David Martinez Boxing

Rusty Rubin is a veteran boxing writer

Since there’s a bit of a lull in major events right now, I heave decided to use most of this space to answering many questions that I get over the course of a year.

The most frequent question asked of me is; ‘is Ring Sports Magazine or the website up for sale’? The simple answer is yes, if the buyer can prove to me that he can maintain the quality we had over the years. It’s not the money here, but the hard-earned reputation. If agreement on a sale is reached, I will return whatever original investments there were, and donate the remainder to the Susan Komen Foundation for breast cancer research.

‘If my best friend “Woozel” died of colon cancer, why am I working on helping those with breast cancer’? The answer to that one is simple; I believe that once a gene is found to cure breast cancer, we are that much closer to the cure of many other cancers. Cancer is an ugly disease and it’s long past time that it is wiped off the face of the Earth. Even if we can save just one life, we are doing a very important thing as well as sending an important message.

‘Are back issues of the magazine available and if so, for how much money’? Most back issues are and the cost is $1.00 per issue plus postage. I’ve tried to keep them as it’s still my memory and my gift to the sport of boxing. If you want a specific issue, we’ll try to find it for you for an extra 50 cents for the labor. We many even have pictures of your favorite fighter….We can check that out for you and charge accordingly…Again, in any event ALL proceeds after the labor of finding and mailing, will go to the Omen Foundation.

A lot of people want to know ‘how I see the Pacquiao – Mayweather fight’. Simply put, although it’s a mega fight, it probably will never happen. Mayweather doesn’t seem to want to step up to the plate, and if he ever does, he probably will be a lot older and slower than he is today.
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By Tom Donelson

( Member of Boxing Writers Assc.)

Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez finished their trilogy Saturday night or have they?  A few observations on the fight begin with the Oscar De La Hoya syndrome.  In 2004, De La Hoya was beginning his promotion for his bout with Bernard Hopkins and the promotional team thought of a having a double header with Hopkins defending his title while De La Hoya would attempt to wrestle German fighter Felix Sturm title away. Hopkins won his bout but De La Hoya found the German Middleweight a little more than he could handle. While De La Hoya took the early rounds, Strum dominated the second half of the fight and most observers had him winning the fight  seven rounds to five but he lost by that score.  While De La Hoya threw nearly double the punches, Sturm was more accurate, connected on more punches and his punches started to shake De La Hoya.   Many of the judges gave the close rounds to De La Hoya and there were many who wonder how much the prospective Hopkins-De La Hoya fight was a factor in the scoring.  Many Marquez fans will be wondering; did the prospect of a Mayweather-Pacquiao color the judges’ decision in a fight with many close rounds?

There is the Ken Norton Syndrome that affected Team Marquez.  In his third fight with Ali, Norton gave the last round away as he thought he had the fight in the hand. In addition, he gave away another round in the middle of the fight.  He lost a decision that he should have won by simply giving away the last round in a fight that was much closer than Norton thought. Team Marquez told their guy that he had the fight in the bag, so Marquez simply took the foot of the gas pedal and lost the last round, a round that could have cost him the fight.  Marquez should have known better and so should have his corner.  Team Marquez had as much to do with their fighter losing as any one. Read more…

By Tom Donelson

( Member of Boxing Writers Assc. & International Boxing Research Org. )

This fight was a measure of how great Floyd Mayweather still was and Victor Ortiz’s job was to test the mantle of Mayweather’s invincibility.  The buzz from many pundits that Ortiz had a chance and much was questioned about Mayweather’s age and 16 months vacation from the ring.  The universal consensus was that Mayweather would win but Ortiz may have been his toughest competitor in a while.  CNNSI.com Chris Mannix summed up conventional wisdom, “Now, the fight: I’m picking Mayweather, by unanimous decision. Ortiz is good. When you factor in his age (24) and size, he is probably the best opponent Mayweather has faced since Oscar De La Hoya. But — and this is a big but — Floyd is just in a different class. Yes, he’s older and you can’t point to many welterweights who are still in their primes when they hit 34. But his conditioning, his otherworldly skill level and the lack of wear and tear on his body make him unique…Ortiz’s only shot is to knock him out. That won’t be easy; just hitting Mayweather hasn’t been easy. But if Ortiz can work the body early, can make it an even fight over the first four rounds and make Mayweather think he needs a knockout, he has a chance.”

Mayweather started the fight with a jab and he dodged Ortiz punches before landing a couple of body shots followed by flurry of quick hands before Ortiz backed him back.  Thus the main event of the $60 PPV began.  Mayweather’s quickness showed up immediately but Ortiz managed in the second round to land a solid right hook along with body shots before Mayweather countered with a right. In what was another good round, Ortiz did not back down and may have even taken the round.

This was Ortiz high water mark as Mayweather backed Ortiz in the third round with his quick hands.  Ortiz was less effective when forced to back up and Mayweather skills started to show up.  Within the opening seconds of the fourth round, Mayweather landed thundering combinations and Ortiz looked befuddle like” what do I do now?”  Ortiz went back to his battering style and even landed a couple of punches while Mayweather smugly signaled, “I am not hurt, I am not hurt.” Read more…

By Tom Donelson
(Member of the Boxing Writers Association and International Boxing Research Organization)

Manny Pacquiao faced the wily veteran Shane Mosley, who was hoping to find the fountain of youth for one more fight, one more shot at glory.  Before the main event, there were three important bouts with future implications.

