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1. Antonio Tarver - "The Magic Man" made it two out of three against Roy Jones last Saturday. Now that it's clear he has Jones' number, a rubber match with Glen Johnson is the next logical move for the champ. After that, a move up to heavyweight may not be too far behind.

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2. Glen Johnson - Johnson is out to prove his breakout year in 2004 was no fluke. After losing to Antonio Tarver in June, Johnson bounced back with an easy decision victory over George Khalid Jones September 30th. Look for "The Road Warrior" to land another big fight in the near future.

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3. Zsolt Erdei - Erdei made a terrific splash when he easily out pointed Julio Gonzalez last year. Since then, the undefeated Hungarian has struggled with Huga Gernan Geray. Erdei won a majority decision against Geray last year and won a split decision this year. Former WBA champion Mehdi Sahnoune is next (October 22nd).

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4. Roy Jones - Jones, despite losing his last three fights, says he will be back in the ring. The good news is the former champ did manage to give Tarver some trouble in their third fight, which is a lot more than could be said for their second fight. Now it seems Jones is a fighter more interested in not being knocked out than winning the fight.

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5. Fabrice Tiozzo - Tiozzo effectively ended the career of Dariusz Michalczewski in February by knocking out the Pole in the 6th round. A December defense against Paul Murdoch figures to be next.

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6. Clinton Woods - Woods out pointed Julio Gonzalez last month to win the IBF title. Before that, he knocked out the undefeated Rico Hoye in the fifth round in March. So far, 2005 has been very kind to the man best known for a questionable draw with Glen Johnson and a TKO loss to Roy Jones.

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7. Tomasz Adamek - The WBC champion earned his title the hard way - by beating Aussie Paul Briggs in a 12 round war in May. Now he takes on Thomas Ulrich October 15th in Germany. Adamek is a extremely tough, undefeated young champion that has a bright future in a division ruled by many fighters in the twilight of their careers.

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8. Paul Briggs - The former champ lost his belt to the man one spot ahead of him on this list, Tomasz Adamek, in May. Briggs' next opponent has yet to be determined, although he seems committed to fighting again before the year is out.

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9. Thomas Ulrich - Ulrich's lone loss on his record was against Glen Johnson, which says a lot of good things about the German. Now he gets his shot at a title, against Tomasz Adamek of Poland for the WBC strap.

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10. Julio Gonzalez - After beating dangerous veteran Montell Griffin by technical decision earlier this year, Gonzalez lost to Clinton Woods in Woods' backyard of England. At 29, Gonzalez has already fought elite competition and won a major title (WBO). There's still plenty of time to rebuild.

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Castillo vs Corrales II final press conference

- Diego Corrales, WBC/WBO lightweight champion (r): "This is round 11. We are picking up where we left of in the first fight five months ago. This is the final battle and I will win the war. If necessary, I will go to Hell's end to finish this fight and keep my belts."

Jose Luis Castillo, former two-time WBC lightweight champion (l): "I know I lost the battle but THIS is a war. And I know I will win the war. Saturday's fight will be much better than the first one ... because I will leave the ring as world champion ... again."

"Uno Mas!" . . . "One More Time!" -- the world lightweight championship rematch between Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo, takes place Saturday, October 8, at Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV. Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Top Rank, in association with Caesars Palace and Wynn Las Vegas, will be broadcast live on SHOWTIME Pay-Per-View begining at 9 P.M. ET / 6 P.M. PT

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James Figg: Father of Modern Boxing

06.10.05 - By: M.C. Southorn: James Figg was born to a poor farming family in Thames Village, Oxfordshire in 1695. He was the youngest of seven children. Figg took to the martial arts early, and he was already reknowned as a master of the short-sword and cudgel when he took up unarmed fighting. Based from The Greyhound Inn in Cornmarket, Thame, Figg travelled far and wide working the fighting booths of the popular fairs of the time. He was soon a regular at such festivals as the Southwark fair, where he challenged all comers at both armed and unarmed combat “from noon ‘till night”. It was here that he was first spied by the Earl of Peterborough, who became his patron and took him to London.

With the Earl’s patronage, Figg opened a fighting academy in the Tottenham Court Road district. He called it “Figg’s Amphitheatre” and became an instructor, and later, a promoter of some of his 1000 students.

