By Rusty Rubin, managing editor, of Ringsports.com, and the author of “Off the Canvas”, a view of American history and the social problems of the times, as viewed by an 80-year old ex-champion. “Off the Canvas is a book that has been getting rave reviews. With Christmas right around the corner, it would make a great, inexpensive gift ($15) for that boxing fan in your life. If you want to purchase an autographed copy, please e-mail me with the info. I’ll even include a gift card from you at no extra charge…You can also purchase copies on-line at all major book retailers and Authorhouse.com.

Well respected boxing journalist Pat Putnam, formerly with Sports Illustrated has this to say: “Off the Canvas is a good read. Rusty has been around boxing for more than 50 years, and knows his way around the darker corners of the sport as well as any. They call it the sweet science, but as Rusty so aptly teaches us in “Off the Canvas”, it is not always science and it certainly is not always sweet.***

Vassily Jirov has a problem in recent fights, and it’s not training per se. Jirov is an outstanding boxer/puncher who always gives as well as he gets. Problem is he’s usually out of gas or close to it by round eight, because he goes out so fast in the earlier rounds.

A solid punch by Michael Moorer, who was losing the fight up till then, once again damaged Jirov’s chance to make a name for himself as a heavyweight. In truth, he’s a cruiserweight, or a small heavy at best. And Vassily can get badly hurt if he continues to get nailed solidly, by punches of more natural heavys. I’d like to see Jirov drop down to cruiserweight, where he should have far less trouble with the bigger punchers. Less money, but more health equals more fights, which equals at that point, more money.***

Vitali Klitschko has established himself as the premier heavyweight in the world. With all due respect to the elder Ukraine, this may not be that good a great thing, considering the other so called heavyweights out there. I agree, he’s the best of what I consider a non-descript bunch of big boys who really couldn’t hold a candle to some of those in the past, except for huge size advantage.

Kudos to Danny Williams for showing that his non-supporters in the UK were wrong in questioning his heart. He but a valiant battle, but couldn’t overcome the height and reach advantage of the elder Klitschko.

Miguel Cotto, on the other hand, is an outstanding fighter, who, baring injuries or other problems has all that it takes to become an all-time great. I see no reason he can’t beat most of the other fine jr. welterweights around today. Randall Bailey was not the toughest foe around, but an established veteran who could punch, and Cotto still dispatched him with ease.

My good friend Stephen B. Acunto, who founded the American Association for the Improvement of Boxing, along with Rocky Marciano, now has his book “Champions Boxing Guide” available in Spanish. For details visit Steve’s website: AAIB.org

Please help me with my upcoming new book. Send all boxing jokes, stories, quips and boxing oddities to Rngsports@aol.com, thanks, and members of the boxing media are free to send this most welcome information as well. All submissions used will be given full credit in the book, and it will be given on who submits the story first, basis.***

Agree or disagree, feel free to express your views.

Glove2Glove:

Dub Harris, WWII hero and founder and past President of the World Boxing Hall of Fame has suffered a stroke in Southern California. Please pray for his quick return to health.***

Prayers needed for the return to health of Alfonso Luna, father of our outstanding photographer Ray Luna, who has taken ill in Southern California.

Please say prayers for the return to health of Helen Wambolt, wife of our East Coast World Boxing Hall of Fame writer Danny Wambolt. Cards will also be most welcome.***

Please say prayers for wife of RS.com writer Marty Carson (auto accident) who is having health problems) of Indiana. Marty, who is a long time friend and a boxing expert, is also ailing a bit.***

Please say prayers for the return to health of Orazio Esposito, father of our photographer Richard Esposito.***

Sandy Johnson a great gal as well as a staff member of the Nevada State Athletic Commission is fighting breast cancer. A call, e-mail or card, along with your prayers would really do a lot to raise the spirits of an old friend.***

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 for the return to health of Don Donelson, father of writer Tom, and Gene Sebastian, brother of former middleweight champ Billy Soose. Both are suffering from congestive heart disease. And to Arthur Terciera, father of writer Keith, also having heart related problems.***

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 Parkinson’s.***

Prayers for Ed “Whitey” Hadar, a former boxer who is having some serious health problems.***

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.***

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.***

Touching on politics briefly: As another year draws to an end, let me suggest some consistency with America’s censorship laws.

It’s amazing to see how much American society, in some ways, is reverting back to Puritanical times with censorship of radio and TV and even a crackdown of the privacy rights between the press and his/her informants. It reminds one of the McCarthy era, and no one who lived through that would want to go through it again.

This occurred because Janet Jackson exposed her breast during a half time show at the Super Bowl. The same breast that every woman has, and that many of the children who saw this ‘offensive’ God given natural gift, should have been protected. Many of these extremists have breast fed their own children.

Since when is something that the Lord created offensive, particularly to the religious right? Since we’ve allowed ourselves to believe that a woman’s breast is obscene or have rolled over and played dead when the controversy began.

And Howard Stern was fined and punished because he said something deemed offensive on the radio and also got sued while the press and the people pretty much kept their mouths shut.

I’m neither a fan of Stern or Jackson, except the picture of Andrew on our $20.00 bill, but they have the same right of expousing (or exposing) themselves as anyone else has. It’s freedom of speech. Okay, I know breasts don’t talk, but people obviously talk about them.

And as I’ve often said, freedom of speech is something that must be preserved, and it’s something that seems to be fading in our society.

Let’s get it straight, we won’t allow our kids to watch sex and violence on TV or in movies, but we allow rap music that advocates abusing women, killing and rape, and video games for them, many of which are far more harmful to the future of our society.

Understand, I’m not advocating more censorship, as I don’t believe in it. But if we’re going to have it, let’s at least be consistent. I have no use for rap music or violent video games any more than I would waste my time listening to Howard Stern, but that’s me. And that’s my choice, and it should be. The FCC and the religious right have no business in determining what I can or cannot enjoy, as long as it’s not harmful to anyone.***

The unconfirmed reports that Iraq is obtaining delivery systems for nuclear warheads that can strike as far away as America, is alarming, but should not be surprising.

Myself and many others have long maintained that Iraq should not have been our target of choice to respond to the 9/11 attack, if we even should have responded, except in Afghanistan.

Iraq was our target of choice, seemingly a major mistake, but we must support our troops there. Iran and North Korea were the real threats to world peace, and Sadaam at best was three years away, before he could have reached their level of nuclear prowess.

What’s done is done. Our boys are fighting and dying for what may ultimately be a lost cause, but we must support them completely. Whatever they need for protection, we must supply to them.

In the meantime, let’s hope a peaceful solution can be reached in Iraq and that we can pull out soon, without risk of more casualties and a civil war.

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