee in 1948 which
lasting 21 weeks on the Billboard Chart.
So I've put this column off till the last minute.
Manana arrived and I was surprise. Stupid Gringo. Got
hit by the lazy rock which included losing my wallet
with everything but money in it and then buying a
handy six of Red Stripe in the hopes of coming out of
the ordeal either being able to dance or pretty.
School out on dance and pretty as what would The Pest
know about either. Here comes the profound thought of
the day. In the scope of things in regard to life
professional boxing is barely a footnote. I sometimes
ignore that because the sport and those that cover it
take themselves very seriously. Present company
included. The fact must be accepted or every time
some "no name" calls out a "big name" the challenge
would be met with a loud yawn and the words "And ?" As
someone that puts out odd 100 columns per year , a
couple aren't odd just weird, it's always nice to hear
from those that read, glance or come into connect with
my written word. Last week was a bonanza with most all
on "what others" said about Referee Jay Nady and only
one commenting on what I wrote in regard to his work
directing Maskaev-Rahman.
While not printing the entire column from last week
the gust of it was that Nady called "someone" to stop
holding when there was none. I thought and still do
(my opinion) that he had became Chatty Cathy when in
fact he isn't. because he was told to. Again quoting
the late Irene Maude Reed, "My God the bridge." First
shot was fired by Senior Mauricio Sulaiman who is the
son of WBC head Honcho, aka Major Domo. Dr. Jose'
Sulaiman. " Respectable friend with all due respect,
we think that Jay Nady's performance in the Rahman
vs. Maskaev fight was sensational and prevented a
fight full of holdings that only make heavyweight
fights boring and dull and guided them to perform in
one of the best heavyweight fights in a long time.
Thank you"
Not being a journalist, but having stayed at a Holiday
Inn and once in fact tended bar at one for a couple of
years, I categorically state that of all the ranking
organization I'm of the opinion that the WBC is the
best of the bunch. That might be faint praise but
praise non the less. I'm a fan of WBC President Dr.
Jose' Sulaiman. In last weeks effort I also put forth
the "guess" that maybe Mr. Nady was being advised to
become more "proactive" which we all know is a
codeword for sticking ones nose where it probably
don't belong. Which I might add my brothers late dog,
TAC the chocolate dummy, used to do to all visitors to
the former Casa' de Reed at Lake Tahoe. . The maneuver
was especially effective when Tac had just come in out
of the snow and the visitors had just arrived in a
warn vehicle. That aside it is very possible, as I
mentioned, that someone in authority "suggested " to
Nady that he watch the holding.
One reader from the northwest wrote in "Looks like you
touched a sore spot with
your analysis of the Jay Nady's treatment of the
holding in the Maskaev-Rahman fight. In light of the
response from Mauricio Suliman in his email to your
mailing list, I'd
say you were spot on.." I forgot to mention that
there are a number of "special folk or as some say
unlucky" who get Talkin Boxin by e-mail each week.
Little inside boxing here. The Nevada Athletic
Commission doesn't allow referee's that live outside
the state of Nevada to work professional boxing
matches in the state. They "Really" don't allow them
to work championship matches. When a sanctioning
organization has a championship fight they usually
name the referee, with the approval of the local
commission. Not the case in Nevada. Nevada names the
referee's whit a "wink and a nod" from the sanctioning
organization.
This practice provides Nevada based judges and
referee's with a nice source of income not only
working in Nevada but also being "selected" to work
fights in other states and countries. Either
referring or judging a championship fight brings a
very good pay day. Also both referee's and judges want
to stay on the good side of the WBC as they have a lot
of international contests that bring "really-really"
good paydays. There are some judges and referee's that
are just flat lousy but keep getting work with all
sanctioning organizations. Jay Nady is NOT one of
those. Larry "The Clown" Cole from Texas is one of
those. His daddy runs Texas boxing. Nice gig for The
Clown.
I wrote to Mr. Sulaiman pointing out that I
appreciated his input while pointing out that the
opinion of he and the WBC was just that, an opinion.
