Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

Dave Gallardo will be inducted into the CBHOF this year (9-26-09)

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOlpcJhNyDI

C Jam Blues

Duke Ellington (101 years old today)

[raylawpc]

For Roger

AN ITALIAN BOY'S CONFESSION

This could only happen with an Italian kid...

'Bless me Father, for I have sinned. I have been with a loose girl'.

The priest asks, 'Is that you, Joey Pagano ?'

'Yes, Father, it is.'

'And who was the girl you were with?'

'I can't tell you, Father, I don't want to ruin her reputation'

Well, Joey, I'm sure to find out her name sooner or later so you may as
well tell me now.

'Was it Maria Minetti?'

'Was it Teresa Mazzarelli?'

'I'll never tell.'

'Was it Nina Capelli?'

'I'm sorry, but I cannot name her..'

'Was it Cathy Piriano?'

'My 2 lips are sealed.'

'Was it Rosa Di Angelo, then?'

'Please, Father, I cannot tell you.'

The priest sighs in frustration. 'You're very tight lipped, Joey Pagano, and I admire that. But you've sinned and have to atone. You cannot be an altar boy for 4 months. Now you go and sin no more.'

Joey walks back to his pew, and his friend Franco slides over and whispers, 'What'd you get?'

'4 months vacation and five good leads.'

[Expug]

Randy, wish your Mom a happy 80th from your pal Bri and the Higgins family here in Chi-town.
God Bless.

[Dongee]

Rog:

I only went to the club Alabam but not for the music. We honored Joe Louis at a testimonial dinner there one night, sometime in 1952. After the event ended, I had to drive Roger Leighton, one of Lauro Salas' managers home to the Sunset trip in Hollywood and on the way home a drunk driver creamed my beautiful Dodge sedan all to helll, but I was not hurt.
In my day, most of the great black bands showed at the Orpheum Theatre downtown so I got to see a lot of them there..Lucky Millinder, Louis Jordan, Banny Carter (with beautiful Savannah Churchill), and later Roy Eldridge. Earl Hines. Also many of the fine acts like Moke and Poke, the Nicholas brothers, Slim Gaillard and Slam Stewart.

hap navarro

[Dongee]

Dave Gallardo will be inducted into the CBHOF this year (9-26-09)

Fellas:

Tony Smaldino was developed from the amateurs by Al Barnes, along with another promising lightweight Paulie Armstead. Smaldino's life ended tragically when he was sitting in a bar and somebody tossed a burning can of gasoline into the place, causing several deaths.

And Don Lee was one of several fighting Nebraska brothers, Glen being the eldest, Billy the youngest.

hap navarro

[Dongee]

Dave Gallardo will be inducted into the CBHOF this year (9-26-09)

Fellas:

Tony Smaldino was developed from the amateurs by Al Barnes, along with another promising lightweight Paulie Armstead. Smaldino's life ended tragically when he was sitting in a bar and somebody tossed a burning can of gasoline into the place, causing several deaths.

And Don Lee was one of several fighting Nebraska brothers, Glen being the eldest, Billy the youngest.

hap navarro

[Rick Farris]

Dave Gallardo will be inducted into the CBHOF this year (9-26-09)

Fellas:

Tony Smaldino was developed from the amateurs by Al Barnes, along with another promising lightweight Paulie Armstead. Smaldino's life ended tragically when he was sitting in a bar and somebody tossed a burning can of gasoline into the place, causing several deaths.

And Don Lee was one of several fighting Nebraska brothers, Glen being the eldest, Billy the youngest.

hap navarro

Hap . . . The incident that took the life of Tony Smaldino and several others, is to this day, considered the worst mass murder in the history of Los Angeles. Seems two guys were ejected from the bar for bothering a woman. They went to a gas station, filled a five gallon can with gas, and returned to the bar. After one man poured the gasoline on the floor of the bar, the other man ignited it.

I remember Paulie Armstead was still around when I was coming up. He was a special fighter, and like L.C. Morgan, Eddie Perkins, Adolph Pruitt and a couple others, had to travel the world to get work. Last I saw him he was sparring with Suey Welch's welter Gil King at Jake Shagrue's Hoover Street Gym in 1971. I see Gallardo was trained by Johnnie Villaflor, who worked my corner a couple times with Mel Epstein. I know Johnny at one time worked with George Parnassus' fighters.


