3/08/06 - In Rusty's Corner
In Rusty's Corner
By Rusty Rubin, editor-in-chief of the Ringsports.com publication, and author of "Off the Canvas",
a view of American history and the social problems of the times, as witnessed by an 80-year old
ex-champion. "Off the Canvas" takes you from the time of the Great Depression till the World
Trade Center disaster and is a book that has been getting rave reviews. Copies are $15.00 each
available at Ringsports.com and on-line major book retailers. For a list of the reviews please
contact Rusty. Remember the holidays are rapidly approaching. Here's a great gift.
It's here! Just in time for next years Christmas basket! We're taking orders for autographed copies
of "Billy Soose, the Champion Time Forgot" co-authored by Tom Donelson. Since Tom and I live in
different parts of the USA, it would be hard to co-ordinate a joint signing, both Tom or I will
be available. The book is available now at Authorhouse.com (book id #31809) and other fine on-line
outlets. Early sales appear strong.
Soose was a former middleweight champion of the world, and in one three week period defeated Ken
Overlin and Tony Zale, giving him ample credentials to be inducted into the International Boxing
Hall of Fame.
Buy both books and the recipient will really appreciate your caring, and this writer
won't complain one little bit.
The even better news is that my next book, "Woozel, Boxing and Me", a compilation of
funny boxing stories, oddities and quotes, will be out within the next 3-4 months. The
early demand has been strong. For advance ordering or to purchase an autographed copy,
please advise me ASAP...***
Was I surprised that Joe Calzaghe won a unanimous decision in Manchester. UK, against top
rated Jeff Lacy? No. I figured if it went to a decision in Wales Joe's hometown, it would
go to Calzaghe do to the fans influencing the fight in favor of the local hero.
Well, I was correct in regard to the decision going to Calzaghe, but I was way off base
thinking it wouldn't be a legitimate one. I figured if it went to the cards Joe would win,
but Lacy wouldn't let it go that far.
WRONG! Lacy got off to his usual slow start and not only was never in the contest, he
lost every round! When Rusty blows a prediction, he doesn't do it half way!
No excuses. Calzaghe got on top early and wouldn't let up. To say it was one-sided would
be an understatement. Congratulations to the winner. The legitimate winner!
What's next for these fighters? Hard to say. Lacy will take some time off to allow his
physical and mental wounds to heal, but he's a solid fighter and young enough to have
learned plenty from this bout.
Calzaghe jumps to one of the best pound for pound fighters out there, at least in my
mind, and probably will start looking for and getting some big paydays. He's earned that.***
In other action, Chris John of Indonesia also won a legitimate hometown decision against
hard punching Juan Manuel Marquez, although my much closer scores, especially if you take
away the two points deducted from the Mexican for low blows.
John also finds himself as a legitimate candidate for big money fights down the road.***
The only other surprise to these weary eyes was the dismantling and stopping of Gianlucca
Branco by Miguel Cotto in Puerto Rico. The result didn't surprise me as on paper, there
was no legitimate way Branco should have won, as he is a resilient fighter with a solid
chin, but not a big puncher.
Cotto stopped Branco for the first time in his long pro career, in round eight, when
an apparent shoulder injury forced the Italian to call off the fight, and not go the
distance for the first time in his career. I expected the fight to go to a decision,
but Branco will live to fight again. Cotto continues to learn with every fight
and impress as well.
At least I got one result correct, but the winner was very easy to pick. Then again,
I thought Lacy and Marquez would win easily as well.
Cotto goes on to fight Juan Diaz on the undercard of Mayweather - Judah, making for a
great undercard bout for that important battle.***
Agree or disagree, we'd like to hear from you. (Rngsportsr@aol.com).
Please say prayers for the soul of Johnny Duke, veteran well respected boxing
guy and a member of the Connecticut Hall of Fame, who passed away early Sunday morning at age 82.
Patti Brandenburg continues to have health problems and continues to need your help via prayers.
Let's say a prayer for the father of Eva Futch, a great friend, and the widow of legendary
trainer Eddie, who passed away in 2001. Eva's father's cancer has returned and needs all
the support we can give him, and please pray that Eva has the strength to cope with this
difficult challenge she faces at so close to her having lost her esteemed husband.
Prayers needed for Elise Brown, grand daughter of Ringside Products head honcho and good
boxing guy John Brown. Young Elise has heart problems.
Prayers have also helped but continue to be needed for Dennis Wilcox, brother of boxing
scribe David Wilcox, who is in an Oregon hospital suffering from Leukemia. The family
and everyone at Glove2Glove ask for your prayers for his total recovery.
Prayers for the return to health of Audrey Talmo, wife of Ed, a long-time boxing fan who
cares about our sport.
Prayers needed for the return to health of Alfonso Luna, father of our outstanding
photographer Ray Luna, who has taken ill in Southern California.
Please say prayers for the return to health of Helen Wambolt, wife of our East Coast
World Boxing Hall of Fame writer Danny Wambolt. Cards will also be most welcome.***
Please say prayers for the return to health of Orazio Esposito, father of our
photographer Richard Esposito.***
Prayers for the return to health of Don Donelson, father of writer Tom, and Gene
Sebastian, brother of former middleweight champ Billy Soose. Both are suffering
from congestive heart disease.
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.***
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: In a Country like America, where freedom of speech
is one of the many rights that our brave lads fought and died to protect, does
it make any sense for a teacher to be suspended because she compared our President
to a cold blooded dictator? Our soldiers are still risking life and limb to
protect our Constitution.
If you limit the teacher's freedom, then you automatically limit mine and other
writers who express their views for those people who read it, to accept or reject.
I'm not defending what this Aurora, Colorado, teacher said, comparing George Bush
to Adolph Hitler, and I certainly don't agree with it. The point is that I don't
have to. He should have the same right to express his views. You can disagree
with it, but you cannot make it a crime, which is what you do by suspending him.
Everyone is entitled to their opinions. Didn't the A.C.L.U. fight and win, allowing
the neo-Nazis to march in Skokie, Illinois, some years back? Didn't a few disgruntled
American citizens burn the flag during Vietnam? How about taking the word 'God' and
telling people they can't use it in the classroom?
Seems like I recall hearing that a teacher at UC Berkley was teaching that the
Holocaust never happened. That teacher may be in denial, just as the teacher who
compared President Bush to Hitler, but until the laws are changed, there is
little to nothing that can be done about it.
I have little use for the brainwashed opinions of hate mongers or those who don't
respect our flag and I'm sure most Americans don't either, but, no matter how
angry we become, it's still legal under 'freedom of speech', and it's for everyone,
not just honest folks. Everyone in this Country is entitled to their own opinion
and expressing it via marching in Illinois or teaching in a classroom in
California or Colorado, it still comes under those guidelines. No school
board can be above our nation's highest laws.
Now, if you want to change these things most disagree with, our immigration laws
or anything else, it has to be done at a federal level, simply put, by amending
our Constitution. We have to spell out where freedom of speech ends (if it
indeed does) and where common sense begins.
But because we can't delineate or limit either, it's easily stated, but
difficult to do. Very difficult.***
On another issue, can somebody tell me how this group of bible thumpers from
Kansas that goes around protesting military funerals, can call themselves
Christians? The right to assemble and protest is given to us in our Constitution,
but equating American soldiers killed in battle to the 'don't ask, don't tell'
policy of the American military, makes as much sense as America trading
nuclear weapons to India for mangos. Actually the latter makes far more
sense, and it's flat out stupid!
Agree or disagree, I'd like to hear from you. I respect everyone's opinion.
(Rusty@ringsports.com)
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