Bob Arum's Last Laugh... The After Action Report.

Terence Crawford established himself as one of boxing's new main men at the expense of Yuriorkis Gamboa, but did Crawford deal a critical blow to 50 Cent's ill-fated boxing adventure? The shadow war between Oscar De la Hoya and Al Haymon begins to show itself with some legitimately awful fights coming up, but who'll be left standing once the dust clears? Can somebody tell me why anybody would watch Timothy Bradley vs. Miguel Cotto at any weight above 147? All this and more on your After Action Report!

Maybe He Should Have Fought Rios? Crawford KOs Gamboa in Wild War.

Two years ago Yuriorkis Gamboa walked out on a fight with then Lightweight champion Brandon Rios and promoter Top Rank, opting to take a gamble with fledgling promoter Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson. Gamboa hoped that the partnership with the rap mogul would take him to new heights, but instead he found himself in a tailspin which ultimately cumulated in his knockout loss to Terence Crawford last weekend.

The loss to Crawford came in a stunning fight, but a fight that Gamboa was never really going to win anyway. Being smaller and shorter than his foe was one thing, but Gamboa couldn't possibly have been prepared for what Crawford was bringing into the ring. Under Jackson, Gamboa had only fought twice in two years and was competing in a division where he ceded any possible advantages he had outside of experience. 

Gamboa's fast start came to a screeching halt in the fifth when Crawford landed the first of his four knockdowns, and he never came in sniffing distance of winning. The ninth round, when Crawford knocked Gamboa out, was particularly brutal. Considering how long it took Jackson to get Gamboa into a fight of this magnitude despite his popularity, it might be safe to assume we've seen the last of Gamboa on the main stage.

Crawford has options at both 135 and 140 if he decides to move up. The most obvious option would be for Crawford to fight Rey Beltran, which would be easy to make being that both fighters are coming off of impressive wins and are promoted by Top Rank. Chris Algieri and Jesse Vargas loom for title challenges at Junior Welterweight, but so does disposed ex-champion Ruslan Provodnikov. Mikey Garcia might be going to court to separate from Top Rank, leaving him out of the picture for now. 

The biggest winner is Bob Arum, who was notoriously bitter about the way Gamboa throttled the Rios promotion a few years back and was able to see his new charge in Crawford rise to the spotlight at his expense. 

Haymon Card Reeks of Low Quality Matchmaking.

Boxing's not-so-silent cold war has been a matter of debate for the past few months, but one thing has remained consistent: Al Haymon is the most powerful man in boxing. The amount of fighters Haymon has under his belt is ridiculous, and he just added two more fighters in IBF Lightweight champion Miguel Vasquez and former Olympian Vanes Martirosyan. 

Not to mention that Haymon is flaunting his ability to make fights happen with the absolutely putrid card Showtime is airing on August 9, with Danny Garcia and Lamont Peterson co-headlining a card against a pair of opponents that are just as likely to be sparring with them in the gym. Should the card be a precursor to a Garcia/Peterson fight on Floyd Mayweather's return fight this September, I can accept that, but for these two guys to have to reach that far down to pluck an easy fight is ridiculous.

Garcia, who has endured one of the absolute toughest fight schedules in recent years, getting a soft touch is fine, but what about Peterson? Peterson fought an extremely untested and overly green Dierry Jean last January only to turn around and fight the exact same kind of opponent in two months time. The real problem is that if Garcia and Peterson aren't taking these guys as seriously as they should and put in two awful performances...why would we want to see them fight each other?

Sell High on Bradley/Cotto.

One of the most absurd rumors that is unfortunately gaining traction is that talks are starting to stage a potential Middleweight title clash between WBC champion Miguel Cotto and former two-division champion Timothy Bradley this winter. Bradley, who we last saw dropping a decision loss to Manny Pacquiao this past April, has never fought above Welterweight and hasn't convinced anyone that he could make it at 154 let alone a proposed catchweight of 155 pounds.

Cotto's past two fights have been promoted by Top Rank, but he himself is a free agent. A fight with Bradley would just be an easy win for him as well as a way for Top Rank to lock in options for additional fights. A Middleweight champion shouldn't be fighting a Welterweight, especially one who's probably too small for that division, and there are PLENTY of guys at 160 that would jump at the chance to fight a legend like Cotto. 

