"Latin Kings": Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Sergio Martinez

Stats
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Age: 26
Hometown: Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
Nickname: "Le Leyenda Continua" (The Legend Continues) , "El Hijo De La Leyenda" (The Son of the Legend)
Height: 6'0"
Reach: 73"
Stance: Orthodox
Record: 46-0-1 (32 knockouts)
Ranking: Number 3 ranked middleweight
Major Titles Held: WBC Middleweight (2012-Present)

Sergio Martinez
Age: 37
Hometown: Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Nickname: "Maravilla" (Miracle)
Height: 5'10"
Reach: 75"
Stance: Southpaw
Record: 49-2-2 (28 knockouts)
Ranking: Number 4 pound-for-pound, and number 1 ranked middleweight
Major Titles Held: WBC Middleweight Title (2010); WBO Middleweight Title (2010); The Ring Middleweight Title (2010-Present)
*Stats and rankings provided by BoxRec and The Ring

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (left) and Sergio Martinez (right)
before their Saturday night title fight.

  Depending on who you ask, this weekend holds a special place in many peoples hearts. To the Mexican community, this Sunday (September 16) marks their 201 year independence from Spanish rule, but to the boxing community at large, this weekend is about much more than independence. This Saturday, two of the middleweight divisions most talented champions are finally crossing paths, as Ring champion, Sergio Martinez, takes on the often criticized but talented, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. This match-up has been talked about ever since Martinez' two-round decimation of former champion, Paul Williams (39-1-0). For two years, Martinez has tried to lure the young champion into the ring, but the most recent instigations by Martinez came after the WBC stripped him of his title and instead awarded it to Chavez Jr. Luckily, the talk and hype is finally over as both are set to face off in a fight that many feel has potential to be a "Fight of the year" candidate. The question still remains however, will the young lion over power the older fighter and dominate the middleweight division? Or will the more experienced fighter overwhelm his young challenger, further solidifying his already Hall of Fame worthy career?

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. celebrate his KO victory over
then undefeated Andy Lee.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has been called many things throughout his career. Undisciplined, spoiled, and coddled are just a few that come to mind. There is one thing that Chavez Jr. does have going for him, and that is his determination to silence all of his detractors. Ever since he came into the sport, many professionals have questioned Chavez' bringing up in the sport. With zero amateur experience, many feel he was protected while coming up the ranks when he was often matched with fighters who offered little to no in-ring resistance. After years of criticism, Chavez has finally stepped up to the plate as he took on fights that, at least on paper, seemed like a real challenge. Chavez showed just how meaningless that "paper" really is, as he dismantled veteran, Marco Antonio Rubio (53-5-1) , and the always tough Andy Lee (28-1) in his last two outings. Chavez was finally able to do what he hadn't been able to earlier in his career, and that was finally silencing his critics. Chavez most surprising performance came against the aforementioned Andy Lee. In the early rounds of their 12-round fight, many saw Lee slowly building a points lead against the always confident Mexican. Things quickly changed towards the middle rounds however, as Chavez surged back and overwhelmed the previously undefeated Lee en-route to a knockout victory in the 7th round. This has been Chavez' most thrilling and telling performance to date, as many now feel he has matured into a fighter who is ready to take over the middleweight division. Going into Saturday's match against Martinez, the most notable advantage for Chavez is his size. Although he weighs in as a middleweight, he shows up about twenty to thirty pounds heavier by fight night. It's his size advantage that will be pivotal in his attempt to defeat the seemingly unstoppable Martinez. As the bigger man, Chavez will be able to bully the smaller man around the ring, while keeping him at bay with power shots and effective movement. Although Chavez seems to lack the one-punch knockouts power many desire, he makes up for it with his seemingly unending flurries of crippling body shots that were made famous by his legendary father. This fight will be no different from the others as far as his expected game plan. Only exception is that Chavez will have to be much more wary of keeping his chin out in the air, as Martinez has proved that all he needs is one punch to put his opponent down for the count. If Chavez is able to effectively work angles while intelligently defending and battering the body of an oncoming Martinez, expect Chavez Jr. to earn both a unanimous decision victory, as well as the respect he has longed for throughout his career.

Sergio Martinez (left) takes two rounds before landing the
finishing blow against the massive Paul Williams (right)

Sergio Martinez is one of the most unique cases in boxing today. As many know, Martinez is known as a "late-bloomer" to the sport due to the fact that he didn't begin boxing until he was 20. One would have never guessed based on his most recent string of dominant performances including names like Kelly Pavlik (36-1), Paul Williams, and Serhiy Dzinziruk (37-1-1). Martinez has quickly become the elite fighter of the middleweight division which seems to have acted as a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, many legitimately view Sergio Martinez as the number one fighter in his division, but because of that title, everyone seems to want to avoid him. This has forced Martinez and his camp to actively call out other fighters, most not even in the same weight class. Luckily, Chavez Jr. finally answered the call as audiences will finally learn who is the best middleweight in the world. Going into this fight with Chavez, Martinez will have to rely on his superior speed and power to take down the imposing Mexican. Although Martinez is the smaller man, he has the reach of a much larger one. This blend of attributes gives him the potential to be a massive problem for Chavez, as Chavez hasn't faced a fighter quite at the Martinez level. To win this fight Martinez just has to do what he does best which is mixing power shots, while still moving in and out of the pocket. If he does this while listening to his corners advice, expect Martinez to run away with a unanimous decision win.

Prediction

As both fighters answer the first bell, Martinez will come out the aggressor against the slow-starting Chavez Jr. Martinez main attack with be shots to the body, while winging the occasional power punch. Chavez will defend most of the shots as he then tries to answer with his own. Martinez will take the first round due to his aggression and general output, while Chavez is seemingly playing catch-up. This same routine will continue in the early rounds as Martinez continues to increase the power an overall out-put. As the middle rounds approach, Martinez has built a healthy lead but is beginning to breath heavily. Chavez now begins to get in the fight, as he now tries to push Martinez towards the ropes. As he backs Martinez up, he will continue throwing shots to the body while mixing in an uppercut. For every Chavez flurry however, Martinez answers with his own power shot as he closes the round with a flush power hook that will rattle the young champion. Chavez wins the round, but Martinez and his corner are encouraged by that final shot. As the 7th round opens, Chavez comes out a bit more tentative, but still trying to remain busy. Once again, Martinez catches Chavez Jr., forcing the champion to take a knee. As the ref gives Chavez an eight-count, he  rises and continues on with the fight. By this point, Martinez smells blood and he once against charges the weakened champion. Martinez will begin pounding away at the body and head of Chavez Jr. to the point at which the ref will have no choice but to stop the abuse.

This fight can play out in many different ways, but it's looking like the idea of Martinez as the victor is showing the most consistency.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (left) faces off with Sergio Martinez (right)
in their weigh-in before Saturday's fight.