On the other hand everyone that viewed the fight
though that Nady had a bad night. Did Jay Nady's
action change the outcome of the bout ? No. Did he
like the officials at last years NFL Super Bowl take
victory from the wings of defeat ? No. But consider
that throughout boxing fans who watched the fight were
of the opinion that Jay didn't have his best night.
The note from Mr. Sulaiman in effect is asking, "Who
do you believe me or your lying eyes ?" Regardless of
the facts "lying eyes" buy tickets and PPV. At some
point promoters and sanctioning organization are going
to have to listen to the folks that pay the bills.
The point is that Nady was calling holding when there
was none and was more vocal than a 10 year old with a
chocolate high. The job of a referee is to see that
the rules of boxing are followed, when those rules are
not followed then the offending individual is
punished. A referee is supposed to be like the little
boy "seen and very seldom heard."
One e-mail from old pal Garth simply said, " Way to go
Beach." Boxing has simply got to get's its' head out
of either "where the sun don't shine" or the sand.
Every time you turn around they're putting both feet
and a couple of other appendages in their collective
mouths. The week that passed was simply brilliant from
that standpoint. These are in no particular order or
rank. Some of you may remember the name Davey Hilton
jr. If you don't I'll be happy to fill you in. He
comes from a famous or "in-famous" boxing family in
Montreal Canada. Hilton was 40-2-2 during his
professional career which lasted until shortly after
the night of December 12, 2000. On that night fighting
at home in Montreal he won a split decision over
Dingaan Thobela for the WBC Super Middleweight title.
Shortly after that he was sentenced to 7 years in
prison for sexually assaulting his daughters. He was
released on June 20th of this year.
The daughters are nieces of Arturo Gatti and oh did I
mentioned that Hilton committed these despicable acts
while his wife slept next to him ? Well I have now.
Hilton recently held a press conference which was
covered by a number of boxing web sites on his working
at a local gym.. They even had the "bad taste" to
quote this low life bum. "In the beginning I found it
rough, long, I figured what am I going to do in a gym
for that long?" said Hilton . "But then I started
seeing the expressions on people's faces and how they
enjoy having me here, watching people's progression,
the fact that I can make a difference in someone's
life, I started feeling good about that." Yea he must
know the feeling of making a difference in peoples
lives starting with his own daughters. Hilton talks
about a comeback. "I have dreams of it sometimes, but
I'm realist. I think before I can answer that I'll
have to get two goods months of training, I'm very
rusty." Garbage.
Case number two of boxing stubbing its collective toe
is in the case of the Nevada State Athletic Commission
against Jose Luis Castillo. Kevin Iole of the Las
Vegas Review Journal writes, "The Nevada Athletic
Commission took pity on boxer Jose Luis Castillo on
Thursday after he described the torture of trying to
get down to the 135-pound lightweight limit for a
scuttled June 3 title fight against Diego Corrales at
the Thomas & Mack Center." Mr. Iole is a lot nicer
than I am, and more talented therefore the big bucks
come his way, but I would have said (and will) the
Commission fell on their collective ass's. What a
flipping joke. Iole continues, "The commission fined
Castillo the maximum $250,000, suspended his license
for the remainder of 2006 and said it won't allow him
to fight below 140 pounds in Nevada. The latter
sanction is probably irrelevant, because Castillo was
unlikely to fight at that weight here again, given his
recent difficulties in reaching 135."
The question is, "why would a boxing Commission which
is suppose to be the leader of the world take such a
"nancy" approach to what was various serious situation
?" For those still working on your GED let me "splain
to yu". May 2005 Castillo and Diego Corrales fight
with Corrales winning by KO in 10. The re match is
October 2005. Castillo can't make the 135 lbs limit,
pay's Corrales some money and they fight. KO by
Castillo. Then comes the rubber match last June.
Castillo can't make weight, Corrales refuses to fight
at a higher weight, as he should have, fight off. All
of a sudden "no one " knows anything. The promoter
(Bob Arum), Castillo and the Commission all say "gee
this is a surprise. He didn't make weight ?" Yea
right.