Of course, maybe the reason we may be hearing about this fight is because Cotto's camp doesn't like his chances against the 160 class now that Cotto beat the only one-legged, 40-year-old champion they could find. I'm hoping we don't see this fight happen, at least not as high as they're proposing. Can't Top Rank just get James Kirkland for Cotto?

The Furious Flurries

• If anybody is ready for a push into the mainstream, it's Errol Spence Jr. That kid is unbelievable and beyond his record of 13-0. Spence has the tools and the talent to get fast-tracked to bigger fights, and I hope that's exactly what we get in the future.
• The comeback to nowhere continues for Shannon Briggs. Briggs, the former WBO Heavyweight champion, outpointed Raphael Love to win a nondescript title and keeping his delusions alive for another shot at the Heavyweight title. At 42, Briggs can still beat guys like Love without any trouble, but his performance did little to suggest he'll be chasing down gold anytime soon.
• Matt Koborov was co-featured on last weekend's card, but he looks like he has ways to go before he can be a factor at 160. Koborov is 31 and is still being brought along slowly, suggesting that maybe there's something off on the prospects game.

Potent Quoatables

"I will knock him out cold and wake him up with my dick in his mouth."

-Heavyweight contender Dominick Guinn on a fight ...at least that's what I hope he's talking about...with undefeated Brit Tyson Fury.

Danger Close: Yuriorkis Gamboa vs. Terence Crawford

Three years ago, Yuriorkis Gamboa was one of the most talented fighters in the world. He was the perfect storm of offense and defense, tearing through the 122 and 126 pound divisions as he established his presence as one of the best fighters in the world. Circumstances since then, such as an ill-advised signing with Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and skipping out on a fight with Brandon Rios, have quickly turned Gamboa to an afterthought.

His undefeated record and reputation has made him a high priority target for emerging talents, and when Mikey Garcia's troubles with his promoter closed the door on their potential fight, it opened the door for Omaha's own Terence Crawford to seize the opportunity. Crawford, who like Gamboa shares a 23-0 record, is one of the best fighters in the Lightweight division and is facing the most skilled and prestigious opponent of his young career, even though he hasn't fought in a year. The 0 has to go, but who will reign supreme in this clash of two high class tacticians?

Yuriorkis Gamboa (23-0, 16 KO) vs. Terence Crawford (23-0, 16 KO)

***WBO Lightweight Championship***

Crawford: First defense of title won from Ricky Burns (03/01)

Gamboa: Former champion at 126. First fight since June 2013 (UD12 Darley Perez)

Power: Crawford

Speed: Gamboa

Durability: Crawford

Recent Form: Crawford

X-Factor: Can Gamboa win a close decision in Crawford's backyard?

The first thing that needs to be addressed is the considerable disadvantage Gamboa finds himself in. Gamboa is at a three inch disadvantage in height, standing 5'5 to Crawford's 5'8, and gives up five inches in reach. Not to mention the fact that the once stunning Gamboa last fought a year ago, but one would have to look even further to his days at 126 where he looked like a champion.

Crawford is an emerging star, but he's by no means undercooked for this shot against the accomplished Cuban. His claim to fame was being a last minute substitute to fight Bredis Prescott at 140 pounds and he handled him with ease. Even more impressive was his lopsided beating of Burns in Scotland. The Lightweight division has been in the dark ages for some time now, but Crawford is showing the kind of talent that suggests he's going to have a good career.

Gamboa's best chance in this fight is to neutralize the physical disadvantages and go right to Crawford. His hands may not be as heavy as they were in the lower divisions, but he still retains his hand speed and is still sharp in his combination punching. Can Gamboa hurt Crawford? Probably not, but stealing rounds by staying busy has swayed many judges in the past.

Easier said than done. Crawford is physically stronger than Gamboa and he also has brains to match his brawn, he'll know how to use his size and look to test Gamboa's shaky chin with a healthy dose of right hands that he can throw from a safe distance. If Crawford wants to engage Gamboa, he has shown that he too can throw sharp combinations and would definitely win out in any exchanges they have, even if he doesn't land the last punch.

The deck is too stacked against Gamboa here, though only part of it is the man he's facing across the ring Saturday night. Inactivity as well as his deteriorating form due to that inactivity and that he's maybe one weight class too big is not going to do him any favors against the best fighter he's ever seen in his career. Though the fight is in front of Crawford's neighbors and fans, he won't need the judges to bail him out here.