Pick: Sergio Martinez def. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. via knockout (KO)

"Made in America" : Andre Ward vs. Chad Dawson

Stats
Andre Ward
Age: 28
Hometown: Oakland, California
Nickname: "S.O.G." (Son of God)
Height: 6'0"
Reach: 71"
Stance: Orthodox
Record: 25-0 (13 knockouts)
Ranking: Number 5 pound-for-pound, and number 1 ranked super middleweight
Titles Held: WBA Super World Super Middleweight (2009-Present); WBC Super Middleweight (2011-Present); The Ring Super Middleweight (2011-Present)

Chad Dawson
Age: 30
Hometown: New Haven, Connecticut
Nickname: "Bad"
Height: 6'1"
Reach: 76 1/2"
Stance: Southpaw
Record: 31-1 (17 knockouts)
Ranking: Number 10 pound-for-pound, and number 1 ranked light heavyweight
Titles Held: WBC Light Heavyweight (2007-2010); IBF Light Heavyweight (2009-Current); IBO Light Heavyweight (2008-2010); WBC Light Heavyweight (2012-Present)
*Stats and rankings provided by BoxRec and The Ring

Molina (far left), Ward (center left), Dawson (center right),
and Demarco (far right) pose before their Sep. 8th fights

As hard as it is to believe, there was a point in history in which boxing rivaled baseball as America's most popular sport. Whether it was played on television or over the radio, there was a certain atmosphere that made every fight seem like a real event. These of course were the days where boxers were more concerned about their legacy instead of their purse. One has to look no further than the records of boxers such as "Sugar" Ray Robinson (173-19-6) and Rocky Marciano (49-0) to highlight this point. Unfortunately, boxing today is more of a business than a sport. With promoters running virtually every aspect of the fight game, the fights people want to see are rarely put together as fighters are "protected" and discouraged from facing stiff competition. It is this trend which has virtually killed the sport of boxing in many peoples eyes. Luckily, September 8th will stand as a date of nostalgia to many boxing fans as it reminds one of the days when champions were constantly willing to test their skills against the best. Super Middleweight champion (168 lbs) Andre Ward and Light Heavyweight champion (175 lbs) Chad Dawson are willing to do just that in what many consider one of the most evenly matched and intriguing match-ups in recent memory. With the fight taking place at the Super Middleweight division only Ward's titles are at risk, but the winner of Saturday's match is poised to gain so much more than that. As great as the match-up may be, there are still some concerns going into Saturday's match. Will this be the "Fight of the Year" candidate that both fighters promised at the pre-fight press conference, or will this play out in a manner similar to the over-hyped "snooze fest" that was Bradley vs. Alexander? One would be right to have their reservations going into this fight, but by the end of this preview the answer should be clear.

Ward after winning the "Super Six World
Boxing Classic" against Carl Froch.

It's amazing just how much can change in three years. Pre-2009, one would be hard-pressed to find someone, professional or casual, who would recognize the name Andre Ward. A few knew him as the last American to win a gold medal in the Olympic games (2004), but others viewed him as a young fighter who was good, but still untested in the sport. This quickly changed after his decision to take part in Showtime's: "Super Six World Boxing Classic". After entering the tournament as a massive betting underdog, Ward would go on to win the tournament against a murderers row of boxers such as Mikkel Kessler (42-1), Sakio Bika (28-4-2), and Arthur Abraham (32-2). Ward's most recent fight was the tournament final against England's Carl Froch (28-1). His fight with Froch did more than just boost his marketability as a(n) dominant champion, but showed American fans just what kind of fighter Ward is. On top of being an incredibly technical boxer, Ward has shown to be one of the most intelligent and old school fighters inside the ring. By describing him as old school, one suggests that he tends to mix illegal shots with clean ones. Regardless of his tendency to foul opponents (headbutts, elbows, etc.) , Ward has yet to take part in a fight that he hasn't won both thoroughly and handily. Going into this fight with Chad Dawson however, Ward will have to showcase all the skills that got him to this point and then some. Against Dawson, Ward is not only facing a taller opponent, but one with a five and a half inch reach advantage. Ward will have to neutralize that reach by applying constant pressure against the bigger man, and fighting on the inside. By effectively mixing shots up between the head and the body, Ward will be able to slowly break down Dawson. He won't be stopping him, but with a smart game plan Ward can take a lopsided decision win.

Chad Dawson (right) batters Antonio Tarver (left) en-route
to a Unanimous Decision win.

Light Heavyweight champion Chad Dawson is one of those boxers who is an interesting a case as he he polarizing. At times in his career he seems like a future great, while other times he has seemed completely uninterested regardless of the fact that he's involved in a twelve round fight. One such instance of this occurring came in his technical decision loss to Jean Pascal (25-1). Many viewed him as the favorite going into that fight, but one would have never thought it after seeing his rather uninspired performance. Since that loss Dawson has tried to rediscover his style through different trainers, and has finally settled on John Scully. Through Scully, Dawson appears to have not only gone back to his roots as a "boxer-puncher" , but has effectively stoked the fire that made him a champion in the first place. Dawson's most recent performances further prove his new found dedication to the sport after earning a unanimous decision victory over Adrian Diaconu (27-2), and a majority decision over future hall-of-famer Bernard Hopkins (52-5-2) last April. Against Ward, Dawson will have to dig deep into his bag of tricks as he faces what could be the stiffest challenge of his already fairly decorated career. As was mentioned earlier, Dawson seems to have all the physical advantages on paper. Add in the fact that Dawson has great ring smarts, an effective jab, and solid foot work, one wouldn't be wrong to think that he has a chance of upsetting Ward. Dawson's main tools going into Saturday's match should be his jab and uppercut. With his telephone pole jab, Dawson could not only set Ward up for a power shot, but he can also keep the pressure fighter at bay. Dawson must also take a page out of Sakio Bika's book and try to land the uppercut both early and often. The Bika/Ward fight showed that with Ward's style of defense, he is very susceptible to an uppercut as he was hit with it throughout the grueling 12-round fight. If Dawson keeps Ward at range while throwing the uppercut, Dawson can run away with the decision, maybe even stopping the undefeated fighter in his hometown.

Prediction

As the first bell rings, both fighters will answer both tentatively as they try to get a sense of the others' style. It will be a slow round, with not much in the way of meaningful exchanges. Both will land some solid yet fairly ineffective shots, but Ward will be the busier of the two. With a close first round going to Ward, the second and third will begin to liven up slowly but surely. Dawson will being trying to set the range in an attempt to stop the pressuring Ward. Dawson will have his moments as he continues to land a crisp jab against the Oakland native, but Ward will continue coming forward as he attempts to counter the bigger man. As the fight approaches the middle rounds, Ward will look to overwhelm Dawson with body work and the occasional "accidental" head-butt while coming in. Dawson will remain relatively unfazed as he listens to his corner and continues mixing in jabs with power punches. As the fight continues, the scorecards just seem to get closer. Eventually, Dawson will catch Ward with a brutal uppercut late in the seventh, causing the super middleweight champion to cover up and move. Ward will make it to the next round after the close call, and will begin fighting much more careful in order to avoid getting caught with another bomb. Ward will continue attacking the body while covering up. As Ward comes in, Dawson will be seeing red and continue trying to land that uppercut after seeing how effective it seemed. Unfortunately, Ward will continue to stay busy as Dawson becomes too enamored with the idea of landing that one punch. Ward will continue earning rounds, while Dawson soon begins to realize that one punch just isn't gonna do it. As the championship rounds approach, the fight will look much more like the early to middle rounds. Both will come out boxing smart while trying to avoid the others strengths. The crowd will begin getting restless as the two approach the final round without much in the way of action. Unfortunately, the twelfth round will be nothing spectacular as Ward and Dawson continue in their attempts to neutralize the other in methods that are more tactical than brutish. The final bell will sound signaling the end of the fight. It won't be the most exciting, but it won't be due to lack of action. With both matching up so well on paper, expect a beautiful display of technical boxing, as both try to out-do the other in a human game of chess.