His business card, designed by his artist friend William Hogarth (who later painted his portrait) declared Figg to be the “master of the noble science of defence” available to teach the use of the “small backsword and quarterstaff at home and abroad”. Although there are records of prizefights in England dating from 1681 (the first being between the Duke of Albemere’s butler and his butcher), Figg is the first to have attained national celebrity thanks in part to his association with Hogarth.

The boxing of Figg’s day was not so much boxing as streetfighting. Bare knuckles and open-hand blows were allowed, as was grappling, and hip-throws. Kicking a man when he was down (known as “spurring”) and eye-gouging were permitted as well. In these respects the sport was less civilized than it had been in ancient Greek times, and in fact, it closer resembled Pankration (Greek no-holds-barred fighting) than it did Pygmahia (Greek boxing). Thanks to his Academy, Figg popularized both armed and unarmed fighting techniques, and added the parries of the sword and staff to the conventional unarmed combat of the time.

In 1719, the 24-year-old Figg declared himself Champion of England. His claim was universally accepted, as he had beaten all the other major fighters including Tim Buck, Tom Stokes, Bill Flanders and Chris Clarkson.

In 1720, Figg effectively franchised sold his Amphitheatre to one of his students and set up shop at a place called The Boarded House in the Bear Garden, located in Marleybone Fields on Oxford Street in London. At this establishment contests between men, between women, and between baited animals were held. A printed article from the period featuring a challenge from one Rowland Bennett of Ireland asserts that, having seen a demonstration by James Figg, Bennett became “fully persuaded that if the proper method is executed against him, he (like Sampson with his hair off) is like other men.” Bennett offered
the following challenge: “For a trial of which I do now invite him to meet me and exercise the usual weapons fought on the stage.”

Bennett is referring to the custom of the time that had fights consist first of a sword duel to first blood, then of a fistfight to first fall, and finally of a match of cudgels (clubs) to first fall. The winner of two out of three of these matches would win the contest. This method of combat was all the more risky considering antibiotic medicine did not exist, and there was little to prevent an infected wound from becoming fatal.

Figg replied that he would “give the said Rowland Bennett the opportunity of putting this proper method in execution,” promising that he would, “not fail to meet at the place and time appointed”. Figg goes on to express his hopes that “spectators may from thence receive entire satisfaction” and he closes by promising all that his methods will be “by the way of the old style”. The article ends, like all good advertisements with, “The doors will be opened at four and the matters mount at six precisely.”

Figg retained his claim to his Title against Rowland Bennett, and also against such fighters as Philip McDonald (the Dublin Carpenter), James Stokes (Citizen of London), and William Finn of Ireland. In all, Figg was believed to have had around 270 fights, and he only lost once, in 1726, to a pipe-maker named Ned Sutton. Figg, then 31, claimed he was ill and demanded and received a re-match, which he won. Sutton demanded and received a third bout to determine who was The Champion once and for all.

In this third fight, Sutton was stabbed in the knee in the first round and was thus forced to retire before the unarmed round could begin so Figg regained his Title.

Shortly after this fight James Figg went into semi-retirement. He still called himself “Champion”, yet he preferred to promote his young protégés, who tended to favour unarmed prizefighting over swords and cudgels.

In the years following his unofficial retirement, Figg’s Amphitheatre attracted hundreds of young boxers – enough to keep the master in the business of fight promotions until his death in 1734 at the age of 38 (most likely of tuberculosis). With Figg gone The Championship of England was up for grabs and there is some confusion as to who exactly was the heir to The Title. Regardless of this, and in spite of the vast differences between today’s sport and that of the early 18th century, the modern lineage of

The Heavyweight Championship of the World begins with James Figg.

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Witter Lynes up Colin, Branco and Mayweather

06.10.05 - Bradford’s Junior Witter will meet Italy’s Gianluca Branco in a final eliminator for the WBC light welterweight title once he has successfully defended his British, Commonwealth and European crowns against Colin Lynes at the York Hall in Bethnal Green on October 21st.Whilst the Lynes fight – promoted by Matchroom Sports - has been scheduled for a while now, the WBC’s decision to mandate a contest for the right to fight their champion Floyd Mayweather was only made today, (October 6th), at their annual convention being held in Cadiz, Spain.

“This news means that Junior is rapidly closing in on a super fight against Mayweather, one of the world’s best pound for pound fighters,” said promoter Mick Hennessy, who is in Cadiz representing his boxers.

There was more good news for Witter. The WBC also decided that if a purse bid were required to establish who had the right to promote the fight against Branco, he would be entitled to 60% of the winning offer.

