2008 RINGSIDE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

[boxmel]

Just curious, Mel, what would you change?

I wouldn't have a novice division in the JOs.

It sounds like it's just some of the people involved

.

Nah. I just don't care for that type of tournament - too much noise and confusion.

I think everyone agrees it's a great concept to all almost anyone interested in boxing to have a matched bout, even if they can't find someone their age, size, or experience level locally.

I totally agree and that's why I recommend the tournament to boxers who want the experience.

[Dennis]

I don't know if it was just me, but it seemed off this year. Almost not as fun as the previous year or something; I don't know. Just seemed a but more uptight or something, hard to put my finger on. Maybe it's how many people were there.

Kolya - how in the bloody hell can you have a good time in a 6-ring circus, with all the noise and confusion and a real cross-section of officials, many of whom are not even Level 1?

Mel - what do you mean they are not even level 1? Is there a lower level, lol? Are you suggesting that they are using people who are not certified officials? My guess is that they are level 1 officials, but are fairly new to officiating boxing.

[Dennis]

The comment was made that there were more KO's and then Kolya suggested that the skill level of many of the boxers is not up to par or lower this year than in years past. This tournament is so big that many boxers come thinking that it is easier than the NGG NPAL or US Chp. In some ways that is probably true, but there are still some very talented boxers in the open divisions and I think it is wrong for coaches to bring a guy with 5 bouts under his belt and throw him to the wolves. That is why you have a lot of mismatches and KO's.

[boxmel]

Dennis - I would hope the officials are certified. I am stating that they are using new and untrained officials. I don't think that's fair at a tournament of that size and with the elite boxers who do participate. We are supposed to be giving the boxers our best. How can you be "best" when you've either never judged or have only a few bouts experience? In my opinion, you don't train a new judge at a tournament.
Sorry - I'm passionate about this.

[Dennis]

Dennis - I would hope the officials are certified. I am stating that they are using new and untrained officials. I don't think that's fair at a tournament of that size and with the elite boxers who do participate. We are supposed to be giving the boxers our best. How can you be "best" when you've either never judged or have only a few bouts experience? In my opinion, you don't train a new judge at a tournament.
Sorry - I'm passionate about this.

I fully agree Mel. The officials should be experienced. I think there are experienced Level 1 officials, but I also realize many are very green. I feel the same way about the Ringside tourney as you do Mel. It gives a lot of boxers and opportunity to compete. If you are a Masters boxer, it is one of the few places that you will be able to compete. Same thing for many women/girls, although that is changing more and more. I don't really like the Novice divisions at national tourneys. You have boxers claiming to be national or world amateur champions b/c they won the ringside and then you find out it was in the Novice division. Sorry to say, but most novice champs would be eliminated early in the open division.

[boxmel]

I fully agree Mel.

OMG! Wait - let me mark my calendar and celebrate this event on a yearly basis! Just kidding. I think we both think alike on most matters.

I don't really like the Novice divisions at national tourneys. You have boxers claiming to be national or world amateur champions b/c they won the ringside and then you find out it was in the Novice division. Sorry to say, but most novice champs would be eliminated early in the open division.

Yep. Especially when winning a World Championship in Kansas is only recognized in Kanas. Hmmmm - have you ever seen the wizard at the tournament?

[Dennis]

I haven't seen the wizard, but I usually don't go around looking behind curtains.

[boxmel]

I

haven't seen the wizard, but I usually don't go around looking behind curtains.

Yeah, I forgot. Can't go into women's weigh ins. I don't think you were around before the weigh in rule was changed. When I started officiating, a female could be present at weigh-ins. Because I'm really good with paperwork, passbooks, and that kind of stuff, I was usually at weigh-ins keeping track of who weight what and putting the info in the passbooks. With very few exceptions, most of the guys didn't even pay attention to the fact I was in the room.

