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TALKIN BOXIN
by Howie Reed
October 7, 2003
TIS always better to tell the truth than to get
caught
in a fib. With that as I guiding light I have an
apology to make to all my readers who were awaiting
with baited breath my “live and in person account” of
the Corrales-Cassmayor and Holyfield-Toney fight.
Here’s the deal. Last week I mentioned that I would be
“there” as in “You’re looking live at the Events
center from a major Las Vegas Casino. There in the
brightly coloured clothes is Talkin Boxin’s Howie
Reed.” Well it didn’t happen. Here’s the deal. I was
granted a credential to cover the fight by the “powers
to be”. When I arrived at the venue on Friday to
pick up the ‘large plastic” credential to hang around
my neck like an old man’s purse I noticed that it was
a different colour than others. After the usual chit
chat in the press room I ventured into the actual
arena. There were about 25 rows of tables with chairs
for the press. (say 200 seats.) My credential didn’t
allow me in that area. I was relegated to the section
farthest away from the ring and closes to God. At my
age I’m about as close to God as I wish to be at this
time.
“Hummm”, though I. Put me in a seat they could have
sold. Nice folks. “Upon further review”, it dawned on
me that these seats just happen to be the only seats
close to God that had the view of the ring restricted
by two TV camera’s. What a coincidence. Must be some mistake. Now I faced a
major decision. Do I attend the fight and report on how a TV camera persons
work, lie about the fights that I couldn’t see or stay home and ask Phil
“The Showman” Jones (England) to report for Talkin Boxin. I choose the easy
way out by sending an e-mail to “The Showman”. This of course was after
returning my credential to a “good guy” PR type with the words, “Someone
else may appreciate this credential. I’ll celebrate my birthday somewhere
else.” No of course I didn’t mention the TV cameras or the fact that the
seats were closer to heaven than the 500 planes that land each and every day
at the Airport.. Then I Typed, “ Here’s “The Showman's” report on events
from Las Vegas via London & SKY TV.” Except that it isn’t. Like English Joe
who use to report for Talkin Boxin and got lost window shopping in
Amsterdam, “The Showman” is MIA. Soooooooooooo. Two great fights see
them next Saturday at 10PM on Showtime.
THIS column was suppose to lead off with the story’s
of a big weekend in boxing. If you lived in the USA
that means you either paid to watch or you didn’t see
them. Kinda of a sad commentary when the “good” fights all call for a “pound
of flesh”, to insert a little
Bill Shakespeare in here. An argument can be made that those who paid the
$49.95 to see Holyfield-Toney and Corrales-Cassmayor or those who paid out a
lesser amount for “la Noche’ de Mexicanas” got more than their monies worth.
That is if you consider $35.95 a good price to watch WBC featherweight
champion Erik Morales scored a third round knockout over former
champ Guty Espadas in a paid workout.
A guess is that each PPV hurt the other. Some may
have forgotten that when the Holyfield-Toney was first
made, Top Ranks Bob Arum made some “insensitive
remarks”. I know I never use that term but it’s now
become the “KOD”. (Kiss of Death. Ted Bundy and
Jeffery Dahlmer could be forgiven cause they didn’t
make “insensitive remarks”. Heck they only killed
people and it wasn’t their fault.) . Arum ridiculed
the fight, the promoter, both fighters but not the
venue. The venue was surely left out as the next time
he wants to sell a fight he’ll be there hat in hand
for money. That aside it’s good to remember what he
said and where he stands on the creditability scale.
In the days leading up to the fight, promoter Dan
Goossen finally got around to adding his two cents
about Arum and his attack on his promotions. Arum had a competing PPV on
HBO. “It’s obvious Bob hasn’t learned one thing from his latest bag of false
and inaccurate accusations directed towards the Nevada State Athletic
Commission, which he eventually apologized for and admitted that he was
wrong again. And quite frankly, he owes the fans an apology for his latest.
He’s not referring to an event with more action if he’s describing his show;
that’s an open workout. His last PPV extravaganza (would) put us to sleep
with its lack of action and Holyfield Vs. Toney will have more action in one
round than his September 13th bout. The fans know which event is worth every
cent that they pay for it.” I concur.
THE Weasel Waltz comes to an end…for now. The Nevada State Athletic
Commission is just too darnn nice and or Bob Arum is just to powerful
(politically) for to mess with. After doing what would have made any other
man in a “gelding” Bob Arum is allowed to slink off and continue to do
business. This unimpeded by the type of “drop your pants and bend over
spanking” that was called for. The Chairman of the Nevada is too nice a guy.
