I really enjoyed reading your recent article on FULL CONTACT FIGHTING & BRAIN DAMAGE. I too suffer from that imperfection. I see two of everything I look at, my gait is off balance, and at times, making me appear as though I'm drunk.

My speech is very difficult to understand, people that hear me speak for the first time think I'm drunk. It's a cruel and constant reminder of the injustice Lou Duva wreaked on me in 1979. As I'm sure you'll understand, its difficult for me to believe and trust in people, even to this very day. I was a good fighter, climbing the pro ranks quickly. Winning a world title, I feel was within my grasps.

 

If you ever find time, look up my name, "Rusty Rosenberger," on Box Rec and check my record. I was undefeated. 12-0-8, with my first 12 fights scheduled for only a 6 round club fight. Then on April 27, 1979, Duva books me into a 12 round NJ State Championship fight. In this unprecedented fight match up, I'd be challenging the current NJ State Middleweight Champion and the past Silver medalist in the 1968 Olympics, Reggie Jones. One week before our fight, Jones signed a fight contract with then middleweight champ Huggo Corro. They even ask me to sign the contract as a witness to the fight deal, which I did. The contract read, "If Reggie Jones beats Rusty Rosenberger one week from the signing of this contract for the NJ State Middleweight Title defense, Reggie Jones is guaranteed a fight against the World Middleweight Champ, Huggo Curro, for the Middleweight Championship of the World."

 

All Jones had to do was beat a young, 6 round club fighter and he's fighting for a world title. On that evening, I upset the apple cart, going the entire 12 rounds in good fashion. I out boxed him, out punched him, fighting like a seasoned pro.

Who knows what other accomplishments I could have, should have, would have made, if not for taking them damn so called by Duva, blood clotting pills. The beating I absorbed that evening caused an eye muscle in my right eye to be torn beyond repair.

 

With modern technology and 4 eye surgeries, I'm still reminded daily of my fall from grace, thanks to those two pills given to me by my manager, Lou Duva.

 

Sincerely,

Rusty