Here are some quotes from the press conference:

Kathy Duva, Main Events CEO, Adameks Promoter:

Its fitting that we have this fight on a Thursday night. We started out at Prudential Center on a Thursday two years ago with what many people called the fight of the year, Adamek - Cunningham.

I know theres not going to be a person watching this fight that will be disappointed. These are two fighters with great heart and determination.

Joe DeGuardia, Star Boxing CEO, Maddalones Promoter:

Ten years ago, a couple friends of mine brought me an Italian Heavyweight Toughman Contest winner and told me they wanted to turn him into a professional fighter. At the time Vinny didnt have any real training, he was fighting solely on heart and grit. Ten years later, I must say Vinny has improved vastly, but one thing hasnt changed, and that is that he still has that heart and grit. What makes this fight even more interesting is that his opponent, Tomasz has that same type of mentality. I know we have been billing this fight as New Jersey vs. New York, but I think the best description for it is Heart vs. Heart. Both of these guys are warriors, its going to be like Rocky fighting Rocky. Both Vinny and Tomasz are very determined and truthfully they dont know how to be in a bad fight. This is going to be great and exciting night of boxing, so make sure you dont miss it.

Nirmal Lorick, Maddalones Head Trainer:

Vinny has worked really for this fight and he ready to go. Vinny has the tools to come out on top in this fight. As everyone knows there is no quit in Vinny, he will keep coming from round one to round thirteen and we expect nothing less come this Thursday.

Vinny Maddalone:

Im ready to go and really just looking forward to putting on a great show come Thursday night. I have put a lot of work in at the gym, approximately fourteen weeks of training for this fight. As I always do I am going to give everything I have and leave it all in the ring come fight night. Tomasz is a great champion and I know that he is going to be coming ready to fight and ready to go to war. For everyone in attendance and for everyone else watching at home on TV, I promise you that you are going to see one heck of a fight come December 9th.

I plan on pressuring him from the moment that bell sounds to start round one. He wont have to look for me Im going to be right there in his face. I am in the best shape of my career, I feel like I can go 20 rounds right now if I had to.

I know there are going to be a ton of Polish fans there, but I can assure you just like when I fought Mormeck in France and Boytsov in Germany, by the end of the fight some of his fans are going to become Vinny Maddalone fans.

I know it will be tough to win a decision in this fight, and thats why I am looking to make it a short night. If I have the opportunity to knock him out I wont let it slip by.

Working with my new trainer Nirmal has been great. He has put me through hell in this training camp but I am in tremendous shape. He has added couple of things to my arsenal and I think some people will be surprised by my performance. That being said I am still the same pressure fighter, I want to turn this thing into a war.

This might be not for a major world title, but Im viewing this fight as a world championship, because if I win, it puts me in position to challenge one of the champions out there, and thats what I have been working for my entire career.

In this fight you have two guys with similar come forward styles and its going to make for a great fight and a great night of boxing this Thursday.

Roger Bloodworth, Adameks Head Trainer:

We have a lot of respect for Vinny and we are expecting a tough fight this Thursday and for that we have trained very hard. Like Joe (DeGuardia) said earlier, this fight is Heart vs. Heart, you have two guys who are going to leave everything they have in the ring. Everyone watching this fight is in for a real treat, that I much can promise you.

How much has Tomasz improved since the first fight you worked with him? Id say hes at least 80% better than he used to be. Im not talking about his heart or determination, Im talking about his skill and his skill sets. Were working on everything: defense; offense; movement; control of the ring; how to get out of trouble. Hes learning very fast. Hes a very smart guy.

Tomasz Adamek:

Im excited to be returning to the Prudential Center. I have been training really hard with Roger and I feel like Im getting better and better and learning more everyday. I know that Vinny and I are going to make a really great fight and I invite everyone to come out and enjoy it with us this Thursday night.

Do you think if you win this fight its a step up to a world title fight? Every fight is a step closer to a championship fight. Every fight teaches me many new things. Roger is a good teacher. Ive changed my style, I feel better, I have more movement. Im healthy. Thats very important. I feel like I am a better fighter now than I was before camp.
Every fighter is different in every fight. We watched a couple of Vinnys fights. Hes a tough man, hes not afraid to fight. We will see on Thursday how he starts the fight. If you want to win you must be tough and have heart. If you dont have heart you are nothing. Can Vinny beat you? You know everybody has a chance, but my spirit is strong you know? And when I go into the ring, I am going in to be the champion, this is my way.

Fight Details:

The Brick City Boxing Series card will take place December 9th at Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, and is promoted by Main Events and Ziggy Promotions in association with Star Boxing. Doors open at 6pm.

Tickets priced at $53, $78, $103 and $253 (ringside) can be purchased at Prudential Center Box Office, by calling TicketMaster at 800-745-3000 or www.Prucenter.com

“We’re extremely excited about the Class of 2011 and very much looking forward to honoring the 22nd class of inductees, said Executive Director Edward Brophy.

The 22nd Annual Hall of Fame Weekend is scheduled for June 9-12th in Canastota, NY. Over 20 events, including a golf tournament, banquet, parade and autograph card show, are planned. An impressive celebrity lineup of boxing greats of yesterday and today will attend this year’s Induction Weekend. The highlight of the weekend will be the Official Enshrinement Ceremony on the Hall of Fame Museum Grounds in Canastota, New York on Sunday, June 12th to welcome the newest members.

The Hall of Fame also released names of posthumous honorees: bantamweight Memphis Pal Moore, light heavyweight champion Jack Root and welterweight and middleweight Dave Shade in the Old-Timer Category; promoter A.F. Bettinson in the Non Participant Category; broadcaster Harry Carpenter in the Observer Category; and John Gully in the Pioneer Category. Inductees were voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians.

