While cancellation of this Saturdays scheduled slug out between Deutschlands nationally adopted son Wladimir Klitschko and upstart UK challenger Dereck Chisora will disappointaround 10,000 folks who already had tix for the tilt, and may have been shaping up as a fairly entertaining scrap, it was not a majorevent on the international boxing radar.

That point was provenby reports that Klitschko management wouldre-start thenegotiation process with David Haye.

Klitschko suffered the muscle tear, but it was Chisora who took the big body blow, straight to the bank account.His only recourse seems inwhatever the contract dictates. Considering the challengers statement that he signed a lowball offer simply for the opportunity,his future against Klitschko might not amount to much.

That seems abit of a shame since Chisora was one of the few even moderately appropriate opponents that was willing to face Klitschko.

How much overall net revenue K2 Promotions stands to lose, if anything, after advertising costs are tallied each way might be substantial, but its a reasonable assumption that Chisora just watched a once in lifetime payday go poof.

Unforeseeableincident thats an unfortunate reality of the sport?Punishment for slandering Wladimirs babe?

The conspiracy theories are already lighting upboxing message boards. Chisora could be pecking away at a few postshimself.

Most of the serious training is over just a few days before a fight, observed Chisora. I was ready to prove myself and he knows it.

Theres a likelihood that Carl Froch could have proceeded against Arthur Abraham at their initially scheduled appointment, but if so, theres probably no wayhe would have been as dominant.

I did what was best for me this time, said Froch. Klitschko is doing the same. Froch may even deserve credit if the Klitschko-Haye fight gets signed, since widespread British mediaspraise of his victory over Abraham also usually included mention of how Haye should be trying to emulate his countryman.

Fighters have fought hurt all the time, and fighters have welcomedstrategical respites for just as long.

Still, Klitschko is very aware of his public persona. A big win would have raised his stock a little more, while the withdrawal supplies critics ammo.

Manny Pacquaio is the Fighter of the Year based simply on how much good PR hes done for boxing. The galas at Cowboys Stadium this seasonwerent bad either, or the praising profiles that ppeared inmany major news outlets and home pages.

Pacquiao is a hard act to follow, but of the few that qualify for the runner up position, Klitschko was near the front of the pack. Before any hating starts, make a list of other champions that were as dominant, even thought competition had already been thinned out a year earlier.

Klitschko took some blogging bleets from the critics for designating Chisora as his next opponent, after the champion was unable to secure a more recognized challenger as if Klitschko wasa homecomingking scrounging dropouts for a prom date.

Theres never been a situation similar to the Klitschkos where they have to go looking for fights because theyve already beaten everybody that would fight them andnobody else thinks they have a chance, even for the kind of payday theyll never get anywhere else. Ive never seenanything like it, said trainer Emanuel Steward.

If Haye doesnt sign, hes Lucy holding the footballto Klitschkos Charlie Brown. Chisora is stuck in the punching patch, mooning over the Great Pumpkin, once again fighting for peanuts.

If Klitschko - Haye does get signed, there will be more allegations that Klitschko took his own pass as insurance for the much bigger game.

Champs prerogative on a leapfrog to Haye or a matter of honor to honor the contract with Chisora?

Hayes history gives Chisora hope along with the announcement tickets might still be honored at a future date if the SAP Arena stars align, and a postponed option/bargaining chip for K2 in negotiation.

Boxing history says Chisora becomes a fading cry in the banished wilderness.Perhaps, if hes lucky,withthe consolation prize of amoderate profile encounter on a soccer stadium undercard.

Both the first bicycle and first automobile, built by von Drais and Benz respectively, burst out of the Mannheim area in the 1800s. Relatively young unbeaten and untested Chisora wanted to demonstrate his own innovation, but he ended up getting taken on a sad old ride.

Maybe thats because the woods around here are full of goblins and witches that love to play tricks on people, just like the German folk tales say.

What really happened to Klitschko - Chisora?

It was probably never meant to be, whether it was signed or not.

They are calling this one "The Super Fight," a bold move which sets high expectations for the January 29 Tim Bradley-Devon Alexander junior welterweight titles consolidation bout which will be shown on HBO.

It makes  some sense, in that the fight will be part of a card held at the refurbished Silverdome in Detroit. But let's traffic in reality, shall we, and admit that the real super fight we all want to see features two gents named Pacquaio and Mayweather.

Since that doesn't seem to be reaching a state of fruition, with the decisionmakers and negotiators in each camp warring with each other, and with legal woes hanging over Mayweather's head, we fight fans should probably make as one of our New Year's resolutions to not waste another year getting bogged down in the "will they or won't they" debate.

The sports powerbrokers have said they learned their lesson, and won't spend excess energy on working toward a fight that might never coalesce. Nobody but those inside the Floyd bubble knows what he's up to, what he's thinking, why he is hesitant to prove to the world that he's the best boxer on the planet, today, and pick up a cool 50 mill while he's at it. So now everyone, basically,  has shifted their concentration, from Manny-Money, to Who Will Manny Fight Next?

That lucky soul might well emerge with a shattered orbital bone, or a crushed rep after spitting the bit, or a swiftened push to retirement, ina ddition to the best payday of their career...but these are the risks men take for that lucky lotto ticket, and the chance to take down Pacman.