“Normally, in this situation the winning bid is split 50-50 between the two co-challengers for the mandatory position,” Hennessy explained.

“But after a vigorous discussion between the WBC, Branco’s promoter and Hennessy Sports, it was agreed that the split would be 60-40 in Junior’s favour.

“This is in order to reflect the fact that Junior has already won a WBC eliminator – when he dominated the world class Lovemore N’Dou in Los Angeles in February, scoring two knockdowns on the way to a sensational points win.

“When you also consider Junior’s recent performances, his loyalty to the WBC and the fact that we have requested final eliminators for him in the past, it becomes even more evident that he deserves the bigger share.”

Witter, of course, first has to get past Lynes, who fancies his chances of causing an upset. Last week the 26-year-old from Dagenham stated that it was time for Witter to be beaten by a younger fighter. It is a claim that has been met with derision.

“Is that all he can say about why he is going to win this fight? Sounds like he is grasping at straws to me,” said Witter. “Yes I am older than him, but if anything I will use that as motivation. I enjoy beating young up and comers who think they can take me on; it gives me satisfaction.

“And after all, I am only 31 – and a young 31 at that. You haven’t seen me in too many wars have you? How am I going to get old yet?

“In fact, I am still improving. I am fitter that I have ever been, faster than I have ever been and packing a bigger punch with both fists. Unfortunately for him, he’s going to be finding that out first hand.

“Hopefully I will peak around the time I get to fight Mayweather next year. I will need to be at my best for that, but I know that if I land flush on him, or any other 140lb fighter, its lights out.”

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Jose Luis Castillo: "I am 1000 Percent Ready"

05.10.05 - Two-time world champion Jose Luis Castillo shook out at Caesars Palace today and said he is "1000 per cent ready" to take on Diego 'Chico' Corrales in 'One More Time - The Epic Rematch' at the Thomas and Mack on Saturday night. "Corrales won the first battle - but I am going to win the war and believe me, this second fight will be a war," said Castillo..

Castillo, with a large crowd wrapped around an outdoor ring, shook out, hit the mitts, cracked the speed bag and then signed many autographs and posed for photographs with fight fans.

He looked in top condition, was in excellent spirits and was at the outdoor arena - the Roman Plaza at Caesars Palace - for over an hour.

Carlos 'Famoso' Hernandez, Jorge Arce, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. then hit the ring followed by Chico Corrales.

Chavez Jr., it was announced today, will take on Jeremy Stiers of Kansas City. The fight is scheduled for six rounds.

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Seek and Destroy: Klitschko vs. Rahman
World Heavyweight Championship. Saturday, November 12, Live on Pay-Per-View.

LAS VEGAS, September 19 – There can only be one king and on Saturday, November 12, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV, world heavyweight champion Vitali "Dr. Iron Fist" Klitschko and interim heavyweight champion Hasim "The Rock" Rahman will go mano-a-mano in the biggest event of the year for the biggest prize in sports. Top Rank, in association with K2 Promotions, Caesars Palace and Wynn Las Vegas, presents "Seek and Destroy!" -- The Heavyweight Championship of the World.

"This is the most significant heavyweight championship bout in many years," said Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank. "There's nothing like a highly-anticipated heavyweight title fight," said Mark Taffet of HBO PPV. "Boxing fans have been waiting a long time for the Klitschko-Rahman showdown and on Nov. 12 they're finally going to get it."

Tickets for "Seek and Destroy" go on sale Wednesday and are $1,000, $750, $500, $300, $200, $100 and $50. The box office phone number is (702)-739-3267.

HBO PPV.com
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My personal opinion - Rahman is the strongest fighter in the heavyweight division right now. He has a lot of weapons. I don't want to make the same mistake as Lennox Lewis.
- Vitali Klitschko
HBO PPV.com
Klitschko, 35-2 with 34 knockouts, from Kiev, Ukraine, is the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the Ring Magazine champion. He is universally recognized as the World Heavyweight Champion. WBC interim champion Rahman, 41-5-1 with 33 knockouts, of Baltimore, MD., is looking to regain the title he won in 2001, when he knocked out Lennox Lewis in South Africa.

Arum also announced that World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Antonio Margarito, 32-4, 33 KOs, of Tijuana, Mexico, will defend his world title against Manuel Gomez, 28-10-2, 20 KOs, of Laredo, Texas.

As an added attraction, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. “the enormously popular teenage son of the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez" will box on the Pay-Per-View telecast.

