We all heard and read about Gennady Golovkin. About how powerful his punches are, how he bulldozed every opponent put in front of him and blah… blah… blah! Now, let's see what the facts say about his opponent on Saturday, Curtis Stevens.

Curtis Stevens, 25-3 (KO 18) turned pro on September 30, 2004 knocking his debut opponent in Round 1. He added another 12 consecutive wins after his debut fight, stopping 11 of those opponents; six were stopped inside the very first round.

"Showtime" Stevens then added another four consecutive wins after his only knockout defeat against Marcos Primera in 2006. He also dropped a decision against highly regarded Andre Dirrell in 2007 and rebounded by knocking out three opponents out of four consecutive victories before dropping again a shocking upset against Jesse Brinkley for the USNBC super middleweight title.

The bomber from Brownsville New York, last four fights were wins against the likes of Saul Roman, for the vacant NABF middleweight title, Derrick Findley, Elvin Ayala and Romaro Johnson.

As an amateur, Stevens was the National Amateur Light Heavyweight Champion in 2002 and as a pro Stevens has been featured several times on ESPN Friday Nights Fights.

Stevens is a short middleweight who stands 5'7" compared to averaged fighters in this division.

Stevens fights Golovkin’s WBA and IBO Middleweight World Championship. Golovkin is rank number 1 according to the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board middleweight ratings. The fight card is presented by K2 Promotions in association with Main Events, GGG Promotions and Madison Square Garden. Don't have tickets for the fight? It's available here at ticketnetwork.

Will Stevens stand out against Gennady Golovkin on Saturday night?

Stats source: Boxrec.com

Gabriel Rosado is a bleeder. He easily gets cut in a fight that keeps him away from the world title.

It's very frustrating for a fighter if he is stop to fight because of a cut. It becomes more frustrating especially if he still feels that he can still continue to fight, but the referee and ringside physician says he can't.

This is what Gabriel Rosado felt after he was stopped by the ring physician in his fight with undefeated Peter Quillin for the WBO middleweight title.

Rosado pleaded to referee Allan Huggins and ringside physician not to stop the fight. And that he is able to continue. This is the second time Rosado was stopped due to cut out of his last three fights. And the sad thing, these were all world middleweight title fights.

Although it's not the ringside physician who stopped Rosado -- it's actually his corner -- against Gennady Golovkin in January, but then again the main reason is due to cut he sustained on the course of the fight.

Rosado was still fighting and was very game against Golovkin but he took a lot of beating. Rosado didn't bother to protest although he expressed suspicion on Golovkins gloves lately.

Against Guillen last Saturday, Rosado out of disappointment screamed at the Showtime commentary team saying that the decision was "bullshit" and he ask for a rematch.

Vitali Klitschko was in the same frustration when he was also stopped in Round 6 against Lennox Lewis, due to a cut, for the heavyweight world title in June 2003.

I think Rosado need to work more on his defense and avoid getting hit more in the face or simply start knocking out opponent early.

[caption id="attachment_523" align="aligncenter" width="400"] BoxStat: Hopkins vs. Murat Stats comparison[/caption]

If you notice, more and more boxing websites and blog sites are using BoxStat. It is a widget that you can get from Boxstat.co developed by Mr. John Williams. This blog is carrying this widget and you can find it in the sidebar. By default it will show the upcoming bouts that are covered by BoxStat. If you click any of the bout listed on the widget, it will give you the statistics of each fighter -- just exactly the image I provided above.

If you want to know how Mr. Williams come out with those statistics, you may visit BoxStat website. You can also follow BoxStat on twitter @box_stat and send in your questions regarding the stats he provided or you can drop your questions on the comment section. If you're lazy to touch your keyboard but your microphone is ready, simply click the "send voice mail" on the right side of your screen, record your voice comment and send.

Looking for the Live Streaming for the Bernard Hopkins vs. Karo Murat weigh-in on Friday? You can watch it here at BLH. It will start at 3:30 PM ETD on Friday, October 25, 2013.

Bernard Hopkins vs. Karo Murat will be brought to you by Showtime on October 26, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City for the light heavyweight title.

The 48 years old Hopkins will be facing Murat, which 18 years younger. Hopkins is the oldest fighter to defend a title at light heavyweight. Hopkins is 5-1-1  since losing to Joe Calzaghe in 2008.

The under-cards features Guillen vs. Rosado and Wilder vs. Firth.

Hopkins said that he is an "alien" during the final presser for his fight with Karo Murat on October 26 at the boardwalk hall, Atlantic City, for the light heavyweight title.