-Rick Farris

[dagosd2000]

For Roger

AN ITALIAN BOY'S CONFESSION

This could only happen with an Italian kid...

'Bless me Father, for I have sinned. I have been with a loose girl'.

The priest asks, 'Is that you, Joey Pagano ?'

'Yes, Father, it is.'

'And who was the girl you were with?'

'I can't tell you, Father, I don't want to ruin her reputation'

Well, Joey, I'm sure to find out her name sooner or later so you may as
well tell me now.

'Was it Maria Minetti?'

'Was it Teresa Mazzarelli?'

'I'll never tell.'

'Was it Nina Capelli?'

'I'm sorry, but I cannot name her..'

'Was it Cathy Piriano?'

'My 2 lips are sealed.'

'Was it Rosa Di Angelo, then?'

'Please, Father, I cannot tell you.'

The priest sighs in frustration. 'You're very tight lipped, Joey Pagano, and I admire that. But you've sinned and have to atone. You cannot be an altar boy for 4 months. Now you go and sin no more.'

Joey walks back to his pew, and his friend Franco slides over and whispers, 'What'd you get?'

'4 months vacation and five good leads.'

Tom
You can bet I'll share that with my dago buddies

[dagosd2000]

Rog:

I only went to the club Alabam but not for the music. We honored Joe Louis at a testimonial dinner there one night, sometime in 1952. After the event ended, I had to drive Roger Leighton, one of Lauro Salas' managers home to the Sunset trip in Hollywood and on the way home a drunk driver creamed my beautiful Dodge sedan all to helll, but I was not hurt.
In my day, most of the great black bands showed at the Orpheum Theatre downtown so I got to see a lot of them there..Lucky Millinder, Louis Jordan, Banny Carter (with beautiful Savannah Churchill), and later Roy Eldridge. Earl Hines. Also many of the fine acts like Moke and Poke, the Nicholas brothers, Slim Gaillard and Slam Stewart.

hap navarro

Thanks Hap.I don't care how hard I try today.If I could only go back in time. I can read and listen to fellas' like you and Frank.It's like my dad is still around. I was born to late. Take care. Rog

[kikibalt]

Courtesy of Roger

A Husband and wife

are shopping in their local Wal-Mart. The husband picks up
a case of
Budweiser and puts it in their cart.
'What do you think you're doing?'
asks the wife.
'They're on sale, only $10 for 24 cans,' he
replies.

'Put them back, we can't afford them,'
demands the wife, and
so
they carry on shopping.
A few aisles further on along the woman
picks up a $20 jar of face cream and
puts it in the basket.

'What do you think you're doing?' asks the
husband.
'Its my face
cream. It makes me look beautiful,' replies the
wife.
Her
husband retorts: 'So does 24 cans of Budweiser and
it's half
the
price.'

On the PA system: 'Cleanup needed on aisle 25, we
have a husband down.

[kikibalt]

Ernie Barnes dies at 70; pro football player, successful painter

The official artist of the 1984 Olympics in L.A. created powerful portraits of agility, strength and the emotional costs of fierce competition. He also depicted black culture and daily life.
By Elaine Woo
April 30, 2009


Ernie Barnes in 1992 with his painting "Eight Ball."

Ernie Barnes, a former professional football player who became a successful figurative painter, known for depictions of athletes and ordinary people whose muscled, elongated forms express physical and spiritual struggles, died Monday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 70.

His death was caused by complications of a rare blood disorder, according to his longtime assistant, Luz Rodriguez.

Barnes was a child of the segregated South who transcended racial barriers to play for the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers before pursuing his real dream: to be an artist. He became the official artist of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, whose insights from his trials on the gridiron resulted in powerful, sometimes haunting portraits of agility, strength and the emotional costs of fierce competition.

His style, which critics have described as neo-Mannerist, became familiar to a prime-time television audience in the mid-1970s when producer Norman Lear hired Barnes to "ghost" the paintings by the Jimmie Walker character "J.J." in the groundbreaking African American sitcom "Good Times."