Which brings us back to the Bradley-Alexander fight. There are those that think it makes a great deal of sense for the winner of this fight to fight Pacquaio. You all know my take---I called on Nov. 22 for Manny to aim for a title in his ninth weight class, against middleweight champion Sergio Martinez. And trainer Freddie Roach on Monday that he concurs. “I’d like to see him fight [Sergio] Martinez right away,” the trainer said. But Manny's promoter, Bob Arum, has a batch of three fighters he'd like Manny to choose from: Shane Mosley, Andre Berto and Juan Manuel Marquez. Mosley, even though he has looked close to shot in his last two fights, certainly when compared to himself in his prime years, is thought to have the inside track. Friend and colleauge Ron Borges has lobbied hard for marquez to get a third crack, though pacman himself has said he doesn't think fans want that one, and Arum has dismissed Marquez' demands as being excessive.

The handlers of the two men gloving up on January 29 would like their guys to be in the mix. At an NYC press conference held on Wednesday at the steakhouse Gallagher's to hype the scrap, Bradley's promoter Gary Shaw threw his guys hat in the Pacman ring. He says that if Bradley beats Alexander, the press should push for Bradley to meet Pacman, because that is what is best for boxing. "The winner should fight Pacquiao, Pacquiao shouldn't fight an old Shane Mosley.He needs the challenge," Shaw said. "Arum is all about his own platform, his own fighters. That's not what boxing is about. It's bad for the sport. Maybe he's an old guy, who'll take the money, and not give a f---. But when I'm dead, I hope they say, 'He cared about his fighters,' and 'he cared about boxing.'

Alexander's manager/trainer, Kevin Cunningham, didn't go quite as far as Shaw. he thinks the winner should be in the mix for a bigger stage fight after this one, against Pacquiao, Mayweather, Mosley. "The winner should be considered boxing's newest superstar," he said.

HBO chief Kery Davis was listening to the discussion, and was asked to chime in. "I think Kevin put it perfectly," he said. "The winner of this fight becomes a star."

Shaw said the winner of this fight will have the right to call out who they want next. I asked if Amir Khan, in action against Marcos Maidana on saturday, won't have that same right if he wins, especially if he looks scintillating doing so. Shaw said the winner of the Bradley-Alexander fight has more juice, because they are both undefeated.

TSS Universe, what say you? Should the Bradley-Alexander winner be in the mix for the next Manny gig? Is that even possible, with Alexander and Bradley both best suited for 140 pounds, and with Manny seemingly set to fight at welterweight? And does the winner of the Silverdome scrap need to win in electrifying fashion, in order to steal some buzz back from Khan, who I see as being on the cusp on making a move in the pound for pound hunt, and someone who also enjoys his status as Freddie Roach's second best  client?

Other tidbits from the Gallagher's gala, which was fab, aside from he fact that I chowed on salad and three rolls, and had to bolt back the office because they hadn't served anything else in two hours....

---Bradley likes Maidana over Khan on Saturday. He said he'd like Pacquiao and Mayweather to stoip bickering, and get it on, but also that both are on their way out, and that it will soon be time for a regime change.

--Bradley isn't worried about Alexander's power, and feels Kendall Holt, for one, has more zip.

--Bradley said Alexander is "stupid" if he truly thinks this is "just another fight" as he said on Tuesday in Michigan. He said that Devon is probably trying to calm himself down. "I know it's all or nothing," Bradley said. "I'm trying to get to the next level, to superfights."

---Shaw shared that before his eighth bout, Bradley ran 23 miles, with a backpack on, the night before the bout. It was not to lose weight, the fighter said, it was to assure himself he'd have the needed stamina. He said the run came in handy, because his legs and stamina were strong, when a clash of heads dazed him, and his legs held up underneath him.

--Alexander said he doesn't care if Bradley thinks he's stupid for seeing this as just another bout. "He's trying in his head to get amped," he said.  "I'm too fast, too slick, my angles are too much. he's trying to find something to calm his nerves."

---Alexander says his skills are superior to Bradley, plain and simple.

---In his last outing, in August, Alexander had a tough time with Andriy Kotelnik (UD win, by scores of 116-112, 116-112, 116-1112.) He said he didn't stick to a gameplan because he was trying to impress family and friends at home, in St. Louis. "I made Kotelnik look good," he said.

---Cunningham said Devon spent too much time promoting the last fight, and that affected his performance. he said his guy is the more talented, and his quicker, shorter punches will prove the difference.

--The mood was a bit somber, as co-promoter Don King was not present. His wife Henrietta died last Thursday, and her funeral is this Thursday. King's PR ace, Alan Hopper, spoke to TSS. "Don is obviously wounded," he said. "I'm hurting for him. But the healing has begun." A service on Tuesday featured a eulogy from Reverend Al Sharpton, and Don himself spoke as well.  Gary Shaw asked for a moment of silence for Henrietta, a nice touch.

--The Silverdome holds around 80,000 so you might think it's a weird venue for the fight. But haw said the Dome has a curtain system, which help the event feel more cozy.

--Shaw lauded Bradley's dad, Tim Sr, for never having taken a cent from his kid's purses. Hmm..might there be a message there for another dad who Shaw knows who has taken money from his kid's purses?


SPEEDBAG Trivia question, courtesy my pal, sports/finance wordsmith PJ Keating: which fight lasted longer, Tyson-Spinks or Tyson-McNeeley?

--52 percent of SportsNation viewers want Sylvester Stallone selected for the International Boxing Hall of Fame. SportsNation co-host Michelle Beadle disagrees, “You don’t go to the hall of fame for a sport you made a movie about. Mike Tyson bled, Julio Cesar Chavez was in pain, and Sylvester Stallone put on makeup to look like he was in a fight.” However, co-host Colin Cowherd thinks Stallone deserves the honor, “The boxing hall of fame is comprised of those who have made a contribution to the sport. A generation of kids wanted to box because of Sylvester Stallone and after Muhammad Ali, the second biggest name in boxing is Rocky.”

