1. Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez III

Manny Pacquiao has been on a roll since escaping a narrow split decision victory over Juan Manuel Marquez in March 2008. Both have given boxing fans their money’s worth in two exciting bouts in 2004 and 2008. And there’s only one reason why I’d like to see this fight happening. I want to see Marquez brutally KOed by Pacquiao to stop his loud mouth from talking.

2. Paul Williams and Kelly Pavlik

In 2009, the proposed fight for these two was nearly sealed. In 2010, I hope to see them face to face to determine who’s the real king in the 154-160 weight categories.

3. Antonio Margarito vs. Miguel Angel Cotto II

Antonio Margarito hopes to have his license back this year after he was suspended for the ‘loaded gloves’ he had for the Mosley fight last year. Miguel Cotto, on the other hand hopes for redemption after a devastating defeat to Manny Pacquiao last November. The two have a ‘not so good past’ as Margarito pounded Miguel Cotto en route to a 11^th round TKO victory in July 2008. But Margarito’s win has become questionable because of the ‘loaded gloves’ incident. Now, I’d like to see if Margarito can do the same thing in a level playing field.

4. Shane Mosley vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Shane Mosley vs. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. fight talks has been around for almost a decade. I think it’s time to make it a reality. Mosley says that it’s Mayweather who doesn’t want to fight him. Mayweather says otherwise. Now, I want to see their fists do the talking in the ring. I would rather see a Mosley-Mayweather clash than Pacquiao taking on Mayweather. It’s because a Mayweather fight for Pacquiao might be too risky for the phenomenal Filipino.

5. Carl Froch vs. Bernard Hopkins

The first time I saw Bernard Hopkins in the ring was when he fought Felix Trinidad of Puerto Rico. At that time, I was a die hard Trinidad fan because of his boxing skills and ring generalship. To my dismay, Hopkins gave Trinidad a brutal beating. Since then, I have been rooting for every opponent Hopkins is facing. I think Carl Froch has more than enough to knock Hopkins out.

**********

Portuguese Christiano Ronaldo will miss the World Cup play-off matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina on November 14 and 18. Ronaldo will be out for at least two weeks as he is still recovering from his ankle injury.

**********

German goalkeeper Robert Enke was confirmed to have committed suicide. Enke threw himself under a train at a level crossing. He used be the German national football team goalkeeper before he withdrew last September ahead of the World Cup qualifying match against Azerbaijan.

**********

Kelly Pavlik will defend his middleweight title in his hometown in Youngstown, Ohio on December 19. He will be facing Miguel Angel Espino of California.  Pavlik was originally scheduled to face Paul Williams but infection in his left hand prevented the bout to happen.  Williams instead was booked to face another fighter.

Photo Courtesy: Blogs.theage.com.au

Australia’s Cadel Evans expects a showdown with American Lance Armstrong after the former announced his comeback on Thursday, November 5 to the Tour Down Under slated early next year in Australia.

**********

British David Haye will challenge the 7- footer Nikolai Valuev of Russia for the WBA World Heavyweight title on Saturday, November 7 in Bayern, Germany.

**********

Sergio Martinez will replace Kelly Pavlik in a bout against Paul Williams on December 5. Pavlik withdrew from the bout earlier due to infection in his hand.

**********

Spanish Forward Pao Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers is set to resume practicing with the team.  Gasol has not yet played a single game for the Lakers this season due to strained right hamstring injury.

**********

Argentine Andres Nocioni of the Sacramento Kings was arrested last Thursday, November 5 on suspicion  of drunk driving in Sacramento, California.  Nocioni was released later in the day and issued public apology.

**********

Unconfirmed reports circulating stated that Pido Jarencio and Manny Dandan coaching stints with their respective teams in the Universities Athletic Association of the Phillippines (UAAP) came to an end.  Both UST Growling Tigers and NU Bulldogs reportedly did not renew their respective contracts.

PHOTO COURTESY: YAHOO.COM

Now that the Juan Manuel Marquez – Floyd Mayweather, Jr. fight is over, it seems that there are more questions raised than answered. Yes, we’ve seen how Floyd Jr. fared excellently against Juan Manuel, outboxing the Mexican warrior in every angle and showing his impenetrable defense, but we have also seen the size difference between the two. 

On paper, it’s obvious that Marquez has no chance of beating Mayweather. Floyd Jr. is a natural 147 pounder who fought once at 154 lbs. with Dela Hoya on May 2007. In contrast, Marquez is a natural lightweight who has never gone beyond his limit prior to the fight. That fight was a product of poor ‘matching’. Though the contract was signed at a catch weight of 144 pounds, Floyd came to the weigh-in at 146 lbs.  He preferred to pay the $300,000 per pound excess penalty than to risk his name. What if Mayweather played fair at the weigh in? Do you think he had enough time to rehydrate himself on the fight night?  What if he chose to face a quality opponent of his size? Does Mayweather vs. Pacquiao make sense?

The only time in my life that I’ll be convinced that Mayweather can unseat Pacquiao as the number one pound for pound in boxing is when he takes on guys with the likes of Shane Mosley, Antonio Margarito and Paul Williams and beats them badly. Taking on guys of his size, that is. Floyd’s victory over Juan Manuel doesn’t make sense. He just lived up to his name ‘Money’.