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. You can also purchase copies on-line at all major book retailers and Authorhouse.com ***

Kostya Tszyu, coming off a long, injury-related layoff, looked very sharp in stopping Sharmba Mitchell in Glendale, AZ. on Saturday night. Still have to be concerned because a torn rotator cuff is an injury that can re-occur with one missed haymaker, and can keep a fighter on the sidelines for more then six months.***

Fights this weekend include a great heavyweight promotion by Don King at Madison Sq. Garden, here are the match-ups:

John Ruiz faces a tough foe in Andrew Golota, in a match-up that can be foul-filled, as neither fighter is known for his ability to keep the fight clean. Golota is the better fighter, by far, but Ruiz knows how to hide the fouls from the ref, and that’s why this is a tough fight to call. Should Golota retaliate, it won’t be hidden from the ref, you can pretty much count on that.

Pick here is Golota by close decision. The only way I see Ruiz winning is if the “Foul Pole” gets disqualified, which as you know, has happened on a few other occasions.

In another match-up, Kali Meehan faces Hasim Rahman, and this too becomes a hard fight to pick, because Rahman is a hard fighter to figure. We know Meehan will be in Hasim’s face all night.

Rahman by decision here.

Larry Donald fights the come-backing Evander Holyfield in a match that I think will put more people to sleep than Golota – Ruiz, and few fighters can put the fans to sleep like Ruiz can.

Holyfield and Donald both should hang them up, but because this is a Don King card, take Holyfield to win by late stoppage.

Jameel McCline takes on Chris Byrd, who can frustrate anyone with his southpaw, hit and run style. I felt Golota got robbed when he fought Byrd a few months back. Still Byrd is just too slick for McCline and will take an easy decision.***

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.***

Agree or disagree, feel free to express your views.

Glove2Glove:

Prayers for the soul of former welterweight great Jimmy McClarnin, who passed away in Richland, WA. At age 96.***

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 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 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: While the 2004 Presidential election in America was close, the electoral vote map is pretty much the same every four years. We know what States will vote Democratic and which will vote Republican. So if you live in anything but the battleground states, your vote is pretty much pre-determined.

In one respect, that saves the public in the ‘safe’ States the trouble of watching too many negative ads and propaganda. But is it good for our country?

Although either candidate could have won the election, it still doesn’t seem fair that my vote, living in a battleground State, would count more than someone living in NY, Texas or California or other states that consistently vote for their party rather then the candidates.

Popular vote would be fairer, and perhaps it’s time. The result of the last election would have been the same, but at least everyone’s vote would have mattered.

But I feel the better answer is leave the system alone, get rid of the Republican and Democratic Parties and go to a five party system, something like this: Conservatives, Moderate Right, Moderate, Moderate Left and Liberal

The candidates already in office will not lose their seats, just have to join and fit in to whatever party they are most comfortable with.

Seems to me that once a candidate can better declare where he’s coming from, the easier it is to cast your vote for him, if he best represents you.

A message to the victors, let’s hope the next four years are much better than the last four.

And a message to my friends who belong to the Democratic Party. This is still your country. Fight for what you believe in, don’t turn tail and run because you don’t like the incumbent. It’s the checks and balances system, which requires two or more parties that make this Country great.

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