This is another one of those rare fights where one would be hard pressed to pick a decisive winner due to the different ways in which this fight can play out. The scores will reflect just how close this fight truly was, but expect the hometown hero to pull off a close and fairly controversial decision win.

Andre Ward (left) and Chad Dawson (right) after weighing
in for their September 8th title clash.

Pick: Andre Ward def. Chad Dawson by Majority Decision (MD)

Quick Picks
Antonio Demarco vs. John Molina Jr.

Look for Demarco to remain champion after September 8

In the co-main event of the night, newly crowned WBC Lightweight champion, Antonio Demarco, takes on challenger John Molina Jr. This is a solid fight between two young fighters and is a great way to precede Ward/Dawson match. Expect Molina to look good early as he lands solid shots on the very "hittable" Demarco, but as the fight wears on expect Demarco to turn this into the gritty brawl he thrives in. This fight isn't going past six as Demarco just has too much in the tank for the challenger, as he goes on to retain his title and continue climbing the lightweight ranks.

Pick: Antonio Demarco def. John Molina Jr. by knockout (KO)

Vitali Klitschko vs. Manuel Charr

Expect Klitschko to stay smiling all the way to
the bank with this one.

The broadcast will open with a tape-delay bout between one-half of the heavyweight kings, Vitali Klitschko, versus an absolute chump of a "contender" by the name of Manuel Charr. This fight won't be competitive, so this will be the most obvious and quickest of the picks. Klitschko by knockout.

Pick: Vitali Klitschko def. Manuel Charr by knockout (KO)

Fight Preview: Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley

Stats

Manny Pacquiao

Age: 33

Hometown: General Santos City, Phillipines

Nickname: "Pacman"

Height: 5'6 1/2"

Reach: 67"

Stance: Southpaw

Record: 54-3-2 (38 knockouts)

Ranking: Tied atop the pound-for-pound list with Floyd Mayweather; number 1 ranked welterweight

Titles Held: WBC Flyweight (1998-1999); IBF Junior Featherweight (2001-2003); The Ring Featherweight (2003); WBA Junior Lightweight (2008); WBC Lightweight (2008-2009); The Ring Junior Welterweight (2009); WBO Welterweight (2009-Present); WBC Junior Middleweight (2010)

Timothy Bradley

Age: 28

Hometown: Palm Springs, California

Nickname: "Desert Storm"

Height: 5'6"

Reach: 69"

Stance: Southpaw

Record: 28-0 (12 knockouts)

Ranking: Number 8 pound-for-pound and number 1 ranked junior welterweight

Titles Held: WBC Light Welterweight (2008-Present); WBO Light Welterweight (2009-Present)

*Stats and rankings provided by BoxRec and The Ring

Can these two pick up where Mayweather and Cotto left off?

Last month, boxing saw one of it's biggest stars, Floyd Mayweather, engage in a toe-to-war war with future Hall of Famer, Miguel Cotto. On June 9, Manny Pacquiao will try to make his own statement by taking on the undefeated junior welterweight champion, Timothy Bradley. Although some would be right to question the value of Bradley as a pay-per-view draw, none can question the skill set and potential problems he may pose for the Filipino star. Boxing pundits and aficionados alike have been intrigued by this match-up since the bout's announcement.  Could Timothy Bradley be the man to end Pacquiao's reign atop many pound-for-pound lists? How will Bradley's body react to fighting in a heaver weight class? Will Pacquiao look like an dominant force, or an aging one? These are some of the questions that have been asked, and rightfully so. There are so many possibilities with this fight that one can't help but be intrigued at the different "what if.." scenarios that could arise. It is this kind of uncertainty which has made the pre-fight build up for this pay-per-view something that couldn't have been said for Pacquiao's previous outings, and that is exciting. On paper, this match-up has the potential to be one of, if not the toughest, outing for both fighters. Come June 9, however, only one will walk away the victor in a fight that has potential to not only launch careers, but bury them as well.

Pacquiao will be looking to keep his belt
collection at eight following his fight
with TimothyBradley.

When one looks back on Manny Pacquiao's resume, there is absolutely no denying that he has consistently fought some of the best in boxing throughout his career. His in-ring endeavors are what have propelled him to main stream acceptance, and the acknowledgement from fans that he is an all-time great. Regardless of his god-like status in boxing, Pacquiao has quickly learned that there is no defeating Father Time. Pacquiao's last two fights came against aging veterans Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez, and in neither fight was he able to make the resounding statement so many expected. In his bout with Shane Mosley, Pacquiao was criticized for his inability to put away the virtually stagnant boxer within the full twelve rounds. To his benefit however, Pacquiao would go on to put up a much livelier performance against his rival, Juan Manuel Marquez, albeit a controversial one. With these fights now behind him, there is no doubt that Pacquiao is coming into his bout with Bradley with a chip on his shoulder. He and Roach know that in order to silence his critics Pacquiao has to not only defeat Bradley, but look dominant while doing it. To defeat Bradley, Pacquiao is going to have to not only fight smart, but fight aggressive. His (Pacquiao's) heavy pressure style of boxing has been shown to give opponents fits in the past, and it would be no different here. He needs to come at Bradley early, and not give Bradley any room to breathe, let alone recover. Bradley has already shown in the past that he can get hit, so with that in mind, Pacquiao must blitz him early in order to catch him and set a dominant pace should the fight go a full twelve rounds. If Pacquiao applies pressure effectively, while avoiding the counter attack of Bradley, expect him to earn a fairly one-sided and dominant win over the young champion.

Bradley wins his first title with a
stoppage victory over England's
Junior Witter.