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Martinez’ devastating first-round knockout of Paul Williams in Atlantic City last month did more than solidify the WBC champion’s claim on middleweight superiority. Martinez also inherited Williams’ onetime mantle as the most feared opponent in boxing. The WBC had mandated a fight between the Martinez-Williams winner and its “Silver Champion, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., but it has become apparent that Chavez (who, citing illness, pulled out of a scheduled fight against Pawel Wolak last weekend) wants no part of El Maravilla at this stage of his career, and with interim WBC champ Sebastian Zbik and WBA 154-pound champ evincing similar reluctance, Lee has emerged the clear-cut favorite for the opponent’s role in Martinez’ next defense.

Martinez’ promoter Lou DiBella, who spent yesterday conducting transatlantic telephone negotiations with Lee’s manager-trainer Emanuel Steward and Irish promoter Brian Peters, confirmed that Lee has been tentatively penciled in on Martinez’ dance card. The bout would likely take place at the Madison Square Garden Theatre on March 12, lending a festive St. Patricks Day atmosphere to what would be the first world middleweight title challenge by an Irishman since Steve Collins beat Chris Pyatt to win the WBO title in 1994.

Ironically, Lee had hoped to fight in the same venue on the same date, but an anticipated all-Irish St. Patricks week matchup with countryman John Duddy failed to get off the ground.

Lee (24-1) had been training in Austria for an anticipated bout on the Wladimir Klitschko-Dereck Chisora undercard in Mannheim, but that card collapsed this week after the heavyweight champion tore an abdominal muscle in training Wednesday and withdrew from his bout against the Zimbabwe-born English challenger.

Lee notched a pair of TKO victories (stopping Michael Walker in September and Troy Lowry in October) in the space of 15 days, but has not fought since. Earlier in his career Lee had been fast-tracked for a prospective title shot, but that plan was sidetracked by a 2008 TKO loss to Brian Vera at the Mohegan Sun. Lee has reeled off nine wins in a row since the Vera loss, and with the Klitschko-Chisora card gone up in smoke, will probably return to Ireland for the Christmas holidays and then proceed straight to the title bout without rescheduling a tuneup.

The 26 year-old Lee is currently rated No. 14 by the WBC. The organization’s rules allow a champion to make a voluntary defense against an opponent rated from 11th to 19th, pending approval of the WBC Board of Governors.

The Argentine-born Martinez (46-2-2), now domiciled in California after nearly a decade based in Spain, has emerged that boxing rarity – a late-blooming championship-calibre fighter who was well into his 30s by the time he hit his stride. Martinez, who celebrates his birthday in February, would be 36 by the time of the fight.

Although New York is the front-runner, DiBella said sites in New England (most likely the Connecticut casinos) and Atlantic City, the scene of Martinez’ recent triumphs, were also under consideration.

It makes some sense, in that the fight will be part of a card held at the refurbished Silverdome in Detroit. But lets traffic in reality, shall we, and admit that the real super fight we all want to see features two gents named Pacquaio and Mayweather.

Since that doesnt seem to be reaching a state of fruition, with the decisionmakers and negotiators in each camp warring with each other, and with legal woes hanging over Mayweathers head, we fight fans should probably make as one of our New Years resolutions to not waste another year getting bogged down in the will they or wont they debate.

The sports powerbrokers have said they learned their lesson, and wont spend excess energy on working toward a fight that might never coalesce. Nobody but those inside the Floyd bubble knows what hes up to, what hes thinking, why he is hesitant to prove to the world that hes the best boxer on the planet, today, and pick up a cool 50 mill while hes at it. So now everyone, basically, has shifted their concentration, from Manny-Money, to Who Will Manny Fight Next?

That lucky soul might well emerge with a shattered orbital bone, or a crushed rep after spitting the bit, or a swiftened push to retirement, in addition to the best payday of their career...but these are the risks men take for that lucky lotto ticket, and the chance to take down Pacman.

Which brings us back to the Bradley-Alexander fight. There are those that think it makes a great deal of sense for the winner of this fight to fight Pacquaio. You all know my take---I called on Nov. 22 for Manny to aim for a title in his ninth weight class, against middleweight champion Sergio Martinez. And trainer said Freddie Roach on Monday that he concurs. “I’d like to see him fight [Sergio] Martinez right away, the trainer said. But Mannys promoter, Bob Arum, has a batch of three fighters hed like Manny to choose from: Shane Mosley, Andre Berto and Juan Manuel Marquez. Mosley, even though he has looked close to shot in his last two fights, certainly when compared to himself in his prime years, is thought to have the inside track. Friend and colleague Ron Borges has lobbied hard for Marquez to get a third crack, though Pacman himself has said he doesnt think fans want that one, and Arum has dismissed Marquez demands as being excessive.

The handlers of the two men gloving up on January 29 would like their guys to be in the mix. At an NYC press conference held on Wednesday at the steakhouse Gallaghers to hype the scrap, Bradleys promoter Gary Shaw threw his guys hat in the Pacman ring. He says that if Bradley (26-0 with just 11 KOs; the WBO 140 pound champion; from Palm Springs, CA) beats Alexander (21-0 with 13 KOs, the WBC 140 pound champion; from St. Louis, Missouri), the press should push for Bradley to meet Pacman, because that is what is best for boxing.