As the backdrop for the show's closing credits, Lear used Barnes' 1971 painting "Sugar Shack," his most famous work. Singer Marvin Gaye later adapted the painting as the cover art for his 1976 album, "I Want You."


"Sugar Shack" shows a Brueghel-like mass of bodies, writhing and jumping to the rhythms in a black jazz club. There is joy, tension and despair in the canvas, which Barnes once said was inspired by a memory of being barred from attending a dance when he was a child. As in nearly all of his paintings, the subjects' eyes are closed, a reflection of the artist's oft-stated belief that "we are blind to each other's humanity."

Singer-songwriter Bill Withers, who was close to Barnes during the last decade of his life, said the artist often spoke of wanting to educate people through his art.

"He meant getting people to look past the superficial into the real vulnerable parts of themselves," said Withers, for whom Barnes completed his last major commission, a painting inspired by Withers' 1971 hit "Grandma's Hands." "He wanted to help people peel away that layer of protection that we all wear to ward off any intrusion into our real private thoughts. He didn't mind people looking deeper into him. I found that fascinating."

Barnes was born into a working-class family in Durham, N.C., on July 15, 1938. His father was a shipping clerk for a large tobacco company, and his mother was a domestic for a wealthy attorney. She brought home books and records that her employer no longer wanted and used them to broaden the cultural horizons of her three sons. She encouraged them to draw pictures from their imaginations instead of using coloring books. The shy and overweight Ernie began drawing to escape from the taunts of his schoolmates.

He was still chubbier than most kids when he reached high school, but a teacher there helped him turn his size into advantage. He started lifting weights, lost his extra pounds and began excelling on the playing field. He became captain of the football team and by graduation had scholarship offers from 26 colleges.

He chose North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University), a historically black institution in Durham, where he played football and majored in art. He left before graduating in 1960 to turn pro. A 6-foot-3, 250-pound offensive guard, he played for a succession of American Football League teams, including the Chargers and the Broncos, for the next five years.

He had kept up with his art when he was playing football, sketching fellow players, who nicknamed him "Big Rembrandt." With little money and a family to support when he left the game, he took a gamble and flew to Los Angeles with several of his canvases and carried them on foot several miles to the office of Chargers co-owner Barron Hilton, who paid him $1,000 for a painting.

After a brief stint as the AFL's official artist, he met with New York Jets owner Sonny Werblin, who offered to pay him $15,500 -- $1,000 more than Barnes had earned in his last season in football -- to develop his skills as a painter for a year. Werblin was so impressed with Barnes' work that he arranged a showing for critics at a New York gallery.

Some critics compared him to George Bellows, the American painter known for his masterful depictions of boxers in the ring.

Soon Barnes was winning commissions from entertainers such as Harry Belafonte, Flip Wilson and Charlton Heston. His works from this period were often commentaries on the brutality of professional football, depicting players with fangs and other grotesque features. "I was reaching for the absurdity of what men can be turned into with football as an excuse," he told Sports Illustrated in 1984.

Other paintings captured the powerful grace of youths playing pickup basketball and the exhaustion of a runner after a race. His series of Olympics posters were "the finest, most effective and moving tribute to the Olympics since the Greeks stopped painting their athletes . . . on black or red grounds," critic Frank Getlein wrote in a 1989 essay.

Barnes began to expand his subject matter in the early 1970s when he moved to the Fairfax district of Los Angeles.

Observing the tight-knit Jewish neighborhood provoked in him a new awareness of black culture and everyday life, reflected in "Sugar Shack" and a traveling exhibition called "The Beauty of the Ghetto." One of the stops on the tour was the North Carolina Museum of Art, where years earlier a museum docent had told Barnes "that black people didn't express themselves as artists."

A longtime resident of Studio City, Barnes, who was married three times, is survived by his wife of 25 years, Bernie; five children, Sean, Deidre, Erin and Paige, all of Los Angeles, and Michael of Virginia Beach, Va.; and a brother, James, of Durham.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial donations may be sent to Hillsides Home for Children, 940 Avenue 64, Pasadena, CA 91105.

[email protected]

[kikibalt]

Ernie Barnes


Oscar in the ring
Artist Ernie Barnes shows a painting commissioned by Jerry Buss to the subject of the work, boxer Oscar De La Hoya.

