David Martinez Boxing

Rusty Rubin is a veteran boxing writer

Okay Rusty, the election is over and the votes are in; it’s time to “man-up”!

Bet you’re thinking about the local and national elections, but in truth I’m talking about the election for the newest class for the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota.

The ballots had to be in by November 1, and in the interest of being true to my word (in boxing)? I could not vote for Mike Tyson.

As I wrote in this column a few weeks back, I cannot and will not, vote for anyone who has used performance enhancing drugs, unless that person goes into the Hall with an asterisk after his/her name.

It’s not that Tyson needs my vote. He’s a lock for the Hall on the first ballot, and deservedly so. Tyson won a lot of his fights on the fear of his ring foes, but he still deserves admittance to the IBHOF. But he should have the fact that he used these banned drugs registered on his record. Until the Hall of Fame does so, either via asterisk or other means, I’ll continue to vote for anyone proven to have used these substances.

In my mind, or what’s left of it, I have to believe that these PED drugs not only assist in the performance of the fighter, but also fool the fight fans as well.

For the record, I voted for Julio Cesar Chavez, and five others, who, to the best of our knowledge fought ‘clean’.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Glove 2 Glove:

Sad to note the passing of Alan Rudkin, British bantamweight champ, who left us at age 68.

Also news that Johnny ‘Smiler’ Van Rensburg, 78, South African light and welterweight champion. Prayers are requested.
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I free-lance & write boxing feature stories & fight result articles for Ring Sports Magazine – so let it be my pleasure to introduce my good friend & editor-in-chief Rusty Rubin into my boxing website … hopefully you will enjoy his column & input – as I do each & every month!
David Martinez

Boxing Historian

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In Rusty’s Corner

Rusty Rubin is the editor-in-chief of Ringsports.com, the publication and website advisor, and is the author of three acclaimed boxing books!

‘Therapeutic’ and ‘helpful in dealing with a life threatening illness’, are the words that seem to be most used when readers write to me about “Woozel, Boxing and Me” (Authorhouse.com #31810). This book has been given 4½ stars at Amazon.com (read the reviews) and was awarded “Boxing Book of the Year, 2006” by 13thround.com.

Woozel, Boxing and Me is far more than just a compilation of many funny and true boxing stories, oddities and quotes. The book serves as a final tribute to the memory of Susiey Walker, my zany best friend of more than 25 years, who loved life and knew how to live it to the max. This book has helped many people deal with terminal illness and death, although that was never my overt intention in writing this book. I am now working on a follow up.

Wuz traveled and attended many West Coast boxing events with me and by so doing created many of those unforgettable moments with her positive, but often zany attitude and always bubbly personality. Sue passed away in Feb. 2004, at age 54, after a tough 5-year battle with colon cancer. Although she never got into the ring, She was a true fighter with the (body of a model and) the heart of a champion.

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