The winner should fight Pacquiao, Pacquiao shouldnt fight an old Shane Mosley. He needs the challenge, Shaw said. Arum is all about his own platform, his own fighters. Thats not what boxing is about. Its bad for the sport. Maybe hes an old guy, wholl take the money, and not give a f---. But when Im dead, I hope they say, He cared about his fighters, and he cared about boxing.

Alexanders manager/trainer, Kevin Cunningham, didnt go quite as far as Shaw. He thinks the winner should be in the mix for a bigger stage fight after this one, against Pacquiao, Mayweather, Mosley. The winner should be considered boxings newest superstar, he said.

HBO chief Kery Davis was listening to the discussion, and was asked to chime in. I think Kevin put it perfectly, he said. The winner of this fight becomes a star.

Shaw said the winner of this fight will have the right to call out who they want next. I asked if WBA champion Amir Khan (23-1), in action against Marcos Maidana on Saturday, wont have that same right if he wins, especially if he looks scintillating doing so. Shaw said the winner of the Bradley-Alexander fight has more juice, because they are both undefeated.

TSS Universe, what say you? Should the Bradley-Alexander winner be in the mix for the next Manny gig? Is that even possible, with Alexander and Bradley both best suited for 140 pounds, and with Manny seemingly set to fight at welterweight? And does the winner of the Silverdome scrap need to win in electrifying fashion, in order to steal some buzz back from Khan, who I see as being on the cusp on making a move in the pound for pound hunt, and someone who also enjoys his status as Freddie Roachs second best client?

Other tidbits from the Gallaghers gala, which was fab, aside from the fact that I chowed on an unbalanced meal of salad and three rolls, and had to bolt back the office because they hadnt served anything else in two hours....

---Bradley likes Maidana over Khan on Saturday. He said hed like Pacquiao and Mayweather to stop bickering, and get it on, but also that both are on their way out, and that it will soon be time for a regime change.

--Bradley isnt worried about Alexanders power, and feels Kendall Holt, who he beat in April, for one, has more zip.

--Bradley said Alexander is stupid if he truly thinks this is just another fight as he said on Tuesday in Michigan. He said that Devon is probably trying to calm himself down. I know its all or nothing, Bradley said. Im trying to get to the next level, to superfights.

---Shaw shared that before his eighth bout, Bradley ran 23 miles, with a backpack on, the night before the bout. It was not to lose weight, the fighter said, it was to assure himself hed have the needed stamina. He said the run came in handy, because his legs and stamina were strong, when a clash of heads dazed him, and his legs held up underneath him.

--Alexander said he doesnt care if Bradley thinks hes stupid for seeing this as just another bout. Hes trying in his head to get amped, he said. Im too fast, too slick, my angles are too much. Hes trying to find something to calm his nerves.

---Alexander says his skills are superior to Bradley, plain and simple.

---In his last outing, in August, Alexander had a tough time with Andriy Kotelnik (UD win, by scores of 116-112, 116-112, 116-1112.) He said he didnt stick to a gameplan because he was trying to impress family and friends at home, in St. Louis. I made Kotelnik look good, he said.

---Cunningham said Devon spent too much time promoting the last fight, and that affected his performance. He said his guy is the more talented, and his quicker, shorter punches will prove the difference.

--The mood was a bit somber, as co-promoter Don King was not present. His wife Henrietta died last Thursday, and her funeral is this Thursday. Kings PR ace, Alan Hopper, spoke to TSS. Don is obviously wounded, he said. Im hurting for him. But the healing has begun. A service on Tuesday featured a eulogy from Reverend Al Sharpton, and Don himself spoke as well. Gary Shaw asked for a moment of silence for Henrietta, a nice touch.

--The Silverdome holds around 80,000 so you might think its a weird venue for the fight. But Shaw said the Dome has a curtain system, which will help the event feel more cozy.

--Shaw lauded Bradleys dad, Tim Sr, for never having taken a cent from his kids purses. Hmm..might there be a message there for another dad who Shaw knows who has taken money from his kids purses?

--The mood was generally light at the event. Both teams seem to respect each other, and seem happy they will be making a million bucks each. Bradley drew chuckles when he asked if Devon could put some bass in his voice. Cunningham busted on Bradley for not being able to draw a crowd in his living room. Then the fighters squared off for a photo opp; I found it interesting because Alexander basically grinned the whole time, while Bradley got his game face on. Im a game face kind of guy...but maybe Devon is just confident as hell, loosey goosey, ready to shine on the Silverdome stage.

---Check out some video of the event here: www.youtube.com/watch

SPEEDBAG Trivia question, courtesy my pal, sports/finance wordsmith PJ Keating: which fight lasted longer, Tyson-Spinks or Tyson-McNeeley?

--52 percent of SportsNation viewers want Sylvester Stallone selected for the International Boxing Hall of Fame. SportsNation co-host Michelle Beadle disagrees, “You don’t go to the hall of fame for a sport you made a movie about. Mike Tyson bled, Julio Cesar Chavez was in pain, and Sylvester Stallone put on makeup to look like he was in a fight. However, co-host Colin Cowherd thinks Stallone deserves the honor, “The boxing hall of fame is comprised of those who have made a contribution to the sport. A generation of kids wanted to box because of Sylvester Stallone and after Muhammad Ali, the second biggest name in boxing is Rocky.

Khan, one of the most spectacular prizefighters in the world, defends the WBA junior welterweight title against Argentina’s Marcos Maidana at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. HBO will televise the Golden Boy promoted fight.

Ever since electrifying viewers with his explosive speed during the 2004 Olympics the British subject has garnered supporters and detractors. Fans either love him or hate him, but they do want to see Khan.

