Well the Oscar fight is over, and all it proved is that Hopkins is a world class fighter and that middleweight is to heavy for Oscar…Both gave it all. It wasn’t a great fight, but it was a good one to watch.

Kudos to Hopkins. He knows how to stay in shape year round. The title and prestige (not to mention the money) mean an awful lot to him. And Oscar gave it the old college try, even though he knew it would be a very tough fight.***

This week the action remains on HBO when Roy Jones Jr. tries to prove that he’s not over the hill by fighting Glencoffe Johnson, who is a bit of a throwback, as at 35, he seems to be getting better and stronger with age.

Jones has stated that he doesn’t expect to fight much longer, so every fight could be the last for this great champion, and we should watch and enjoy him while we still can.

On the other hand, Johnson, from Jamaica, is like the Energizer Bunny, he just keeps going and going and going.

It’s an interesting match-up to be sure. Jones wants to prove that his two losses to Antonio Turner were matters of style, while Johnson wants to keep his newly acquired title.

Even if Jones wins, he could call it a career, but if Johnson loses it’s doubtful that he’ll hang up the mitts.

This is a great contrast in styles and one that may give Jones more problems then Johnson. Neither fighter is a huge puncher, and both have somewhat awkward styles. And both tend to fight up to the quality of their opponent.

What’s it all mean in the end? Probably that Jones will win and continue a bit longer and Johnson will lose a decision, perhaps a close one, and continue his ring career as well.

But when you have two veterans, aging combatants, you never know when time catches up to them.

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, boxing 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.***

Update: We are again taking orders for autographed copies of my new book, “OFF THE CANVAS”. Check our website for details, or for an autographed copy, just $15, send me an e-mail. It’s also available on the web at Authorhouse.com, ID#22873, or through major on line book stores like Borders, Barnes and Noble, Waldenbooks or Amazon.com, and some of the major bookstores. If the store you frequent doesn’t have copies, you can ask them to order if for you. The reviews have been fantastic.***

Agree or disagree, feel free to express your views.

Glove2Glove:

Prayers for Las Vegas sportswriter Mike Lee who passed away after a brief illness.

Prayers for the soul of Joey Curtis former referee, who passed away in Las Vegas a few months ago, but unfortunately no one notified me at the time.

Herb Platzner, father of RS.com scribe Harrin is having heart problems. Prayers for his health would be much appreciated.***

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.***

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 wife of RS.com writer Marty Carson (auto accident) who is having 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.***

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: I’m starting a new organization, Independent Voters for Truth. To join just pass this message along to those who really do not think that Viet Nam is or should be an issue, and who want to deal with the real issues of this Presidential campaign.

So for the first truth, I am the only independent voter in this organization as of now. And I’m not registered as an Independent. I know politics. I vote for the candidates, based on the issues, not the party line.

For the next seven weeks this column will deal with the issues that affect everyone, and on a purely truthful basis, neither pro Bush nor Kerry. This is to educate the voters not to endorse any candidates.

Sorry to see that both sides in the upcoming election are still fighting the Viet Nam war of 35 plus years ago, instead of dealing with the real issues of today.

But I’m very glad that the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth have announced their real agenda against John Kerry, as seen in their new ads. It wasn’t the medals he may or may not have thrown away; it wasn’t his heroism under fire, which has been confirmed by military records. It was his anti-war stance when he returned home that so aggravates these heroes, and yes, anyone who risked or gave their lives for what their Country stood for, or what they themselves believed was right, is a hero.

But there’s an obvious side to this issue that nobody, not even Senator Kerry uses in his speeches. And that is that it took guts to denounce the Viet Nam war, as a mistake. The statements John Kerry made helped Congress and the American people put a lot of pressure on the White House and may have helped bring the war to an earlier close.

If that was the case, a lot of lives on both sides, even those of the Swift Boat Veterans might have been saved. And instead of showing gratitude and supporting a fellow swift boat veteran, they turn on Kerry, a man who may have helped save their lives.

It’s a non-issue folks. It happened more than 35 year ago. The war was a ‘miscalculation’ by another President and at another time, that also cost us the lives of many of our best young men, and of less importance, cost us a lot of money.

The war in South East Asia was WRONG! Get over it, and get it touch with the real issues of today! Viet Nam is HISTORY and belongs as a tragic mistake in the history books, not as an election issue.

As for the medals, they are tokens of what the fighters both in the ring and in the military were given for bravery. And if anyone was not proud of what they did, and tossed the medals, it still doesn’t mean they’re not a hero in their own heart and in the hearts and minds of those they saved. And for the record, another truth: medals are not the emblem of America, the Eagle is…

On Nov. 2, vote on today’s issues not on the memories of the past, best left forgotten.

I’m Rusty Rubin and I approve this message.

For the 1000th or so time, IRAQ HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SEPT. 11TH…EVEN THE PRESIDENT ACKNOWLEDGES THIS! We hold that truth to be self evident.

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