"I'm an alien, I don't get old if they're waiting for that." Hopkins said, "because I am of this world, but I'm not from this world."

Hopkins was famous being "The Executioner" in boxing for the last two decades of his career, especially in the middleweight. He wears a mask during his ring-walks portraying as a verdugo to his opponent.

He's indeed an executioner who defended his middleweight title a record 20 times before losing the title to Jermain Taylor in 2005.

I just don't know why Hopkins wanted to replace "The Executioner" moniker. How do you think an alien fights? Is he really an alien? But who knows -- maybe he is indeed an alien? Imagine at 48, he's the oldest fighter to defend a title. Oh come on he's better than that.

"I'm coming to show you all that not only am I different and I don't get tired of doing what I do. I love winning opportunities and situations to win."

I believed that Hopkins lives a clean and discipline life inside and outside the squared circle. This is what made him stay for so long in a sport that is also called "young-man's-sport".

Will Hopkins, at 48 years old, again could defy father time and win against 18 years younger opponent? Will Hopkins fight like an alien this time?

National Network Television Boxing Coming to Turning Stone for NBC Fight Night, in the Afternoon, November 16

Heavyweight Bout in the Main Event as Tomasz Adamek Defends IBF North American Heavyweight Title Against Vyacheslav Glazkov

For the fifth time in 2013, Turning Stone Resort Casino will host nationally televised professional boxing, as NBC’s Fight Night will originate, live, in the afternoon, Saturday, November 16 from the Turning Stone Event Center.

Presented by Main Events and co-promoted by Ziggy Promotions and Pushka, the feature bout will be a heavyweight matchup as Tomasz "Goral" Adamek, (49-2, 29 KOs) will take on Vyacheslav "Czar" Glazkov, (15-0-1, 11 KOs).

The veteran Adamek, a native of Poland who makes his home in Jersey City, NJ, will put his IBF North American Heavyweight belt on the line in this 12-round battle, against the up and coming Ukrainian. The IBF has designated this bout as a heavyweight voluntary eliminator fight for the #2 position in the rankings.

"This fight cannot help but be a non-stop action brawl," said promoter Kathy Duva of Main Events. "A classic 'crossroads' fight, it is exactly the kind of signature launching pad matchup that we like to present on NBC. The winner of Adamek-Glazkov will put himself in a position for much bigger things in 2014."

Adamek said, "I'm excited to be fighting at Turning Stone for the first time. I've spent time with friends and family in that area so I know there will be a big Polish crowd to cheer me on."

The event will mark the first time NBC has produced a televised boxing event at Turning Stone. The undercard will be announced soon, and all bouts are subject to change.

Doors open at the Turning Stone Resort Casino Event Center at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, November 16. The first undercard bout starts at 12:30 p.m. The special afternoon broadcast presentation of NBC Fight Night begins at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets range from $25 to $70 and are on sale now at the Turning Stone box office, by calling (315) 361-7469, or visit www.Ticketmaster.com

Note:Professional media can apply for credentials online at www.MainEvents.com and click on the media tab.

I tried to connect the events that lingers on Alex Ariza's accusations on VADA's drug testing to Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios for their upcoming fight on November 23 for the WBO International title in Macao.

Alex Ariza said on his twitter on October 23:

Brandon's second test by VADA. VADA just confirmed they have yet to test Manny and there are NO plans to test him until China.. That's fair.

— Alex Ariza (@ArizaFitness) October 22, 2013

Ariza also added, also in twitter that, "just spoke to Filipino media in Gen. San, Vada hasnt even arrived." I tried to ask him to which particular media men in General Santos he spoke to, but up to the time of writing I've got no reply.

In the meantime, a post written by Lem Satterfield on Ringtv Craveonline, Margaret Goodman, founder of The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), said that Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios "have been" randomly tested by VADA.

However, in this post there is no date mentioned as to when the testing for both fighters will commence.

Ariza told Boxing Scene's Edward Chaykovsky that "Brandon has his second test on Tuesday".

I think, Ariza's concern here is the commencing date of each fighter drug testing by VADA. Why is it that both fighters were not tested in the same date or at least having the same number of tests.

I understand that the protocol is random at that no announcement that will come from VADA when to conduct. Results well then submitted to China commission, the promoter and each fighter camp. It is up to these three to announce or not the results.

In another article by Jake Donovan of Boxing Scene, Goodman said,

That is a balatantly false and unsubstantiated story. Pacquiao and Rios have been tested by VADA...