“In the beginning people said I was not that great a fighter,” said Khan (23-1, 17 KOs). “They said I was arrogant.”

Some say Khan with his lightning reflexes, speed and power has the tools to be the next Manny Pacquiao. With Freddie Roach in his corner to shore up the boxer’s defense, can the British speedster replace Pacman when he retires?

In England there are still many who say Khan is vastly over-rated. But in the U.S. where he regularly trains at the Wild Card gym under Freddie Roach, the boxers who see him and spar against him say he’s even faster than Manny Pacquiao.

“Right now my attention is fully on Marcos Maidana,” said Khan who trained for several weeks with Roach and Pacquiao in the Philippines. “He’s a dangerous puncher.”

Maidana burst on the Southern California fight fan consciousness with a spectacular knockout win over feared puncher Vicious Victor Ortiz. Despite getting knocked down three times the Argentine boxer rallied to stop Ortiz and now here he is looking for another upset win.

It would be the biggest upset of the year.

“I’m prepared for any style that Khan is going to bring,” said Maidana (29-1, 27 KOs). “My boxing skills are not valued but I can punch. I’m preparing myself to try to catch Khan.”

Khan, whose only loss came to a puncher similar to Maidana, says he learned not to underestimate anyone.

“When I wake up in the morning my ambition is to fight the best of the world,” said Khan who avoided talking about fighting Floyd Mayweather or others out of respect for his current opponent Maidana. “One punch can change a fight and you have to be very careful”

On the same fight card on the semi-main event Victor Ortiz (28-2-1, 22 KOs) faces Lamont Peterson (28-1, 14 KOs) in another junior welterweight clash.

Ortiz has roared back into contention with four consecutive wins including knockouts over Vivian Harris and Hector Alatorre. A win over Peterson could vault Ortiz into a title fight with the winner of Khan and Maidana.

“I see myself as the best of the division,” says Khan.

It’s a pretty good fight card. Also participating will be undefeated local Las Vegas talent JesseVargas (12-0, 7 KOs) a very aggressive boxer-puncher trained by Roger Mayweather. He’s a very good junior welterweight. Former world champion Joan Guzman was scheduled to be on the fight card on press time but no opponent had been decided. Sharif Bogere, a speedy lightweight training in Las Vegas, is also on the card. Golden Boy prospects Jamie Kavanagh, Frankie Gomez and a rising heavyweight from Maryland named Seth Mitchell are also on the Las Vegas roster. Middleweight contender Daniel Jacobs returns after losing by knockout in a world title bid during the summer.

The large fight card gives boxing fans a healthy dose of the future.

Fights on television

Fri. Telefutura, 11:30 p.m., Luis Cruz (16-0) vs. Wilfredo Acuna (14-7).

Fri. Telemundo, 11:30 p.m. Antonio Pitalua (50-4) vs. Ed Paredes (25-3-1).

Sat. HBO, 6:30 p.m., Amir Khan (23-1) vs. Marcos Maidana (29-1); Victor Ortiz (28-2-1) vs. Lamont Peterson (28-1).

Sat. pay-per-view, 7 p.m., UFC 124 Georges St. Pierre vs. Josh Koscheck (2222); Joe Stevenson (36-11) vs. Mac Danzig (20-8-1); Stefan Struve (24-4) vs. Sean McCorkle (10-0).

Sat. Showtime, 9 p.m., Yonnhy Perez (20-0-1) vs. Joseph Agbeko (27-2); Abner Mares (20-0-1) vs. Vic Darchinyan (35-2-1).

Joel Diaz I want to thank Timothy Bradley and his father for giving me an opportunity one day and believing in me. Timothy Bradley is a great fighter and a workaholic. And on January 29 we will see who the best in the world is at 140 lbs. It will be a great night. A fight for the ages.

Kevin Cunningham This is the greatest division in boxing. I hear from Gary Shaw that Tim Bradley has beat all these guys, these great champions…who are they? Gary Shaw was right about one thing…right now Timothy Bradley is No. 1 and Devon is No. 2. But there is a problem with that because Devon doesn’t like to be No. 2 and on January 29 he will change that.

Timothy Bradley I feel it will be me. He feels it will be him. I am not going to lay down and he’s not going to lay down. It’s going to be a great fight and you are not going to want to miss it.

Devon Alexander Hey Bradley…It’s on baby, it’s on. This is just another fight for me. It’s a big fight for my career, but just another fight for me.


********************************

One of the most anticipated fights in boxing -- and the biggest bout of a young 2011 -- will take place when undefeated world champions DEVON ALEXANDER “The Great and TIMOTHY “Desert Storm BRADLEY duke it out at the 140-pound weight limit on Saturday, January 29 at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich.


Boxing fans have been waiting for years to see these two young world champions collide. The St. Louis phenom Alexander (21-0, 13 KOs), who will put his unblemished record and World Boxing Council (WBC) super lightweight championship at risk while Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs), from Palm Springs, Calif., enters the bout with a similarly perfect record and his World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight crown on the line.


Tickets, priced from $25-$400, will go on sale This Friday! December 10, and can be purchased at the Silverdome box office, by calling (248) 338-2500 or online at www.silverdometickets.com. Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, Don King Productions, and Thompson Boxing Promotions, Alexander vs. Bradley will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

The odds are better thatsomebody is going to get spanked inside the strands at SAP arena,approximately five kilometers from the snow globe central Mannheim, GermanyChristmas Market. Its most likely thatSaturdays spankee will be Chisora, 14-0 (9),fromLondon by way of Zimbabwe, courtesy of consensus heavyweight champion Klitschko, 55-3 (49).