For more information on the events planned for the 2011 International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend, please call the Hall of Fame at (315) 697-7095.

Id counter, actually, that he is supposed to beat the living legend. With his athleticism, and stamina, he should be able to work harder than Hopkins (51-5-1), who some think has slipped in the last year or two. But Bernard has a way of being able to set the tempo, employ the tricks of the trade which keep the fight at a pace which suits him, so fight fans are pretty well split when asked to pick a winner.

One figures that if Pascal can exert his edge in age over Hopkins on December 18, he will break the legends three fight winning streak. If Pascal, the 28-year-old WBC light heavyweight champion, can make Hopkins work harder than his soon-to-be-46 year old body wants to work, if he can get Hopkins out of his clutching, grabbing, tempo-setting comfort zone, then he will have his hand raised at the end of the night.

Pascal said he has a surprise or two or three for Hopkins, and wouldnt share his strategy for the bout, which takes place at the Pepsi Center in Quebec.

He says he called out and targeted Hopkins because he has high aspirations, and wants to be in the legend class when his career is over.

The champ, who has been training in Miami, said he likes early KOs, but he likes to fight, so more rounds doesnt bother him. He wont aim for a KO, he said.

Promoter Yvon Michel said 16,000 of the 16,495 seats available have already sold, so the joint will be hopping on fight night.

As for what might come next, he said hes not thinking of Lucian Bute, or anyone other than Hopkins. He asked Hopkins to bring his hat and gloves, so he wont catch a cold or flu, and have an excuse if he loses.

Hes part Ali, part Lombardi and part Oliver Stone when he gets going, as he did on a Tuesday conference call in which he promised to school another rook (Jean Pascal), show the cynical, bloated keyboard tappers that they (we) are blowhard naysayers, and railed against an unnamed Mafia int he sport who would like to see him retired.

Yes indeed, why this man doesnt have a reality show, I have no idea.

Hopkins, who turns 46 on January 15, was asked if he might walk away after beating Pascal. He said that boxing isnt flourishing, other than Pacman and Mayweather, really, so there is still a market for his services. He might be marketable at 50, he said, so it doesnt sound like he has one butt cheek in the hammock.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS
He said if someone whipped him in the ring, hed consider exiting the sport. But no one has done this yet, so he asked everyone to hold off on the contemplation of retirement. He busted on us out of shape keyboard tappers for that should-he-retire storyline, and asked us to consider that we might miss him when hes gone. He thanked the media for the critiques, which serve to motivate him.

I thank yall, I thank yall, I thank yall, he said.

Who else you going to ask a question for two seconds, and get a ten minute answer he asked.

If he wins, hell be the oldest champion in boxing history, and Hopkins said that means a lot to him. I feel its a great accomplishment to beat George Foremans record nine days out, he said. Its outside what everyone else is doing in boxing.

The fighter asked the writers who doubt him to refrain from blaming Pascal for being too young.

He said a lot of people want him out of boxing, but most of those over 40 are rooting for him. This victory is a devastating blow for some people who want him out, for whatever reason, I know why, but for whatever reason. ...Nobody should be asked to leave a sport or job if theyre not mentally ready to go...Id never ask anybody, a janitor or a casher..at the end of the day thats a personals individual decisions.

After he beat Kelly Pavlik, he stared out into the audience because he was angry at the powers that be, the Mafia of boxing, who wanted him shut down.

His tombstone, he said, will read, A man has walked this land.

He said when he retires, there will be no comebacks...this time. Because then hell be pushing 50, as opposed to being a mere pup when he said, Im done after he beat Antonio Tarver in June 2006.

Hopkins said itll be more of a pleasure fighting out of the US this time, in Canada, than when he fight an Ecuadorian in Ecuador, during a time of war in Ecuador (versus Segundo Mercado in 1994).

He admitted that he didnt think Pascal would beat Chad Dawson, and that in that fight, he noted that Dawson didnt win because he didnt adjust.

Is he one of the top ten best guys Ive fought, no, he said, but added the cautionary note that he wont train less because Pascal isnt a legend. You look at me, and look at his resume...and you tell me whos the Harvard graduate?

Hopkins said he hasnt succeeded in getting Pascals head, because hes young, and intoxicated with his newfound fame. But he will, Hopkins thinks, feel nervous when hes in the ring, staring at Hopkins.

Hopkins said fighting in Canada is Pascals biggest asset, after being queried by a Canadian writer.

He says Golden Boy will insure a fair deal in Canada.

Hopkins said that he thinks the smarter fighter, the one with the best plan, will win. He said hell be ready if Pascal tries to overwhelm him with volume, or if he tries to evade the older man. After 26 years of professional boxing, he says hes seen every style. Im looking for a fight that will test everything about Bernard Hopkins that night, he said.

Richard Schaefer, his promoter, said that he thinks Hopkins remains hungry, and is as hungry as he was when he was starting out. He said doubters shouldnt doubt the fighter, and that anyone who thinks Pascal will win should know better by now.

The fight will be shown on pay per view in Canada, the promoter said, and he expects it to be the biggest ever ppv in Canada.

Soto-Antillon was a barnburner, but because it was on pay per view, basically nobody saw it.

Sigh. Such is the state of the game. Not much we keyboard tappers and you fans can do, I guess. We make clear our preference, for fights on free TV, or at least premium cable. But free TV treats us like were porno, and there is only so much budget to go around from the cablers.

