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.***

The Glen Johnson – Antonio Tarver fight, certainly lived up to it’s billing. It was an exciting battle at light heavyweight, (something you don’t see very often anyhow) between two aging, (35 & 36 respectively) veterans.

The decision for Johnson wasn’t a bad one, although I had the same score, 115-113, Tarver, as both Harold Lederman and Roy Jones Jr. It is a bit unusual for me to agree with one, let alone two, HBO sportscasters, and the one time we agree, we’re on the wrong side of a close decision. Harold’s a judge, Roy and I are not.

What I enjoyed as much as the fight was the respect for each other, and non-complaining these two guys showed. They displayed class and sportsmanship, something sadly not seen enough in sports these days.***

I was surprised a bit by Danny Williams staying power and heart against Vitali Klitschko. Williams took everything that Klitschko had and like a Timex, came back ticking. At least until the fight doctor wisely stopped the bout in round eight, giving the elder Klitschko a hard-earned TKO.

I suppose that Vitali may be the best heavyweight out there today, but I’m not sure if that’s saying much. He didn’t have the power to put away Lennox Lewis, whose chin had often been questioned, and he nailed Williams with some great shots, but couldn’t knock him out either.

A heavyweight champ who can’t punch much? We’ve had them before folks, and that’s not any judgment on the ability of the big Ukraine. Sadly, though the fans of the heavyweights love the excitement that should be created by a one-punch KO, and that’s something you probably won’t see, with the current, and in my mind, rightfully undisputed champion.***

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, if used in the book, and it will be given on who submits the story first, basis. Here’s your chance to have your name in print, instead of American’s Most Wanted posters.***

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: I know most of us are concerned about the high and ever rising cost of the prescription medications that we buy. And it’s disgusting the way the pharmaceutical companies, with their ‘donations’ to our politicians campaigns can get away with taking them and not protecting the American consumer from unreasonable high prices.

What can be done? How about saving thousands or maybe millions of doctors by not allowing these companies to spend money on television, radio and print ads? The ads in reality do nothing, but give the drug companies a reason to raise their prices, or at least keep them at a high level.

TV ads are fine for over the counter drugs, where you want to influence the consumer to buy your product, but for prescription medications, no way! It’s the doctor that prescribes these medications and TV ads cannot or at least should not influence what drugs the physician recommends for his patients.

So what’s the value of these ads? Simple, to show the need to continue to keep high or raise the cost of the prescription drugs we buy, that most cannot afford. Any advertising that only raises the cost of our drugs should be outlawed, but since many of our politicians on both sides of the aisle, take big bucks from the industry, don’t hold your breath waiting for anything to change anytime soon.

You can say the same thing about the Postal Service. Does anyone think that the expensive ads they run will change a person’s way of sending their mail? Probably not, but, at least they have competition from UPS, FED EX, and of course e-mail. Still those extra advertising costs cut into the bottom line of the USPO and allow them an excuse to raise the price of postage.

Finally, Rumsfeld was partly correct in what he said to the troops. Yes, you go to war with the army you have; but he had plenty of time in Iraq, to build the Army he wanted to have.

May all of you have a blessed holiday season.

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