Like Clubber Lang, I could predict that this Saturday's pay-per-view fight would end in pain. Did you catch the exciting, action-packed slugfest between Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto and Mexican Antonio Margarito? Apart from the fact that the antagonists are more fighters than boxers, the contest had going for it the tribal element that puts fans in the seats (and often jumping out of them) to cheer on their ethnic superhero. It was a bigtime fight that lived up to the hype. What the fight didn't have, and no fight sanctioned by any of the major boxing organizations has had since 1988, was fifteen rounds. Watching Margarito, an iron-chinned, plodding, slower fighter who stalks and ultimately wears down his opponents, made me think that here is an evil hombre who has suffered from the evolution of the unified rules of boxing. Opponents don't beat Margarito, they survive. I began watching Cotto-Margarito without allegiance. Margarito won me over. I could see that his early body work and ability to take the best that Cotto dished out--and he dished out some pain--would eventually work in his favor. But perhaps his strategy was better suited for fifteen and not twelve rounds? Margarito didn't so much knock out Cotto as he made him submit. Literally, Cotto took a knee. And then, after getting sent to the canvas again, his uncle threw in the towel. On this night, not the better boxer or even the better puncher but the tougher man won.

I know you like boxing. I also know that you have boxed in the past, having viewed a very quick and one sided fight between you and someone who's blood was all over a Holiday Inn floor, but don't you think that you should check out the up and coming sport of MMA? Especially since someone I know is fighting soon to defend his WEC light Heavy Weight title. Brian "the All American" Stann, Captain United States Marine Corps!

Awesome. I have seen Stann fight and naturally seeing the Marine colors I rooted for him. I will check that fight out. I like MMA (I love boxing). I guess I identify with it less because, other than stand-up fighting, it combines a number of skills (wrestling, karate, submission moves) that I have never posessed. Additionally, when it goes to the ground and becomes a hugfest I get bored. The unsanctioned fight at the Holiday Inn that you reference, Mike, was actually the last time I struck another human being with my fists. It's also the only fight (understandably given the festivities that preceeded it) that I don't really remember. Brian Stann fights on August 3. I am retired.

Prior to leaving my last assignment I replaced Brian Stann and got to speak with him quite regularly about his fighting and his future prospects. But I was just teasing you a little with regard to that other fight. Did I tell you that I will be starting law school in Aug and that your tax dollars are paying for it via the USMC? And did I mention that I will do it all on active duty too? Email me when you can. the email address is my first name @ my last name .us