Well. I don't know why Ariza was accused about his statement wherein he confirm this to VADA representative that tests Rios? I think Goodman should ask her representative if they indeed confirmed to Ariza that Pacquiao is yet to be tested.

If VADA representative would come out and say no, then Ariza is simply a liar.

Meanwhile this is Ariza's latest tweet.

@Seckbach @Brandon_Rios1 Funny how Vadas Rep saying Mannys not tested and won't be until "Maybe China" turns into my accusations.

— Alex Ariza (@ArizaFitness) October 24, 2013

Brandon Rios seems very upset at Max Kellerman and to everybody that counted him out against Manny Pacquiao on November for the WBO international title in Macao. I’m quoting below Rios’s words from Luis Sandoval of Boxing Scene.

Fuck Max Kellerman, that motherfucker and fuck everybody that's talking about Pacquiao-Ruslan, they're already counting me out! Everybody is counting me out. Everybody thinks I'm a tune up fight for Pacquiao. So Max Kellerman thinks that too so fuck that motherucker. He's always talking shit, saying stuff in my face like ‘Oh Brandon, you're this, this and that. You've won this and that.' He's a fucking pretender. I don't give a fuck if HBO makes you say shit or not, you don't say [that type of] shit. Nobody makes me say shit but me. So at the end of the day that's fucking bullshit.

I can’t help but liked the way Scott Christ from bad left Hook sum it up it up here.

I think Rios have the reason to be upset to people that writes him off or counted him out against Pacquiao. For me, he is definitely a live opponent against recent version of Pacquaio -- a Pacquiao that suffered brutal knockout defeat last year.

I’m even surprised when I first learned that the comeback fight of Pacquaio is Rios.

After Pacquaio defeated David Diaz in 2008 for the lightweight -- from that point forward -- he was fed to stronger and bigger lions except Marquez.

Rios is young, naturally bigger and just fought eight months ago during the fight in November whereas Pacquiao almost a year since last fought.

Only crazy will count Rios off. For me, this is a 50/50 even fight.

Denver Colorado -- Ruslan "Siberian Rocky" Provodnikov unloads heavy bombs to "Mile High" Mike Alvarado making the hometown hero to quit from his stool after Round 10. Provodnikov (23-2, 16 KO) stalks relentlessly towards Alvarado (34-2, 23 KO) throughout the fight. It is the body shot that really workout for Provodnikov, although Alvarado's eyes are almost swollen shut.

It is very obvious that Alvarado has a great respect in terms of power to his shorter and smaller challenger. Alvarado comes out with a perfect game plan, which is to use his boxing skills. In the get-go he moves around looking to counter-punch the stalking challenger.

The game plan is effective in the early rounds as Alvarado, for me, is comfortably ahead of the scorecards somewhere until Round 6.

Alvarado would even shifts from orthodox to southpaw stance to confuse the pursuing challenger from Russia, which is effective from the distance. Alvarado connects more jabs from the southpaw stance, that at times halted Provodnikov's from his track.

However, Provodnikov adjusts very well to the southpaw stance of Alvarado, especially at close quarter battle. Provodnikov would slide his right foot towards Alvarado's back foot while preparing his left hook and fires upstairs.

Every single round Provodnikov -- although Alvarado tends to fight from the outside -- would lure Alvarado to fight toe-to-toe. Alvarado would lean forward giving up his height and reach advantage to engage Provodnikov in a hit-me-I'll-hit-you-back type of action, which don't help against his favor because of Provodnikov's clear advantage in power.

In Round 8 Alvarado hit by a thunderous shot to body that eventually put him to the canvas as Provodnikov relentlessly unleash more powerful bombs upstairs and downstairs. Alvarado almost can’t beat the count, his legs are totally wobbly.

Several minutes later, again Alvarado takes a knee, for the second knockdown in the same round. I think, from that point it should have been stop, but the referee decides not to stop as Alvarado with all his heart stands up, but with very unstable legs.

In Round 9 it seems Provodnikov tires and slows down a bit because of the amount of energy he used in the previous round. Alvarado survives the round but still shaky, and still wiping the cobwebs.

In Round 10 Provodnikov picks up what he left in Round 8 and again started to pressure and unload more powerful right hand to head and body. Alvarado would eventually finish Round 10, but when ask directly by Tony weeks if he can continue, during the break. With spirit broken and physically battered, Alvarado decides not to continue.

Provodnikov's failed near knockout performance against Bradley finally realized against Alvarado. And Provodnikov really won big time on Saturday night. A possible showdown with Pacquiao-Rios winner looms in the horizon.