[kikibalt]

Ernie Barnes


Grandma's Hands
"Grandma's Hands" was the last major commission completed by Ernie Barnes. Singer-songwriter Bill Withers commissioned the work, inspired by his 1971 hit of the same name. Barnes wanted "people to look past the superficial into the real vulnerable parts of themselves,” said Withers.

[kikibalt]

Dave Gallardo will be inducted into the CBHOF this year (9-26-09)

Fellas:

Tony Smaldino was developed from the amateurs by Al Barnes, along with another promising lightweight Paulie Armstead. Smaldino's life ended tragically when he was sitting in a bar and somebody tossed a burning can of gasoline into the place, causing several deaths.

And Don Lee was one of several fighting Nebraska brothers, Glen being the eldest, Billy the youngest.

hap navarro

Hap . . . The incident that took the life of Tony Smaldino and several others, is to this day, considered the worst mass murder in the history of Los Angeles. Seems two guys were ejected from the bar for bothering a woman. They went to a gas station, filled a five gallon can with gas, and returned to the bar. After one man poured the gasoline on the floor of the bar, the other man ignited it.

I remember Paulie Armstead was still around when I was coming up. He was a special fighter, and like L.C. Morgan, Eddie Perkins, Adolph Pruitt and a couple others, had to travel the world to get work. Last I saw him he was sparring with Suey Welch's welter Gil King at Jake Shagrue's Hoover Street Gym in 1971. I see Gallardo was trained by Johnnie Villaflor, who worked my corner a couple times with Mel Epstein. I know Johnny at one time worked with George Parnassus' fighters.


-Rick Farris

In the mid-1950's my friend Rudy Mendoza who fought guys like, Joey Dorando, Lou Filippo, Joe Chavez and Joey Abasta, asked me to help him with sparring, he was been trained/managed by Johnny Villaflor and Tony Moreno, Johnny and Tony had taken over a theatre and turn it into a gym, which if I remember right was on First St. just west of Soto St. I was never trained by Villaflor or Moreno, I was just there to help Rudy get ready for his fights

[dagosd2000]

Ernie Barnes


Grandma's Hands
"Grandma's Hands" was the last major commission completed by Ernie Barnes. Singer-songwriter Bill Withers commissioned the work, inspired by his 1971 hit of the same name. Barnes wanted "people to look past the superficial into the real vulnerable parts of themselves,” said Withers.

Thanks Frank
Ernie Barnes was the real deal. He played for the Chargers as a guard. Later his paintings were absolutely incredible. I talked to him once. An artist,athlete,gentleman. RIP Bro.

[scartissue]

What a war!!

Jose Luis Ramirez vs Edwin Rosario

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBlz35VCRA8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbsytjJCO2o

Frank, I remember this fight well. This was a big win for Ramirez, especially since he lost in the first fight with Rosario. Both of these guys were damned good fighters. Rosario always held his hands up in an unusual manner. Very high and out but it worked for him.

Back in the mid eighties or so, both he and Julio Cesar Chavez were coming up at around the same time. It was somewhat of a rivalry. When they finally met Chavez was too much for him, as he was for anyone else during those years.

I thought Rosario got robbed when he fought Hector Camacho. That was one of the biggest robberies of the eighties. The fight between Rosario and Chavez is one of my favorite fights. Chavez was at his peak and literally took Rosario apart round by round before stopping him in the 11th round.

Rosario was a worthy fighter. He died much too young.

Thanks for posting the fight.

Randy

Randy, I too loved that Rosario-Chavez fight. One of my favorites in fact. It's funny, that was one of the best performances by Rosario I ever saw, which really says alot about Chavez' performance. Rosario hit Chavez with bombs that would have taken out any lightweight of that era, yet, Chavez stood in the box and gave him a methodical beatdown. Incredible fight.

Scartissue

[kikibalt]

Some Glen Lee photos

[kikibalt]

[kikibalt]

Ernie Barnes


Grandma's Hands
"Grandma's Hands" was the last major commission completed by Ernie Barnes. Singer-songwriter Bill Withers commissioned the work, inspired by his 1971 hit of the same name. Barnes wanted "people to look past the superficial into the real vulnerable parts of themselves,” said Withers.