Although you may no have heard of him, Timothy Bradley is one of the most talented and intelligent boxers in the game today. Many might question how deserving he may be of a big money fight like this one, but all one has to do is take an in-depth look at his record. Since making his professional debut in the junior welterweight division, Bradley has looked nothing short of unstoppable, owning wins over Junior Witter, Lamont Peterson, and Kendall Holt. Even more recently he defeated highly-touted prospect Devon Alexander, as well as veteran Joel Casamayor in two dominant showings. However, with every praise one hears for Bradley, a criticism follows. The criticism that has followed Bradley throughout his career is the fact that he often leads with his head. This habit has led to many of his fights ending or at least being affected by an accidental clash of heads. Due to the unintentional nature of the headbutts however, there is nothing an opponent can do but avoid them. Aside from his negative habits, Bradley has shown other traits that give him the potential of turning into something truly special in the welterweight division. Bradley has shown that he can take a hell of a punch, has cardio for days, and that he possesses the type of power that quickly turn the tide of a fight. To defeat a fighter like Pacquiao however, Bradley will have to be at his absolute mental and physical peak. He must use an effective jab to keep Pacquiao at bay, while intelligently moving and using angles to batter the Filipino phenom. Now that Bradley will be fighting as a full-fledged welterweight for the first time in his career, he must also be sure to pace himself throughout the fight. If he can pace himself, while effectively jabbing and countering the aging Filipino, expect Bradley to earn a dominant majority decision win.

Prediction

As both fighters answer the bell for the first round they will both come out tentative, throwing out the occasional pawing jab as they try to time their opponent. Bradley will immediately rush Pacquiao, but it will be the Filipino who is landing more shots. As the second round bell sounds, Bradley will once again come out strong against Pacquiao. He will try to push the Filipino to the ropes while trying to land a counter right hand and clinching. Both fighters will have been busy, but Pacquiao once again seems busier, although Bradley was the more aggressive. In the third and fourth rounds, Pacquiao will begin to hit his stride. He will keep Bradley at bay by throwing combinations to the head and body, all while avoiding a potential clash of heads from the notorious Bradley. Inevitably, Pacquiao will make contact with Bradley's brow and will now have to deal with a cut from this point forward. As the middle rounds approach, Bradley will finally have a feel for his new weight and begin turning up the pressure on Pacquiao. Similar to the early rounds, he will force the Filipino to the ropes while countering and effectively defending from any shots to the body. On the ropes, Bradley will instigate wild exchanges in which he will get the better of Pacquiao, causing the phenom to superstar to clinch and try to survive the round. With the seventh and eighth rounds approaching, Pacquiao will be fairly fatigued while Bradley is still undeterred. Regardless of his current state, Pacquiao will begin finding success as he once again throws combinations to the head and body of Bradley. Eventually, Pacquiao will catch Bradley with a left jab, right hook combo that will wobble Bradley, but before Pacquiao can capitalize, the bell rings, signaling both fighters to return to their corners. As the championship rounds approach, both fighters will be fatigued, with Pacquiao being in far worse shape than Bradley. As he is reminded of his opportunity, Bradley will opt to make the most of it and once again blitz Pacquiao. Bradley will force Pacquiao against the ropes will he will hurt the champion with wild punches in an attempt to steal not only the final rounds, but the fight as well. The final bell rings, signaling the end of a fairly close fight.

This fight is so close on paper that it is almost impossible to pick a winner. You're best option is to flip a coin. It'll be a close one, but I feel an upset coming.

Pacquiao (Left) and Bradley (Right) face off after weighing in.

Pick: Timothy Bradley def. Manny Pacquiao by Unanimous Decision (UD)

Devon Alexander vs. Marcos Maidana

Stats
Devon Alexander
Age: 25
Hometown: Saint Louis, Missouri
Nickname: Alexander the Great
Height: 5'8"
Reach: 70"
Stance: Southpaw
Record: 22-1 (13 knockouts)
Ranking: unranked
Titles Held: WBC Light Welterweight (2009-2011); IBF Light Welterweight (2010-2011)


Marcos Maidana
Age: 29
Hometown: Margarita, Santa Fe, Argentina
Nickname: El Chino
Height: 5'9"
Reach: 70"
Stance: Orthodox
Record: 31-2 (28 knockouts)
Ranking: unranked
Titles Held: WBA Light Welterweight (2011-current)
*All stats are provided by BoxRec

(In order, left-to-right) Broner, Alexander, Maidana, and Perez
pose before their respective fights.

It's been a while, but HBO is finally back with a double-header featuring two young boxers whoa re hoping to make a splash in the boxing game. The co-main event of the evening pits the young, cocky, and talented Adrien Broner against the crafty and always game, Eloy Perez. Although many feel that this should be the night's main event, it was instead given to Devon Alexander and Marcos Maidana. With both Alexander and Maidana remaining respectful to one another throughout preparations for the fight, many feel the tension between the Broner and Perez camps warrants the extra promotional push. Don't be fooled though. Just because tonight's main-event fighters have remained light on the pre-fight hype, doesn't mean their fight will be light on the action. With Maidana's mix of sheer agression and experience, and Alexander's use of speed and combos, many feel this match-up is an early candidate for fight of the year.

Alexander is hoping to silence his critics
with a victory of Maidana.

Just a couple of years ago, many thought Devon Alexander was going to an absolute force in the junior welterweight division. At the time his biggest statement was his stoppage victory against the granite-chinned, Juan Urango (22-3-1). His hype quickly began to fade however, as soon as Andriy Kotelnyk (31-3-1) made him look very "human". Luckily for Alexander, he earned the controversial decision, and put himself in position for a fight against junior welterweight kingpin, Timothy Bradley (26-0). As competitive as this match-up was hyped up to be, it was quickly obvious just how blatant the skill difference was as soon as the fight started. Alexander was being thoroughly out-boxed by Bradley, but was the victim of an inadvertent head-butt. This forced a stop to the fight, but the gap in skill between the two fighters had shown in the judges score card. Instead of focusing on his debilitating loss, Alexander went on to fight the always tough, Lucas Matthysse (28-1). Although Alexander certainly had a better showing in this fight than in his bout with Bradley, but once again it came with controversy. Against Matthysse, many people felt that Alexander was soundly beaten due to Matthysse superior movement and aggression. Once again, Alexander found himself the winner after earning a controversial decision. This led many people to cry foul, and believe that Alexander was earning "home-cooked" decisions in his hometown. Coming into this weekends fight with Alexander, Alexander is not only walking in heavier (now a welterweight), but with a heavy chip on his soldier. He'll be looking to prove that those wins weren't a fluke, and silence his critics. The only he can do this, is by decisively beating or stopping Maidana. It is no secret that Maidana's biggest asset is his devastating punching power. To avoid getting caught, Alexander is gonna have to constantly stay off the ropes, while mixing it up against the Argentinian brawler. His best bet would be to take a page out of Amir Khan's book from his fight with Maidana. This involves intelligently moving in and out of Maidana's punching range, while mixing it up with alternating shots to the head and body. This chopping attack will exhaust Maidana, and even began to sap the energy of his punches. If he boxes smart, Alexander could win this by mid-to-late round stoppage and start making waves in the welterweight division.

Maidana (right) pounces on a hurt Amir Khan (left)
before losing a unanimous decision.

