Rusty Rubin is a veteran boxing writer
After watching the Mayweather – Cotto fight, I noticed that on more than one occasion “Money” took a breather and let Cotto fight and perhaps win a couple of rounds. If Mayweather really believes he is better than Pac Man, why doesn’t he fight him? What does he have to lose, well only the zero at the end of his record, which can cost him dearly. Am I the only writer out there who believes the time has come for “Money” to put up or shut up….Color me unimpressed with his showing vs. Cotto.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao will be fighting Tim Bradley, in what may well be another yawner. It’s not that Pac Man is taking an easy fight, it’s just that there is only one big name out there, and it’s a guy named Mayweather.
I’m not analyzing this fight today, but on the surface I see nothing that Bradley brings to the table that can sidetrack Pacquiao. But I’ll do an in-depth report as that fight draws closer.***
Meanwhile, as promised, I’ll give my picks on the top boxing folks who have influenced our sport, good or bad, over the past 75 years.
Right on top of my list, as a boxer, it has to be Jack Johnson, who did more to influence minorities to perform not only in boxing but all sports, than anyone else before him. He was of course the first black heavyweight champion.
There are others who should be mentioned as positive forces in boxing: fighters like Muhammad Ali; Ernie Terrell; Floyd Patterson; Oscar de la Hoya; Christy Martin; and I apologize to all those I left out in the interest of space.
In the non-boxer area, my thought would be Nat Fleisher and the late Bert Sugar, whose names will always be part of the journalistic presence and positive influences on our sport.
There are others who won’t be remembered for their skills in the ring, but on the apron, Eddie Futch and Angelo Dundee to name just a few.
I left out the promoters and their publicists mainly because they can and often are listed as both positive and negative influences. I have my opinions, but mine are as good (or bad) as anyone else.
I will add a few people like the late boxing writer Jack Welsh, a personal friend for many, many years. Jin Carlin, who is always on the sidelines, always more than willing to lend a hand.
And let’s not forget those who spend their time and money getting the stories out on the web. They also promote the fights and fighters.***
One final note, while I am not a fan of MMA , probably because I’m an old boxing guy and don’t accept change very well. I will give full credit to MMA for being not only a money maker, but since it’s rapid rise in popularity, more and more gyms are opening and the kids are getting off the streets again. It’s also a positive influence on boxing for just that reason.
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The date was May 24, 1974 when Bobby “Schoolboy” Chacon and Danny “Little Red” Lopez met in the ring for a long awaited and most anticipated bout between two Southern California rising stars. I was there that night ringside and sitting next to me was HBO Real Sports host Bryant Gumbel – who at that time was a sportscaster for KNBC channel 4 in Los Angeles. The mega match was promoted by “the first lady of boxing” Aileen Eaton and was held at the L.A. Sports Arena with a crowd of over 16,000 in attendance. Chacon was 23-1 entering the fight and Lopez was a perfect 23-0 with 21 of those bouts ending by knockout.