Were eager to slide out of that rant, and get happy, considering this is the holiday season, and our problems rate as luxuries to so many with so little. Mudsides, landslides, flooding in Columbia and Venezuela, Haiti still in shambles...so lets keep perspective, right?

But wait..we wanted to look on the bright side...how can we do this when our shining star of pugilism, Manny Pacquiao, is allegedly set to glove up in April against Sugar-free Shane Mosley, a fighter whose reflexes are almost completely gone? This will be like watching those perverse pay to spray hunting deals, where lunatic losers with firearms fetishes pay to empty bullets into wild animals set loose in a big backyard. Hey, maybe Mosley can reverse his slide, find some magic potion which reverses the aging process. But it seems like even Manny-iacs, who understandably do tend to accept and cheerlead most decisions made by Manny and Team Pacquiao, arent warming up to Manny-Mosley. OK, so many Manny-iacs arent inclined to give the guy they call the Canvas Kisser, Juan Manuel Marquez, a third crack at Pacquiao. Seems like they feel like he hasnt conducted himself with humility as hes chased a third scrap with Pacquiao. But cant we find another option, other than Mayweather, who is holed up in a bunker doing lord knows what instead of plying his trade, and Mosley, five years past his prime? Im betting, and still holding out hope, that we can. Hey, the holidays here are so much about hope. Hoping that the better instincts of mankind emerge, that those in power dispense their power with a primary focus of the Have Nots in mind, that people treat others as they themselves would want to be treated, that people make choices based on the enrichment of many, not the few, that promoters who spend so much money and energy suing each other find compromise, and work with each other...heres hoping that as we look ahead to 2011, more choices are made, in boxing and the world at large, for the greater good.

Speaking of greater good, we got a good batch of comments following my post on the likelihood of Manny-Mosley, and the In Harms Way card. Thanks, as always, for reading TSS, and taking the time, energy, and effort to share your passion and wisdom with all of us. --Editor Mike

PS The Boxing Channel, a sister site to us, is doing good things, Please log on their, and support the effort!

DaveB: Soto vs Antillon was like the Thriller in Manila. That fight was crazy. Now it will be on to Brandon Rios and Vasquez. Wow. Definitely Fight of the Year.

DaveB:I couldnt agree with you more EM, on the Manny-Mosley deal, I couldnt agree with you more. This is possibly the worst choice that could be made. It gives the fans nothing. Of course by fight time they will say that Margarito hurt Pac to the body and Mosley has fierce body work and some will buy into that way of thinking. But in truth this is a terrible match. A bad beating and a great payday for Mosley.

Radam G: The theatre of the unexpected is what many call this game. Im on spot with #1PacFan. Money May should step up than it would not be Sugarlite Shane. Hes lost a lot of steps. But the truth of the matter is that Money May is acting so strange because of a genetic disorder that causes him to rapidly age. Da Manny would definitely destroy Lil Floyd as of now. Thirty-years-old-plus something destroyed Big Floyds legs faster than normal, not a bullet. The same thing happened to Uncle Roger and Uncle Jeff. Just do the research and investigation for yourself. Money May fought Sugar Shane at that slow coming forward style because that is all that Money May could do. He has lost his legs. All of those years of not listening to Pops Joy May and running on cement has gotten to Lil Floyd. A lot of those in the know know the secret behind Lil Floyds fright in not fighting da Manny. The jive about PEDs is just that -- JIVE! Try saying that Lil Floyd is suffering from fast-affecting arthritis in the legs and knees. [Dudes legs are stiffer than a mummy.] Where is the slick African American with boxing skills for da Manny to fight? SSM is going to have to do. Or Miami-born Haitian Berto is going to have to do. Forget about Tim Bradley. He probably wont get pass Alexander The Great. Long-in-the-tooth SSM deserves a good payday. Nonetheless, it is not a 100 percent certain that he is the winner of da Manny derby. Stay tune for the official word after December 17. Holla!

Frankly: Who is he going to fight if its not Mosley? Martinez? Williams? I dont even mention PBF because hes on vacation or retired now... Honestly I dont know...I do know that Pac shouldnt be fighting Mosley @ this time...Maybe Pac should move down to the VERY Competitive 140 Division...It would be nice to see Pac cleanout a division to finish his career off...But nowadays thats taboo...Just get the Big Paycheck and get out...Alas, this is the times we are living in.

In touch: It is unfortunate that this fight will take place. But there are some major issues to consider: 1) GBPs very own Bernard Hopkins has put it out there that Pac should fight a black American. Mosley is the only black American Pac can fight who can bring money to the table. 2) Mayweather refuses to fight Pac. 3) GBP owns Marquez and GBP dont get along with Bob Arum. Theyll never be able to come to terms to make this fight happen. Sad for everyone. Mostly for boxing fans. 4) Marquez wants a 50-50 split against the fighter of the decade and the best fighter fighting right now. Cant happen. Wont happen. Marquez needs to agree to a more reasonable split like Mayweather did against De La Hoya when they fought. It was 75-25 for ODH. 5). Berto is young and fast but wont bring much to the table as far as ppv is concerned. Too bad for the fans. Too bad for boxing. 6). GBP should control their smaller partners (Hopkins) if they are serious in putting on shows like Pac vs. Marquez fight. Hopkins spouting out about Pac needing to fight black Americans to prove worthy had everyone talking. Thats bad talk if GBP intended on getting pac to fight a Mexican. Fans lose. Boxing loses. At the end of the day, Pac will get paid another 25 mill. In that sense neither he nor Arum lose. My wish is that guys like Berto step up and fight better competition and become stars so that they can demand big fights. 7) This deal with Mosley might prove another thing; GBP are cursed. They dont have a superstar. Theyve been trying to ride on Mayweathers coattails and that ride is over. Mosley had to leave GBP to get this fight with Pac. He was trying to get the Pacquiao fight before there was talk of Mayweather fighting pacquiao. After Mayweather refused to fight Pac, GBP never gave Mosley a chance to step in against Pac. Maybe they were afraid Mosley might win and therefore ruin the big money fight between Pac and Mayweather. Either way, Mosley had to do what was best for him. Maybe Marquez needs to do the same.

