Las Vegas is the undisputed entertainment and gambling capital of the world, but, Las Vegas it is also the Boxing capital of the world. 

Many world ranked and up and coming fighters have migrated to Vegas from all over the world to pursue that big promotion and break. 

We will conduct interviews with many up and coming, current and old time fighters, in addition to judges, refs and trainers past and present. 

We will also do predictions and give pre and post-fight impressions. 

The upcoming November bout between Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales was squelched by Morales’s upset loss this past month to unranked boxer, Zahir Raheem.  Although a feather in the cap of Raheem, and a possible ranking for him, down the drain goes millions of dollars Morales hoped to earn from a bout with Pacquiao. 

However, October brings us the much anticipated World Lightweight Championship rematch between Diego Corrales and Jose Castillo.  Many are calling the first encounter, "the greatest fight ever", and this reporter is in agreement with that assessment 100%.  In the first match, Corrales, after being decked twice, got up to stop Castillo…it was unbelievable.  No prediction on this one, other then this blockbuster between two great warriors will not go the distance.... Be there Saturday, October 8th at the Thomas and Mack.

In November the place to be is the Heavyweight Championship Fight between WBC Champion Vitali Klitschko and top contender Hasim Rahman.  'Should be a good one for four or five-rounds, and although Rahman will have that puncher’s chance we see Klitschko prevailing by KO in seven. 

My feature this month is on a legendary fight judge Art Lurie. Art has judged more fights involving champion fighters, and has judged more championship fights than any other man in the world…197 to be exact. 

My first impression when meeting this gentleman, was his vitality and mental sharpness for a man 87 years young. Art was a young fighter during WWII for the Navy Boxing Team, who amassed an impressive record of thirty-seven wins and just two loses.  His commander was ex-heavyweight champ Gene Tunney (of long count fame), a good start to the world of "pugilism".  Art was a boxing judge in Nevada from 1953 through 2003, and was on the Nevada State Boxing Commission from 1964 to 2003.  Art was also a successful business man here in Las Vegas, owning and operating establishments in the food and beverage business, including the popular hangout, the former "Art's Place" on East Sahara before retiring a few years ago. 

Art satisfied my curiosity as to how judges judge a fight.  "First of all", he said, "why the fans see the fight differently is very simple.  It is because they have a favorite fighter and maybe influenced by the fighters record and the odds makers opinion of the bout, and see more on one side then the other.  A judge must concentrate on the fight round by round", he said, "they must watch the four gloves of the fighters and not the fighters themselves. A judge must tune out everything as if he were watching the fight on TV with no sound.  You must be very careful about your judging because you have the responsibility of the fighter’s future earnings in your hands."  Art's hope for the future is to start a foundation to build a home for retired fighters and to help find them a job upon their retirement from the ring. 

Mr. Lurie has agreed to give me tidbits of his knowledge for this column in the coming months. Thank you Art Lurie, a true Nevada boxing legend.