I do have a favorite story. I was doing weigh-ins at the Silver Gloves state tournament (don't remember what year) when Diego Corralles' coach brought him in for weigh-ins. Diego was 11 years old. He was having a bit of a problem making weight and both the coach and I asked him to drop his pants (yes, boxers do make weight by taking ALL their clothes off). After much pleading, he did and made weight. And Diego and his dad, and mom, and I went on to become good friends over the years. Rick and I stayed at Diego's house the weekend of the Mosley-Wright I fight. We got to talking and I found out, after all these years, that Diego had been totally embarrased by the entire weigh-in and that his dad had teased him about it on the long drive home from San Francisco. He had never forgotten that one incident, some 16 or 17 years later.

[Kolya]

I didn't know you were friends with Chico, Mel. That must be something, you've seen so many of these famous boxers come up through the amateurs. Hard to believe he's been gone for a year and a half now.

[boxmel]

I

didn't know you were friends with Chico, Mel. That must be something, you've seen so many of these famous boxers come up through the amateurs. Hard to believe he's been gone for a year and a half now.

That is one of the pluses about amateur boxing - you get to know the pro stars before they become one. You also get to know the boxers as people and you either like them or you don't. There are several who were punks as amateurs and who still are who I never liked then. And others are great people - Shane Mosley, Chico, Antionio and Julio Diaz, Robert Garcia, Andre Berto, etc.

That year and a half has gone fast. We don't usually go to funerals (my son died when he was 20), but we went to Chico's - for us and for his mom and dad and brothers. That's the last time we saw Mando Ramos, too.

[Kolya]

I just couldn't believe it when I woke up and read he had been in that accident. Just so shocking. It was kind of hard to watch when they had a replay of his last fight against Clottey on Showtime, knowing that it was only a month before he passed.

So what was Floyd Mayweather like as an amateur? I heard Tarver had a huge ego even back then, but was Floyd any different than now? I should note that I like Floyd, so hey.

[boxmel]

So what was Floyd Mayweather like as an amateur? I heard Tarver had a huge ego even back then, but was Floyd any different than now? I should note that I like Floyd, so hey.

Floyd was a punk and one of the least favorite boxers in any camp. Tarver was nothing but an ego on steroids! Just because he had won the Worlds in 1995, he felt he should be treated like a king and catered to by all. Then he turned around and totally wimped out in the Olympics. What an ass.

[Kolya]

Ouch. Yeah, I remember Tarver being beaten by Vassiliy Jirov, which was pretty damn funny.

So do you remember Todd Foster and what he was like?

[boxmel]

So do you remember Todd Foster and what he was like?

I didn't know him personally. But I did see him at several events and he was a nice person and well-liked in amateur boxing circles.

[Kolya]

He's still pretty well known in Montana. The debate we kind of have amongst some in MT now is how a fight between him and Caferro would have panned out.

Looks like we're doing the PAL by the way; so hopefully I'll be seeing you down there.

[boxmel]

Looks like we're doing the PAL by the way; so hopefully I'll be seeing you down there.

Oh - that will be nice! I've already sent in our registrations and am just waiting for our referral forms to be signed by LBC pres. I really look forward to meeting you.

[Kolya]

We'll be there for the whole week regardless because we're flying from Salt Lake; but it will be great to finally meet you. Are you just coming up for the finals; or are you and your husband going to be there all week? I'm excited to box some open guys and get a chance to get experience against that kind of opponent and boxing with electronic scoring. Duran Sr. from Helena told me my style was actually pretty good for computer scoring, so we'll see how it goes.

[Dennis]

We'll be there for the whole week regardless because we're flying from Salt Lake; but it will be great to finally meet you. Are you just coming up for the finals; or are you and your husband going to be there all week? I'm excited to box some open guys and get a chance to get experience against that kind of opponent and boxing with electronic scoring. Duran Sr. from Helena told me my style was actually pretty good for computer scoring, so we'll see how it goes.

Be careful what you wish for. Mel is mean in person!!! No, actually I'm referring to you wanting to test yourself against open guys. You might regret it if you aren't ready. Arias, Browne, Porter and others are in your class. Some of these guys can be real beasts and hit like a freight train. Train hard and be in awesome shape.

[Dennis]

So what was Floyd Mayweather like as an amateur? I heard Tarver had a huge ego even back then, but was Floyd any different than now? I should note that I like Floyd, so hey.