Its not a great idea to get eitherKlitschko or trainer Emanuel Steward upset, but to get them bothangry is downright foolhardy.

Chisora did exactly that with his prefight posturing, going into personal territory with insults that put early game faces on both Klitschko and his mentor.

As a person, he is full of garbage, snarled Klitschko at the final press conference after Chisora taunted Klitschko about boxing style, toughness and Chisoras girlfriends superiorlooks.

Chisora brought Klitschkos sweetheartHayden Panettiereinto the picture and sealed his role as a villain insulting Steward.Not thatMiss Hhasnt been cuddled up inenough fight night photographs with Wlad to qualify as part of his fair-game team already, but Chisora seemed to deliberately cross a line after Klitschko called him out for a recent assault charge involving Chisoras girlfriend.

His girlfriend is three feet tall, slammed Chisora, My girlfriend standing there and his, its totally different.

Panettierre is almost adopted boxing royalty in Germany, so the insults got plenty of promotional play.

Chisora held on to his bigopportunity when a UK court adjudicated him with a conviction that carried no jail time. Theresrarely an excuse for manhandling a female, so serious karma maycome into play. The case involved an alleged spanking. Not to make light of the situation, but his formal slapon the wrist may have beenjustified if reports were accurate about an unbrutalincident.Upon limited observation Chisora doesnt come off as a total thug as much asa hardguy who hasnt been confronted with superior firepower.

That figures to change Saturday night, big time. Chisora better hope his karma is better than it appears.

The man that hits the woman is the loser, said Klitschko sternly with a mocking tone. There is no excuse whatsoever. You call yourself a rebel? This is great. I willshowyou the road toredemption.

Klitschko does not seem to be residing in any glass houses.It seems heplans to throw boulders Saturday night. So far Chisora responds as if hes got the stones to take them.

At least Chisora seems to be ready to make it interesting, for as long as it lasts. A reasonable over/under proposition would probably be around five full rounds. Take the under.

I want him to bring the best fight hes ever got, invites Chisora. Im bringing my A game.

Even if Chisora gets creamed by the first overhand right Klitschko lands, Chisora has accomplished a lot more thancontenders likeWBA titlist David Haye, Alexander Povetkinor
former titlist Nikolai Valuev. It looks like Chisora will actually jumpat the title shot like an old time contenderand trade punches with the worlds best heavyweight the first chance he gets.

Boxing comes down to ready or not. Chisora is ready. The others are not.

Povetkin fights on Marco Hucks undercard in another week.Valuev recovers from surgery. Haye has his own private limbo.

In his last fight on September 18th, Chisora scored a TKO 9 over Sam Sexton and improved on a previous decision in the rematch. A week prior to that, Klitschko scored a TKO 10 over Sam Peter, also improving on a previous decision.The only thing comparable in terms of recent oppositionis the name Sam. As in turn out the lights.

You get experience (you need)by doing the task, said Chisora trainer Don Charles. Ironically, he was outlining Klitschkos seemingly insurmountable advantage.

Ive seen so many one sided Klitschko blowouts lately that I almost expect the exact same grind again.Since Chisora hasnt faced anywhere near the level of opposition, Im figuring it shouldnt take Klitschkomore than ten minutes for disposal. Id love to be surprised.

Unless Klitschko is slipping, forgets how to use a 7 inch reach advantageor suddenly looks a lot more vulnerable than he has for over two years, this fightshould be the kind of whomping that keeps critics from making a peep about quality of opposition.

Depending on how close Steward is to the domestic scene, he might suggest to Panettiere that she suggest to Klitschkothat Chisora is duea lesson, and that Wlad should get him out of there quick.

34 year old Klitschko has attempted to play the rowdy, aggressivebrawler but it didnt seem to fit his personality as much as it does this time.That spells trouble for 26 year old Chisora.

I dont need to motivate him far this at all, says Steward with something like amusement.

On the other hand, both Klitschko and Steward may be eying the end ofWlads fine run. We still say that the brothersshould have a huge charity co-bill retirement party in around two years. The K2 brain trust might not want to do anything that mightkeep the shyHaye,Povetkin, or Valuev, probably the biggest immediate paydays available, too reluctant.

It will look very bad if Klitschko looks shy against Chisorain any manner. Hes supposed to win big.

Sooner or later somebody is going to get inside Klitschkos jab and givehim a very tough night.

Later.

In the opening bout, undefeated, world-ranked rising star Abner Mares (20-0-1, 13 KOs), of Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico, will face two-division world champion Vic “Raging Bull Darchinyan (35-2-1, 27 KOs), of Sydney, Australia, by way of Armenia.

Then, former IBF 118-pound champ Joseph King Kong Agbeko (27-2, 22 KOs), of Bronx, N.Y., by way of Ghana, Africa, will try to earn back the title from the man that won it from him, current IBF champ Yonnhy “El Colombiano Perez (20-0-1, 14 KOs), of Santa Fe Springs, Calif., by way of Colombia.

With a victory over the hard-hitting Darchinyan, Mares could earn a rematch against Perez, who he fought to a disputed majority draw last May 22 on SHOWTIME, or face the hard-hitting Agbeko. If Darchinyan triumphs in his semifinal bout, he could face the last man to beat him, Agbeko, who won a close, unanimous decision in July 2009 on SHOWTIME.

Here are some thoughts gathered during each fighter’s camps and what they think about their opponents just days away from the tournament:

YONNHY PEREZ:

The 31-yeard-old Perez trained at the Santa Fe Springs Activity Center in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., sparring more than 100 rounds with 118 to 122 pounders during an eight-week camp.