Undefeated Mike Alvarado faced Ray Nath and over the first three rounds, Alvarado simply dominated the fight as he started to connect on solid rights without much response.  After three rounds of being beaten, Ray Nath simply did not come out for the fourth round and Alvarado won his 30th straight.

Kelly Pavlik in his comeback fight as a Super Middleweight faced a tough competitor in the undefeated Alfonso Lopez.  The first two rounds saw a rusty Pavlik as Lopez managed to outbox the former Middleweight champion but in the third round, Pavlik looked sharper with his punches and even landed a solid right that shook Lopez.

In the fourth round, Lopez got inside of Pavlik to score effectively but in the process, an accidental head butt opened up a cut over Pavlik right eyes.  Pavlik managed to connect with some rights in close quarters that may have allowed him to win the round. Lopez began the fifth round by attacking but by the middle of the round, Pavlik power started to back Lopez up.  Lopez was breathing heavily at the end of round as Pavlik landed the best punch of the round with a left hook in the middle of the round.

Pavlik dominated the sixth with solid body shots, making Lopez wince but the seventh round was a close affair as both men scored with solid shots; Lopez with a solid combination whereas Pavlik scored with solid left hook near the end of the round for his best shots.   The eighth round repeated the sixth round as Pavlik landed hard shots after shots as Lopez looked like he was fading.

There are moments that a fighter must make a stand or accept defeat; Lopez decided to go toe to toe with Pavlik in order to make something happen.  Lopez saw the fight slipping away and both fighters gave as they took as punches flew from both fighters.  The tenth round was no difference as Lopez began with combinations but Pavlik buckled Lopez with a solid left hook but Lopez found a way to respond with combination.  Pavlik countered back with a right hand that stunned Lopez but it did not deter Lopez as both fighters went at each other with last charge.

Pavlik won a majority decision with two of the judges gave him 98-92 and 99-91 scores with another judge scoring the fight even.  Pavlik made his comeback against a worthy opponent as he won a tough grinding decision. This gives the Super Middleweight yet another star in one of boxing most talented division!
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Rusty Rubin is a veteran boxing writer

Just a reminder: The annual induction of the greats at the International Boxing Hall of Fame will be on June 9 -12, in Canastota NY.

Among those expected to be inducted are Mike Tyson, Julio Cesar Chavez, Kostya Tszyu, referee Joe Cortez and a few others.

For event information check out www. Ibhof.com or call directly to (315) 797-7095.***

Well the time has come to take a close look at what might just be one of the most exciting fights of the year.

At the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 7^th, Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao takes on tough “Sugar” Shane Mosley.

At first glance the odds seem a bit too high at 5-1. Mosley, who doesn’t have the hand and foot speed he once did, can still punch and as a natural welterweight, does have the size advantage over Pac Man.

Mosley, 46-6-1 (39) also lost to Floyd Mayweather, who doesn’t seem to have the stones to face the flamboyant Philippine.

At 39, this could be the last big payday for Mosley, but if he wins, all bets are off. Shane does have a height and reach advantage over Pacquiao, and has shown a solid chin as well.

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Rusty Rubin is a veteran boxing writer

Glad to see that the baseball writers have shown some balls and said no to the admission of performance enhancement drug users into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

The clowns involved have already robbed enough money from the team owners that paid them as well as the fans who perhaps thought the ‘stars’ performances were on the up and up.

Now I can only wish the writers in other sports, especially boxing, to show the same courage.***

Nothing new on the Pacquiao – Mayweather front. If they meet up in the ring it will because Mayweather has to, sooner or later, stop running away from the only real money-match around.

The “Ring”, or one of their writers think it’s okay for Evander to keep on fighting. Allow me to agree, as long as the fans fully realize that they are getting ripped off if they are paying to see a ‘fight’.

I hope no one takes this the wrong way, after all, the “Ring” is considered the ‘Bible of Boxing’. Who am I to take issue with the ‘Bible.’ No, I’m not a heretic, but I have to challenge the writer of this articles point of view.

The Real Deal is not even a shell of what he once was, and every time Holyfield steps into the ring, he’s risking injury or worse, and if that were to happen it will be another black mark on our sport.***
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Rusty Rubin is a veteran boxing writer

We finally have a fight at the Superdome in Dallas, and it’s not the Cowboys or their cheerleaders who are involved.

The Dallas Cowboys are an embarrassment as a team. Except for their cheerleaders and a lap dance or two, they offer nothing of interest for the fans.

With that in mind, there is the possibility of a good fight taking place in this venue on November 13.

Manny Pacquiao is a solid fighter, and if Mayweather would be willing to put his undefeated tag on the line, you’d have a great fight with a great crowd. Using the Cowboys cheerleaders as ring girls seems like an extra incentive for a fight that probably doesn’t need the push.

So, let’s get to the fight in question, Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao against Tony “I plead innocent” Margarito.

Seriously, this could be a very interesting fight. The question that has to be asked is if Margarito has a solid punch with the loss of the “heavy” material in the gloves, why didn’t he show that power against Shane Mosley last year.

Another question that must be answered is if Pac Man, who trainer Freddy Roach said “had the worst training camp he had ever had.” Manny, not training hard, raises many other questions; mainly, is he taking Margarito too lightly.

First, let’s take a look at the match-up itself: At 32, Margarito is a year older than the southpaw Pacquiao.
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