Mike Alvarado vs. Ruslan Provodnikov weigh in result: Alvarado comes in one pound over the junior welterweight limit and weighs in at 141lbs. And has two hours to shed that excess baggage.  "No problem" says Michael Buffer -- referring to Alvarado's initial weigh in. Alvarado then returns to the scale after an hour and registers in at 139.8lbs.

The challenger Provodnikov tip the scales in the initial weigh in at 139.8lbs. Bottom line both fighter make the same weight. And after everything has been said and done -- we are now set to watch the war on Saturday night. Stay tuned for SPB's post fight report.

Watch live streaming for Mike Alvarado vs. Ruslan Provodnikov weigh in on Top Rank TV, Friday, October 18 - 5p ET/2p PT. Alvarado and Peovodnikov will meet on October 19, 2013 Saturday night for the junior welterweight championship bout. A fight that many expect to be a "Fight of the Year" contender.

If you want a fan-friendly fight -- then you should not miss this fight. You can find my preview and prediction of Mike Alvarado vs. Ruslan Provodnikov here.

 

Here I am again giving you my preview and prediction. This time will be between Mike Alvarado and Ruslan Provodnikov. Let me begin with question: Why Alvarado vs. Provodnikov is considered to be a potential "Fight of the Year" candidate?

Boxing fans, media, writers, and bloggers expect this fight to be a strong candidate for "Fight of the Year" award (as early as even before the fight was signed), based on each fighter's previous performance. And I do agree.

If you look at Mike Alvarado's fight against Brandon Rios here, on March 30, which is also a strong fight-of-the- year contender. And so with the first fight last year here, that cost Alvarado's precious "O" in his ledger: you'll probably agree that indeed this could be a potential 'Fight of the Year" candidate. Alvarado  34-1 (KO 23) fought like there is no tomorrow in the first fight and got knocked out in the seventh round, but adjusted well in the rematch to win a unanimous decision.

But, if you're still not in agreement, then what about taking a look back at Ruslan Provodnikov's fight here, with Timothy Bradley on March 16? The fight would take you to the edge of your seat. And if you're a Bradley fan, Provodnikov 22-2 (KO 15) is breaking your heart. He wobbled Bradley and almost knocked him out several times.

Now, imagine these two meet in the squared circle, Ruslan Provodnikov having in mind Alvarado's WBO light welterweight belt. But not only that, he is also aiming for more recognition that he fell short against Bradley. In the opposite corner -- Mike Alvarado, a fighter determined to defend his title and seeking for higher glory. A win could mean a fight of the winner between Pacquaio-Rios on November.

Ruslan Provodnikov I believed has what it takes to knock out Mike Alvarado. I think he has the power needed to finish the job. If the same punch that wobbled Bradley would land on Alvarado -- I think that would be the end of the story.

Alvarado, based on his fight with Rios wasn’t able to clinch when he was hurt, which was the wise thing Bradley did in the same situation. Provodnikov should follow through more once he feels that he hurt Alvarado. He should step up his killer instinct.

If Alvarado will box more from the outside, Provodnikov should double up and work on the jab and lure Alvarado for a slug-fest. Provodnikov's ability to take a punch will be tested here, which wasn't against Bradley.

Stylistically Alvarado is more of a boxer-puncher. But can be easily lured into a hit-me-I'll-hit-you-back kind of action, which is of course a fan-friendly style, which is a big factor, I believed, for Fight of the Year selection.

Alvarado said that he will use his boxing skills. This is the adjustment he made for the Rios's rematch. He stuck to the game plan, which is to move and box around, looking for more angles before throwing combinations to avoid direct counter-shots.

If Alvarado can execute the same game plan, and finish the entire fight, I think he will win on points in a very close decision that could go either way. I'm afraid what boxing called a "hometown decision" might play a part here -- I hope not.

Provodnikov will be dealing with the hometown favorite Alvarado in 1STBANK Center, Broomfield, Denver, Colorado, on October 19.

My prediction:

Don't get me wrong, maybe you're thinking that what I mean above is that: Alvarado's chance to win is to finish the fight. No. Anything can happen to this fight. I think real time adjustment is the key to win for each fighter.

I put my prediction this way:

If Provodnikov can’t take Alvarado's power especially that vicious uppercut, then it's Alvarado by TKO.

If Provodnikov could handle Alvarado's power and can land his own I think he will win via knockout somewhere between Rounds 8 to 11.