At the age of 34, Klitschko has been fighting as a professional for over 8 ½ years. He won the vacant WBC world heavyweight title in April, 2004, and made a successful defense in his last fight on Dec. 11.

In his title defense Klitschko tore into Danny Williams and dominated the fight. Klitschko scored one knockdown in the first round, cut Williams over his right eye and scored additional knockdowns in the third, seventh and eighth rounds.

The referee stopped the fight at 1:26 of the eighth round. Klitschko led by scores of 70-60, 70-60 and 70-59.

"I was surprised he was able to take so many punches," said Klitschko.

Klitschko will now focus on Rahman who is the WBC interim heavyweight champion.

Rahman was scheduled to challenge Klitschko on April 30 for the title but the fight was postponed and rescheduled. The WBC authorized a title fight for the interim with the condition that Klitschko fight the winner.

HBO PPV.com
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I just had some chicken Kiev prepared for him, because I am so happy he's not chicken anymore. We're finally getting in the ring. I'm glad he's all healed up. I just hope and pray he doesn't stub his toe or prick his finger before November 12th.
- Hasim Rahman
HBO PPV.com
Rahman won that fight, defeating Monte Barrett on August 13.

Rahman had an unusual introduction to boxing. When he was a teenager, he was challenged by a local boxer to what was called a "body punching contest."

"I got the better of him and he said I should stop by the Mack Lewis Gym. I never forgot what he told me 'You could make a million bucks."

So, at the age of 20, Rahman began training in the local gym.

Klitschko is the older brother of 1996 Olympic gold medalist and former WBO world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. Vitali was born in Kyrgystan, Wladimir in Kazakhstan. When they were young boys they traveled extensively through the Soviet Union with their father, Wladimir Rodionovich, a colonel in the Soviet Air Force from Ukraine, and their mother, Nadezhda Ulyanovna, a clerk, from Russia. The family settled in the Ukraine in 1985.

Vitali started boxing at the age of 13, his brother Wladimir at 14. Both brothers have doctorates and speak Ukrainian, Russian, German and English.

The Klitschko vs. Rahman pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT on November 12, has a suggested retail of $49.95. It will be broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to over 50 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD.

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AAPRP Announces ‘Medical Recommendations To Improve Safety In Boxing'

Darien, Connecticut – October 7, 2005, – At the request of boxing commissions and in response to the recent ringside tragedies, The American Association of Professional Ringside Physicians (AAPRP) announced today recommendations to improve safety in professional boxing. At the recent AAPRP Medical Conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the AAPRP Board Members in cooperation with the AAPRP membership discussed immediate changes in boxing to decrease the likelihood of additional injuries or catastrophes in boxing. Dr. Michael Schwartz, AAPRP Chairman stated, “It is time that we urge all commissions across the world to develop uniformed standards to protect these athletes. In an inherently dangerous sport, it is imperative that these recommendations be adopted immediately in the hope of saving a life. Obviously, additional research is needed and we ask all of our ringside physician experts to continue to investigate and develop ringside protocols to improve the sport.”

Below are the AAPRP Recommendations:

All sparring should take place with oversized gloves to minimize the cumulative forces of the punches during training. (i.e. Heavyweights 20-22 oz gloves...Middleweights 16 oz gloves and lightweights 12 oz gloves, etc.)
Minimize head shots during training to decrease the likelihood of pre-existing damage prior to entering the ring for the competition.

All states immediately adopt the minimum medical requirements of the ABC and AAPRP. If these requirements are not adopted, the AAPRP asks promoters and sanctioning bodies to consider not holding boxing matches in these venues until they comply with these recommendations.

Boxers who have not fought for over 12 months should not fight more than 10 rounds. The question of inactivity raises concerns about the likelihood of increased risks of injuries based on inactivity and conditioning.

Fighter's not be permitted to lose more than 3% body weight at the weigh-in before a fight. Additionally, no fighter gaining more than 5% body weight should be permitted to compete after the weigh-in.

Medial data bank is implemented immediately to follow the medical history during a boxer's career.

Promoters, managers, cornermen, commissioners are encouraged to anonymously report boxer's whom they believe are showing early changes consistent with brain damage. This information will then be investigated and (if necessary) be utilized to require more tests or to terminate a boxer's career.

The ringside physician should remain at the venue until all the competitors have left the
arena.

