July 2009, a month to forget and remember

July, the first full month of summer, should be a period of appreciation: the blooming of flowers, warm nocturnal zephyrs and abundant sunshine. But the sun set shockingly early for three of boxing’s best this month. For this reason, a part of me wants to forget “Cruel-ly”. The boxing world lost three universally liked and respected members. I hurt because messrs. Arguello, Gatti and Forrest were three of my all-time favorites. But to honor their memories and contributions I will never forget them.

Sunday morning, 7/26, I received the tragic news out of Atlanta. This pill was the biggest to swallow for it was the third death in a 24 day span. A third strike was struck against the boxing community. Striking out looking or swinging is not relevant. An out is an out. None of us saw any of the pitches coming. Problematic, at first, was the blindness of all this. More important was the rumination over “why?’.

I never see purpose or meaning in such events except to say that life obviously can be random and cruel. Thomas Hobbes, in his opus “Leviathan” asserted life to be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”. A characterization hard to dispute at the moment. In fact, those five descriptives aptly apply to the life and work of most boxers.

Solitary-from bell to bell it is mano a mano. You are all alone in the ring. And those three minutes can feel like an eternity when one is losing.

Poor-how often do we hear about boxers who are born poor and unfortunately die poor. All too often.

Nasty-sometimes when I introduce friends or family to the sweet science I hear how “nasty” it is. My fight is to convince others to observe the vast skill and will a boxer must have to survive this “nastiness”.

Brutish-adopted from the name “Brutus” means “befitting or typical of a beast or animal”. This according to my old Websters dictionary. Brutish is a pejorative. It should not be. Humanity has always embraced gladiatorial ritual in some form. This is our true nature, genetically we are hard-wired to enjoy the brutality of sports such as boxing. I salute anyone with the courage to fight; moreover, I salute all boxers for being honest about what resides at their core.

Short-the life of the pugilist can be short for all the well-established medical reasons. But to die outside of the ring so prematurely is an act of cruel irony beyond my limited comprehension. Alexis was shy of 60, both Arturo and Vernon never enjoyed even a 40th birthday.

On 7/1 the world lost not just a great, classic-style boxer but a bona fide humanitarian and leader. Alexis Arguello fought valiantly both inside and outside of the squared-circle. His fisticuff legacy was impressive, the political legacy for his beloved Nicaragua even more special. I will talk more about this unique man in my next article entitled “Best re-matches of the generation”. Hint: Arguello/Pryor II ranked highly. Perhap #1…

Exactly ten days later, 7/11, the “ultimate blood and guts warrior” passed. Arturo Gatti was a “throwback”. We all can picture him brawling in the 1940′s and fighting every month as was often the norm back then. “Thunder Gatti” was a combatant in Ring Magazine’s fight of the year 4 times. 1997 and 1998. Then 2002 and 2003. I do not know which is more impressive, fight of the year status 4 times or accomplishing it twice in back to back fashion. What an achievement! More on this fan-favorite as Gatti/Ward II also lands on my list of noteworthy re-matches.

Vernon “the Viper” Forrest perished on a warm, Georgia night, Saturday 7/25. When remembering Vernon, the number two is prominent.

2-time welterweight champ

2-time super-welterweight champ

2-time victor over Shane Mosley

lost to only 2 foes (Mayorga and Mora)-exacted revenge on Mora and many feel Vernon won a close decision in the Mayorga re-match

2 years of ring-inactivity due to shoulder surgeries.

2 of these surgeries were on the same shoulder for a torn rotator cuff

2002 Fighter of the Year-Ring Magazine

2003 Marvin Kohn Good Guy Award as selected by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

How many know that Vernon was instrumental in establishing “Destiny’s Child”, a group home for mentally-challenged adults? For this singular act, Mr. Forrest receives my “Great Guy Award”.

Vernon Forrest was the original Paul Williams. The man nobody wants to challenge. Both tall, rangy and talented. Williams throws more leather, Forrest threw with more power. I can only recall one high-caliber opponent with marquis value to face the dreaded Viper. Thank you Shane Mosley. Credit to Sugar for facing a naturally bigger man in his prime. Credit to Forrest for handily defeating the PFP champ with the blazing handspeed. Here the number two re-surfaces as a germane digit. It was in Mosley/Forrest I, round 2, when Mosley had a tactile experience with the canvass for the first time. This the result of a bone-crushing right from Forrest. From that moment forward, if you weighed 147 or 154 lbs, and called yourself a prizefighter you had one colossal decision to ponder. “How badly do I want the belt”? The obstacle to this pinnacle being the man who rocked a prime Shane Mosley’s world.

Vernon Forrest…you will be sorely missed. Alexis Arguello and Arturo Gatti…ditto. The hottest period of the calendar chillingly recorded the coldest fate anyone can meet. Figuratively speaking, I need to cool down now. Get me out of this month…how many days to winter?