Marcos Maidana has been described as one-dimensional, reckless, and just shy of greatness, but you will never hear anyone say that he is boring. Anytime that Maidana fights, people acknowledge the chance that he might put on another Fight of the Year performance. For proof of this, one has to looks no farther than his barn burner of a fight against Victor Ortiz (24-1-1). Since then, Maidana has taken on a role of a gate keeper with promoters. They use him as a kind of measuring stick, to test just how deep their fighter is able to dig in order to beat the relentless Maidana. One such example of this occurring, was in his match-up with Amir Khan (23-2-0). Khan and his promoters were hoping to make a statement that he didn't have a "glass jaw" with a victory over the powerful puncher. Sure enough, Khan was able to earn the decision after out-boxing the Argentinian, but this didn't come easily. In the tenth, Khan was nailed with a vicious Maidana hook which had him badly wobbled. This shows just how great a threat Maidana is regardless of how early or late it is in the fight. Since the loss, Maidana has earned wins in an exciting match against Erik Morales (51-6), and a dominant win in a tune-up against Petr Petrov (29-2-2). Coming into his fight with Alexander, there is no denying that Maidana has the experience as far as handling the extra weight in the welterweight division. He has also shown that his power can carry on through to a higher weight-division, which has yet to be seen with Alexander. As predictable as it may be, Maidana can win this fight only if he turns it into the type of brawl he loves most. He will have to assault Alexander both early and often, and try to push him against the ropes as many times as possible. As soon as Maidana gets Alexander on the ropes, he must unleash his trademark power punches in hopes to finish the young Alexander. Maidana must finish Alexander in order to avoid the "home cooking" decisions that both Kotelnyk and Matthysse had fallen victims to. If he can pushing the pace, and applying his pressure, expect Maidana to finish Alexander and hand him the second loss of his young career.

Prediction
At the start of the first round, both fighters will come out tentative as they try to gain a feel for each other's reach and speed. Alexander will start showing his superior speed by landing crisp jabs to Maidana's head and body. Maidana will answer back, but will only be landing two or three reaching hooks. In the second and third rounds that follow, Alexander will feel as if he finally timed the Argentinian. He will circle Maidana, cleverly mixing it up, until Maidana gives Alexander his first taste of just the kind of power that he possesses. Alexander will have been wobbled for a second, as Maidana pounces on his injured foe. Before he can finish the job, the bell will ring, allowing Alexander to recover. In the mid-rounds, Alexander will be much more tentative, hoping to avoid another chin-check by Maidana. Maidana will have finally set his pace, and will begin stalking Alexander. As he Argentinian begins throwing power shots, Alexander will again try to avoid getting caught on the ropes. Maidana will continue stalking Alexander, throwing punches punches to both the head and body. At this point, the fight will be relatively close on the score cards on account that both are effectively boxing. As the fight approaches the later rounds, Alexander will come out knowing that the fight is close. He will continue his game plan of effective movement while mixing it up, all while avoiding the stalking Argentinian. Alexander will eventually land a crisp shot to the body of Maidana, and after noticing the effect, Alexander will turn up the pace in hopes for a stoppage. As he comes in, Maidana will once again catch the young American coming in and once again test his chin. Before anything can happen however, the bell once again rings. In the championship rounds, both fighters will be having to dig deep. Alexander will continue his usual strategy, as Maidana tries to control the final rounds. Maidana will try to trap Alexander against the corners of the ring, while throwing a barrage of heavy-handed punches. Alexander will avoid getting trapped for the most part, but he will certainly face a scare at the end of the eleventh. In the final round both fighters will come out knowing that the fight is close. At the start, Alexander will be in control and he begins applying pressure on Maidana. As the round reaches it's final minute, Maidana will come in throwing wild punches in hopes to secure the final round, and the fight in his favor. The end will finally come, and as expected it will be another close decision. Expect Alexander to win a split-decision based on effective footwork and crisp technique, while just adding duel to the idea that he is indeed the recipient of biased hometown judging.

Alexander (left) and Maidana (right) weigh-in before their
Saturday night clash.

Pick: Devon Alexander def. Marcos Maidana by controversial Split Decision (SD)

Quick Picks
Adrien Broner vs. Eloy Perez

The always cocky, Adrien Broner, is
hoping to climb the ranks with a
win over Eloy Perez.

There is absolutely no doubt that this could be the fight of the night. Between the constant trash-talking by Broner, and the fact that the two teams camps have almost come to a complete brawl at multiple points, further adds to the idea that this match-up won't disappoint. Both fighters are top ten junior lightweights, with the opportunity to further increase their notoriety in the boxing world with a good performance on Saturday night. As far as exposure goes, there is no denying that Adrien Broner is the one with the more recognizable name. With his cocky attitude, and Mayweather-esque pre-and-post fight rituals, he is on his way make himself a super star. This fight certainly won't be easy for either fighter as they both hold the skills necessary to stop the other, but Broner seems to be the safer pick on account of his punching power and overall skill set. Look for him to earn an exciting unanimous decision win against Perez.

Pick: Adrien Broner def. Eloy Perez by Unanimous Decision (UD)

The Super Six World Boxing Classic Final: Andre Ward vs Carl Froch

Stats
Andre Ward
Age: 27
Hometown: Oakland, California
Nickname: S.O.G. (Son of God)
Height: 6'1"
Reach: 73"
Stance: Orthodox
Record: 24-0 (13 knockouts)
Ranking: No. 1 super middleweight; No. 9 pound for pound
Titles Held: WBA Super Middleweight (2009-present)


Carl Froch
Age: 34
Hometown: Nottingham, England
Nickname: The Cobra
Height: 6'1"
Reach: 74 1/2"
Stance: Orthodox
Record: 28-1 (20 knockouts)
Ranking: No. 2 super middleweight
Titles Held: WBC Super Middleweight (2010-present)
*Rankings from The Ring Magazine

Not only are the fighters' titles at stakes, but so is the
tournament trophy, as well as The Ring super middleweight
title

Two years ago, Ken Hershman proposed the idea of holding a boxing tournament that would bring together the best fighters in a weight class, and have them fight each other until a clear champion was crowned. Many were intrigued by the idea, and the speculation grew as to which weight-class would be chosen for this inaugural tournament. Boxing writers and analysts pondered as to which weight-class would be selected, with the welterweights and lightweights being the clear favorites. These ideas were quickly shot down as soon as Hershman revealed that this tournament would take place in the super middleweight division. Hershman's decision was quickly questioned by the media and amateur pundit's alike, as they argued about the drawing power of the seemingly barren super middleweight division. Two years after the start of the tournament however, one could hardly question Hershman's vision. Since the start of the tournament, viewers have been treated to some of the best fights ever put on by the division, while also dealing with constant injuries that plagued the initial entrants of the tournament. After two years of drama and excitement, two fighters have emerged from the tournament as they come to face off in the Super Six Final. The winner of this fight not only wins the tournament trophy, but also earns the accolades and recognition as being the best super middleweight in the world.

Andre Ward (right) earns the upset over Mikkel
Kessler (left) en-route to earning his first major title.