Floyd was a punk and one of the least favorite boxers in any camp. Tarver was nothing but an ego on steroids! Just because he had won the Worlds in 1995, he felt he should be treated like a king and catered to by all. Then he turned around and totally wimped out in the Olympics. What an ass.

Floyd has matured over the last few years and his attitude has improved dramatically. Name one other pro boxer that has donated $140,000 to fund a national tournament.

[Dennis]

I

haven't seen the wizard, but I usually don't go around looking behind curtains.

Yeah, I forgot. Can't go into women's weigh ins. I don't think you were around before the weigh in rule was changed. When I started officiating, a female could be present at weigh-ins. Because I'm really good with paperwork, passbooks, and that kind of stuff, I was usually at weigh-ins keeping track of who weight what and putting the info in the passbooks. With very few exceptions, most of the guys didn't even pay attention to the fact I was in the room.

I do have a favorite story. I was doing weigh-ins at the Silver Gloves state tournament (don't remember what year) when Diego Corralles' coach brought him in for weigh-ins. Diego was 11 years old. He was having a bit of a problem making weight and both the coach and I asked him to drop his pants (yes, boxers do make weight by taking ALL their clothes off). After much pleading, he did and made weight. And Diego and his dad, and mom, and I went on to become good friends over the years. Rick and I stayed at Diego's house the weekend of the Mosley-Wright I fight. We got to talking and I found out, after all these years, that Diego had been totally embarrased by the entire weigh-in and that his dad had teased him about it on the long drive home from San Francisco. He had never forgotten that one incident, some 16 or 17 years later.

Mel - there are many boxers that feel the same way as Diego did. Heck when my sons were young boxers (8-12) they and several other J.O. boxers from our gym would move up a weight class rather than bare all. Some adult boxers have also done the same thing. On the flip side I have had some women drop their clothes to get dressed right in front of everyone with absolutely no modesty at all.

[Kolya]

We'll be there for the whole week regardless because we're flying from Salt Lake; but it will be great to finally meet you. Are you just coming up for the finals; or are you and your husband going to be there all week? I'm excited to box some open guys and get a chance to get experience against that kind of opponent and boxing with electronic scoring. Duran Sr. from Helena told me my style was actually pretty good for computer scoring, so we'll see how it goes.

Be careful what you wish for. Mel is mean in person!!! No, actually I'm referring to you wanting to test yourself against open guys. You might regret it if you aren't ready. Arias, Browne, Porter and others are in your class. Some of these guys can be real beasts and hit like a freight train. Train hard and be in awesome shape.

Gotta face them sooner or later. None of them were at PAL last year though and Porter wasn't in GG either; I heard he was turning pro. Just going to go in shape and do my best, try to box my fight and not get sucked into a stupid fight.

[Dennis]

Gotta face them sooner or later. None of them were at PAL last year though and Porter wasn't in GG either; I heard he was turning pro. Just going to go in shape and do my best, try to box my fight and not get sucked into a stupid fight.

Sounds good. Good luck.

[Kolya]

Shouldn't Arias also be in camp for the U19 Pan-Ams too?

[Dennis]

Shouldn't Arias also be in camp for the U19 Pan-Ams too?

Probably, I forgot. There are other guys though. I was just using those 3 as examples. Be ready is the best advice I can give you. Train like you will be going up against Arias or Porter in every bout.

[boxmel]

Are you just coming up for the finals; or are you and your husband going to be there all week?

We'll be there as officials for the entire tournament. I'll also try and post results on my web site during that week.

Duran Sr. from Helena told me my style was actually pretty good for computer scoring, so we'll see how it goes.

Oh, don't worry. I'll let you know if it is or not.

Be careful what you wish for. Mel is mean in person!!!

Hey! I'm a nice elderly lady, white-haired (almost) and as sweet as they come.

Mel - there are many boxers that feel the same way as Diego did.

Oh, I know. I just found it very funny that Diego had remembered that one incident all these years. It's just as well the rule was changed.

Floyd has matured over the last few years and his attitude has improved dramatically. Name one other pro boxer that has donated $140,000 to fund a national tournament

.

Glad to hear - but you can still donate lots of money and be a punk. Fernando Vargas comes to mind.......