The ringside physician should notify the local hospital and on-call neurosurgeon that a
boxing match will be taking place.

10) No fighter who is Hepatitis C or HIV antibody positive should be permitted to fight even

if the virus is undetectable in their blood.

11) Further research (i.e. the medical severity index, the Impact concussion study, rapid

HIV/infectious disease testing, etc.) is encouraged and should be utilized to determine

those at greater risk for injury.

12) A minimum of two ringside physicians should attend every boxing match.

For more information, please contact the AAPRP (Ringsidemd@aol.com ), visit our website at www.AAPRP.Org or call (203) 662-8900.

Established in 1997, the AAPRP was created to develop medical protocols and guidelines to ensure the safety and protection of professional boxer. The not-for-profit association is comprised of experienced ringside physicians from around the world who are dedicated to the medical aspects of the sport of boxing. Since its inception, the AAPRP has consistently grown to include physicians from around the globe who are working together toward a common goal of helping to ensure the health, safety and protection of professional boxers.

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HBO needs to bring back "Big" George Foreman

06.10.05 - By Geoffrey Ciani: Two weeks ago, I was thrilled by “Big” George Foreman’s unexpected return to HBO’s commentating booth. It was like a breath of fresh air! Just hearing the clever words and witty remarks of the man who used to be the best part of HBO’s commentating team, bar none, made the entire evening of boxing that much more enjoyable. That’s the type of professional George Foreman is – he’s so good, that his presence alone can help elevate the entire overall boxing experience for fans across the globe. The night Wladimir Klitschko defeated Sam Peter was an example of such. “Big” George helped elevate the overall quality of the boxing broadcast with his magnificent commentary. Sadly, HBO missed the boat this past weekend, and didn’t invite Foreman back.

It’s no coincidence that the quality of HBO’s broadcasts has been in steady decline since the departure of Foreman. The official story is that Foreman retired in order spend more time with his wife and family.

This came in the immediate aftermath of two controversial decisions that occurred in back-to-back weeks back in September of 2003. On September 13, 2003, Shane Mosley defeated Oscar De La Hoya in a narrow points decision; on September 20, 2003, Chris Byrd escaped with a controversial win against Fres Oquendo.

Is the official story true? Did Foreman really want to spend more time with his wife and family? Or is it possible that perhaps Foreman was a convenient scapegoat?

Foreman took a lot of heat from the boxing world over what many considered to be "biased commentating" on his part, but this is not a fair assesment of what happened. First of all, this wasn’t biased commentating on the part of Foreman. The entire HBO broadcast team called those fights as if De La Hoya and Oquendo should have been declared the winners. After all, it was pretty obvious to everyone who watched that Oquendo should have been given the nod over Byrd, and it appears that a majority of fans seem to believe that De La Hoy beat Mosley (I actually had Mosley beating De La Hoya in their rematch, but that’s neither here nor there). So why was Foreman singled out? Especially in light of the fact that the entire HBO team seemed to believe that Byrd and Mosley did not deserve their respective victories?

Frankly, I have no idea why Foreman was singled out by the boxing world for supposedly being "biased", but any such accusations were complete and total bullshit! By comparison to the other members of the HBO team, Foreman clearly has more to offer than any of them, as can be evidenced by last weekend’s broadcast in the Klitschko-Peter fight.

I was reminded of how much I miss "Big" George while listening to Jim Lampley, as he stumbled and bumbled his way through calculating simple mathematics. Perhaps a course in remedial math can help remedy Lampley’s troubles? In any case, when Lampley isn’t being challenged by grammar school math problems, he usually comes across as one of the most biased commentators on the team, in my opinion. In fact, it seems to me that Lampley often acts like a cheerleader for the HBO house fighter. Yet people accused Foreman of being "biased"? Ridiculous!

Then we have Manny Steward, who’s actually quite good. Steward usually brings forth a unique perspective to fans and is usually able to breakdown fights into technical terms. He excels at analyzing style match-ups, and usually provides great insight into how different fights unfold. Steward’s problem is that he has zero entertainment value. Listening to Steward analyze a boxing match is almost as boring as listening to Congressmen discuss the annual budget. Steward usually has something interesting to say, but his delivery stinks.

