"It's ridiculous, Eddie going from No. 1 to No. 14 [in the WBO ratings] after losing a tough fight to the best heavyweight in the world," Murray groused. "At least the IBF only dropped him a couple of spots. It just goes to show how important it is to capitalize on whatever opportunities you get. But Eddie will get another title shot, mark my word. He's only 28 and his best fights are still ahead of him."
Punch lines
Welterweight Terrance Cauthen and lightweight Zahir Raheem, teammates on the U.S. Olympic boxing team that competed in Atlanta in 1996, are featured in separate bouts on Aug. 27. Cauthen, 34, (35-6, 9 KOs), the Trenton resident who was a bronze medalist in the 132-pound weight class 14 years ago, takes on Ahmad Kaddour (22-2-1, 9 KOs), from Denmark by way of his native Lebanon, at Dover Downs. Raheem, 33, (30-3, 17 KOs), a North Philly native, swaps punches with lightweight Roberto Valenzuela (53-53-2, 43 KOs) in, yes, Atlanta . . . It's a sad farewell to two good men the world could ill afford to lose. Former Showtime boxing executive Jay Larkin, 59, succumbed to gliobastoma, a particularly aggressive form of brain cancer, after a 3-year battle. And noted South Philly trainer Jimmy Arthur, known for his work with Tyrone Everett, Mike Everett, Roger Russell, Frankie Mitchell, Tony Suero and Mike Rafferty, among others, passed away at 80. Rest in peace, my friends. *Send e-mail to fernanb@phillynews.com