Terence Crawford will retain his WBO Lightweight Title with his superior skill set, size and youth as he drops Gamboa on his way to a dominant decision victory.

Reviewing the Rebound Weekend. The After Action Report

Last weekend, Robert Guerrero and Devon Alexander were successfully able to grab the rebound win whereas Chad Dawson miraculously found his way off of the couch, so what's the outlook for the returning victors? Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia are inching closer towards a clash for Junior Welterweight supremacy, but is it the right fight for the undefeated Puerto Rican champion? All this and just the right amount of more on this week's After Action Report!

No More Soft Touches. Russell Flounders on Big Stage Against Lomachenko.

Nobody had a more impressive performance last weekend than Vasyl Lomachenko, who operated on Gary Russell Jr like a world-class surgeon in an extremely lopsided bout for the vacant WBO Featherweight title. From the moment Lomachenko landed his first big punch in round one, Russell found himself out of his league and only landed roughly 10 punches per round.

It was a shocking sight for all the fans and analysts that saw Russell as boxing's next major force, especially since Russell's opponents were so grossly over matched to this point, it almost seemed if they just paid his sparring partners a little extra to show up in front of the cameras. Russell's lack of stiff opposition in his first 24 fights did him no favors as he was dominated by Lomachenko in only his third professional fight. 

By comparison, Lomachenko's two professional fights came against ranked opposition and his participation in the semi-pro World Series of Boxing had him set up for better competition than Russell. Outside of the abhorrent 114-114 score, this was a one-sided schooling that suggested that someone isn't ready for the big leagues, and it isn't the guy with only two fights.

Though Russell's hype train managed to blind the majority into thinking that he was truly ready to break out on the world stage, his loss to Lomachenko suggests that he isn't ready for it at all. What other assessment can you come up with after losing to a guy with only two fights? With the loss, Russell is probably going to revert to playing patty cake until another easy shot comes along whereas Lomachenko just found himself neck deep in a busy Featherweight division.

I Ain't Afraid of No Ghost! Is Team Guerrero Shying Away From Keith Thurman?

Usually when Robert Guerrero and his team are involved, somebody is going to say or do something outrageous or stupid. Ruben, his father and trainer, is certifiable. Robert himself thought carrying a weapon in an airport was a-okay and was on a mission from God to humble Floyd Mayweather before his fight with him. Guerrero's manager, Bob Santos, has validated that you can't have too many screws loose in a camp with this gem of a comment made to BoxingScene:

"He needs to do something like what we've done... We were in the same boat that he was in. Nobody wanted to fight us. And what we had to do was something dramatic. Keith Thurman has to do something like we did. Jump up one weight class, the weight class where you were at, and fight Erislandy Lara. Beat him and you are guaranteed a shot at Robert Guerrero..period."

This madness comes after Guerrero once against balked at the possibility of fighting Thurman. The fight was initially discussed last year with Guerrero ultimately backing out of a fight that would have taken place last December. Even with all the attempts that Guerrero's camp has made to downplay a fight with Thurman, it's getting harder for them to have a point when Guerrero is barely squeaking past guys like Selcuk Aydin and Yoshiro Kamegai.

Thurman is as ready for a big fight as anyone and Guerrero is in need of a solid win to launch him back into championship contention. This fight makes just as much sense back in December as it does now, but the unwillingness of Guerrero's team to match them up with Thurman is quite surprising for the brash-talking crew. As of right now, neither Thurman nor Guerrero are lined up for any fights in the immediate future. 

Danny Garcia vs. Lamont Peterson On Deck for Fall 2014?

Danny Garcia and Lamont Peterson's next appearances this August is looking to become a precursor for a battle between the two champions. While their opponents haven't been announced, it's looking likely these two will meet by years end in a battle for Junior Welterweight supremacy. Garcia has been mentioned as a potential farewell opponent for Floyd Mayweather next year, which makes it more perplexing that they are gambling with Garcia staying at 140.

In his last fight, Garcia was beaten up by Mauricio Herrera only to be saved by the judges. It didn't seem that Garcia was looking too comfortable at the weight, and to have him at least fight there two more times with one of those fights being against Peterson is quite the risk. Peterson is no soft touch, and while he lost to Lucas Matthysse who then lost to Garcia, it would be hard to like Garcia's chances against him should he continue to struggle to make weight.