Andre Ward came into this tournament as one of the initial entrants, and also as a relative unknown. Although he was an Olympic gold-medalist, he never gained much exposure with the networks due to his technical and calculating style. This quickly changed after he chose to compete in the world tournament. His first fight came in November of 2009, against the tournament favorite and always tough, Mikkel Kessler (44-2). In their encounter, Ward was able to quickly overwhelm the Swede with his technical style and superior movement, eventually leading to a technical decision win for the young Californian. At first, skeptics were quick to point out that Ward would often lead in with his head, causing a seemingly constant clash of heads that could lead to cuts and other potential fight stopping injuries. Ward quickly silenced his remaining critics with dominating wins over Allan Green (31-3), Sakio Bika (28-4-2), and Arthur Abraham (32-3). With quality wins under his belt, Ward became the favorite to win the tournament and seems on his way to become the next American star. Before any of this can occur, Ward must quickly get past England's own, Carl Froch. In Froch, Ward finds his toughest opponent yet. In order to beat the Brit, he must not only stay mentally tough, but also prepare for the constant pressure that Froch applies in his fights. In previous outings, Ward was the first to come out and set the pace for the fight, but this will quickly change as Froch is always eager to meet his opponent in the middle of the ring. Ward must rely on his superior technique and his corner's instructions in order to get past the rangy Englishman. Ward's best method of victory would be to come at Froch and immediately make this an inside fight as he alternates between attacks to the head and body. This will effectively nullify Froch's reach advantage, while also forcing him to fight off of his heels in order to avoid any unnecessary exchanges. If Ward is able to pace himself while constantly applying this game plan, expect him to earn a unanimous decision victory over a very game Froch.

Carl Froch (right) tags Jermain Taylor (left)
before knocking out the veteran late in
the 12th.

Carl Froch has quickly established himself as one of England's premier fighters with his crowd-pleasing style and overall toughness. Before entering the tournament, Froch was already well-known among boxing fans with his thrilling come-from-behind KO victory over Jermain Taylor (28-2-1). Upon entering the tournament, Froch was already viewed as a favorite, second only to Mikkel Kessler (44-2). His first tournament fight came against Andre Dirrell (18-1), in a fight where Froch earned a hotly debated split decision win over the young American. Froch then went on to face Mikkel Kessler in a fight that many deemed the fight of the year in 2010. Both fighters showcased glimpses of greatness as they stood toe-to-to and traded blows throughout the ring. After a hard fought twelve rounds, Kessler took the unanimous decision as Froch was handed the first loss in his career. Froch went on to fight the hard-hitting Arthur Abraham (32-3), as both were looking to rebound off of their first career losses. Surprisingly, the fight turned out to be a one sided affair, with Froch taking over from the opening bell. Froch went on to earn a lopsided decision win, while earning the very belt that he had previously lost to Kessler. In his semi-final fight, Froch defeated a shop-worn Glen Johnson (51-14-2) to earn himself a spot against Andre Ward in the tournament finals. As the fight approaches, it appears as if Froch has been largely written off as any kind of a challenge to the man whom many think will be the next super star. This is foolish considering Froch's tendency to overcome seemingly hopeless adversity. One will have to look no further than his fight with Jermain Taylor to see this. No matter how many rounds Froch may be losing, he will always be dangerous on account of his capability to end a fight regardless of how late it may be. With his "unorthodox" boxing style and reach advantage, Froch is a difficult match-up for anyone in the division. Against Ward, he must resort to both the previously mentioned attributes in order to win his tournament match-up against the hungry champion. Should Froch quickly establish range, while avoiding an invitation to brawl, expect him to frustrate the young American. Along with his jab, Froch must resort to his foot work not only to avoid any oncoming punches, but to avoid the head of Ward from crashing into his. If Froch fights a smart fight, while constantly circling and jabbing Ward, expect him to earn a split decision win.

Prediction
As the first bell rings, both fighters will waste no time in quickly trying to establish their pace. Both will meet in the center of the ring as they alternate combos from the head to the body of their opponent. Although both will have success, Ward will get the better of the exchanges due to his superior technique and movement. The round will end, with the next two following a similar pattern as the first. The two fighters will continue to try and push their opponent around the ring while unleashing furious combos with intentions to stop their opponent early. Towards the end of the third, Froch will have Ward on the ropes as he unleashes his own volley of punches. Up to the fifth, both fighters will have traded brilliant exchanges in a fight that will be seen as even up to this point. In the sixth, Ward will come out over-eager and quickly cause a clash of heads. This will be ignored by the referee and just gives Froch more reason to beat the American into submission. Froch will ignore the cut caused by the butt, and will continue in his attempts to overwhelm Ward. In the seventh and eighth rounds, both fighters will begin to show signs of exhaustion as they continue their attempts to gain a lead on their opponent. Through the ninth, the fight will stay relatively even on the cards as both fighter's corners stress to go for the finish. Towards the end of the ninth, Ward will turn up the pace by hitting Froch with a flurry of punches that will be mostly blocked by the Englishman, but will be enough to steal the round in the judges eyes. Froch's corner will begin giving the Brit the idea that he is losing the fight, causing him to come forward and impose his will on Ward. He will have Ward circling the ring until he eventually forces the American against the ropes once again. Froch will begin attacking the body, hoping to cripple the American, but Ward will survive until the bell. The fight is once again even as both fighters come out for the championship rounds. For the next two rounds, both fighters will both flash excellence as they dig deep and try to stop their constantly charging opponent. At the last minute of the fight, Froch will try to steal the round by immediately unleashing a ferocious attack against Ward. This could be enough to steal the round for Froch, but it might not be. The judges will have one hell of a time trying to score this fight as it seems fairly even on all of their score cards. Instead of ruling the fight a draw, expect the judges to score many of the close rounds for  Ward in what will be viewed as a case of "home-cooking" (awarding close or even rounds to the local or home-town fighter) for the American. Froch will immediately question the decision, and rightly so. He will challenge Ward to an immediate rematch that will eventually be mandated by the major sanctioning bodies of the seemingly useless belts. Regardless of the outcomes, expect both fighters' stock to significantly increase after this tournament, as they both prepare for another confrontation should they agree to a rematch in the near future.

Carl Froch (left) and Andre Ward (right) in their final face-off
before their tournament final bout.

Pick: Andre Ward def. Carl Froch via controversial and hotly contested Split Decision (SD)

Lamont Peterson vs. Amir Khan

Stats
Lamont Peterson
Age: 27
Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
Nickname: "Havoc"
Height: 5'9"
Reach: 74"
Stance: Orthodox
Record: 29-1-1 (15 knockouts)
Ranking: No. 6 junior welterweight
Titles Held: None


Amir Khan
Age: 25
Hometown: Bolton, England
Nickname: "King Khan"
Height: 5'10"
Reach: 71"
Stance: Orthodox
Record: 26-1 (18 knockouts)
Ranking: No. 1 junior welterweight
Titles Held: WBA Junior Welterweight (2009-current); IBF Junior Welterweight (2011-current)
*Rankings from The Ring Magazine

Champion Amir Khan (right) poses with challenger Lamont
Peterson (left) before their Dec. 10 fight.

