Rusty Rubin is a veteran boxing writer
Two important fights this weekend and both in Vegas on the same Saturday night.
At the Palms, on PPV, come-backing Bronco McKart takes on Aussie Anthony Mundine in a middleweight match-up.
Southpaw McKart took two years off from boxing but has looked good in his return against fighters a bit less quality than Mundine.
McKart. 54-9-1 (32), at age 41, gives up four years in youth to Mundine, 43-4 (25). But McKart does have a slight edge in height and reach and that may serve him well in this bout.
Keeping in mind that a clash of heads is always possible when a southpaw fights a conventional fighter, there is always a chance for a stoppage. With that in mind, Mundine is not your ‘conventional’ fighter.
My pick, McKart to keep it going a bit longer, riding out a tough hard-fought decision.
In the other fight this weekend, at Mandalay Bay, Amir Khan 26-2-1 (18), goes up against Danny Garcia, 23-0, (14). Although the record book shows it as a loss, one of Khan’s losses was a bad, hometown decision to Lamont Peterson in Washington, D.C.
This takes nothing away from Garcia, 24, who has also fought some iron in the super middleweight class. The reach and height advantage goes to Khan, 25, by a small margin.
This should be a more exciting fight than the one being offered by PPV, but you never know what happens when the two combatants face off against each other.
Khan by decision.
Glove 2 Glove:
Prayers for the souls of Jimmy Bivins, 93, who fought all the iron in his many years as a top fighter; Great artist of boxing, entertainment and sports, LeRoy Neiman, 91; and former Aussie top contender Tony Campbell who left us at age 48; along with another Australian champ, Charlie Dunn, 81:
Prayers for the return to health of outstanding boxing guys Alex “The Bronx Bomber” Ramos. Alex has done much to improve the welfare of retired boxers. Your prayers for him have worked in the past. Alex is still facing some serious obstacles.
Young ex-champ Paul Williams was involved in a motorcycle accident and needs your prayers for a full recovery.
Prayers also requested for the recovery of former champ Rocky Lockridge.
Tony Triem ix also in need of your prayers, as is L.H. Dalton and Marilyn Johnson.
Please pray for my Aussie mate and Glove2Glove member John MacDougall, who had to deal with the recent passing of his wife of many years Gwen. John is also recovering from hip replacement surgery.
Also prayers for the recovery of outstanding referee Mills Lane and Denis Wilcox.
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 former champ Gerald McClellan, who is confined to wheelchairs.
On behalf of these great fighters who have given their all in our great sport, we thank you for your ongoing prayers.
Do you know of any boxing people in need of spiritual uplifting and/or prayers? Just drop us a line. Membership to our prayer group is free to all and no one will ever contact you except for other prayer requests. Your name will not suddenly appear on anyone’s mailing list. In short, there is absolutely no obligation. Every prayer request is most welcome and I know the recipient will appreciate it.
Why? Because it’s healing to know that other people care, even about people they don’t know, and have the knowledge that God listens!
To join the Glove2Glove prayer group, or just request much needed prayers, drop Dave Wilcox a line at ubtdave@earthlink.net.
Glove2Glove, which has been a long-time integral part of the recently defunct Ringsports.com magazine and website. It is a program I wish to have continued 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, award winning managing editor of Ringsports.com as well as now defunct Nevada Boxing and 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 small purchase price, or contact me via this website for a personally autographed copy at a small extra shipping charge. All proceeds from these books go to fight cancer.
RUSTY WOULD LIKE TO URGE ALL HIS FRIENDS TO LIST THE FOLLOWING INFO ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE AS WELL AS YOUR E-MAIL. “HAVING BEEN BLESSED WITH SO MANY GREAT AND CARING PEOPLE IN MY LIFE, I HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO GET INVOLVED WITH NETWORKING, I’MJUST TOO DAMN OLD FOR THAT”.
HENCEFORTH, (or at least for the current quarter) ALL PROFITS FROM THE SALE OF ANY OR ALL OF THESE BOOKS WILL GO TO THE SUSAN G. KOMAN FOUNDATION, AND BE USED TO FIND A CURE FOR BREAST CANCER. . I ALSO CHALLENGE ALL OTHER JOURNALISTS, BOXING OR OTHERWISE, TO DO WHAT THEY CAN TO SUPPORT ME IN THIS EFFORT. IT’S ALSO CHANCE TO CHANGE THE PUBLIC OPINION OF THE PRESS AND OUR SPORT, AS WELL AS DOING SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR WORLD.
Together we may be able to find a cure for this dread disease and result in a knockout win for the sport of boxing. Here’s a wonderful chance for you to enjoy a good reading for a great cause.
“The sale of any or all of these very enjoyable books will help an important cause (breast cancer research). I personally ask everyone, if they do nothing else, to please pass this information along whatever social network sites you use. Simply enjoy a good book and help a great cause!
Please take note that my next book will be about “MIRACLES” PERSONAL, OR OTHERWISE, and I would appreciate any submissions you may deem worthy. Of course your privacy (names) can and will be withheld by request.
I now have some time to try to finish this latest work, which, God willing, will bring the world so much closer to finding a cure for cancer. Please send me your miracles at rustyrubin@sbcglobal.net
Please allow me to recommend, two other great books, the “Arc of Boxing” by Mike Silver and “My Life among the Icons” by Johnny Ortiz.
In the 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.
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’ to parrot an old commercial.
I now have some time to try to finish my latest work, which, God willing, will bring the world so much closer to finding a cure for cancer. Saving or prolonging just one life, takes us a step closer to finding a cure. Please send me your miracles at rustyrubin@sbcglobal.net
You and the book-gift recipient will be glad you made the right choice (or the write choice)!***
Finally, “My 2012 New Year’s resolution was to spend the rest of my life helping others, and I really need everyone’s help to do that.. Please step into the ring with me to add power to all the voices that are crying out for a cure for dread diseases.
Keep punching, always….Rusty