First, a Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year to all our friends and readers out there.

It’s Time to give thanks to those who appear to deserve it: If you think this is done by Rusty the Cynic, you are correct for the most-part.

Thanks to Don King for all the good fights he’s provided over the year, and the lousy fight that made John Ruiz, who holds more then he punches, and a club fighter at best, a champion again, at least in the eyes of the WBA.

And to that I’ll add my cynical thanks to Hasim Rahman, who fought the worst fight I’ve ever seen him fight, and the WBA (Worthless Boxing Association) for designating these two clowns to fight for the interim title.

We knew that Rahman can fight, but it’s hard to do when your opponent is holding you, and teaching you to tango with two left feet. With a good, tough referee, Ruiz should be relegated to the club fighter status. Then again, with today’s heavyweights that does make him a contender.

And God forbid we have to watch Ruiz – Jones II, or Ruiz fight anyone legally. New Jersey should have hired a no-nonsense referee to work that fight and maybe a few punches would have been thrown. Hell, the only thing I threw at the screen was vomit, I almost threw up watching the farce.***

Thanks to Bob Arum for at least providing competitive fights during the year. Arum thinks highly of most Hispanic fighters, and rightly so, but he doesn’t lower himself trying to promote Ruiz. He leaves that to King, who, it seems, could make anyone into a heavyweight champion.***

Thanks to the judges who continued in 2003 to score some of the fights so badly, that we lost our Las Vegas boxing scribe, Sonny Palermo, who quit in disgust.***

Thanks to Evander Holyfield for again proving he’s over the hill and still refusing to hang the gloves up.***

But in a non-cynical mood, let me offer sincere thanks to all the great boxing folks who’s works have blessed this website and magazine throughout the year, as well as the fans who despite all the complaints, tough it up and support boxing no matter what high-jinks goes on in and out of the squared circle.

All the best for Christmas folks. May your days be merry and bright (at least brighter then me).

Newsflash: We are taking orders for autographed copies of my new book, “OFF THE CANVAS” to be published in the spring. Cost of $12.50 will get you at the top of our list, (as it will be sent on a first order, first sent basis) for an autographed copy sent to you (along with my thanks). Send order along with check or money order or credit card info to: Rusty Rubin, Ringsports.com, POB 18336, Reno, NV. 89511.***

Agree or disagree, I’d like to hear from you.

Glove2Glove:

Special prayers go out to Mills Lane for his complete recovery. Mills, who suffered a stroke a few years back may be down, but knowing him, he’s far from out.

Prayers are requested for the soul of Archie Hindman who passed away early this month in Indiana.

Prayers are requested for Ringsports.com photo journalist Dale Hausner of Arizona, who is having problems with cancer.

Prayers are requested for Kenneth E. Ryther father of our photo journalist Amy Green. Kenneth is suffering from Parkinsons.

Please say prayers for solid boxing guy, member of the WBHOF and all around class act Sabitini Arbucci who is recovering from cancer surgery.

Please say prayers for Phill Grazide of Santa Rosa, CA. a big supporter of amateur boxing, who is suffering the crippling effects of rheumatoid arthritis.

Chas. Shandor, father in law of Ringsports.com writer Nick Constantine has been diagnosed with cancer and needs your prayers.

Prayers are asked for and welcomed for LaVerne Gaither of Atlanta, who is having some serious medical problems.

Also down but not out with cancer is Kathy Ceravola, sister of top referee Elmo Adolph, and my best friend and co-founder of Glove2Glove, Susiey Walker.
Needless to say we need prayers for the return to health of both former champs Greg Page and Gerald McClellan, both confined to wheelchairs.

Glove2Glove is a non-denominational group set up to aide those boxing folks and their relatives in need of prayers and cards. We accept no money and only contact our members when someone is in need. It’s free to join. Simply send us your e-mail address. And even if you’re not a member, feel free to contact us if you are aware of some boxing person in need.

Classified:
Reader Ed Ramos has the following articles available for sale. All come with letter of authenticity
1- Rocky Marciano golden gloves autographed 1968 trophy-$700.This trophy comes with a notarized letter of authenticity. The autograph was obtained by the son of the promoter of this tournament.
2-Muhummud Ali plaque -$1500.This plaque was given to Ali over 10 years ago and is in excellent condition.
3-Joe Louis-Max Shmeling vintage puppets from either the 1930s or 1940s-$300 set. These puppets are extremely rare and are in very good condition.
4-Sonny Liston cut signature-$1000.
5-Cassius Clay 1963 cut signature-$900.
6-Sugar Ray Robinson autographed collage poster-$400.
7-Boxing Illustrated autographed by Ali in 1974-1975-$300.This vintage Ali autographs is one of the best ones that I have ever seen on a magazine.
8-Cassius Clay autographed boxing glove from the early 1960s-$1500 or best
offer.

Touching on politics briefly: There’s just no easy way to write this without making a lot of people angry, but I’ll give it a shot. I’m not trying to offend anyone, so let me preface this piece by stating that my ex-wife and I had three kids in four years, and that should make our stand on the issue of abortion obvious.

But, let me also say that it was our choice, a choice made between us and our God. Since abortion is legal we had that option, but there was never really a viable alternative to us.

But this article is not about choice or abortion, because as of now, like it or not, abortion is the law of our land.

But I have to take issue with the disposing of the dead fetus’s that have resulted from abortion, being discarded instead of being used for stem cell research which most experts feel will help cure diseases such as cancer and Alzheimers. Even the religious right would have to agree that having an ex-President with Alzheimers doesn’t do much to help our country in foreign affairs or domestic issues.

And this does result in helping boxing as many suffer the effects of Parkinsons and other debilitating illness later in life, ala Muhammad Ali.

We know that abortion will continue, with or without stem cell research, it’s legal! So why are those folks who are pro life, condemning others to die, by eliminating the good that stem cell research can do?

We all know of people who have suffered and died from dread illnesses, and perhaps, with proper research, their lives and their suffering can be spared. Why are we not allowed to take advantage of a resource that can be available to us, which costs nothing, and can possibly save thousands of lives a year, maybe more?

It’s not an issue of abortion folks, if you believe in right to life, banning stem cell research doesn’t change a thing. But making it legal can give scientists an opportunity to really make this world a better place.

Our President calls himself a ‘Compassionate Conservative’, and I’m sure he believes that, but he signed a bill banning stem cell research, which shows no compassion to those who can be helped by it’s use. Personally, I’d like to see some of the other candidates state their position on this issue, but it’s way to hot for them and no one has the gonads to speak out on it. Of course he also had the support of Congress, so it’s not a one-sided blame.

Putting it in basic terms, I must tell say that I can’t see how not taking advantage of an aborted fetus, as the practice is still legal, helps anyone, and we know that it can.

To put things in prospective, none of the Democratic candidates so far have taken an intelligent (if any) stand on this issue, and that includes Dr. Howard Dean, the front runner at the moment. No one or either has the gonads to risk losing the support of the religious right, who do vote as a group.

If I offended anyone here, I’m truly sorry. But my best friend is down with cancer and weighs just 111 lbs. She needs prayers and a miracle, and miracles do happen, but with stem cell research, that miracle could happen much faster. It’s hard for me to sit by and say nothing, when something positive can be done to help her and many, many others. And after speaking to her oncologist, this will probably be her last Christmas on this Earth.

So I ask that you, no matter your religious or political persuasion to consider my words, and that if nothing else, you say a very special prayer for the miracle we need to cure Susiey Walker. Right now she’s in God’s hands, and God listens and does perform miracles.

Agree or disagree, I’m sure I’ll hear from you, and quickly.