By Rusty Rubin

The James Toney – Hasim Rahman fight had more action than most heavyweight bouts, but it was all anti-climactic because the result was a majority draw, setting up a probable rematch, but left many fans unfulfilled. Of course the way Toney eats, he’s never unfulfilled, and that too showed in this contest. But looking like an over-stuffed turkey or not, Toney fought a smart fight. Of course a case can be made that a solid, leaner Toney would have won the fight, but there’s really no way to know for sure.

Some people say it was a bad decision and that Rahman won easily. My only comment here is that different judges look for different things when scoring. Being the aggressor (Rahman) is but one, but who landed the greater percentage of punches (Toney) is another. I had Rahman winning by two points (one round), but I’m certainly not a judge and a lot of the rounds appeared very close.

The result allowed Rahman to keep the WBC title that was given to him, and not won in the ring, as it should be. It also allowed Toney a chance to remain high in the heavyweight rankings and set up more title matches for him.

The good news is that the fans got their money’s worth. Something you don’t often see in a heavyweight bout, nowadays.

I don’t see what, on paper, looks like any major fights of interest, or great excitement this week, which means that I won’t comment on it, and there probably will be many, at least on the excitement end.***

Agree or disagree, we’d like to hear from you. (Rngsportsr@aol.com).

Glove2Glove:

First, I know there are many people out there who are in need of prayer, but I always make sure that listing them in this column is okay with them, because many do not feel comfortable having their health problems known. I sincerely appreciate everyone who tells me of someone in need of prayer, but unless it’s Okayed by the family, I feel it’s in bad taste to list them. However, that does not mean they are not included in my personal prayers.

However, in this case I make an exception. My good friend Norm Cote, former President of the World Boxing Hall of Fame is in the hospital in Los Angeles, and needs your prayers. A word of prayer also to give his wonderful wife Annie strength would also be most appreciated.***

Please say prayers for the soul of John Beyrooty Sr., father of veteran well respected boxing guy and friend, John Beyrooty, a long time boxing publicist and good guy. John Sr. passed away last week at age 85.

Also prayers  are requested for the soul of former referee, judge, friend and good guy, Davey Pearl who passed away in Las Vegas recently. Davey was suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Patti Brandenburg continues to have health problems and continues to need your help via prayers.

Let’s say a prayer for the father of Eva Futch, a great friend, and the widow of legendary trainer Eddie, who passed away in 2001. Eva’s father’s cancer has returned and needs all the support we can give him, and please pray that Eva has the strength to cope with this difficult challenge she faces at so close to her having lost her esteemed husband.

Prayers needed for Elise Brown, grand daughter of Ringside Products head honcho and good boxing guy John Brown. Young Elise has heart problems.

Prayers have also helped but continue to be needed for Dennis Wilcox, brother of boxing scribe David Wilcox, who is in an Oregon hospital suffering from Leukemia. The family and everyone at Glove2Glove ask for your prayers for his total recovery.

Prayers for the return to health of Audrey Talmo, wife of Ed, a long-time boxing fan who cares about our sport.

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 the return to health of Orazio Esposito, father of our photographer Richard Esposito.***

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.

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 America’s debt at record levels, and rising, what sense does it make for this administration to continue the tax break for the rich? Our treasury needs more money, not less.***

At last we see a politician who has the guts to speak his mind, and a Democrat to the bargain. Talk about someone crying out in the darkness. What a refreshing change.

Democratic Senator from Wisconsin, Russ Feingold, who is reportedly going to seek his party’s Presidential nomination, has called for the censuring of President George W. Bush.

Censure is not impeach, which I’ve heard a lot of folks talking about of late, and which I do not agree with, since America and the rest of the world would really be stuck with Dick Cheney for at least the remainder of Bush’s term and a sitting President who was not elected, who could conceivably run for the top job two more times, should he so desire. Anyone who has been around politics for a few years knows how hard it can be to unseat any politician, let alone a President.

Censure is the correct approach, if indeed it is called for. Yet not one member of the Senate has risen to support Feingold, including the Democrats. Is it possible that President Bush is more popular with politicians in the U.S. Senate than he is with the voters back home, where his popularity has fallen into the low 30% category according to one poll?

I honestly don’t know the entire censure resolution, and in truth, it doesn’t matter to me, even if it would pass. I don’t even know what it does. And I’m not passing judgment here on whether or not the resolution has merit.

The American people are quite vocal in their disapproval of our President and his policies, and that’s the opinions that should matter the most. No leader should sit on his white horse and distance himself, by his actions, to those who elected him and those he is supposed to represent, and those people should not only be special interest groups.

But isn’t it great to see a politician with gonads, who’s not afraid to speak out strongly on an issue, even when his own party won’t support it? We sure don’t see it in most of our elected leaders.

Thank you Senator Feingold. It’s good to know there’s an elected politician out there who has the courage to speak his mind and the balls to take on his own party. That’s what I call leadership.***

And for everyone out there, I ask you to count the numbers. Islamic fundamentalists have killed far more Muslims since 9/11 than Americans have. I wonder what it will take for them to realize who the real enemy is.

(Rusty@ringsports.com)