Thanks Frank
Ernie Barnes was the real deal. He played for the Chargers as a guard. Later his paintings were absolutely incredible. I talked to him once. An artist,athlete,gentleman. RIP Bro.

You're welcome, Rog.

[kikibalt]

Let Dormant Dinosaurs Rest!

April 29, 2009 by Felipe Leon

As the “Golden Boy” OScar De La Hoya announced his retirement a couple of weeks ago, I believed that we were ushering in a new era in boxing.

I was wrong.

After the exciting wins this weekend of two relative new comers to the professional ranks and the boxing radar in Juan Manuel Lopez and Carl Froch, two dinosaurs of years past are threatening to lace up the gloves and try to reacapture their now long lost glory and not to mention plenty of sheckles in their coffers.

It has been reported over the internet that former welterweight, super welterweight and middleweight champion Felix “Tito” Trinidad will try to avenge his 2001 loss to former undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins later this year.

Their first bout was mirred in controversy. Hopkins desecrated the Puerto Rican flag by ripping it from Trinidad’s hands and throwing it on the ground at the actual bout had to be pushed back because of the 9/11 tragedy.

Hopkins won the first fight with via 12th round TKO when “Papa” Trinidad threw in the towel to save his son.

It seems as if the bout is just about signed, sealed and delivered with minor details being worked out between Don King and Golden Boy Promotions.

Nobody can argue what the careers of both men have meant for the sport of boxing. While Hopkins at 44 years of age continues to school fighters young and old inside the ring as was the case in his last bout when he exposed Kelly Pavlik at a catch weight of 170 lbs, Trinidad has been content in fighting every couple of years for major paydays as he is considered one of the top PPV draws because of his loyal Puerto Rican following.

But is this fight really necessary?

Unlike the two exciting fights over the weekend, the Hopkins-Trinidad will not reveal anything about either fighter or the division.

First of all, we are not sure they will be fighting within a division since it is rumored that they will be meeting at a catch weight.

Although Hopkins did look as sharp as the Hopkins of his middleweight run in his last bout, it does not seem as he is interested in pursuing a belt besides the Ring Magazine strap at super middleweight or light heavyweight and instead just picks and chooses the biggest money fights within those ranks.

Trinidad has not been a player in any division since he announced his retirement.

More than likely I will watch this fight but I believe the result will not surprise anyone. Despite Hopkins looking all of his middle aged years against the slightly younger and more active Calzaghe in April of 2008, he shocked the boxing world when he neutralized the current middleweight champion of the world Kelly Pavlik late last year.

Trinidad is 1-3 since taking a two year exodus from the ring. He announced his retirement in May of ‘05 but returned to the squared circle early last year to another member of the senior citizen tour, Roy Jones Jr.

For boxing to regain its luster that so many have said it has lost, it must move away from these type of fights. The public is not a foolish one and anybody that can fog up a mirror can see that this is purely a money grab.

Although it might be hard to argue that any fight that is broadcast by HBO, Showtime and even ESPN has some type of meaning for the division or the fighter, and argument can still be made, no matter how delicate it might be.

There is no viable reason why this fight should be made.

The pockets of Trinidad, Hopkins, De La Hoya and King might want to rebutt that statement.

[scartissue]

The Jr. Middleweights in this continuing contender series. It doesn't have the depth, but what the hell for a bit of fun.

Scartissue

JR. MIDDLE
Joey Giambra (USA) (1)
Ted Wright (USA) (1)
Stan Harrington (USA) (2)
Stan Hayward (USA) (1)
Gypsy Joe Harris (USA) (0)
Charkey Ramon (Austr) (0)
Elijah Makathini (SA) (0)
Tony Chiaverini (USA) (0)
Clint Jackson (USA) (0)
Gary Guiden (USA) (1)
Charley Weir (SA) (1)
Tony Ayala (USA) (0)
Herol Graham (Eng) (0)
James Green (USA) (0)
David Braxton (USA) (1)

