Seriously Disillusioned

The firing of Eric Raskin and William Dettloff from RingTV.com left me with a bad taste in my mouth.  I seriously didn't know what to write because something felt rotten about the sport in general.

Right now, RingTV.com is raving about Brandon Rios' performance Saturday.  The high school sportswriters there don't know that such praise will ultimately play a role in Rios' destruction.

Rios is what Oscar de la Hoya was at lightweight.  A big kid fighter older guys.  Miguel Acosta WAS boxing beautifully, but at 24, Rios can afford to block more punches with his face which he did until Acosta was exhausted.

Anyone can get tired from hitting a punching bag, right?

Roberto Garcia should be getting more praise though. His fighters seem to have better offensive form.

Antonio Margarito found a lengthy, pole-arm jab. It took Manny Pacquiao an entire two rounds to figure it out.  Nonito Donaire puts his entire weight behind his left hook by turning it over perfectly.  Even Brandon Rios' has an offense based on compact hooks and uppercuts, powered by the turning of his hips.

I'll be at the Honda Center next week to see Alvarez/Hatton.  Hopefully I'll find my passion there too.

The Firing of Two Outstanding Journalists/ The End of Ring Theory

I have been informed that Eric Raskin and William Dettloff have been fired from RingTV.com.  When asked by these two for the reasoning behind their termination, RingTV.com gave none.  This new ad-riddled website has also cut off ties with Raskin and Detloff's podcast, Ring Theory.  Furthermore, Ring Theory listeners will need to subscribe for the fee of $29.99 for an entire year because Golden Boy Promotions, who owns a company that owns Ring Magazine, will not allow Ring Theory access to the usual sponsors (i.e Tecate, Everlast, etc.).

This is shocking considering Eric Raskin made an eye-opening point in his last article on the change in fan's sentiment of Pacquiao/Mosley now that it's on Showtime PPV.  William Dettloff, senior writer for Ring magazine, has been a part of the Ring Magazine's website since it was nothing but a few links and a blue background.  I find it hard to believe these two were let go for lackluster performance.  We deserve to know if other RingTV.com and Ring Magazine reporters can keep their jobs while being critical of Golden Boy, who ultimately signs their paychecks.  At the very least, Eric and Bill deserve to know why they are being treated this way.

Anyone who enjoyed the hard work these two put into bringing us weekly columns throughout the highest and lowest moments in the sport, please voice your concerns to RingTV.com through their Facebook, Twitter or email the co-editors Doug Fischer and Michael Rosenthal at their addresses (dougiefischer@yahoo.com) (RingTVeditor@yahoo.com)