The Furious Flurries

• Chad Dawson looked hilariously out of shape, even blowing the Cruiserweight limit for his 1st round KO win over George Blades, but is hoping he can return to glory. Dawson is hoping to get another chance at Adonis Stevenson, who knocked Dawson out in 90 seconds last June, but from the looks of it, he'll be taking on a 72 ounce steak before another world champion.
• Brandon Rios will be returning to the ring against Diego Chaves this August, making him yet another fighter who tested positive under VADA testing who is fighting less than a year after being caught for a banned substance. How exactly is this working to clean up the sport?
• What is Kell Brook waiting for? The loudmouthed undefeated Brit is the mandatory for IBF Welterweight champion Shawn Porter, but is not making any steps to make the fight happen according to Golden Boy Promotions. It's looking like Brook's camp might be going the Gary Russell Jr route and waiting for an easier shot for the gold.

Potent Quotables

"Canelo is Golden Boy's boxer, that's why I'm going after him. I used to be a part of Golden Boy but now I have nothing to do with them. They gave him the best fights and me being a better boxer than him, they ignored me. They threw me to the wolves so they could take my head off. Thankfully I came out on top, always proving myself and proving myself until now and we are here facing Canelo."

-Erislandy Lara on his relationship with Golden Boy Promotions ahead of his 7/12 fight with Saul Alvarez. 

The World Awaits Pacquiao/Algieri? Uh... The After Action Report.

Chris Algieri managed to conquer the odds last weekend and notched up one of the biggest upsets of the year so far, so is that enough for Top Rank to match him up with Manny Pacquiao? Despite the highly unlikely outcome of last weekend's fight, HBO boxing's schedule has taken a tremendous hit in the quality department and isn't getting any better, is this the new status quo? Or is the "network of champions" about to turn the corner? All this and even a little bit more on your After Action Report!

Algieri Defeats Provodnikov. Pacquao Looming for the Fall?

It looks like the community is split right down the middle about Chris Algieri's shocking split decision win over Ruslan Provodnikov last weekend, but one man couldn't be any happier. That man is Algieri's promoter, Bob Arum.

In Algieri, Arum may just have found an opponent cheap enough to put in front of Manny Pacquiao this Fall as to satisfy the purse demands of the Filipino champion. Provodnikov was also promoted by Arum for a time, but the Algieri fight was the last fight he had under contract with Top Rank before the rights to promote him reverted back to Banner Boxing. Now that Provodnikov has been sent packing back to Banner (and presumably ESPN), Algieri might have just landed himself the opportunity of a lifetime.

Top Rank's anemic roster has made it that Pacquiao only had three possible opponents for the Fall: A fifth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez, a third fight with Bradley, or Provodnikov. According to Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach, Marquez is asking for too much money to stage a fifth fight, something I alluded to a few weeks back. Bradley isn't going to take a backwards step in pay either, so Provodnikov was probably the best option to satisfy the tax-beligued Pacquiao.

That option has now been replaced with Algieri, who made a little over $100k for his title winning performance and would fight for what could be a bargain for Top Rank. This would allow Pacquiao to get back into the mid $20 million range and put a considerably low bar of success for a pay per view broadcast, even as Pacquiao's numbers continue to dwindle.

Top Rank has shown that they have a knack for putting together legitimately appalling fight cards, and Pacquiao/Algieri could be one of the worst pay per view fights since Mike Tyson came out of prison in the mid 90s. Are you willing to pay $70 for a card that features Zou Shiming on the undercard? There aren't enough Tecate rebates to convince me otherwise.

HBO Turning Up the Heat for the Summer. 

Boxing's "network of champions" has been a popular target here in the Bucket, but their finicky approach to the sport and their fight choices as of late have made them an easy target. Despite the outcome of last weekend's fight, did anybody honestly see this doubleheader and say "This sure looks like it belongs on HBO?" That night we got two extremes, in one instance there was the hideous Andrade/Rose fight where Rose fought like a guy they paid out of the audience and in the other was the main event.

It looks like we may be through the worst of it as HBO has a summer schedule that dwarfs the quality of fights it has had all year. At the end of the month we will all bear witness to Terrance Crawford's arrival as an elite talent as he easily handles the faded and inactive Yuriorkis Gamboa and the July bout between Gennady Golovkin vs. Daniel Geale is a big fight with big implications. Of course we'll get some mismatches along the way, like Sergey Kovalev's summer bout against another nondescript opponent or Bryant Jennings beating up a listless Mike Perez, but there are good fights incoming.