Okay, okay, I realize it's not what you might call 'deep' but I couldn't ignore the division and its nearly forty year history, so just bear with me. Joey Giambra, fought the best Middleweights of his day (beating Giardello 2 out of 3), but lost to Moyer for what is generally accepted as the inaugural 154 lb. title bout. Ted Wright, similarly fought the best out there (Griffith, Benvenuti, Rodriguez, Moyer) and fought Griffith for a version of the world title, only 3 days earlier than the Moyer-Giambra bout. However, this Euro version soon went into disuse. Stan Harrington, a tough perrenial contender who fought 6 world champs in his career, gave Moyer and Kim hell in separate title bids. Stan (Kitten) Hayward, beat Griffith, Cokes and Briscoe during his hectic career, but lost to Freddie Little for the Jr. Middle title. Gypsy Joe Harris, another product from the Philadelphia factory of leather slingers. Harris beat reigning Welter king Curtis Cokes, then lost to Griffith before it was discoverd he was blind in one eye and forced to retire. Charkey Ramon, this tough nut from Australia had a bit in common with Harris. Although their styles differed dramatically, Ramon, shortly after winning the Commonwealth 154 title, was also forced to retire with a detached retina with a 34-1-1 log. Elijah (Tap Tap) Makathini, one of the best produced by South Africa, beat Griffith, Cokes, Dynamite Douglas, Juarez DeLima, Gary Guiden and Charley Weir, but could not nail down a title fight. Tony Chiaverini, was a top notch Jr. Middle who held excellent wins over Elisha Obed, Tony Licata and 'Mad Dog' Ross, but his eyes were bigger than his stomach and was put in his place when he would ascend to the next rung in class by fighters such as Leonard, Benitez and Briscoe. Clint Jackson, a fighter who would have achieved so much more if he stayed at 154, but the money has always been at 160. Nevertheless, his televised bout against Frank 'the animal' Fletcher is considered a classic. Gary Guiden, a beautiful short puncher out of Indiana was another who would stray north in weight to make ends meet. Took a hammering against a 160 lb. Makathini and Curtis Parker, but returned to the 154 division and gave Davey Moore a good go of it for the title. Charley Weir, had some excellent wins over Mike Colbert, Kevin Finnegan and Mike Baker and was quickly ushered into a title fight by the South Africa friendly WBA before Moore exposed his glaring weakness. A chin with the reiliency of potato salad. Of course, he was an absolutely deadly puncher and if you couldn't get to him, chances are you yourself would be gone. Tony Ayala, this bad boy is actually still active...OK, OK, I meant pugilistically. But prior to his...career interruption, he was awesome at 154. Wins over Carlos Herrera and Robbie Epps put him on the map and a tumultuous personal life veered him off. James (Hardrock) Green, the man NBC tried pushing down our throats after the Ayala conviction, was a nice pressure fighter who employed an effective Joe Frazier-bob and weave style. But losses to Frank Fletcher and Donald Curry ended his run. Herol Graham, was 26-0 and the British, Commonwealth and Euro Jr. Middle champ before abdicating and venturing north in weight. The 154 lb. division's loss. And finally David Braxton, a slick boxer/puncher out of Detroit who looked to be the heir apparent at 154 after Tommy Hearns' departure, only to be stopped by Mike McCallum in the Jamaican's first title defense.

Honorable mention: Oh man, it wasn't the easiest nailing down 15 at 154, let alone those outside the elite sphere. But, here goes. Donato Paduano, Luigi Minchillo, Tony Braxton (the fighter, not the singer).

[Expug]

Another great list Dan.
Tony Chivarenis nephew works as a sports anchor for an nbc affiliate here in Chicago.
His name is Ryan Chivareni. Good kid, we talk about Tony quite a bit when he is covering the Bulls or Blackhawks.Tony is doing well. Hes a hero in K.C.

A guy who I thought was a helluva fighter who did most of his work at welter but some over the 147 limit was tough Gil Turner.

[kikibalt]

Manny Pacquiao, Ricky Hatton news conference is a con job


Jae C. Hong / Associated Press
Boxers Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton appeared at a boxing news conference at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Wednesday. They will fight in a junior welterweight boxing match Saturday.
As with most boxing title matches, this lead-up show is not about the fighters but definitely about the window dressing.

Bill Dwyre
April 30, 2009

From Las Vegas -- An old wives' tale claims they once held a boxing news conference and there was actual news. Not Wednesday.

They trotted out Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton, opponents for Saturday night's next big deal in the sport. Both acted responsibly, spoke sensibly, brought no new insight to their match, and sat down.