Aside from final exams, this weekend also signals the return of Amir Khan, as he hopes to further silence his critics by overcoming his toughest test in Lamont Peterson. It's no secret that out of the two fighters Khan is the more recognizable, but Peterson is hoping to use that as a platform to infamy should he defeat the young Brit. Although this isn't the "super-fight" of the division everyone hoped for between Khan and Timothy Bradley (28-0), this is still a solid match-up between two ranked fighters who are on their way to the "big fights" should they defeat their opponent this weekend. As far as drama goes this fight seems to have it all. Khan continually talks about his inevitable move up in weight, as well as trying to entice a fight with boxing's bad boy, Floyd Mayweather (42-0). At this point, it seems Khan is worried more about his potential match-ups instead of the current task at hand. If he is smart, he will not overlook Peterson come December 10. Although Peterson hasn't gotten as much of a promotional push as Khan, there is no denying that he has the potential to make this an extremely hard fight for the Englishman. What Peterson lacks in power, he makes up for in rugged determination and pure heart as he always looks to overwhelm opponents with his seemingly relentless pace. This fight can go so many ways, but one thing is certain, both fighters will come into this fight hungry and determined as they try to silence their opponent as well as their critics.

Amir Khan (left) batters an aging Zab Judah (right)
en-route to earning a stoppage victory.

Olympic gold-medalist, Amir Khan has already had an interesting, albeit young professional boxing career. Upon entering professional boxing, Khan was touted as England's next great boxer, but these hopes were quickly dashed after Khan was stopped by Breidis Prescott (24-4) a minute into their lightweight clash. Since then, Khan has gone undefeated as well as moved up in weight. Unfortunately, it will take far more than an undefeated streak to erase the memory of his fight with Prescott. This is the reason why Khan goes into every fight with a massive ship on his shoulder, hoping to finish his opponents in such a manner that people will have no choice but to praise his performance. In his last two outings, Khan has looked nothing short of dominant as he stopped both Paul McCloskey (23-1) and Zab Judah (41-7) within 6 rounds. Going into this fight with Peterson, Khan must carry the same level of confidence as he did when he fought Judah and McCloskey. Should Khan successfully do this, he will be able to withstand Peterson's heavy pressure style of boxing. Once he finds himself mentally sound as the fight begins, Khan will have to resort to superior technique and his speed advantage to outbox and perhaps stop the tough Peterson. To win the fight Khan must box smart bell-to-bell, and not get into any unnecessary exchanges as he did against Marcos Maidana (31-2). Should he stick to his game plan and rely on his superior technique and speed, Khan will earn a dominant decision win over the tough Washington boxer.

Lamont Peterson (left) overcomes adversity to earn
a hard-fought "Draw" against Victor Ortiz (right)

When a person hears the name Lamont Peterson, they seem to either have a confused look or they think of his younger brother and lightweight standout, Anthony Peterson (30-1) . Once one goes back to this competitive fights against Timothy Bradley (28-0) and Victor Ortiz (29-3), they immediately remember Lamont as the fighter who makes it impossible to ever look good against. Regardless of his seemingly constant underdog status in his fights, one has to respect his sheer determination as well as his fearlessness in how he is always willing to challenge the best fighters in his division. Even if Lamont is lacking in power and overall technique, he more than makes up for it in his toughness and never quit attitude. A perfect example of this came against Victor Ortiz (29-3). Ortiz floored Peterson early, in a fight that was then looking as if it was going to be a slaughter. Instead of sitting out the count, Peterson rallied back from adversity in which he was able to escape the fight with a draw against "Vicious" Victor. Coming into his fight with Khan, it is no surprise that Lamont finds himself as the underdog yet again. Regardless of what the betting lines say however, this fight has potential to be much more competitive than they suggest. With his superior reach, Peterson can frustrate Khan by establishing his range as well as by constantly coming forward. Should Peterson stalk Khan throughout the fight, there is no doubt that he will frustrate the young fighter, even stealing some rounds. If Peterson listens to his corner and defend effectively, he will come away with a split decision victory over the champion, as well as finally reach the level of recognition he so desires.

Prediction
As the first bell rings signaling the start of the fight expect both fighters to come out tentative. The first minute will see both fighters trying to get a feel for each other, while also prevent the other from setting the pace. As the round continues, Khan will begin throwing combos as well as mixing in body shots. Peterson will try to steal the round back by landing a few ineffective jabs, but the bell will sound before he can do much more. As the fight continues to rounds 2 and 3, Peterson will try to smother Khan as the Englishman tries to circle away and set up his punches. As Peterson comes forward, Khan will counter punch the Washington native as he lunges in with his punches. Peterson will begin to get frustrated, but sticks to his normal game plan of applying pressure, while having an answer for every one of Khan's shots. Towards rounds 5 through 7, Khan will have a comfortable lead as he weaves in and out of the pocket effectively landing body shots on Peterson. Before the end of the seventh, Khan will dig a left hook into the side of Peterson, forcing him to take a knee. Peterson immediately answers the refs call, and then goes to his corner for the next round. By rounds 8 through 11, Peterson will know that he is losing the fight on points and is looking to stop Khan. He will come in lunging with every shot, which allows Khan to effectively counter-punch the tough boxer. This will cause fits with Peterson and his corner, and by the twelfth he knows that he must score a knockout. As both fighters answer the final bell Khan is on cruise control, while Peterson is doing everything he can to knock the Brit out.   As Peterson comes charging forward, Khan will continue circling his opponent while landing a few combinations. The cycle continues as the final bell rings, and the two await the results. After a hard-fought twelve rounds, Amir Khan will win the fight by a wide margin on points. Expect Khan to announce his official move to welterweight, as well as his intentions to try and entice a fight between himself and Floyd Mayweather.

Khan (left) and Peterson (right) weigh in before their
Dec. 10 title clash.

Pick: Amir Khan def. Lamont Peterson via Unanimous Decision (UD)

Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez III

Stats

Manny Pacquiao

Age: 33

Hometown: General Santos City, Philippines

Nickname: "Pacman"

Height: 5'6 1/2"

Reach: 67"

Stance: Southpaw

Record: 53-3-2 (38 knockouts)

Ranking: Current pound-for-pound king and number 1 ranked welterweight

Titles Held: WBC Flyweight (1998-1999); IBF Junior-Featherweight (2001-2003); The Ring Featherweight (2003); WBA Junior Lightweight (2008); WBC Lightweight (2009-2009); The Ring Junior Welterweight (2009); WBO Welterweight (2009-Present); WBC Junior Middleweight (2010)

Juan Manuel Marquez

Age: 38

Hometown: Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Nickname: "Dinamita"

Height: 5'7"

Reach: 67"

Stance: Orthodox

Record: 53-5-1 (39 knockouts)

Ranking: Number one lightweight

Titles Held: IBF Featherweight Title (2002-2004); WBA Featherweight Title (2003-2004); WBC Super Featherweight (2007-2008); The Ring Lightweight (2008-present); WBA Lightweight (2009-present); WBO Lightweight (2009-present)

*Rankings from The Ring Magazine

Marquez (Left) and Pacquiao (Right) both feel they earned
the victory after their first contest.