Perez was successful when he challenged Agbeko for the IBF title in October 2009 on SHOWTIME, so the unbeaten, versatile boxer doesn’t feel the need to switch up his game plan.

“My style really doesn’t change, Perez said. “What my corner tells me to focus on is my output of punches. Our No. 1 thing is to try to wear down our opponents.

“And we’ve seen some other things against Agbeko that I think we can take advantage of.

Though he is confident he will successfully retain his title, Perez isn’t looking ahead to a possible rematch with Mares or a showdown with Darchinyan.

“It doesn’t matter to me who I fight, Perez said. “I’m just concentrating on this fight. I have to win that before I think about the next one. Whoever it is, we’ll be prepared. My main goal is to come out of the tournament the same way I entered it -- as a world champ.

JOSEPH AGBEKO:

Agbeko recently wrapped up a 10-week training camp at John’s Gym in the Bronx. The hard-hitting African sparred an average of 14 rounds a day, three or four times a week, mostly facing younger and aggressive super bantamweights and featherweights.

Agbeko, who wants to win back his title for his native Ghana, knows he needed to make some changes to his approach after losing the crown to Perez.

“There will be a lot of differences, Agbeko said. “I’m going to be ready for him. I lost the last one so I can’t go in with the same game plan. I needed to make some changes and you’ll see them in the ring.

While standing one-and-a-half inches shorter and spotting the defending belt-holder two-and-a-half inches in reach, the 30-year-old contends that Perez’s size wasn’t a difference maker in their first fight.

“It wasn’t a problem at all, Agbeko said. “When he fights, he brings his head in -- that was the problem for me. I’m sure this time he’ll take care of his head and won’t bring it in.

One thing Agbeko isn’t doing is looking forward to the tournament finals.

“Right now, the main issue for me is Yonnhy Perez, he said. “I’m concentrating on Yonnhy. So after the fight, when I got my belt back, I’ll think about the next opponent. But right now all my concentration is on Yonnhy Perez and winning my belt.

VIC DARCHINYAN:

The 34-year-old Darchinyan just wrapped up a three-week camp at Main Event Sports Club in Glendale, Calif., in his quest to win back a world title and the bantamweight tournament.

“I did all my sparring in Australia, but when I came here I just worked on my legs, my movement and my speed, Darchinyan said. “All my hard sparring was in Australia, but I worked on my speed in Los Angeles.

Darchinyan insists that although he lost to Agbeko in his first fight at 118 pounds that he’s not uncomfortable in his new division.

“I feel comfortable at 118 pounds, absolutely, Darchinyan said. “When I fought him he didn’t overpower me -- he just moved too much and head-butted me too much. There was really only a one-point difference in the scorecard.

“It was not because of weight. I fought too much and went for the knockout and didn’t control myself. I’m more controlled now and ready for Mares.

Darchinyan would love a rematch against Agbeko but claims he’d also love the chance to knock out Perez to earn back his world title.

“I’d love to face Agbeko in the finals, but if he loses we’ll knock out Perez, Darchinyan said. “We’ll take anyone in this tournament.

Regardless of who he’d like to face in the finals, Darchinyan claims to have a solid plan of attack for Mares.

“My game plan is to be fast and powerful, Darchinyan said. “I’ve fought in 14 world title fights, he’s fought in one. I’m going to out-school him badly and prove to the whole world that I’m too good for him and anyone in this division.

“This fight is a mismatch. I am just too good for him.

ABNER MARES:

The 25-year-old Mares trained at home for the first time at the Maywood Boxing Gym in Maywood, Calif. The rising star is reunited with former trainer Clemente Medina, who was his trainer when he made his pro debut and for his first six professional fights.

Mares focused on sparring with larger opponents – mostly 126 pounds and up – to prepare for the heavy-hitting Darchinyan. Most notably, he sparred with former super bantamweight world champion and current featherweight contender Daniel Ponce de Leon.

“We sparred with guys that have a similar style to Vic, Mares said. “Vic gets reckless and throws such wild punches that you don’t know where they are coming from. The guys I worked with are heavy punchers so it’s to our advantage. Looking for southpaw sparring is always difficult, but I think training with heavier guys will make me not feel the heavy hits of a smaller guy like Vic when I get in the ring.’’

Mares, who said he has had issues making weight in the past, trained twice a day -- in the afternoons and evenings – for the first time in his career.

“I think that’s what has made the difference for me, Mares said. “We won’t have trouble making weight and we’re eating a lot better. I weighed in at 121 on Dec. 1, so 118 pounds won’t be an issue for us this time.

The youngest fighter in the tournament, Mares says a win over a two-division world champ like Darchinyan would be a career-defining victory.

“Being in a ring against a big fighter like Vic Darchinyan and beating him will definitely make a statement, Mares said. “If I beat him I’ll be making a statement that I’m a legitimate champion, a strong fighter and a guy with a big name. It’d be even better if I knocked him out.

For the Mexican-born Mares, there’s an added incentive and motivation to defeat Darchinyan, who owns victories over Mexican warriors Cristian Mijares and Jorge Arce.

“For me, it makes it much more important and exciting for me to beat a guy like Darchinyan who has beaten all the Mexican fighters, Mares said. “I definitely want to be the Mexican that beats him. I just want to get in there with him.

But the fact that he’s defeated a few of Mares’ idols doesn’t mean he’s intimidated by Darchinyan’s unorthodox and unpredictable style.