Shadow_vmn: As a true boxing fan, not just a Pacquiao fan, I am disgusted with this fight. I was telling my dad a while ago that this will just end up bad for Pac. Not that hes going to lose, but for sure the critics will have a good time firing their guns, and this time the bullets wont be dodged. As big a Pacquiao fan as I am, will I defend him? Not this time. Id like him to fight either Marquez, to shut the pee-pee mouths mouth (although if Pac manages to beat him, critics will just say that Marquez is unproven at 140lbs and up, and hes old, and hes not African-American, and... you know what I mean), or since hes a welterweight, Andre Berto (even if Pac manages to beat him, critics will just say that why didnt he fight Marquez, and Berto is still unproven, and.... you know what I mean). But what can I do, eh? What can WE do? Pac always says Ill fight anybody THAT MY PROMOTER PUTS IN FRONT OF ME. That means, Pac never tells Arum who he wants to fight. And thats sad.

The Roast: Say what you will but even at this age Shane Mosley has a better chance to win than Margarito or Clottey did. If the Pacman would be the first man to bust up and or KO Sugar Shane Mosley that would be a big achievement. Im not sayin Im just sayin.

Boxmeister: I used to think Arum is making sound decisions in match-ups. But this time he has lost it. Mosley is a spent, washed up fighter after his last two fights. If Arum thinks the fight fans are excited about it, he is dead wrong. He already said he does not care about the boxing fans on this match-up. He is not doing Pacquiao a favor by making him look bad even to his die hard fans who want to see him fight meaningful and challenging fights. Berto is undefeated, black and the WBC Champion. It just makes sense to put him instead of worn out, left-over of Fraud Mosley. This is a disgrace to Pacquiao and his fans. Hopefully, Pacquiao wakes up and if he is really sincere about putting up a good entertainment for the fans, he should consider fighting Berto and not Mosley and certainly not the money monger pee drinking Marquez.

Thommy: Lets hope Manny puts the kibosh on this farce. He should bypass his handlers and issue a public statement to the effect of Shane WAS a great fighter, hell be in the Hall of Fame, etc, but hes a self-avowed shot fighter fighting only for one reason: Money. If Shane wants to fight on, so be it, but hes no longer a headliner. He is nothing more than a stepping stone/resume builder for up and comers to bang on. Remember, Manny just got through with a gimme. He doesnt need another. Margarito has absolutely nothing left, and hes been badly damaged goods since January 2009. If Manny fights Shane, thats back to back gimmes. If he does, and assuming he fights a worthy challenger after Shane, then hes effectively sidelined for a year plus. I think Berto is a much more attractive fight. The guy is young and hungry and looked good in his last fight.

Tess: Not going to pay for this fight if it happens. It is a terrible fight, and not the one everyone wants to see. Manny is in part to blame for the hostility between GBP, and Top Rank. He should not have signed with both of them, and this might not have been as bad. As far as GBP Oscar leaving Top Rank to start his own company, Arum should get over it. Real fight fans want to see real fights. Marquez should not take 25%, he should take 60/40 or 70/30. He is generating interest as well.

Edgar: I dont believe for one second that Pacquiao will fight Mosley. This is just speculation. Look, Pacquiao is aware that Shane is a shell of his former self. The guy has looked nothing short of atrocious, and that fact isnt lost on Manny. Hes not going to wreck his momentum and legacy by fighting a guy that should have retired 5 years ago (Mosley beat up on a plasterless, shot Margarito). Its getting to the point where a Holyfield decision might have to be made regarding Shane - pull the plug on his license. Mosley belongs nowhere near a boxing ring these days, and Pacquiao knows this, and wont let this circus come to town.

DaveB: I cant blame Mosley if this report is true. Hell get another nice payday and obviously he is in need of the money. IMO I think both Pacquaio and Mayweather are hurting their respective legacies, if that means anything and I think it does to each of them. Catchweights, favorable matchmaking, not fighting fighters at times when the fighters were viable opponents, not fighting each other for stupid reasons, Pac letting Roach and Arum always tell him what to do - Im sure he doesnt do that in Congress. The Mayweather people on here always make up excuses for their man, the Pacquaio people always make up excuses for their man. The whole thing is sickening. These fights can come together if either man really wanted it. But if it cant and one man steps up, calls the other one out, negotiates smartly with no outrageous demands it would show the public who the real coward is and then he could say well if the fight never happens I tried my best. I think we could all live with that.

RG: Amen! Its time for Manny to say NO to this kind of fight. Mosley was an elite fighter but not anymore after the beating he got from Floyd. He barely got a draw with Mora who is way below Mannys class. If it does happen, I would still watch the fight but wont buy the PPV. There are lots of sports bar in our area that show all Mannys fight. Its time for Manny to give the younger fighters a chance like the winner of Devon and Tim if Floyd is too scared to fight him.

Radam G @ the Roast: I got a sickling feeling that da Manny is going to destroy Sugar Shane like mean ole Larry Holmes destroyed my idol GOAT Ali back in my kiddie days. History is so ironic and so repeating. Not that I will cry for Shane. He will get paid righteously.