On November 12, long-time rivals Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez face-off for the third time with both hoping to put an epic end to this legendary trilogy. Although both fighters are older and heavier since they last met, many still feel that they are the perfect rivals. The first two fights between the two boxers have been a thing of debate. In their first match, Pacquiao and Marquez battled a hard twelve rounds only to have the judges score the fight a draw. Even though the fight was a draw many in the boxing community felt that Marquez was robbed of a victory. To no ones surprise, the fighters' paths crossed yet again in 2008. The fight seemed to start right where the previous one had left off. Both exchanged brutal combos hoping to erase the memory of their first meeting. Marquez seemingly got the better of Pacquiao in the exchanges, but Pacquiao was eventually able to floor Marquez mid-way through the fight. Marquez seemed unaffected and continued fighting, but the knockdown was enough to sway the judges. Pacquiao won via split-decision in a fight that was determined by a one point difference. After this fight it seemed both fighter's careers took different paths. Pacquiao became the international icon that he is today, while Marquez was left to watch as his rival began living the life of a god. Marquez still seems bitter about this, often saying that he would be where Pacquiao is today if he would have been awarded the victory in the first two fights. Unfortunately, Marquez will never be able to change the results, but he will have a chance to finally prove to everyone who the better fighter truly is. Both Pacquiao and Marquez are coming into this fight more motivated than ever, knowing that this has potential to be another brawl similar to the first two. It's exactly this thought which has both fighters determined to score a stoppage while also erasing any doubt about the legitimacy of the first two matches.

Pacquiao (right) is sent to a neutral corner after starching
Ricky Hatton (left) with a vicious right hook.

As one would expect Pacquiao is a strong favorite leading into Saturday's fight with Marquez. As of late, Pacquiao has seemed nothing short of unstoppable in the way he has been able to seemingly handle his opponents from bell-to-bell. He is coming off of a one-sided decision over an over-the-hill Shane Mosley (46-7-1), and another unanimous decision against Antonio Margarito (38-7). What has led to all of Pacquiao's success is the fact that he is able to move in between weight classes while still managing to keep his speed and power. It's this, along with his southpaw stance, which frustrates opponents to no end, forcing them to abandon strategy as they try to keep up and win a round. The best example of this could be found in his win over Shane Mosley. Pacquiao was running circles around Mosley all night, and all Mosley could hope to do was keep up. Some are right to question the quality of Pacquiao's recent opposition, but it seems Pacquiao is more than content to continue this trend as long as people continue buying his fights. The difference with his upcoming fight against Marquez however is the fact that these two have so much history in the ring. It's this fact alone which seems to be selling the fights to most viewers as they are intrigued about the possibilities that Marquez may really have Pacquiao's "number". For Pacquiao to win this fight he is going to have to ignore these claims. It's no secret that Marquez' strategy will be to constantly apply pressure to Pacquiao, so Pacquiao will have to resort to his quick counter-punching as well as his foot-work in order to effectively out-box a fighter like Marquez. If Pacquiao is able to weather the early onslaught while picking his spots and moving effectively he should be able to make quick work of Marquez while further adding to his legacy.

Marquez (left) batters Pacquiao (right) with counter-punches
in their second fight.

There is no denying the fact that Juan Manuel Marquez is one of the greatest all-action fighters, while also being an eventual Hall of Famer. For now however, he is identified as being the face of Mexican boxing right after the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez. There is no ignoring the fact that Marquez is an older fighter, but somehow he has managed to stay relevant in the sport while also remaining dominant in the lighter weight classes. Marquez is able to manage this feat by incorporating a counter-punch heavy game-plan into his all-action style of fighting. This style allows Marquez to be a fan-favorite, while also boxing smart. Even though Marquez is able to counter-punch effectively there is no denying the fact that he has the tendency to get touched up. In some of his recent fights Marquez has been knocked down or even rocked against lesser competition, yet he has been able to come back and stop his opponents. It is this kind of amazing recovery that allows Marquez to stay in a fight regardless of how many times he was knocked down. One of the best examples was during his first fight with Pacquiao. In the first round Marquez was knocked down three times, yet he managed to recover and come back stronger than ever in the following rounds. Even if Marquez has one of the best chins in boxing, he can't resort to that alone if he plans on beating Pacquiao, come Saturday night. Marquez will have to instigate a brawl with Pacquiao from the opening-bell in the hopes that he can begin counter-punching Pacquiao effectively. If he can set this pace while effectively countering Pacquiao's coming shots there is no doubt that Marquez can convincingly defeat Pacquiao, even stopping him.

Prediction

As the opening bell signals the start of the round both fighters will come out quickly hoping to catch their opponent early. Both will depend on quick combos with Marquez having some early success. Towards the end of the round Pacquiao will unleash his own flurry, catching Marquez by the end of the round. At the start of the second, Marquez will apply pressure hoping to set up his own counter-punches. He will start having some early success, catching Pacquiao as he moves backwards. The two will continue throwing punches as the bell signals the end of the second. As the third round beings, Marquez will look to apply his same strategy as the previous round. Marquez will once again try to overwhelm Pacquiao, but as he lunges in Marquez will get hit by a Pacquiao right-hook. Marquez will taste the canvas, but will immediately rise. The two will continue trading, but Marquez begins getting over-anxious. As the round is about to close Pacquiao will once again rock Marquez badly, but is forced to stop the onslaught due to the signal that the round has ended. As both fighters come out for the fourth, Pacquiao has found his groove as Marquez continues to implement his game plan. The fighters both come out swinging with Pacquiao getting the better of these exchanges. After a brief pause, Marquez will begin looking for the knockout. As he tries to throw a hard right hook, Pacquiao will counter him and land his own left cross. Marquez will once again go down, but will beat the ref's count. The fighters come to the center of the ring as Marquez tries to recover from the last knock-down, but he will he wobbled again by Pacquiao's lunging left straight. As Marquez tries to survive the round he will find himself trapped on the ropes as Pacquiao releases a furious flurry of punches. After a few seconds the ref has no choice but to step in, and call a stop to the fight. Pacquiao is awarded a stoppage victory, as well as a highly-anticipated match-up against former pound-for-pound kingpin Floyd Mayweather on May 5.

Pacquiao (143lbs.) and Marquez (142 lbs.) pose for media after weighing
in for their November 12 scrap.

Pick: Manny Pacquiao def. Juan Manuel Marquez via mid-rounds stoppage (KO)

Quick Picks

Timothy Bradley vs. Joel Casamayor

Timothy Bradley poses as he weighs
in for his fight against Casamayor

In the co-main event, junior-welterweight champion Timothy Bradley will defend his belt against one-time Cuban standout Joel Casamayor. This fight is mostly a showcase fight for Bradley considering that Casamayor is coming into this fight over-weight and over-the-hill. Bradley will control the fight from bell-to-bell with Casamayor offering nothing, but a head to punch. As the fight drags on Bradley may eventually begin to get tired, but Casamayor will still not have much to offer to the young champion. Bradley will come out with a Unanimous Decision win, as well as a chance to challenge Amir Khan for junior-welterweight supremacy.

Pick: Timothy Bradley def. Joel Casamayor via Unanimous Decision