Dr. Luther Mack said in a released statement, “ has excused promoter Bob
Arum from appearing at the October 15 commission meeting to explain comments
made following the De La Hoya-Mosley rematch last month. I did what I
thought was right, and I wasn't looking to crucify the man. I'm not a
vindictive guy. He apologized, we accepted it and we move on. But we told
him that we would not look kindly on any similar outbursts in the future."
What a joke. If anyone out there through that boxing
was one of your slimier sports you now have all the
evidence you need. The Nevada State Athletic
Commission may not be vindictive but how about
standing up for your commissioner and its executive
director. Bob Arum accused two of your top officials
of lying, cheating and fixing a boxing match. He also
accused the commission of being crook’s. But what the heck he “almost said
he was sorry”. Which Mr. Chairman he never said. Member he was “in the heat
of passion.” Next time the words “best commission” in the world are
heard it will be difficult not to bring up yesterdays lunch via a visit to
the porcelain microphone. The action of the commission is as disgusting as
was Arums. No major sport would have let Arum skate with a “Be a good boy.”
How did Arum react ? Kevin Iole reports, "I don't want to hear about it, I
don't want to talk about it and I don't ever want to think about it again,"
Arum said by telephone from Los Angeles, where he is promoting a
pay-per-view card Saturday. "On Oct. 15, I'll be in Europe, and that's going
to be the last thing on my mind. I still know that De La Hoya won that
fight. I've got people coming up to me on the streets here and telling me
that Oscar clearly won the fight. But I have nothing to say about that
subject and I won't ever again."
BOY oh Boy. When I make a miscue I make a dusy. Last week being the clever
dog that I am I wrote, “If the
date October 3 rings a Bell it’s Dan Goossen’s
birthday, the day that Bobby Thompson hit the shot
heard round the world (“The Giants win the Pennant”)
and the day in 1956 when a perfect game was pitched in the World Series.
(Ryne Duren against the Milwaukee Braves).” That elicited the following
e-mail from Super Scout of the Chicago Cubs Gary Hughes,
“Beach..Ryne Duren..no hotter…explain ?” he then
closed with secret “Fraternity symbols” that if I
revealed them to you I’d have to kill you. Of course
it’s Ryne Duren and he never threw a no hitter in the
World Series. The 1956 World Series was contested
between the Yankee’s and the Dodgers (not the Braves) and the no
hitter was thrown on October 8. One last item. It was thrown by Don Larsen
(which is why they called him Don “No Hit” Larsen not by Druan.) In the
first game that Larsen pitched in the series, October 5, he lasted less than
two innings as the Dodgers lit him up for 6 runs in that stanza. Beside
those minor errors the story was 100% correct.
THERE are things in life that are “givens”. “Gives?”
Yep. There’s Baseball, Mom and Apple pie, when
something is lost you’ll find it the last place you
look. (My Mom use top say that, “Howard you’ll find
your keys the last place you look.” “Yes Mom I know.
Once I’ve found it why would I keep looking”. Whack.)
In boxing the heavyweight division will always be in
turmoil. The reasons many the solutions few. It’s
also almost a “given” that most boxing reads like
either a bad soap opera or a reality show . When those
two are combined you have a hit TV show something that boxing hasn’t had in
a coons age. (“Them little
critters do live a long time”.) During the last five
years a major player in the heavyweight division was
David Tua. David had everything needed to be a
champion. He could hit like a mule (“And boy do those
critters hit”), and a really nice guy about you out of
the ring scandal was non-existent. By his side through
it all was Kevin Berry. Manager, trainer and pal.
That’s all gone now with the announcement that David
has fired Berry as his trainer and wants him out.
The New Zealand Herald broke the story and as only
natural has been on it from day one. “The image of
David Tua and Kevin Barry has always been close mates rather than business
associates. Tua even shared Barry's Green Bay (New Zealand) home as he
battled to contain an expanding waistline. Tua signed with Barry as a
19-year-old, fresh from claiming a bronze medal at the 1992 Olympics. Barry
had won silver at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics after a controversial win
over future heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield. Since then their
conversations have always featured "we" and "us" rather than "me" and "I".