“Speed beats power, Mares said. “And come Dec. 11, we plan on proving that.

Mares would also clearly love to avenge his draw against Perez in the Finals of the tournament, but he insists that there is no easy fight for the four 118-pounders.

“I definitely have some unfinished business with Yonnhy, so if it were my choice I would choose Yonnhy because of the draw I have against him, Mares said. “But there’s no easy fight. The winner of those two will definitely be a hard fight for whoever wins our fight. There’s no easy way to win this tournament.

After an initial diagnosis, Klitschko suffered a torn abdominal muscle on his left side during his afternoon training session on Wednesday. “The abdominal muscle is injured and therefore Wladimir Klitschko will not be able to fight on Saturday, says Dr. Sven Roessing, orthopedic specialist at university hospital Mannheim, Germany. Klitschko will have to pause for about 4 - 6 weeks. It is the first time in his professional career Wladimir Klitschko had to cancel a fight due to an injury.

Boxing fans have been waiting for years to see these two young world champions collide. The St. Louis phenom Alexander (21-0, 13 KOs), who will put his unblemished record and World Boxing Council (WBC) super lightweight championship at risk while Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs), from Palm Springs, Calif., enters the bout with a similarly perfect record and his World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight crown on the line.

Tickets, priced from $25-$400, will go on sale This Friday! December 10, and can be purchased at the Silverdome box office, by calling (248) 338-2500 or online at www.silverdometickets.com. The event is being promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, Don King Productions, and Thompson Boxing Promotions.

“I’m extremely excited about this fight being announced, Alexander said. “The fans will finally get to see what I believe is going to be one of the best fights in boxing, the two best 140-pounders going head to head. Tim Bradley is considered No. 1 at 140 and I’m considered No. 2, but anybody that knows me will say that I don’t like being second best at anything. Come January 29, the whole world will know I am the best 140-pounder in boxing.“

Not surprisingly, Bradley sees it differently.

Devon Alexander is a skilled southpaw that lacks championship fight experience, Bradley said. “There has been so much talk in the past about me avoiding him but I have never passed the opportunity to beat any other former champions. Now the time has come to prove who the best junior welterweight in the world is and I hope that Devon is ready for the can of whoop ass Ill be serving him on January 29th.

Alexander, 23, had two career-defining wins in 2010: a scintillating eighth-round knockout via right uppercut of then-International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion Juan “Iron Twins Urango on March 6, and, in his most recent defense on August 7, Alexander held back a strong challenge from Andriy Kotelnik to win a unanimous decision by identical scores of 116-112.

Alexander won his first title, the WBC super lightweight championship by stopping the former holder of that crown, Junior Witter when they met on August 1, 2009, in Southern California. (Ironically, it was Bradley who had vacated the WBC crown.)

Alexander has successfully emerged from behind the shadow of fighting most of his career out of the Cory Spinks camp. He has elusive defensive skills – no doubt picked up from his mentor – but has shown enough firepower to become a legitimate knockout threat.

Bradley, 27, won his first world title in 2008, travelling across the pond to dethrone the defending WBC super lightweight champion Junior Witter in the Englishman’s backyard of Nottingham, England. Bradley’s sixth-round knockdown of Witter shocked the hometown crowd as Bradley won a hard-fought split decision.

One year later, in his second championship defense, Bradley unified the title by dominating then-WBO champion Kendall Holt. Bradley weathered a first-round knockdown, and showed his trademark heart and determination during the remainder of the match, to win by unanimous decision.

Bradley opted to keep the WBO junior welterweight title. He has successfully defended that title twice. In August 2009 he dominated former world champion Nate Campbell before an accidental clash of heads near the end of round three led to the fight later being ruled no contest when Campbell could not continue due to a nasty gash over his left eye.

Bradley followed that with a December 2009 schooling of undefeated interim WBO champion Lamont Peterson, which included a third-round knockdown, the first time Peterson had ever hit the canvas in his 27-bout professional career.

With no worthy contenders available to defend his title against, Bradley moved up to 147 pounds and won a 12-round unanimous decision over undefeated Top-10 welterweight contender Carlos Abregu on July 17.

“If Alexander vs. Bradley doesn’t get your heart pumping then you aren’t alive, said Bradley co-promoter Gary Shaw. “This isn’t just a title unification fight, this is for the whole ball of wax -- the class of the junior welterweight division colliding head-on to determine the world champion. One thing I admire about both these men. When a challenge is made, they don’t make excuses, they make fights.

Bradley co-promoter Ken Thompson has a similar view.

This fight has been long awaited by boxing fans since in fact it’s a battle between the best junior welterweights on the planet, Thompson said. “Two undefeated fighters will decide the future of the division and what better neutral ground than the Motor City – Detroit. I have known Tim Bradley since he laced gloves for the first time as a professional, and he has never stopped amazing me with his talent and charisma inside the ring. Alexander will have his hands full on a great Motown boxing night.

Alexander promoter Don King is excited to see his young world champion entering the biggest match of his career.

“I have promoted Devon Alexander’s entire professional career, and I couldn’t be prouder of this fine young man, King said. “He’s a model citizen in St. Louis and the world’s treasure as a fighter. Devon and Timmy are two of the best American fighters we have, and, most important, they are two of the best people we have in the sport. Boxing fans and the sport will be the winners for this world championship unification.

Alexander vs. Bradley will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

“We believe Alexander vs. Bradley is a spectacular way to launch a new season of boxing on HBO, said Kery Davis, senior vice president of programming, HBO Sports. “Fight fans have the date circled on their calendars and sports fans everywhere should do the same.