With their Fall schedule holding out on who Pacquiao is fighting, the network should really find a way to get better quality fights on regular TV as opposed to waiting for the pay per view. Now is as good of a time as any to do a rematch between Timothy Bradley and Provodnikov, or if they really want to impress people, they can send out an APB and try to locate James Kirkland and put him in the ring with Andy Lee in what could turn out to be a hellacious fight.

The cherry on top? If Pacquiao does fight Algieri, why not have it as a major thank you to the fans and make it a regular broadcast? It might do worse than Pacquiao's fight with Brandon Rios, but it could be a rating's success if done on regular HBO much like Oscar De la Hoya's fight with Steve Forbes. With Showtime not having any fights scheduled past July, it's the perfect time for HBO to catch up. 

The Furious Flurries

• Speaking of De la Hoya, the walls keep tumbling down at Golden Boy. Their COO Bruce Binkow has stepped down from his position, making him the second major departure for the company in as many weeks. 
• Andre Ward did an excellent job calling the action last weekend and has shown he's just as talented in the mic as he is inside the ring. I wish him all the luck in retirement, since I'm having my doubts he's ever going to fight again.
• Robert Guerrero's return to the ring this weekend against Yoshiro Kamegai may just be a precursor for a fight with Keith Thurman, which would be amazing. Last year, Guerrero turned down a chance to fight Thurman, who knocked out Jesus Soto-Karass instead. Guerrero/Thurman is one of the best fights that can be made right now, and I sure hope we see it. 

Danger Close: Ruslan Provodnikov vs. Chris Algieri

The world was supposed to be at Ruslan Provodnikov's feet. After a breakthrough year in which he went from an overlooked ESPN level fighter to world champion, Provodnikov found that his newfound fame and success could only get him so far. Attempts to lure Juan Manuel Marquez and Brandon Rios into a fight went for naught, and Provodnikov instead finds himself facing the obscure and woefully overmatched Chris Algieri this Saturday.

Algieri, who originally took kickboxing as a career, earned his title shot by being the only guy available for the limited budget from the networks. His undefeated record has come against the kind of opponents prospects wouldn't lose to, but he has yet to show that he is beyond that particular level, let alone facing a champion like Provodnikov.

Many said the same about Provodnikov ahead of his fight with Timothy Bradley last year, and that tune changed after his rivetting performance. Can Algieri spring what could be the upset of the year?

Ruslan Provodnikov (26-2, 19 KO) vs. Chris Algieri (19-0, 9 KO)

WBO Junior Welterweight Championship

Power: Provodnikov

Speed: Algieri

Durability: Provodnikov

Recent Form: Provodnikov

X-Factor: Can Algieri's advantages in height and reach dispel Provodnikov's offense?

For Algieri to do the unthinkable, especially as a 5/1 underdog, he's going to have to make use of every inch he has being taller and longer than Provodnikov. In his last fight against Emmanuel Taylor, another unproven prospect, Algieri dominated the highly touted Taylor by showing off his defensive talents and outboxed him to win without too much effort.

Another advantage that he has working for him is that Provodnikov isn't exactly an enigma when it comes to how to beat him. Provodnikov is going to come at Algieri, always attacking and aggressively looking to land a debilitating power punch and whatever other leather he can. While Provodnikov looked like a monster in the first two rounds of the Bradley fight, he made sure to return the favor by giving up all the middle rounds by getting tagged over and over by Bradley until he started a furious last round rally.

Not to mention, Mauricio Herrera also used a mix of brain and brawn to eke out a decision against him a few years back. Algieri knows that he of nine knockouts isn't going to win a fistfight with Provodnikov, but it isn't outside of the question to suggest that he can use his skill to disrupt his rhythm and have enough defense to survive those vicious charges. 

As mentioned before, Algieri has a height advantage but can often hunch over and give that advantage away, which would poorly serve him if that habit makes itself known Saturday night. We know Provodnikov is going to go right at him, but if Algieri can't take the heat and decides to get on his bicycle, Provodnikov has shown that he knows how to cut off the ring and make the most of whatever he lands. 

The only way this fight will be interesting is if Algieri takes the flush shots from Provodnikov in good stride while being able to return fire as to not give up ground to the champ. Should the fight devolve into a war of attrition, or Algieri is unable to shudder the swarming offense of the champion, it's hard to see the fight any other way but violently for him.

