Ring Magazine was founded by the late Nat Fleischer in 1922 - and today still
carries the logo "The Bible of Boxing." When last peeked it is Nigel Collins
at the helm.
On that note, "We report, you decide."
Happened by chance to stumble onto the November 23 Ring rankings … the "real"
ones as the today self anointed "experts" like to call it - and a few of the
listed top-10 placements quickly had me more ready to clinch than fight.
Read on:
Heavyweights
Champ: Vitali Klitschko 34-2 (33)
1. Chris Byrd 38-2-1 (20)
2. John Ruiz 41-5-1 (28)
3. Hasim Rahman 40-5-1 (33)
4. James Toney 68-4-2 (43)
5. Monte Barrett 30-3 (6)
GEL ~ don’t touch that dial … my "BW" could do as well with heavyweights.
Light Heavyweights
Champ: Antonio Tarver 22-2 (18)
1. Glen Johnson 41-9-2 (28)
2. Zsolt Erdei 21-0 (13)
3. Roy Jones 49-3 (38)
GEL ~ No need to dig any deeper … Tarver-Johnson a coin flip - but Hungarian
goulash with 21 trips to the bank and 13 scalps while feasting on home
cooking, and ahead of Jones Jr.? Maybe a seance with founder Fleischer would
help.
Super Middleweights
Champ: Vacant
GEL ~ Forget the ranking order. I fail to see a Jeff "Left-hook" Lacy at #8
beneath Calzaghe, Mikkel Kessler, Anthony Mundine, Antwun Echols, Danny
Green, Mads Larsen, Robin Reid - you find the best spot from one to three.
Middleweights
Champ: Bernard Hopkins 45-2-1 (32)
1. Howard Eastman 40-1 (35)
2. Oscar De La Hoya 37-4 (29)
3. Felix Sturm 21-1 (9)
4. Felix Trinidad 42-1 (35)
GEL ~ Good grief - is there a doctor in the house? Lesse now, Tito stops Hoya
who is gifted with Sturm decision, and both rank above Trinidad? Any takers
we invite them to a winner take all with Tito? Think not!
GEL ~ Any division with a Fraudulent Fernando Vargas in #5 slot is in need of
plasma. Switch Ouma with Mosley and you got it right. If Wright is short on
TNT, like him or not, Kassim baby fires nothing bigger than pellets.
GEL ~ Nigel, no time for humor … this is Ring Ranking not USA Today. Get
serious. OK with Tszyu as champ since he’s whacked both Judah, and Sharmba
twice. But Gatti numero uno? Biggest blood donor among jr. welters doesn’t
translate to top spot. Mayweather third, and Cotto, Hatton beneath Sharmba in
fourth and Harris in second is troubling to the senses.
Lightweights
Champ: Jose Luis Castillo 50-6-1 (45)
1. Diego Corrales 39-2 (32)
2. Juan Lazcano 33-3-1 (25)
3. Julio Diaz 30-2 (22)
4. Juan Diaz 26-0 (12)
GEL ~ I’ll give you Castillo as champ - the resumé supports - tough call
numbers one through four. My coin flip sees Juan Diaz in second and readying
to pass Corrales in run to the wire.
Featherweights
Champ: Manny Pacquiao 38-2-2 (29)
1. Juan Manuel Marquez 43-2-1 (33)
2. Marco Antonio Barrera 58-4 (41)
3. Scott Harrison 23-2-1 (13)
GEL ~ Tell you wot … you can go with the shotgun starting wild winging
southpaw power puncher … I’ll go with the more complete Marquez … return sees
Juan via KO. And does anybody in the joint see a Rocky Juarez at #6 and Zahir
Raheem #7 … I didn’t think so.
Closing Comments ~ Fleischer remained with Ring from 1922 thru 1972 …
magazine held the line under the reign as "Bible of Boxing." But then the
changes and mediocrity with competitive fite magazines set in. Some that
followed Nat as editor over the last 25 years or so and listed in no special
order; Bert Randolph Sugar, Nat Loubet, Randy Gordon, Eric Raskin, Steven
Farhood, Joseph Santoliquito.
PS. Before shooting the messenger I suggest catching ShoBox "New
Generation" with Nick Charles doing blow by blow and Farhood with the color
commentary. End of story.