FeRoz : If this is sad, it is because manny has already wiped out his own stable...and with it most of the elite names in the welterweight division. Hindsight is 20/20 but most of us moaned when Shane was chosen to fight Floyd a year ago. Hes been old and less dangerous long before this bout began shaping up. Floyd only confirmed what we suspected and/or knew. Why did Floyd fight him. Same reason as Manny. Money. Big name, big reward. Small risk. So this time its Manny giving SSM a payday (can you think of a more deserving veteran) and adding a name to his his list of vanquished. And like Floyd over JMM, Manny is fighting over someone elses leftovers. But that is how it works at this level. Virtually everyone is someone elses leftovers. But back to next spring. Only one man can de-rail this fight from happening. And Lord only knows why it aint Floyd. All he has to do is say Im Ready.

Anony: YES... this ranks at the top of FOY candidates. This one and last week Katsidis vs Marquez are the best from 2010. Antillon is insane... with a better defense he could have won this one but Sotos experience and coolness was the real winner here.

Mattressmania@FeRoz: So Antillon was the one with no power? Why didnt Soto knock Antillon out? I think Soto was the weaker but slightly faster technical fighter. If Antillon had landed what Soto dished out to Antillon he would of got knocked out....the kid ran for his life and did a good job of it. Antillon will be a top lightweight for the next couple years with his great showing in last nights fight. Honestly people pay money to watch real scraps, dont get me wrong great technique and athleticism is appreciated but i think in the sport of boxing you need more fighters with iron Ba**s! If youre athletic go play basketball or even football where footspeed is more needed. Cause I know darn well that 75% of the boxing fans that are out there dont wanna see two men dancing inside a ring for 12 rounds and get charged 54.99 for that. Fight of the year definitely round by round!

FeRoz : Soto was beautiful against an absolutely relentless pressure attack by the incredibly resilient Antillon. In fact, had Antillon had KO power, Soto would have been in even greater danger. The fight was minute to minute one of the years best. Two men, each with different skill sets, both phenomenally well trained, executing their respective plans to the T. Antillon attacked...and Soto was like a matador. Moving fluidly side to side, fighting going forward...and back...he nailed Antillon hard with pinpoint accuracy. But still Antillon came. And the more he did, the better Soto was. I cant remember seeing two fighters since Gatti and Ward show each other so much respect after such a war. Antillon, no stranger to roughhouse tactics, literally hugged Soto BEFORE the final round. For those of you who missed it, Dont. This one was worth all of the bad PPV monies we have spent before. It was a night of ....Fights, with a capital F.

“I want a third fight with Pacquiao, Marquez stated after his scintillating ninth round T.K.O. victory over Michael Katsidis. “This is the fight everyone wants to see and he’s been avoiding us. We have a score to settle.

It’s hard to dispute the Mexico City native’s assertion that he should be next to fight the Filipino superstar.

He’s certainly proven himself worthy of a third match against the man considered by many to be the number one pound for pound fighter in the world. After facing Pacquiao twice and earning a draw and a split decision loss, it seems he’s the only fighter with the style to give “Pac-Man a serious challenge.

What about Floyd Mayweather Jr.? While “Lil’ Floyd is also considered by some to be the pound for pound best, he doesn’t seem to want any part of Pacquiao. His unreasonable demands, like asking for a blood test shortly before their proposed mega fight, made sure the negotiation process stalled. For the time being, Mayweather is out of the equation.

They’ve thrown some of boxing’s best at Pacquiao. Ricky Hatton, Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey were all easily and impressively dominated by the naturally smaller buzz-saw. In the course of dismantling the well regarded fighters, he became a box office star. His legend grew and so did his bank account. Now, everyone wants a piece.

As far as a legitimate boxing attraction is concerned, Pacquiao is the new Oscar De La Hoya. He’s this generation’s “Golden Boy. When Pacquiao fights, it’s a big deal. When people in line at the post office are talking about the upcoming Pacquiao fight, you know he’s reached star status.

Boxing fans and even non-boxing fans around the world gather to watch him flutter his sting-full fists whether he fights Puerto Rican superstar Cotto or the much lesser known Clottey.

For his opponents it means making millions of dollarsand the opportunity to become the man who topples the legend, with the hopes of becoming a legend himself.

Shane Mosley, Andre Berto and many others have made it known they want to be next to step into the ring against boxing’s newest marquee name. But it’s Marquez vs. Pacquiao, Act three, which makes most sense.

Marquez’s performance against Katsidis was nothing less than inspiring and spectacular. After getting dropped by the hard punching Greek in the third round, Marquez remained cool and like a surgeon, dissected his rugged, glory hungry opponent. By the ninth round, Katsidis was still coming forward but receiving Marquez’s beautiful counter punches that caused him to stutter step on more than one occasion. The end came after referee Kenny Bayless recognized the body language of a crumbling warrior and put a stop to the bout. The dramatic affair made a strong case for Marquez.

The reality is that the first two Pacquiao vs. Marquez fights created a lot of unanswered questions. Pacquiao dropped Marquez three times in the first round of their first fight in 2004 and still ended up with a draw. “I’ve shown what I can do against Manny Pacquiao. He knocked me down three times and I was able to outbox and punish him for the rest of the fight, Marquez said afterwards.

Their second encounter in 2008 was also a classic that went to the judges’ cards. Pacquiao won a close split decision. Marquez was dropped once but again got up and fought his way back to what some saw as a very close win for the 37 year old Mexican. “I feel like I had the edge. I was very surprised I didn‘t get the decision, he remembered.