We know what Provodnikov is capable of, but we can't say the same for the challenger. There could be an upset here if he had more rounds against sterner foes, but outside of calamity, there's nothing that suggests Provodnikov will watch a potential fight with Manny Pacquiao get wrested away from him by this anomaly of a challenger.

In a fight that lasts maybe a few rounds longer than it has to, expect Ruslan Provodnikov to drop, batter and stop Chris Algieri within seven rounds. 

Cotto, De la Hoya, the Hall of Fame and More! The After Action Report.

Miguel Cotto staked his claim as boxing's most brutal diva last weekend, but what does the future hold for the history making champion? Oscar De la Hoya wrested control of Golden Boy Promotions from the man who made it what it was, but can De la Hoya succeed in a role he has never fully embraced? All of that as well and more in your After Action Report!

Never Truly Dead. Cotto Dismembers Martinez to Win Middleweight Gold.

In what could very well go down as one of the most impressive performances of 2014, Miguel Cotto became the first Puerto Rican to win titles in four weight classes at the expense of Sergio Martinez. Cotto took the fight to Martinez right away, dropping the aging and rickey champion three times in the opening round and never letting up until Martinez's team stopped the fight in the tenth.

Cotto finally won the big one and yet again silenced the skeptics that wondered if his latest setbacks signaled the end of his career, leaving those very same skeptics in anticipation as to where he will face next. The logical choice is the long-gestating bout between himself and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, a fight that is all the more likely thanks to the mended relationship between Oscar De la Hoya and Bob Arum, but Arum threw out a curveball by saying that he would entertain a fight with Timothy Bradley.

Alvarez has to get past Erislandy Lara, who is going to present a far different challenge than the immobile and boorish Alfredo Angulo and Bradley is...well, Bradley is nearly getting his head knocked off at 147, so what kind of fight would that be? Andy Lee, who was victorious on the undercard could also be a viable foe should Cotto's next fight take place in New York once more.

As for Martinez, the end couldn't come any more emphathetically as it did last weekend. Clearly not fully healed from the multitude of injuries his aging body has suffered, there was nothing that Martinez could do to keep Cotto away from him. Martinez was predictably coy about retirement, but there's nobody that doesn't think he'll beat anybody half-alive right now. It's a sad way for a champ to go, especially someone who tried as hard as he did to finally land a big fight, but there's nothing left in the tank for the former Middleweight king.

So, How Many of You Work For Me Again? De la Hoya Faces Uncertainty at Golden Boy.

The big news outside of the ring last week was the outing of Richard Schaefer from his CEO position at Golden Boy Promotions and De la Hoya retaining control of his company. Schaefer had been running the day to day operations of GBP since they started 12 years ago, whereas De la Hoya smiled in the background, giving interviews like he was reading them off of a teleprompter and not doing much else besides telling the media how much he wanted to fight again.

With Schaefer out and De la Hoya in, the former six-division champion finds himself in a precarious position with his recently won spot as top dog. FightHype's Ben Thompson put out the list of fighters tied to Al Haymon, but not necessarily to Golden Boy, and what Golden Boy does have isn't much at all. Due to sour grapes from losing to Floyd Mayweather back in 2007, De la Hoya made it a point to scrutinize the man who's made his company millions.

His mental state is also still at question. During the biggest promotion of his companies lifespan (Mayweather vs. Alvarez), De la Hoya checked himself into rehab for substance abuse. Can De la Hoya keep it all together if things at GBP start to go south in a hurry? 

At the end of the day, De la Hoya has his work cut out for him. The company has nothing scheduled past this July's Alvarez/Lara pay-per-view, his fighters that have brought his company to the peak of the boxing world probably aren't his fighters and he's showing a willingness to work for a man who has a reputation of having a bad reputation. If this was supposed to be the comeback that never happened for De la Hoya, it looks like it's as muddy as it can get.

The Furious Flurries

• Besides anticipating his downfall, I do want to congratulate De la Hoya as well as Felix Trinidad and the other inductees to this weekend's Hall of Fame class.
• ...But I wouldn't have voted for Joe Calzaghe.
• Former Light Heavyweight champion Chad Dawson is making his return to the ring against George Blades this June, his first fight since back-to-back KO losses to Andre Ward and Adonis Stevenson. Here's to hoping Dawson is more "Bad" than "Bum."
• Nicholas Walters might be up next for Nonito Donaire this fall. If Donaire continues to half-ass it in the ring, Walters will be more than happy to punch Donaire's ticket to exit the sport. 

