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.***

Winky Wright won a close majority decision against Sugar Shane Mosley, and with the win becomes a free agent. Mosley was game, and gave Wright a tougher time then he did in their first meeting, won easily by Winky.

Hard to say if Wright was just looking ahead, or wasn’t ready for his better prepared foe. Only time will tell.***

The big fight big fight of the week may not be at the MGM Grand Garden in Vegas, although it’s going to be a great one, between Marco Antonio Barerra and Erik “El Terrible” Morales. On HBO PPV, and not a fight you want to miss, and even a bathroom break may cause you to miss something exciting.

Their first meeting I thought Barrera won a close decision, they gave it to Morales. The second fight I felt Morales won, they gave it to Barrera. Now these two gallant warriors meet a third time, and the slight edge goes to Morales, because he’s more natural at the fighting weight, and is the bigger puncher.

But in a match like this, anything can and probably will happen. It should be a non-stop war for 12 rounds, with Morales coming out with the decision.***

The other big or bigger story may well be the suspension of Evander Holyfield by the NYS Athletic Commission. NYSAC is citing declining skills and anyone who’s followed the career of the “Real Deal” knows this is true.

The big question that has to be asked is can a State suspend someone who has no obvious mental damage (although wanting to continue to fight may be considered one) be suspended to prevent future harm to himself. Could this be a restraint of trade issue?

Legally it’s a very tough issue and one that few attorneys would want to get involved with. The problem gets even more complicated because other States are supposed to honor the suspension, so are they going to parties to the upcoming lawsuit, if indeed there is one? Right now it’s a non-issue until Evander applies to fight, in NY or elsewhere, and is turned down.

And if Evander is made to retire, can I start a list of others who shouldn’t be hanging around the fight game any longer? Is there enough space in this column? Is there enough space on the internet?

In some ways I hope NYSAC wins this argument, but I also clearly can see the argument from the other side. This may be a hotbed issue that’s going to be with boxing for a very long time.

And if boxing enforces the suspension, will other non-team, non-union sports follow? Fortunately not a lot of them are as dangerous as boxing, so that problem may never materialize.

But keep watching the smoke boxing fans. It had to happen someday, and now we really may have an issue that will peak the fans, and the non-fans interest.

Finally, I want all our great readers to keep in mind that Rick Schroeders new movie, Black Cloud, will soon be coming to a theatre near you. I urge you not to miss it! It’s a great boxing that deals with both Olympic style boxing and the evils of racism and other problems of the Native Americans.

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:

Prayers for the soul of former heavyweight contender “Irish” Pat Duncan, who answered his final bell last week.

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.***

Prayers are requested for the soul of Donna Jean Landers, boxing fan from Oklahoma, who had been fighting cancer for more than three years.***

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: With the no-surprise announcement that Iraq has and is still developing more nuclear weapons, the question again must be why the hell did we invade Iraq? Enough said.***

The situation that Republican Alan Spector of Pennsylvania, a moderate, shows why the two party system doesn’t work. Here’s a US Senator who is to Liberal for the Republicans and to conservative for the Dems. Currently there is no place for pols like these.

So again, we have to create more parties, two or three would work. You would disband the Republican and Democratic Party and allow the sitting legislators to keep their seats and seniority, but they must pick a party they are most comfortable with.

I suggest, five parties, Conservative, Moderate Conservative, Moderate, Moderate Liberal and Liberal. You can name them what you wish, but the ideology is the most important thing. People should be comfortable in their own skin.

It’s even easier if you have Republican Conservative, Democrat Conservative, Moderate Republican and Democrat and of course Liberal Republican and Democrat. But that makes for six parties and perhaps a bit more confusion. Besides how many folks would allow themselves to be called Liberal Republicans or Conservative Democrats?

More candidates mean more choices for the voters, and the more choices we have the better the chance of electing a candidate who truly represents the people and his ideology.

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