Boxing broadcaster Colonel Bob Sheridan said, “ I
know Kevin Barry loves David like a brother. They have
always had more than a business relationship. I don't
think Kevin was 100 per cent convinced when the rift
first happened. What has happened is weird because of the past relationship
between them, but it isn't weird
in boxing circles when fighters get the taste of money
and they are in the situation where everybody wants a
piece of the action. “
The rumors of a “riff” began to circulate just about
the time that Tua-Rahman III was announced for
December 13 “On the Boardwalk of Atlantic City”. At
the same time there was “talk” of a riff between
Tua-Berry and finance manager Martin Pugh. It should e no surprise that the
rather larger than life figure of
Don King looms in the background. King, so it is said,
has been trying to sign Tua for sometime so that he
might add to his stable that includes Chris Byrd, John
Ruiz, Lamon Brewster and Fres Oquendo. You could also maybe win a bet
by guessing that he has a piece of a couple of others like Tyson, Rahman and
Holyfield.
Barry for his part seems to be taking the “high road”
at least in his public statements. “"I have given it
100 per cent and I think I have done a pretty good
job. The news is hurtful. I've been a mother figure,
I've been a father figure.” Tua on many occasions
said, “My relationship with Kevin Barry is like a
marriage'” "Well that marriage is going through a
rocky state at the moment. I don't know if it's
divorce yet, but we'll see," said Berry. While
there’s are those that have criticized Berry he has
gotten and kept Tua in the spotlight even though each
time Tua “stepped to the plate with runners in scoring
position” he whiffs. Continuing the baseball lingo,
against Lewis he not only whiffed but took a third
called strike right down the pipe. Lewis tossed him a
creampuff and Tua blinked. That aside Berry kept Tua
on top. Barry still has a managerial contract so we
will see what we will see.
THERE has been little interest and lots of derision
inside the fight game with Roy Jones backing away from heavyweights
and instead signing to fight Antonio
Traver for the light heavy title. Boxingtalk.com, not
to be confused with this award winning column Talkin
Boxin, published a statement by Traver which if true
would validate all the thinks that “Moi” has typed
about Jones over the years. If not true, what the heck
still almost as good as reading the National Enquirer
while waiting in the checkout line with your weeks
supply of “amber magic elixir.”
“G. Leon has just spoken to light heavyweight champ,
Antonio Tarver, who has informed us that Roy Jones Jr.
has decided to pull out of their November 8th fight.
Antonio said that Roy Jones insisted on being the last
person to come in the ring and the last person to be
announced, issuing a deadline of noon today (October
2) virtually presenting Tarver with a "my way or the
highway" ultimatum, but Tarver wasn't having any of
this. Antonio said, "This punk has been trying to find
a way out of the fight since I shocked him by signing
the contract. He thinks that he's bigger than boxing.
If he were fighting God for the 175 lb/championship,
he would insist that God come in first. This spoiled
brat is afraid of the ass whooping that I have for
him. Maybe his pay masters at HBO have nothing better to do than bow
down to his demands. He had the opportunity to come in last if he would have
fought me when I was the mandatory across the board. Now he needs to respect
my championships. But Antonio Tarver is going to teach him a lesson,
and beat his outside and inside the ring. It's about time somebody stood up
to this bitch. Now Roy can decide if he wants to be a man and put on his
pants like a man instead of wearing his skirt and hiding behind his lackeys
by showing some balls. He thinks that he's going to intimidate me, but I'm
going to show him like I've done all these years that in my book he ain't
s**t. He signed the contract I agreed, and now he's coming to add new
terms after the contract was signed. If his legal team
is that weak, I'm going to show him now that my legal
team ain't. I want his ass in the ring, he wants to
hide behind his lawyers. Anyway he wants it, he's
going to lose. I will beat his ass inside or outside
the ring," said Tarver. Gee that ought to hype PPV
sales.
AND finally. Where does it say in the United States
Constitution that “Free speech” is only protected if
“the powers” agree with the speaker ? Where in the
United States Constitution is it written that
“insensitive remarks” call for a person to loose their
job and have “free speech” taken away ? No where.
That’s why the recent “pillorying” of WASP Rush
Limbaught is so ugly. He has the right to his opinion.
In the coming weeks politics will get really ugly as
the “bums” in California will do everything possible
to over turn what will probably be a 10 point win for
Arnold. One of the main argument in California will be
that the “dumb” couldn’t figure out how to vote. Just
right. We’ve had too many “dumb” folks voting anyway.
With the loose in the ring maybe Evandler Holyfield
will retire, maybe Toney will fight a real “live”
heavyweight and win. Talkin Boxin is going on Hiatus
for the rest of October. The next Talkin Boxin will
hit the www.com on November 2 or not.
(Opinions and editorials of
HotBoxingNews.com is the opinion of those writers and may not be the
opinion of HotBoxingNews.com)
Want to make contact or comments to Howie Reed
Go Here! mailto:reed@hotboxingnews.com
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