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That's your cover for the first book from David P. Greisman, which I can only heartily endorse. "But Tim," you say, "Aren't you buddies with Dave?" I am. I suppose that gives me a certain bias. But let's go back in time. Mr. Greisman and Mr. Starks are friends in part because we came to know each other thanks to a mutual respect for each other's writing. I stand by this, and I would've said this before I was pals with Greisman: He's one of the best pure writers in the business. He's also a level-headed voice who manages to still write things against the grain, which gives him an analytical quality that few can match. I've ordered my copy. You should order yours, here or here.
I'll have one more recommendation from someone I'm friendly toward before this is all through, but, like this one, it comes from a place of genuine admiration. Other topics of note, besides those in the headline: The status of various Andres, Berto and Ward; Main Events' awesomeness level; some drug test results; and more.
Quick Jabs
At this point, as much as I understand Top Rank boss Bob Arum wanting Nevada to handle drug testing for the October pay-per-view clash between welterweights Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley, let's just give up the ghost now and honor what Bradley contends is the original contract: USADA/VADA handles it. We're already behind, again, according to Bradley…
You try to defend a guy like welterweight Andre Berto based on his honorable in-ring performance in a draw, and then he goes and invalidates it at least to some extent by criticizing the media for daring to criticize him. My only point earlier this week is that the criticism of Berto was out of proportion with reality and the purported sensibilities of his critics. The general criticism — that he isn't all that good right now — is valid. Andre, Andre, Andre…
Another Andre, super middleweight champion Ward, is reportedly trying to make a fall return on HBO against the lackluster likes of Caleb Truax. Great for Truax that he's arrived at "borderline contender," but he's not worthy. Truax is so unworthy an opponent, though, that I doubt he acutally appears on HBO against Ward; this seems like a lowball negotiating tactic. If anyone other than a big name/borderline contender or acutal contender was Ward's next opponent, I'd be surprised. Ward's biggest media critics are making a huge deal out of his tweet that "You're talking foolish, bro," which is admittedly kinda funny from a phrasing standpoint, but ultimately it's not that surprising that Ward would block a Ward critic, given how frequently boxing writers and boxers deploy the "block" button on Twitter…
Are you surprised that a scam artist is a big figure in Floyd Mayweather's Philthy Rich Records? You either aren't or are lying. If you answered "yes," I admire the audacity of your falsity…
Main Events is capable if winning over reporters through a much more old-fashioned quality, namely charm. If you thnk Tomasz Adamek-Dominick Guinn (heavyweight) is a good bout, you are Polish or you have ignored boxing for a few years. If you want to see Eddie Chambers debut at cruiserweight against some random dude, you are a big Chambers fan or have a lot of faith in Main Events' matchmaking, which has admittedly been pretty good. Middleweight Curtis Stevens vs. Saul Roman is a respectable bout, though. Overall, the NBC Sports cards have been good, but they've not sweepingly been so, and especially not this coming weekend. Main Events' media skills are commendable…
Middleweight Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. is too much of a fatty and hasn't showed up to trainer Freddie Roach's training camp, which is nearly the final straw for a guy who could be the biggest attraction in the sport bar none but can't bring himself to train for a fucking fight. He's already lost a fight he might not have otherwise against champ Sergio Martinez, but if he can manage to get under 160 somehow anytime soon it will be a a miracle…
You know how welterweight Victor Ortiz is a goofball who was thinking of returning to the ring but isn't now thanks to appearing in the latest Expendable sequel? Yeah, well, who can blame him? I'd rather be in Hollywood than getting punched for a living…
Super middleweight Brian Magee is banned for a bit for using a banned substance. I can live with the crime/punishment balance on this one…
Bantamweight prospect Tomoki Kameda has burst onto the scene with a win over Paulus Ambunda. I have not tracked down the whole fight yet but Kameda seems for real to me…
Friend of the site @smelodiesog has, for some time, been taking boxers' stories and making blues songs out of them with the aid of his considerable improvisational blues guitar skills. If you've ever wanted a boxer's tale set to slick noodling, then check out his channel. It's one of the bright spots in boxing. Here's one example:
