MACHO NOT THE WORD OF '98

During the many years that I've been a boxing fan, I was under the
impression that yours truly knew a little bit about the game. But did I miss something in the mix? When did quitting in the middle of fights become so popular?

My spin on this is quite simple and yet, blunt. If you don't plan to give it your all for the duration, then get the hell out of the ring.

Who am I talking to this time? Jesse James Leija. In the post fight chatter, Jim Lamply said, "He gave a credible effort". My question is: Did he really?

THE GROUP IS GROWING

The list of quitters is getting longer and longer. Once star professionals are turning into the biggest pussies in sports. Is it because the young guns are using the faded champs as cannon fodder?

These older guys are walking into the ring against the best young fighters with the mind set that they're going to lose. The only thing it seems they want to accomplish is to make the young guy look bad, while he's whooping on what's left of their ass.

THEY ARE ALL SINGING THE O'JAYS JINGLE

"For The Love of Money." The tune comes to mind when I sit down and watch a fairly entertaining fight, only to have it end with some bum quitting on the stool.

WASN'T IN SERIOUS PERIL

It appeared that Leija was doing OK for the moment, as he was taking shots and dishing them out as well. Then all the sudden Sugar Shane slams him with few body shots, and Leija quits like a dog.

HBO IS IT!

The only reason James Leija, or any pug fights on HBO, is because the average Joe will pay to see it. I'll guarantee you this, not one person in attendance or watching at home Saturday threw down the greenbacks with the intent of watching somebody resign with no dignity.

HEAR THE WORD

Message to the Bitches: If you know you can't win, either run or slug. Don't quit! Would Hector Camacho have saved any face value if he had quit when Oscar De la Hoya was kicking his ass? NO!

GOING HOME BARKING

What I wonder is, what it must feel like going home a Canine? Does it bother a guy to know he quit in front of the entire world? What does he tell his kids? What do his kids say at school on Monday morning? Are these guys content with that one last paycheck?

FOLLOW THE SCRIPT

This is what it is all about. Some young knockout star, blazing through the division against old war horses that have no more fight left  in them. And the old timer gives up in the middle of their final ass kicking. But what I think is worse  than having a pug give it up himself, is  when the corner quits for them.

GRANT SCREAMS UNCLE TOO

True, Roy Jones was kicking Otis Grant's ass, but why the towel? Grant's mug wasn't all busted up, and he didn't really seem that hurt. His corner threw in the towel saying, "I'm not going to let Otis get hurt in the ring." We've seen countless fights. And the one constant is that each guy is trying to inflict punishment on the other.

POUND FOR POUND LIST REVISED

1. Roy Jones: Reaffirming his spot as "untouchable". Is still #1 because Otis Grant landed one jab against him.
2. Shane Mosley: Moving up to #2, is the other unearthly fighter. He's not losing anytime soon.
3. Naseem Hamed: Slowly moving down as the size of his ego moves up. Fastest hands in the game.
4. Felix Trinidad: But, can you please fight sometime soon?
5. Mark Johnson: If he doesn't fight Tapia, he'll just be another name.

HONORABLE MENTION GOES TO RICARDO LOPEZ

I thought El Finito was gonna' get blasted. But he proved myself, and a whole troop of folks wrong.


Rodney Verges

The writer is featured exclusively at www.fighters.com on Mondays. He can be reached at dranjd@yahoo.com

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