Danger Close: The Sergio Martinez vs. Miguel Cotto Prediction Piece!

In boxing, the fights that often make the most sense are the ones we never seem to get. Riddick Bowe never got to fight Lennox Lewis, George Foreman missed his chance to fight Mike Tyson and we are never going to see Floyd Mayweather against Manny Pacquiao. That alone makes the fight between Sergio Martinez and Miguel Cotto all the more important, even with the championship and historical implications on the line this Saturday.

Martinez has been out of the ring for nearly a year, recovering from his injuries he suffered from his fights against Martin Murray and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Cotto, who has gone 3-2 in his last five fights is moving up for the opportunity to win the Middleweight title and to become the first Puerto Rican fighter to win titles in four weight classes. Has Cotto confused his diva-like demands outside of the ring for what he can bring inside the ring, or is he moments away from making history?

Power: Martinez
Speed: Martinez
Style: Martinez
X-Factor: Martinez's age, time away from the ring and injuries may slow him down.
Recent Form: Martinez

The key to this fight is what Cotto takes with him in his first fight at Middleweight, because he didn't really take the world by storm at 154 as he did in the lower divisions. Cotto rebuilt himself after the brutal losses to Antonio Margarito and Manny Pacquiao by moving up in weight, and he benefitted all the better thanks to the shallow talent pool he was swimming in.

His best win was his title winning effort against the overmatched and feather-fisted Yuri Foreman, and wins over Ricardo Mayorga and a Margarito rematch came when both men were well past their sell-by dates. When Cotto did fight a real Junior Middleweight in Austin Trout in hopes to get back on track after losing to Floyd Mayweather, Trout handled Cotto with ease and won a clear decision.

Come to think of it, when has Cotto ever looked good against an opponent who he wasn't able to back up? Sure, he won against Shane Mosley and Joshua Clottey while getting beaten up in the process, but look how he performed when he was unable to deal with likes of Pacquiao, Margarito and Mayweather. They all beat Cotto because they were all able to back Cotto up with their speed, size or power.

This is the total opposite case when it comes to Martinez. Martinez has been towered over by very physically imposing foes throughout the course of his Middleweight reign, but one wouldn't guess it after seeing what Martinez did to the majority of them. Opponents who tried to pressure Martinez like Kelly Pavlik or Matthew Macklin had success early, but were a bloody mess soon after they felt they were making headway.

Sure, Martinez didn't look good in his last fight against Martin Murray, but can he really be blamed for that? He won a close fight against a very good Middleweight in what was the latest entry in one of the toughest schedules any fighter has had to consistently face throughout the last few years. Cotto decisively lost the last two fights where he fought an elevated level of competition, Martinez is still beating them up.

Coming into the ring, Martinez will have an advantage in size and reach as well as everything else, so Cotto's usual strategy of jabbing his way in to set up a left-hook to the body may not work out too well. Now that Cotto is trained by Freddie Roach, he's probably got it through his head that he just needs to get right into the line of fire and land some big leather while minimizing the return fire from a guy with power in both hands and too much speed to see them coming. 

Martinez will look to strafe Cotto with both hands right away to test that willingness to engage, trying to see how Cotto will try to bat him away or if he even can. As Martinez begins to pile up the points, Cotto will abandon his strategy as he always does and will try to fight it out once he feels the fight is getting out of reach. In the later rounds where Cotto usually is too tired to mount a late offensive and Martinez does his best work, we may see a career-ending beating take place if Martinez's legs are fresh enough to turn up the heat.

Unless one of the ridiculous demands Cotto made in the negotiations prior to the fight is Martinez coming to the ring handcuffed and blindfolded, it looks like he's running right into trouble. Martinez is faster, stronger and busier than Trout and probably hits just as hard as Margarito did with the loaded gloves. A miracle may be needed here, but if not, hopefully Roach will know when to let Cotto know he's had enough.

Martinez has been waiting to come to Cotto's backyard for a fight, and it looks like he's bringing an ass-kicking with him. Expect this one-sided show to end by the 9th and Sergio Martinez winning the biggest fight of his underappreciated career.