Looking at the replay as they were about to announce the final score, you could see Pacquiao’s initial worry and finally elation as thelast judges cardwas announced in his favor by one point. It was close. Too close for comfort.

So what’s stopping Marquez vs. Pacquiao III from being made? Golden Boy Promotions president and Marquez‘s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, blames Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum who refuses to co-promote with his L.A. basedcompany due to a personal conflict. “People who don’t realize that Bob Arum is hurting boxing are so naive, De La Hoya twittered recently. He added, “Boxing is suffering and fights are not being made because of him.

It’s been reported that one of Golden Boy Promotions’ partners, Shane Mosley, is a top candidate to fight Pacquiao. This would’ve been a great choice five years ago. Mosley, a future hall of famer, had the speed, stamina and youth to give Pacquiao all he could handle. But that was then, this is now.

Right now, it’s Marquez’s counterpunching, footwork and familiarity with Pacquiao’s style that makes this match-up so intriguing. Can Pacquiao finish Marquez if he drops him again? Can Marquez survive, figure out and pick Pacquiao apart like he did Juan Diaz and Katsidis? These are questions that can only be answered with a third fight.

A great tale was written over the twenty four rounds these two men fought. But the story isn’t over yet. Act three of Pacquiao vs. Marquez is a must. Without it, a great story will remain unfinished.

Koncz told a Filipino paper, the Bulletin, that the Congressman will glove up against the 39 year old Mosley, a fighter for whom retirement has loomed as a viable option, if not in his head, then in the eyes of those who have seen his skills diminish in the las year.

That sound you hear, loud, clear, is groans, from the TSS home office, and from many of your home bases.

Mosley, now 46-6-1, has looked like he jumped the shark, and the beast took a chunk out of his legs, and his lungs, in his last two outings. Yes, he did surprise Floyd Mayweather on May 1, buckling Money with a right. But other than ten seconds in the second round, Mosley looked Sugar free. He had no zip, no pop, no chance. He lost by scores of 119-109, 118-110 and 119-109. After, he told people he saw openings but just couldnt get off. Basically, he was describing an aged fighter. His September 18 fight against Sergio Mora is a candidate for snoozer of the year. It was draw, and again, Mosley saw openings, his brain told him to fire, but his gun stayed holstered.

He is 2-2-1 in his last five, with wins coming over Ricardo Mayorga and Antonio (A Disaster Without Plaster) Margarito and losses coming to Miguel Cotto, in a tight scrap way back in Nov. 2007, and Floyd.

Weve lobbied to see Pacman fight middleweight ace Sergio Martinez, and/or engage in a third tangle with Juan Manuel Marquez. We didnt lobby to see Manny fight Mosley, because to be frank, we see Mosley as having zero chance against the at-the-top-of-his-game Pacquiao. At 52-3-2, Pacmans hand speed, agility, confidence and power are major league, hall of fame stuff. Mosley has dropped to Triple A. Manny will make him look like a Little Leaguer.

We could be wrong. But we doubt we are. Heres hoping Koncz jumped the gun, that promoter Bob Arum pulls a switcheroo.

But lordy, at least there was some sliver of hope that Margarito had enough to test Pacman. Mosley could have the best training camp of his life, get Freddie Roach to corner him, and get Gale Van Hoy to judge the bout, and hed still be a 10 to 1 underdog.

Arum, I suppose, is doing his job, getting his fighter the most money for the least risk. But if Manny has a say in this, we hope he nixes the Mosley idea, and opts for a stiffer test. Because this match just leaves us sour.

WBC lightweight titleholder Soto (54-7-2, 32 KOs) and challenger Urbano Antillon (28-2, 20 KOs) cracked each other relentlessly in a back and forth battle in the main event in front of more than 3,200 fans at the Honda Center. No doubt, the fans at the arena witnessed one of the top actions fights in the past 12 months.

“The main event is going to be one of the fights considered the fight of the year,” said Bob Arum of Top Rank.

How right he is.

From the opening bell the two let loose with vicious blows. Antillon was intent on landing to the body while Soto preferred the uppercut. It was the formula for the entire 12 rounds.

The referee deducted a point from Antillon for a low blow in the fifth round and that proved to be the difference. But for the entire fight both Soto and Antillon punished each other in a contest that swayed back and forth.

“We knew he was going to come at us all night,” said Soto. “We knew it (the uppercut) was going to be the key.”

In the sixth round a blistering body attack by Antillon seemed to knock the wind out of Soto. At that point it looked like he might crumble from the blows but he rallied.

“Sometimes you have to fight. I never expected that he would take everything I had.

This fight was real tough,” Soto said.

The judges scored it a close but unanimous decision for Soto 115-112 and 114-113 twice.

Antillon was disappointed but grateful.

“I said what I was going to do and that’s what I did,” Antillon said. “We expected exactly what it was. I got hit a little a couple of times but we did what we planned to do.”

Nonito

Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs) blew by Ukrainian fighter Vladimir Sidorenko (22-3-2, 7 KOs) with three knock downs before finally stopping him at 1:48 of the fourth round of a bantamweight fight.

“I didn’t even go to my plan the counter hooks are always going to be me. Big respect for Sidorenko. I knew that I hurt him but much respect for him,” said Donaire. “They told me to stay back not to get too wild.”

Donaire showed why many consider him one of the top prizefighters pound for pound in the world with total domination over former champion Vladimir Sidorenko in a bantamweight title fight.

The Filipino Flash floored the Ukrainian fighter three times and had him bloodied after the first round.

