Rusty Rubin is a veteran boxing writer
First I’d like to wish a speedy and full recovery to Oscar de la Hoya and Mia St. John who are both undergoing rehab treatment.***
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is planning a return to the ring in September against quick, but somewhat feint-hearted Victor Ortiz. It’s a good tune-up for a match with Manny Pacquiao later in the year, or perhaps he’s looking for another easy day at the office. In any event, this fight shouldn’t prove too difficult for Mayweather.***
Now, another thought that has crossed my little-used brain (in recent times). How about a real reality show for our over-the hill fighters who refuse to realize when the game is done?
Here’s what I propose. A box-off tournament where the losers has to retire and only one of the fighters involved can remain active (or what passes in today’s boxing for ‘active’.
For example Roy Jones Jr. fights Evander Holyfield with the loser retiring and the winner going on to fight the winner of Bernard Hopkins vs. Oliver McCall. It need not be confined to just four over-the hill pugilists. You can throw in your own names wherever you like.
While I hate reality shows, this is one concept I would gladly support. Because getting rid of some one-time great fighters who are now little more than just an embarrassment to our sport has to be a good thing, for both the fans and the fighters.
For the record, I think Hopkins easily continues to fight on.
Glove 2 Glove:
Boxing lost another legend to-be this week with the passing on of Genaro ‘Chicanito’ Hernandez.
Hernandez was a true class act and one of the nicest people, in and out of our sport, that I have ever met. He will be missed.
Chicago amateur fighters Russell Felger passed away at they young age of 39.
Prayers for their soul would be very much appreciated.
On a personal note, I would request prayers for my wonderful wife Lois, who is dealing with a still unclearly diagnosed condition.
Prayers for Audrey Talmo, wife of solid boxing guy and Glove2Glove member Ed. Also prayers for the recovery of Mills Lane and Denis Wilcox.
On behalf of these great fighters who have given their all in our great sport, we thank you for your ongoing prayers.
If you know of any boxing people in need of spiritual uplifting and/or prayers? Just drop us a line. Membership is free to all and no one will ever contact you except for prayer requests. Your name will not suddenly appear on anyone’s mailing list. In short, there is no obligation. Every prayer request is welcome and I know the recipient will appreciate it.
God listens!
To join us, or just request needed prayers, drop Dave Wilcox a line at ubtdave@earthlink.net
Glove2Glove, which has been a long-time integral part of the defunct Ringsports.com magazine and website. It is a program I wish to continue a long after I have left the sport and this earth. I want to thank Dave and Deborah Wilcox, who have offered to take over the program and promised to continue it indefinitely. This generous offer means a lot to me. We always welcome new members.***
Thanks and God bless.***
Rusty Rubin, formerly the award winning managing editor of Ringsports.com as well as the now defunct Ringsports Magazine, is the author of three highly acclaimed boxing books! “Woozel, Boxing and Me”, “Off the Canvas” and “Billy Soose, the Champion Time Forgot” co-authored by Tom Donelson. These books are all available at Authorhouse.com, and all major book retailers. They are all more than worth the purchase price, or contact me via this website for a personally autographed copy at a small extra charge.
In these hard economic times, any or all of these books will make an excellent and inexpensive presents to the boxing fan(s) in your life. They are especially appreciated gifts if the recipient is tired of watching re-runs of sit-coms and the far-less than significant reality shows. Being laid-up a bit of late, I should know. Where’s the “Gillette Cavalcade of Sports” when you need it? Make your friend or loved one ‘look sharp’, ‘feel sharp’ and be ‘sharp.’ So how are you fixed for books? You’d better check.
You and the book-gift recipient will be glad you made the right choice (or the write choice)!***
Hi David. I am a Puerto Rican boxing writer and I have to say I enjoyed your list of Top 5 Mexican boxers of all time. Growing up reading Ring en Espanol, and thinking I wanted to be a professional boxer, I can say that Ruben Olivares, Julio Cesar Chavez, Vicente Saldivar, Salvador Sanchez and Carlos Zarate as well as Miguel Canto and Jose Luis Ramirez were among my idols too. Not to mention Gilberto Roman. But what I liked most about your article was the respectful way in which you wrote about fellow Latino boxers, the Puerto Ricans. I run into too many “my country is better than yours” discussions and it gets me tired, whether a Puerto Rican is saying it or a Mexican. You, however, stand in a class by yourself because you spoke about Sanchez-Gomez, Gomez-Zarate, Chavez-Laporte and Chavez-Camacho without getting into the Mex vs. Pue theme.
I am working on an article about the pros of welcoming the decent working people of Mexico in the USA, with the famous fights between two other boxing legends, Bobby Chacon and Bazooka Limon, as a background. When it gets published I hope you can enjoy it.
BTW Lupe Pintor was also of the finest quality of fighters ever and he should be in the IBHOF soon as well. Among Puerto Ricans, my favorite by far (and my favorite of all time) Wilfredo Gomez but I also love my fellow Boricuas Wilfred Benitez, Wilfredo Vazquez, Alfredo Escalera, Sammy Serrano, Tito Trinidad, Hector Macho Camacho Padre, Ivan Calderon and Carlos De Leon…some of those (at least Vazquez, Escalera, Serrano, Camacho Sr, Trinidad and De Leon) should be joining Chavez, Olivares, Zarate, Lopez, Sanchez and (hopefully) Morales, Barrera and Ramirez in the IBHOF someday!