"Russ On The Ropes"

By Ed Ludwig

15.04 - Eastside Boxing is proud to announce a brand new feature called "Russ On The Ropes". ESB in conjunction with Russ Anber's Friday Night Fights Boxing radio show on the Team 990 in Montreal are working together to bring you the latest news and inside scoops from around the world. Russ Anber is a very well respected trainer and host of ESPN Classics Canada. His resume speaks for itself and I am very happy to be working with a man whom I have admired and respected for many years. You can listen to his radio show every Friday at 9 pm pacific and 12 am eastern.

Ed Ludwig: First off, what on earth happened in Germany on April 5th where we saw Eric Lucas lose his WBC Super Middleweight title?

Russ Anber: It's really difficult for me to answer that Ed. There were so many factors that came in to play. Basically Lucas got jobbed and there is no other excuses or reasons. It was a travesty. It appeared to be very blatant and there was some kind of corruption because I'm not sure that plain incompetence can cut it on this. If the judges in fact saw the fight the way they saw it the important thing is the accusation made by Yvon Michel that Markus Beyer's people were getting the score is true. Beyer fought as if he knew the score all the way through and his corner conducted themselves as if they new exactly what was going on. I have heard reports that Beyer felt he shouldn't have won the fight but I don't know how true that is. I am still at a loss for words to explain how they could have rendered such a decision. Was the fight that different live? There have been cases where you see a fight one way and it's close or one sided then you watch it again on television and you do get a different perspective. I mentioned that on the TSN telecast. You get to see two or three different angles where judges are not privy to that. It's difficult to imagine, even if it was close and you were generous to Beyer, I don't see how you could give him the title based on that performance. I doubt a world title has ever changed hands with such a few amount of punches thrown by the challenger.

EL: The image of Boxing in Germany has been tarnished for a long time. What does the recent decision tell people now?

RA: For the ones that knew, it's I told you so and for the ones whom didn't, they know now. I can tell you that there are places that you can't win. One is Germany and the other is Denmark. Italy at times is the same. As an outsider it is virtually impossible to win and I often get upset and some people on ESB made notice of this in their comments that they wrote. Why does Beyer never leave Germany? Someone must have a lot of money to keep the fights there and it's ridiculous that many fighters never leave their country. Now you know why Roy Jones Jr. doesn't want to fight in Germany. Roy is not stupid.

EL: Eric was clearly upset and deservedly so. There were reports that Eric was a sore loser for not conducting interviews with German TV. Have you heard anything about this?

RA: I have heard nothing. I would not do an interview with them either. I would not give them one second of my time to try and justify and put me on the spot to make me look like a loser or a crybaby. I'll tell you this right now, everything that was asked of Eric Lucas leading up to the fight, he did. I do know as a fact, there was a former member of the East German Boxing Federation who was in charge of being Eric's chaperone and everywhere Eric went he went. He befriended and took care of him and the night of the fight he's part of the jury tabulating the judges scorecards at the officials table.

EL: Why did we not hear anything from Markus Beyer on the English or French telecast following the fight?

RA: It's a good question. I don't know why anyone didn't try to get Beyer. They scooted him out of there as quick as they could. What helped their cause is that they knew the fight would not be broadcast live in the United States. Basically they were able to get away with larceny because nobody saw it. They were not worried about what Canada thought and they would deal with the protest and repercussions later. The thing that I find striking was that Beyer didn't even grant interviews but was he even approached? I would like to hear what he would have said. He was quoted as saying that he did not think he won. I've been around the sport for a long time and what bothered me when the fight ended Beyer and his people knew the outcome. There is usually a look of content and anticipation but Beyer did not have that look. His corner seemed to know and acted like they had it before the decision was announced.

EL: When Eric returned home to Montreal following the fight what did he have to say to the local press?

RA: I don't think he had anything different to say from what we heard before that. He's hoping that INTERBOX put all the pressure on the WBC. Yvon has sent newspaper clips and tapes to Mexico and Eric is hoping for an immediate rematch.

EL: Yvon Michel and Stephane Larouche appear to be angry more than Eric. Is that true?

RA: I think so. You have to understand that a boxer is more hurt than angry. His emotions are drained because he just fought twelve rounds whereas as a corner-man or a trainer is more angry. I remember how I felt when Otis Grant had a draw against Lonnie Bradley in a fight that was clear cut more then this fight. Yvon and Stephane have a right to be mad. As a trainer you tend not to blame your boxer or his opponent.

EL: Eric recently signed a new multi million-dollar contract with INTERBOX. Will his contract be restructured following the loss?

RA: No, I don't think so. There was a thing in the paper that Lucas will be involved with INTERBOX after he retires. After the loss he had tons of support.

EL: I spoke to IBF Heavyweight champion Chris Byrd a few days ago and although he did not see the fight he was not the least bit surprised about the outcome when he heard about it. He said to win in Germany you have to score a knockout and that he would never go back. Do you agree with him and would Eric ever go back?

RA: I'll answer the last part first. Eric will go wherever he has to if it means regaining his title and do I agree with Chris Byrd? Yes, because if you go to Germany expecting a fair shake you are sadly mistaken.

EL: Are you in favour of a federal commission especially when it comes to judges because of their ties to promoters and reluctance to score against the house fighter?

RA: I am for a unified, even worldwide body that makes the same rules for everybody. I am also for medical reports being acceptable everywhere. For example right now it is absolutely inane within the fifty states and ten provinces that anyone can ask for different types of medical reports. If they are all supposed to be connected and working together under the supposedly ABC, Association of Boxing Commission, if that is the case and I go fight in New York why are my reports from Quebec not good enough? I don't have to get another drivers licence if I go somewhere else and I don't have to take another test and I can use it anywhere. The commissions are all corrupt and it's a fallacy. When you talk about a federal commission it will depend on what their function is. If they are going to operate the same way as it operates now then it's useless. It's worse in Europe and in most countries it's a one-man show and what he does is he gets all his friends to join. I am certainly for a change because what we see now is terrible. If you try to go and fight in Florida for example you have to be licensed in your home state or province first. That's almost an oxymoron in itself. You won't give me a licence because I'm not licensed and when you have one you need another. How does that make any sense? Judges and referees should be ranked like fighters but from an independent panel. This could eliminate some of the problems. I think Laurence Cole did a wonderful job during the Lucas-Beyer fight. He didn't have much to do but he was very fair. I noticed he looked shocked having to raise Beyer's hand.

EL: Is there any concern for the upcoming Leonard Dorin vs. Paul Spadafora fight in Pittsburgh?

RA: You have to feel a little more comfortable in the states. Spadafora has fantastic boxing skills and Leonard is tough as nails and you have to hope going into Pittsburgh will not be as dangerous as going into Germany.

EL: I would like to thank you for your time and I look forward to the next instalment.

RA: Thank you and I will talk to you soon.

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