In round three a counter left hook caught Sidorenko perfectly and dropped the Russian fighter. He got up again.

“I didn’t even go to my plan the counter hooks are always going to be me. Big respect for Sidorenko. I knew that I hurt him but much respect for him,” said Donaire. “They told me to stay back not to get too wild.”

Left hands dropped Sidorenko the first two times but a right hand finished the job at 1:48 of the fourth round. The Ukrainian fighter shook his head as the referee counted him out.

He was clearly in pain.

“This was by far my best performance. The (Vic) Darchinyan was just one punch,” said Donaire. “I was really motivated for this fight because I really wanted to win. I wanted to show I can dominate.”

Even his very critical trainer was impressed.

“He did everything perfectly,” said trainer Robert Garcia.

Donaire is now scheduled to fight WBA bantamweight titleholder Fernando Montiel of Mexico.

“I’m excited. Fernando Montiel I’m coming for you. People want to see that fight,” Donaire said. “That’s beautiful that I have Mexican fans and Filipino fans. I’ll do my best for the fans.”

Garcia

Riverside’s Garcia (24-0, 20 KOs) and Canada’s Olivier Lontchi (18-2-2, 8 KOs) started their fight slowly and carefully, but in round four the featherweight contender showed why he’s considered one of the promising fighters in the featherweight division.

Garcia began to attack Lontchi’s body and the Canadian’s defense began to unravel. A quick one-two combination floored Lontchi who seemed surprised. He got up and was immediately attacked by the Riverside boxer who unleashed a blistering six-punch combination to the head and body. Lontchi slumped to the floor and did not beat the count of 10 for a knockout at 1:30 of the seventh round.

“I felt real good real strong I knew he was going to move around so I was patient with him,” said Garcia. “Once I hit him with a right hand I knew I had him.”

Other bouts

In a match between replacement fighters it was Poland’s Pawel Wolak (28-1, 18 KOs) who took the win by technical knockout over Mexico’s Jose Pinzon (19-2-1, 12 KOs) at 2:24 of round seven. It was an unpopular stoppage. Pinzon had knocked down Wolak with a vicious left hook in the second round but punched himself out trying to finish the Polish fighter. In the end, he made a serious mistake and Wolak emerged the victor in the middleweight contest.

“I came down for a beat down,” said Wolak who survived a knockdown to win. “I never would have surrendered.”

Pinzon felt “I was winning the fight. I just didn’t finish him.”

Mexico’s Rodrigo Garcia (8-0, 6 KOs) walked in with all of the advantages against Texas boxer Rodrigo Villarreal (4-5-1) including speed, height and power. But Villarreal gritted it out for three rounds until walking into a left hook at 2:32 of the round.

Mexican heavyweight Andy Ruiz (7-0, 5 KOs) showed why people are talking about his talent. Three knockdowns of Francisco Diaz (2-5) were impressive, but his hand speed was bewildering. The end came at 1:08 of round two. Right hand did the job for new heavyweight sensation Ruiz who is trained by Freddie Roach.

Indio’s Gabino Saenz (2-0, 2 KOs) waited about a minute before opening up with the heavy stuff. A right lead followed by a left hook floored San Bernardino’s Jesse Adame (1-6). He survived. Then during an exchange a Saenz counter left uppercut dropped Adame for good at 2:45 of the first round in the junior lightweight bout. Referee Wayne Hedgepeth stopped the fight.

Heavyweight Joe Hanks (15-0, 10 KOs) won by technical knockout at 1:43 of the fourth round against Vili Bloomfield (9-6-1, 4 KOs). Hanks cornered Bloomfield and let the punches fly. Though Bloomfield was not hurt he did not fire back and referee Jerry Cantu stopped the fight.

Santa Ana’s Jesse Roman (5-0-3, KOs) won by unanimous decision against Las Vegas fighter Johnny Frazier (3-4-2, 3 KOs) after four rounds of a lightweight fight. It was a close fight for all four rounds but the judges scored it 40-36 twice and 39-37 for Roman. No knockdowns.

In the co-feature, former Cuban Olympian Luis “La Estrella Franco remained undefeated moving his record to 8-0 (5 KOs) with a disqualification (low blows) win over Eric “Outlaw Hunter at 2:34 of the eighth round.

In the main event, Kayode (15-0, 14 KOs) defended his cruiserweight NABO and NABF titles against a game Ed “The Georgia Thumper Perry, 34, of Frankfort, Indiana, a former high school football player who drives a dump truck for a living. Perry (18-5-2, 11 KOs) hung in there with Kayode, but just like Kayode’s last 13 victims couldn’t last, taking a knee at :51 seconds in the sixth round after a devastating left uppercut right under the rib cage where he was then counted out by referee Jack Reese.

“It was a good fight for me, said Kayode, 27, who is trained by Freddie Roach and was fighting at cruiserweight for the fifth time in his career. “I waited a round or two to gauge what he had. He took some shots. Normally guys would have fallen after some of those shots but he had a good chin and stayed in there.

Kayode’s powerful body shots impressed SHOWTIME announcer Antonio Tarver. “His talent is immeasurable said the heavyweight Tarver. “But I commend Perry for staying in there as long as he did.

After the fight, Tarver told Perry he needed to work on his condition and “stay in the gym.

“The body shots took their toll, said Perry, who had never seen the canvas in his career but took a knee after a lethal combination by Kayode in the fourth round before standing at an eight-count. “I don’t know, I’ve always been pretty tough. It takes a brave man to stand in there and get hit like that, especially on national TV.