Next we have the man who just lost a lop-sided decision this past weekend, Roy Jones Junior. Jones is actually a pretty good commentator, and much like Foreman, his experience as a boxer helps him in this regard. His fighting experience helps him bring forth a unique perspective to fans much in the same way Steward’s training experience helps him bring forth a unique perspective. Sadly, Jones shares something else in common with Steward – lack of entertainment value. Perhaps Jones doesn’t sound as boring as a Congressman discussing the annual budget, but surely he’s no more entertaining than an actuary explaining complicated statistical probabilities.

Finally, we have the best member of the current HBO commentating team, Larry Merchant. Merchant is the best in the business right now, by far. The main reason for this is that Merchant is extremely entertaining. His clever play with words and his brilliant analogies are always a joy to hear. Perhaps at times, it sounds as if Merchant might be inebriated, but that just adds to his overall charm. He is an outstanding commentator, and always has been. The only thing missing from his repertoire is his former counterpart, “Big” George Foreman.

Foreman & Merchant were like a dynamic duo in the commentating booth. Together, they produced the most important aspect a commentating team is supposed to provide – pure entertainment! They were the Oscar & Felix of the boxing world – that is, the Oscar Madison and Felix Unger of the boxing world, not to be confused with Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad.

The bottom line is, HBO ought to do the right thing and bring back George Foreman. He was “The Heart & Soul of HBO Boxing”, and their broadcasts have suffered considerably in his absence. None of the current members of HBO’s commentating team posses anything close to Foreman’s unique combination of experience, insight, humor, charm, straight-forwardness, and entertainment value. Simply put, he is the complete package, as far as commentators go.

HBO – please bring back, “Big” George! You don’t want to lose him to Showtime, do you?

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07.10.05 - By Wray Edwards: There are several very good reasons why this re-match between Chico and Jose is not a good idea. In a previous article the author compared Corrales-Castillo One to a work of art which might be very hard to follow. “Leave well-enough alone” comes to mind every time thoughts of this re-match come to the surface. Rematch agreements aside, because of the brutal nature of the first meeting, it might have been the better part of valor for this encore to have been scheduled after each fighter had taken one or two interim bouts with other opponents.

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The sport of Boxing is, sometimes, a monster which devours its children. Courageous, young men tempted by fortune, fame and hubris are quite vulnerable to the momentum of their “success” and the adulation of their “friends” and fans.

The fight game ranks right near the top when it comes to the question “What have you done lately?” Movie directors, footballers, round-ballers and baseballers all ply their trades within the collective comfort of team efforts, and despite free agency, they bask in the security of team support.

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Though boxers are often accompanied by corner people and management types with the word “team” on their shirts, it is only he or she alone who enters the ring to risk life and limb. Single combatants who enter the lists of golf, tennis or track and field competition do not regularly face death in their confrontations with others. One-on-one, full-contact encounters such as occur in the squared circle, are subject to consequences which make trivial all other forms of combat save full-blown,
military war.

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Recent hype presentations surrounding this contest have featured familiar boxing commentators and pundits extolling the virtues of this fight. Gone are the brief caveats mentioned in post-fight commentary. Statements like, “I don’t know Larry, sometimes a fight like this can take so much out of a guy that it might shorten his career”…or, “Wow, I wonder if they will ever be the same after that bloodbath?”

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The sport is replete with cautionary examples of death, brain damage, speech impediments, tremors and ocular dysfunction. In ancient Rome death in the arena was par for the course…or should one say, “Par for the coarse”? During the recent bout between Jones and Tarver this writer abandoned ringside (due to the endless posing of Antonio and Roy) and retreated to the highest point of vantage to observe the boxing organism from the edge of the spectacle.

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Due to reluctance on the part of both fighters to truly engage except for a few thrashers in two or three rounds, there was a lot of very loud fan outrage from lack of action. As the crowd, once divided into partisan camps, began to discover their mutual frustration with the fight’s obvious failure to live up to its “no excuses” hype, they joined forces to whistle, boo and make cat-calls for more action. It was almost humorous to watch their emotions whipsawed from excited screaming, when their guy got in a few pokes, to disappointed carping as the “fight” once again degenerated into a tentative posing contest.

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This series of contrasting atmospherics surrounding the ring demonstrated how fans can become a mob in just a few seconds. They had little patience with the boxers, and averaged about thirty seconds to mutate from respectful expectation to ranting about the paucity of action whenthings got slow. How appropriate that this avarice for mayhem should echo in a place called the Forum as the reluctant gladiators did feign combat. Buddy shook his finger at Tarver seeming to side with the crowd. Roy’s corner was more subdued and content, it seemed, to get the big check with a minimum of risk.