First, to date there have been very few responses to my subjective question as to who is the hardest puncher in each weight division (active). I know it’s a tough question, but I’d really like to hear from all the boxing mavens out there. I’m not grading anyone and there’s no right or wrong, as it’s just an opinion. But I’m asking the question to prove a point, and that point is that to prove my theory that the hardest punchers are not found in today’s heavyweight division. Send your picks to me at Rngsports@aol.com.***

Bits and pieces: The World Boxing Council (WBC) is scheduled to be defunct shortly, if the current bankruptcy proceedings go as scheduled.

The bankruptcy was forced upon the WBC because Graciano Rochiggiani won a law suit against the sanctioning body, for wrongfully stripping him of the title and awarding in to Roy Jones.

I don’t defend the WBC’s actions here, and neither did the judge, but $31 million is a lot of money, and the WBC simply can’t afford to pay it, thus the bankruptcy.

There are a couple of rumors swirling here. One is that Rochiggiani will take less money rather from the WBC rather then accept the small amount he’d be lucky to get if they went bankrupt.

Another rumor is that WBC President Jose Sulaiman is going to start up a new sanctioning body, and most of the WBC fighters will flock to that.

And while a number of people don’t like Sulaiman due to his past dealings with Don King, they have had a lot of good/great champions over the years, and have donated a lot of money to medical research to help the sport.

In boxing, there are always a ton of rumors floating around, and it’s hard to tell which one will play out.***

One thing that for now is factual, Mike Tyson has settled his lawsuit with Don King, but “Iron” Mike still has to have seven fights over the next three years to pay off the large bills he’s accumulated from his poor investments and lavish lifestyle.

He’ll still draw fans, but not because people think he can be a contender again, (hell, I can be a contender with this group that passes for heavyweights) but because of what he might do in the ring.

And the truth is that a punch is the last thing in a fighter to go, so with this sorry group of big boys, why can’t Tyson regain a title? He’s a better boxer and puncher then John Ruiz.

But Mike is aging and has had a lot of layoffs. Whatever he does, let’s hope that he doesn’t sustain any serious ring injuries.

Newsflash: We are again taking orders for autographed copies of my new book, “OFF THE CANVAS”. Check our website for details. So far, to say the least, I have heard only good things about the book. However there is about a 3-week backlog on orders. For what should be faster, non-autographed delivery “Off the Canvas” is now also available on the web at Authorhouse.com, ID#22873, or through major on line book stores like Barnes and Noble, Waldenbooks or Amazon.com.***

Agree or disagree, feel free to express your views.

Glove2Glove:

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.

Prayers are requested for Donna Jean Landers, boxing fan from Oklahoma, who has been fighting cancer for three years. She needs your help my friends.

Please say prayers for writer Marty Carson (auto accident) and his wife (health problems) of Indiana. Marty is a long time friend and a boxing expert.

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

Please say prayers for the soul of Jerry Gladman, boxing scribe from Canada, who has passed away as a result of ALS.

Sandy Johnson 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: It’s no secret that I don’t like Dick Cheney. The only politician I like even less is Hillary Clinton. Pretty much for the same reason, arrogance.

The Vice President’s use of the ‘f’ word in Congress didn’t offend me. I’ve used it myself on many occasions. But it seems a bit hypocritical for Cheney to use it when this administration has done more to encourage censorship and take away freedom of speech and choice, than any other in recent times.

Yes, Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl strip tease in prime time was way over the top, and no, Howard Stern is not my type of person to listen to on the radio, but like it or not, (and I don’t care for either) it’s called freedom of speech.

Janet Jackson’s actions were far worse, because she did her thing in prime time and when the entire world, so to speak, was watching.

But this should not give the administration carte blanche on what we can or cannot watch or listen to. We do have the V-chip to censor television that would allow the parents to decide what their kids should watch.

Talk about inconsistency, we allow hatred and sedition to be preached in our jails and in some Mosques, under the guise of freedom of religion and speech. But to show partial or even full nudity like Jackson, or to hear others like Stern use profanity in the real world is not to be allowed. What is worse, something that God has given to all of us, or a profane word that all of us utter when angry?

It’s not that I advocate nudity, I could care less. Everyone has, more or less the same thing. What I do care about is that the wrong people are allowed to use the freedom of speech and those that our soldiers fought and died for, cannot.***

And as to why I seem to pick more on the Bush Administration and less on John Kerry, that’s simple. Those in office, of any party, are in a fishbowl, and what they do influences our daily lives. Kerry, if and until he is elected, is just one of many Senators in Washington and his views carry little or no impact on what goes on in the World today.

Trust me on this, if Kerry gets elected, I’ll be on his butt to do things correctly as well. That’s the right and the duty of a free press.

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