KING'S MADISON SQUARE GARDEN CARD IS NOT PAY PER VIEW MATERIAL! By Elisa Harrison

Saturday, April 17, 2004 marks the date of one of the worst pay per view cards in the history of boxing.  Actually, the event would get my nod were it not for Oscar de la Hoya vs Yory Boy Campas at $49.95 some months ago. 

Those of us who watched the Spinks vs Judah, Klitschko vs Brewster card last weekend couldn't avoid the not so subliminal message scribbled all over the ring mat advertising this Saturday's PPV event. It was downright disgraceful! How can they ban tattoos on the fighters' backs and allow  those messages on the ring mat? The powers that be claimed the tattoos were 'distracting'... I say the ring messages are beyond distracting; they are downright annoying and pose a real danger to the fighters.

Had Saturday's bouts been shown on regular cable, I certainly would have watched. After all, there are several interesting stories within the story here. Don King's promotion, going for $39.95, will be the first major card under New York's new law intended to ensure fair judging in professional boxing. 

The state law was signed late last year and became effective in February 2004. It requires selection of judges by the New York State Athletic Commission from its list of licensed officials. The law also requires that the judges file financial disclosure statements, subject to penalties for perjury.

It also gives boxers and their managers the right to file a "timely'' protest of any judge assigned. And last but not least -and I love this part- it requires judges to file proof they've had eye exams and pass a written exam on boxing rules, related state laws and first aid. Kudos to the state of New York Boxing Commission and its chairman for showing much needed leadership in this area.

Other items of interest:

• IBF Champion Chris Byrd 37-2 (20 KO's) vs Andrew Golota  -  Golota, who emerged from the shadows of the unranked to become a world title challenger, will be fighting at the Garden for the first time since he was disqualified for the low blows fest against Riddick Bowe in July 1996, which touched off a small riot.  Will there be a repeat performance?

• Interim WBA Champion John Ruiz 39-5 (27 KO's) vs Fres Oquendo 24-2 (15 KOs ) - This bout  will mark the first time two Latinos vie for a piece of the heavyweight title. Ruiz finds himself fighting to regain the WBA hardware lost in his semi-comatose showing against Roy Jones Jr. The interest probably stops there...  (For those who say two Puerto Rican fighters at the  Garden will sell tickets, I say this.. It worked very well with Felix 'Tito' Trinidad, but neither Ruiz nor Oquendo rank in popularity with el gran campeón Trinidad).