Unless Mike Tyson, Bernard Hopkins or Floyd Mayweather Jr. are fighting, the lead-up show is never about the boxers and always about the window dressing.

That's the eternal charm. Boxing is the world's only honestly dishonest sport. It is the University of Con Artists, the Academy of the Slick. It is the worm of organized athletics. Cut off a piece of it here, another there, and it still keeps wiggling.

If you are a member of the media, the people who run boxing know that you know. And you know that they know that you know.

College sports, for example, yammers on about building character, when it is mostly building pros. Boxing just builds characters. It looks you right in the eye, tells you it will try to con you, and then proceeds.

Wednesday's extravaganza, in a huge ballroom at the MGM Grand, where the media messengers of this madness flocked in large numbers, included a fashion show, strange bedfellows, comments on international relations, insults and poetry, tugs at the heart strings, and the ever-present slick-selling.

This is geared to getting ink-stained wretches, Internet typists and TV talking heads in tight black dresses to gobble up the inanities of the day and dispense them to the public so the public will buy pay-per-view packages at $49.95. That's the message. The only one.

Delivering it was a long row of men on a dais, their fashion statements running from three-piece suits to sport coat and T-shirts to wind breakers and sweat suits. Pacquiao wore white shoes, pants and sport coat with a black tam. Hatton, who referred to himself as a fat, beer-drinking Englishman, wore a T-shirt and a black floppy hat.

The master-of-ceremonies duty was jointly handled by Bob Arum and Oscar De La Hoya. Arum once promoted De La Hoya. Then De La Hoya went out on his own. Along the way, they have called each other every name in the book -- to be fair, Arum more than De La Hoya -- and have kept several law firms in business. Now, it's all smiles and pats on the back.

Arum, who never met a fight he couldn't spin into a tale of monumental significance, said that this fight would be a success even though, with Pacquiao from the Philippines and Hatton from England, there is no U.S. angle.

"Americans are not xenophobic," Arum proclaimed.

One wonders how that quote will play in France.

Eventually, because it apparently wasn't preventable, Hatton's trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr., was called to the microphone. He, like Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, is a former boxer. Each has accepted more than his share of blows to the head over the years, but only Roach admits that.

From the start of this promotion, months ago, they have been verbally battling. Mayweather Sr. likes to call Roach "the joke coach," and Roach likes to remind Mayweather Sr. that he got a head start on Mayweather in training careers because Mayweather was in prison for selling drugs.

What is beyond the borders of good taste elsewhere is standard fare in boxing.

This time, Mayweather Sr. tried some poetry.

"Pac-man, it's over. So stop wishing on that four-leaf clover."

"Ain't no secret. I hope you know. It's Hit Man Hatton by KO."

Roach took the microphone and wished the Hatton camp luck.

Mark Taffet, making the mandatory HBO speech (remember, pay per view, $49.95. Sign up now), gave both trainers a cleverly phrased boost.

"They are two men who are legendary in their ability to walk the walk," he said. "Now, their walk is exceeded only by their ability to talk the talk."

Taffet then announced that HBO's Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7, a new art form best described as advertising documentary, will do 24/7 Overtime Friday night. That will feature Jim Lampley interviewing Roach and Mayweather Sr., all three sitting in the ring at the MGM Grand.

Pray for Lampley.

Somewhere along the line, Arum introduced a member of Pacquiao's entourage. Before another Pacquiao fight, Arum had introduced a high-ranking Philippine official as "Governor what's-his-name." This time, he called Wacky Salud to the microphone.

Wacky was up for about a minute. He wore dark glasses and spoke in a deep gravely voice. His words appeared to be English. If this hadn't been a boxing news conference, it could have passed as an audition for a mafia movie.

Arum wrapped up the program by reminding all of how Pacquiao came from "abject poverty," and how he often sits outside his home in General Santos City and hands out food and money to people in need.

"The Philippines has the best social welfare system in the world," Arum proclaimed. "And it is called Manny Pacquiao."

The whole thing took a little more than an hour. It was jaw-dropping. It always is.

[email protected]

[Chuck1052]

Dick Donald also was a matchmaker at a boxing club in Venice during the middle 1910s.

- Chuck Johnston