Cyber Boxing Zone -- News

FRIDAY'S MID DAY FARE: PEDRO FERNANDEZ

ALI SAID WHAT?

The statement released this week that was signed by Muhammad Ali regarding the Lennox Lewis-Evander Holyfield fight was not penned by Ali himself, I have been told. Nor, was his wife Lonnie the author.

CHAMP AIN'T A FOOL

I was present in a few years ago in Sacramento, CA when Ali, Lonnie, and promoter Harold Smith were all doing the rubber chicken scene at some charity event. Over walks Ken Norton, and Ali motioned for Norton to come closer. Then the three-time champ told the uncrowned one, "You beat me."

KEN STUNNED!

"I never thought Ali would give me my due," said the man who officially lost two of his three fights with the Louisville Lip.

YANKEE STADIUM HEIST

That was always hard for Norton to swallow, I mean his losing that third fight to Ali in Yankee Stadium. For every sane person watching the 15 rounder was of the opinion that Norton had clearly outworked, out punched, and out landed the three time heavyweight champion.

NOT TO BE

Except the official judges who somehow gave Ali the win, but not without headlines in the New York papers that rivaled the recent stink over the Lewis-Holyfield scoring a fortnight ago.

I'M NOT DONE

How about that Jimmy Young fight? Ooooooooo! That's another one in which Ali was handed a gift via decision. Again, the papers in the Big Apple cried "rip-off." And that fight with Earnie Shavers, in all actuality, had Ali not been the champ, Ernie might have had his hand raised that night.

BOTTOM LINE

Is that Ali got a few undeserved presents from Santa Claus (aka "The Boxing Establishment"). So, for him to issue a statement like the one alleged to have been his earlier this week, is tantamount to Bill Clinton rapping John Kennedy for his banging Marilyn Monroe.

BARRY WHO?

I'm being told that Barry Franks, the former head of CBS, a man of incredible power in the media is who prepared Ali's statement. Franks had been the point man in purchasing Olympic telecasts, and the like. And when I say powerful in the media, I cannot stress that enough.

THAT'S WHY.

The statement was carried by every news organization in the world.

HBO TAKES WEEK OFF

If you think HBO's analyst Larry Merchant has been looking a bit worn lately, it's because HBO/TV KO had went six straight Saturdays. From the two events at Madison Square Garden, to Tacoma, WA with Las Vegas, Florida, and Atlantic City, also being stops on the tour, the Godfather of the HBO crew has been putting in the air miles seeing he is a resident of southern California.

TRASHIN' THE BELTS

After HBO's Friday rebroadcast of the fight itself, and interviews with both guys, HBO did something they had only fanaticized about for decades. They threw the symbolic championship belts belonging to the WBC, WBA, and IBF, in a garbage can that was positioned on the set between Merchant, and cohort Jim Lampley.

WBO BELT "NOT WORTH" TRASHING?

Next week HBO will do a WBO fight from the UK featuring Naseem Hamed against a hapless foe in Paul Ingle.

OTHER INGLE "BETTER FIGHT"

Of course, I'm talking about Brendan Ingle, the former trainer of the Prince who got the boot after writing a nearly tell all book entitled, The Prince and The Paddy last year. It was Brendan who turned the then seven year old Hamed on to boxing in his Sheffield, UK gym. The two no longer speak to one another.

RING TALK SATURDAY

WBA 154 lb. Champ and '96 Gold Medallist David Reid, light heavyweight great Bob Foster, top five WBA 122 lber. Willie Jorrin, and not yet confirmed former welterweight and middleweight champion Carmen Basilio.

Ring Talk starts at 11:06 PM ET, and airs on the Talk America "1" Radio Network with LIVE Internet audio at www.talkamerica.com

RING TALK SUNDAY

The Sunday show starts at the same time 11:06 PM ET. But it is an hour in duration, and is carried on a different network in the Talk America "2" Radio network, aka "The Deuce."

BOTH TALK "1" AND TALK "2" HAVE LIVE INTERNET AUDIO AT www.talkamerica.com

First time Net listener? If your computer doesn't already have the audio software, go to www.talkamerica.com and spend a couple of minutes downloading the free audio software.

EASY AS COMING TO FIGHTERS.COM

After this, you will be able to listen to Ring Talk LIVE three hours a week, regardless of whether the Talk America Radio Networks have local stations in your area.

LISTENERS FROM.

Jordan, the UK, Ireland, Uzbekistan, Australia, and Nigeria are just some of the 160 countries that have members in the Ring Talk family of listeners!
13 YEARS!

Yeah, I know there are suicide blondes, chicks, even a couple of ex-pugs trying to host a boxing talk show, something I have done successfully now for 13 years. They couldn't carry my gym bag.

So, if you're tired of listening to the four round hosts, tune into Ring Talk and find out why Pedro Fernandez is, "The Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of The Radio Airwaves."

TOLL FREE LISTENER LINES AND E MAIL

Are the vehicles you can use in contacting the Ring Talk studios!

HE'S BRAGGING?

If you haven't heard Ring Talk before, you are probably thinking I'm exaggerating. The only way to find out if I'm full of spit or not, is to tune in!

ADDICTIVE

There are many Ring Talk family members who need that three-hour weekly boxing fix. If I hook you on Ring Talk, you won't have to worry about withdrawals as we have been on the air 13 years now, and we aren't going no where!

Pedro Fernandez

Note: The writer is a syndicated talk show host with the Talk America Radio Network(s) and has his own site at www.fighters.com Mr. Fernandez can be reached with your comments at flash@inow.com