I was going to write a short obit about Budd Schulberg, until I read the one written by NY Boxing Examiner Michael Marley and I decided not to embarrass myself. I’ll say that I did shake his hand at the International Boxing Hall of Fame a few years ago and it was a thrill for me.
What a class! Shulberg, George Foreman, Dan Duva (posthumously), and Curtis Cokes of Dallas. Since I know several members of the Duva family personally and grew up knowing the Dallas Legend Cokes, it was a very special Hall of Fame class for me. It seems like a lifetime ago but I was in the audience when a young bantamweight prospect named Gabriel Elizondo of San Antonio, Texas earned a big victory in his hometown on a Fox Sports Net over a just as young Glenn Donaire. Famed scribe Michael Katz said it was the best six-round bout he ever saw. Even then someone from TV said “The brother was even better.” There were a few other big time writer’s there. It was a Dan Goossen card. I think it was Goossen’s America Presents. I believe the main event involved Oscar Diaz but if you remember details from around 2001 please let me know.
I do know “the brother,” Nonito Donaire, is creeping up the pound for pound lists and is coming of of the destruction of another San Antonio fighter name Raul Martinez. Donaire defends his title in Las Vegas Saturday night on Bob Arum’s Pinoy Power card.
I congratulate contender Adam “Swamp Donkey” Richards for losing 40 pounds to campaign as a cruiserweight rather than heavyweight. He fights August 22 on the HBO card featuring Juan Diaz v. Paulie Malignaggi from Houston. I’m going to follow this. Zab Judah vs, Matt Hatton being bounced around. Speaking for myself only, I’m tired of the Judah show already. I’ll just pass and hope nobody owes him another title fight.
Veterans Jesus Chavez vs. David Diaz have a fight coming up. Both have had long fine careers but let’s retire already. Could you imagine better trainers than either of these two? I’m just not very hip. I don’t want to see this British transsexual boxer or know anything else about it. Let him/her find some other way to sue someone else for ignoring their rights or publicity.