Consider all the fans that had booked hotels and paid
travel fee's to come to Las Vegas for the fight. As
the fight wasn't cancelled until after "check out
time" on Friday I'm sure some hotels wouldn't let fans
leave and get their money back. Here is a "mega fight"
and no one knows anything. The Nevada Commission ?
They talk big but carry a little stick. Why ? Well
again quoting Kevin Iole, "Outgoing chairman Skip
Avansino and chairman-elect Tony Alamo said they were
moved by Castillo's sincerity. "I know it's difficult
to understand without having been in the room and
seeing his passion and emotion," Avansino said. Just
flipping great. Castillo's not only skated but should
also probably be nominated for a Emmy and a Oscar.
Never do I agree with Corrales promoter Gary Shaw but
call Guinness (I-800 Drink Stuff) I do this time,
""Have these people ever heard of victim's rights?"
Shaw said. "This is an outrage." You got it right "GB'
but you must look at the bigger picture. What's the
"real reasons" for the Boards action ?
Well let's play pretend. The sponsoring Casino's lost
up front money so they had to be paid back, both
promoters lost money (Boo Hoo) so they have to get
something and both fighters were hurt financially.
Although after the Commission hearing at the
Reno-Tahoe Airport, Castillo was served in a civil
suit filed by Corrales. Why Reno-Tahoe Airport for the
meeting ? Uh a warehouse in New Jersey wasn't
available ? Try this scenario. One of the big losers
when Castillo-Corrales was cancelled was Ricky "The
Hitman" Hatton. Fact is that he was in Vegas for the
fight. With the suspension for just the remainder of
the year 2006 a fight in 2007 between Hatton-Corrales
would be just right. Hatton has a fight on December 12
in Atlantic City against a Juan Urango (17-0-1) what
ever that is. Put Hatton-Castillo at 140lbs at a
Casino where incoming Nevada Athletic Commission
Chairman's Pop Mr. Alamo works and everybody's happy.
Oh yes except for the fans that got ripped off by the
Commission ,Vegas and Castillo. Way to go Vegas. What
happens here should stay here cause if it doesn't the
"Rube's" in fly over country man figure this deal out.
Some writers are just good while others just do some
things well. I have no idea who Brett Conway is having
never read his or her stuff. That aside Conway can
darn sure write headlines. " A Pick for Toney to Peck,
Punch and Pickle Peter" will darn sure catch your eye.
If I ever meet Conway in a boxing press room, unlikely
as I am as welcome there as ham in Israel, I'm going
to offer to purchase a beverages of his or her choice.
Maybe even two or more. The headline of course refers
to next Saturday's , delayed on the west coast,
Showtime card featuring James Toney (69-4-2) against
Samuel Peter (26-1). If the fight is half as good as
the headline then it will be a barn burner.
There is though a side to this potentially great fight
that is very ugly, demeaning and downright
unacceptable. James Toney's foul and vulgar mouth is
doing nothing to help boxing. Last week in a press
conference there were enough "Mf"s, F's and Sh" to
fill a lifetime of digging ditches. Well yes today
they'd be in Spanish. I write this as someone that has
launched his, and someone else's, share of F Bombs.
The time has come for some Commission to say to Mr.
Toney, "Your mouth is hurting the sport. We are fining
you $100,000 dollars and suspending you 10 days. Your
next offense of foul language will bring about a
suspension for life. End of story. Why hasn't the
California Commission, where the fight is being held,
done something ? There is no commission in California.
In every sport in the world today foul language is
punished. In boxing it revered. Is there no common
sense in boxing ? Nope it's the All Mighty dollar. No
wonder most decent people turn their surgically
improves noses up at boxing. It stinks.
AND FINALLY. From my Pal A.Thorne. "Being a former
U.S. (Useless) History teacher, that comparison about
Cal. in 1850 -Present is JUST GREAT!!!" Wosh I could
take credit for it but can't. Twas watching HBO the
other night when they showed a old time Rodney
Dangerfield Comedy Special. Had a line that hit home.
"MY ex-wife said I was one in a million. She was
right." I quickly added, "Wish I'd been closer to the
front of the line."
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