Resale market for fight tickets heading down

Boxing fans know the rules prohibit gouging in the ring.

Gouging is, however, common when they buy their tickets. And hitting below the belt, right in the wallet, is an accepted punch for big events.

With that understanding, it will be interesting to see just where the resale market for tickets to Saturday night’s megafight ends up. As of 10:30 p.m. Thursday, ticket broker site StubHub showed 17 available tickets for $2,930.25 per ducat. That’s down from $4,200 — 30 percent, using others’ math.

And that price doesn’t even include an “I Drained My Kid’s College Fund For This Seat” T-shirt.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: No, not the kind practiced inside the ropes.

Much is being made these days about boxing champ Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s documented history of domestic violence. Frankly, it’s hard to tell where the media hand-wringing ends and the genuine outrage begins.

So here’s a proposition:

If you say you’re appalled by Mayweather’s domestic violence history, do something about it. Make a donation to The Shade Tree shelter for women and children. Phone: 702-385-0072; theshadetree.org.

While we’re on the subject, S.A.F.E. House is another worthwhile local organization whose goal is to help stop domestic violence. Donate at safehousenv.org.

DEADBEAT BEATEN: Mobbed-up former Crazy Horse Too boss Rick Rizzolo’s attempt to wriggle out of the millions he agreed to pay as part of a criminal settlement was soundly rejected by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

In a decision published Thursday, the federal appeals court knocked down Rizzolo’s specious argument that lower courts had erred when they agreed his debts were overdue, including millions he owed Crazy Horse Too beating victim Kirk Henry.

“In his reply brief … Rizzolo made certain claims about his income, net worth and occupation,” the court wrote. “However, none was supported with evidence. It was not error to reject these unsupported claims in light of Rizzolo’s ability to earn income, as well as his history of concealing assets.”

If this case were a prizefight, a referee would have stopped it on cuts long ago.

ON THE BOULEVARD: Good news for local history fans. North Las Vegas officials are finally moving to preserve and celebrate Kiel Ranch in suitable style. … Las Vegas is known throughout the world for its ability to celebrate. But who knew members of our Lutheran community were such party animals? It’s for a good cause, of course: at 5:30 p.m. May 21 at Cili restaurant at Bali Hai Golf Course, Lutheran Social Services of Nevada pops the corks for its annual wine tasting to raise funds for its many worthy social service programs. Information: derrick@lssnv.org, or call 639-1730. … May is National Brain Tumor Month, and at 9 a.m. on Saturday the 16th at Sunset Park Desert Gray Matters will lace on its sneakers for its inaugural 5K walk/run to raise awareness for the importance of research. Email: wizathon.com or walktoendbraintumors.org.

BOULEVARD II: Easy Rawlins earned his Ph.D on the street. But his creator, novelist Walter Mosley, moves comfortably between the asphalt and academic jungles. Mosley is set to present the first Jim Rogers Contrarian Lecture as part of the Beverly Rogers and Carol C. Harter Black Mountain Institute at 7 p.m. Thursday at UNLV. The theme: Higher education in America.

John L. Smith’s column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Email him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0295. Follow him on Twitter: @jlnevadasmith