Added Kayode: “He tried to rush me and rough me in the fifth round. He came at me, so I didn’t go with my jab anymore. I went with my straight right because he was bending to my right side and then I got him with the left uppercut.

In the co-feature, both Franco and Hunter came out firing in a matchup for the vacant WBO NABO featherweight title. The first two rounds went to Franco easily with Hunter warned for a head butt and two low blows. Referee John Shorley stopped the fight at 2:34 of Round 8 after a third low blow by Hunter giving Franco the win by disqualification.

“It looks like he was looking for a way out, said Franco, who won every round in the dominating win. “My body shots were just hurting him and he didn’t want to get knocked out. He knew he was going to get knocked out in the ninth round and so he decided to take the disqualification. I out-jabbed him and out worked him and finally got the DQ.

Hunter, 24, who first appeared on ShoBox back in 2007 and was a 2004 U.S. Olympic alternate, was visibly upset after the disqualification. “There was just too much complaining going on the whole time, he said. “I said before the fight they better watch out for his complaining. Ah, man. I don’t even want to talk about it. He played to the crowd and the ref. It should have never been stopped.

“He didn’t act like a pro tonight, SHOWTIME announcer Steve Farhood said of Hunter.

The doubleheader was promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC.

Friday’s fights will re-air on SHO 2 on Thursday, Dec. 9 at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast). The fights will be available On Demand from Dec. 8 until Dec. 21.

The night of boxing was the second of four consecutive weeks of fights on SHOWTIME. Next Saturday night, Dec. 11, it’s the bantamweights who will take center stage in a “Winner Takes All tournament. SHOWTIME will televise the fights live at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) from the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Wash. Four of the top 118-pound fighters battle it out in a two-round, single-elimination tournament to determine the world’s best in the division. In the opening bout, undefeated, world-ranked rising star Abner Mares will face two-division world champion Vic “Raging Bull Darchinyan.Then, former IBF 118-pound champ Joseph King Kong Agbeko will try to earn back the title from the man that won it from him, current IBF champ Yonnhy “El Colombiano Perez from Irapuato, Mexico.

On Dec. 18 on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (9 p.m. ET/PT), World Boxing Council 175-pound titleholder Jean Pascal (26-1, 16 KOs) meets former world light heavyweight and middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins (51-5-1, 32 KOs) for the WBC light heavyweight title from the Pepsi Coliseum in Québec City, Canada.

In just her second pro fight, Hallback fought Lucia Rijker considered by many the best female prizefighter of all time.

So what’s left for the talented Hallback?

“I want to fight on HBO,” says Hallback, 39. “It’s been a dream of mine for a long time.”

First, Hallback (27-6-2, 11 KOs) will be fighting Victoria Cisneros (5-10-2) in an eight-round lightweight bout on Friday Dec. 3, at Route 66 Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Fresquez Productions is promoting the fight card.

To keep the dream alive Hallback must fight in Cisneros hometown and beat her convincingly. It’s no easy feat.

“The only thing I know is she is a come forward fighter. She’ll be throwing a lot of punches but nothing really too fancy,” says Hallback, who has fought a Who’s Who of female champions. “She is a straight forward fighter.”

Hallback’s last fight came against Holly Holm the current junior welterweight world champion and a much bigger boxer. She lost for the second time to the box and move stylist.

It’s the challenges of beating superior boxers that still motivates Hallback, and the quest to fight in front of a major television network like HBO.

Cisneros, 25, has youth on her side and the heavy advantage of fighting in her hometown crowd. Hallback has seldom fought in front of a hometown crowd.

“To be honest it might sound crazy, but I don’t even know who is out there around my weight class,” Hallback says, adding that in her 12-year career she’s fought nearly every top ranked female. “I’ll fight anybody that is willing to fight me.”

At 5-feet 6-inches, Hallback is a lean slick fighting machine who can counter with the best. If she feels like exchanging she does and usually emerges the winner. Throughout her career it’s been difficult to find opponents. She doesn’t mind if they’re champions or too heavy.

One of the best female fights ever televised was Hallback facing Las Vegas boxer Layla McCarter a second time. The rematch took place at Pala Casino in Southern California in July 2004. The crowd at the casino and the audience watching on ESPN saw the two extremely talented prizefighters exhibit female boxing at its best. Back and forth they traded bombs, slipped blows, countered and changed strategy in a fight that would have made Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez proud. Both women fought no more than two feet away at all times and gave a seminar on high level female fighting. For many it still remains the pinnacle of female boxing.

Hallback and McCarter continue to be the two most skilled female boxers today.

Still, Hallback would trade all of her titles and accolades for one shot at being televised by HBO. Some dreams die hard.

“She (Cisneros) is a banger. If I have to I can bang too. Our two styles together is going to make for a great fight. I wish this fight would be on HBO you know,” Hallback says. “It should be an exciting fight.”

That’s what the Floridian likes: exciting fights.

In less than a year Hallback will be turning 40, but she still plans to continue her trek of fighting on a major network.

“For the first female to be on HBO it has to be exciting and to give the crowd a fight. Whoever comes to really show that they want to bang, that’s the fighter I want to fight,” says Hallback. “I know I can do it.”

But first, on Friday, Hallback fights Cisneros.

“I’m still striving for that goal of fighting on HBO,” she says.

Holm vs. Saccurato

In the main event IBA junior welterweight titleholder Holly Holm (28-1-3) fights punching machine Ann Saccurato (15-4-2, 6 KOs) in a 10-round match.

It’s a rematch. Holmwon their first encounter by unanimous decision in 2007.

Saccurato has not fought in more than a year and is anxious to step back in the ring.

Holm has not lost a fight since 2004.