If the fight will finish till Round 12 due to adjustments made by both fighters to avoid each other's power, then I am inclined to favor Alvarado to win on points.

If you’re a boxing fan -- you should watch this documentary that features the fight between boxing legends -- Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard.

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Shuttlepenboxing holds no copyright claim to any videos posted here. The videos are not necessarily SPB's production.

In a video from Dyan Castillejo's YouTube channel (above), Manny Pacquiao did footwork drills in preparation for his upcoming fight against Brandon Rios on 23 Nov. at the Cotai Arena, Venetian Resort, Macao.

Footwork is essential for Pacquiao's arsenal against a coming-forward style of Brandon Rios. If you look at Rios's first knockout career loss against Mike Alvarado during their rematch; it is Alvarado's footwork that gave him trouble. Alvarado used footwork to look for angles in engaging Rios.  He moved around more compared to their first fight.

In the past Pacquiao complain to have leg cramps. If you look at footages of his previous fights -- you'll see that his calves were massaged vigorously in between rounds. Not only that -- before Pacquiao start training for this fight with Rios -- he used to play basketball and suffered ankle injury.

Although Pacquiao assured boxing fans that there is nothing to worry about the said injury. He got his doctors check, and everything is well.

This kind of footwork training is needed to make sure leg problems would not be a factor on this fight.

On Sunday, I've got the opportunity to interview Tim Starks, the founder and editor of  The Queensberry Rules -- a boxing blog that have been featured by several major sports media outlets. Starks spoke about the creation of Transnational Boxing Rankings Board (TBRB) and its future. Starks is one of the TBR Board founding member.

If you are unable to figure out what this ranking board is all about; you may visit their website here. Please click below audio file to hear the interview.

[audio mp3="http://theboxingdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Intervew_with_Tim_Starks_Quensbeery_Rules_on_TBRB1.mp3"][/audio]

“Boxing is tainted,” said Floyd Mayweather a few weeks ago. “There are too many belts, too many champions.”

Anyone at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on September 14th would have noticed an Elvis-worthy display case featuring Mayweather’s robes, gloves, and boots from past bouts. Several acronym-emblazoned “championship” belts were also featured. In a moment of clarity, the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet waved them off— “I think we should have one belt and that’s it.”

“It’s so crazy how I beat Miguel Cotto for the WBA Junior middleweight championship, right?” Mayweather said. “So how did Austin Trout beat Cotto for the WBA Championship and how is Canelo the WBA Champ?”

The WBA is the same cockeyed governing body that stripped Muhammad Ali when he gave Sonny Liston a rematch in 1965, prompting a laugh from sports writer Jimmy Cannon: “One word from them and the fight mob does as it pleases.” In 1970, they ranked Joe Frazier #7 after he refused to participate in a tournament they were sponsoring. He was at his peak. In the eighties, bribes and pay-offs for higher rankings came to light. Today, despite the fact that there are only seventeen weight divisions, they identify thirty-five champions with an assortment of belts and vivid imaginations.

The WBA is one among many sanctioning bodies flourishing in an unregulated era where anyone and everything is up for grabs. Their trick titles are unwittingly propped up by fighters and puffed up by network executives operating under misguided assumptions about what fans really want.

What do fans really want? It begins with the truth.

The Transnational Boxing Rankings Board was formed one year ago October 11th on behalf of every fan, fighter, writer, and media figure fed up with fifty years of confusion and corruption. Our mandate springs from the best efforts of the past to “provide boxing with authoritative top-ten rankings, identify the singular world champion of every division based on strict reasoning and common sense, and to insist on the sport’s reform.”

What began with twenty-five boxing writers and record keepers representing twelve countries between the Americas and Australia has since increased to thirty-five representing fifteen countries now including Japan, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
What began as monthly rankings was soon switched to weekly rankings published online every Tuesday (www.tbrb.org). Boxing historians in the membership pointed out that the tradition of “official monthly rankings” stretches back to 1928 and is worth preserving; these now appear in the “archives” section of the “Rankings” tab. We have also added a “Pound-for-Pound List” and a “Successions” tab presenting an abbreviated history behind each divisional throne. A Spanish-language version of the charter recently appeared on the home page of the website and there are plans to establish multi-lingual versions of the website.

Without Allies, We’re Bums

The success of this initiative is dependent on the support of fans and media buzz. Over the past year, we have much to be grateful for.
Barely two weeks after our inaugural rankings were published, the initiative was mentioned on the Wall Street Journal website, founding member Tim Starks was interviewed by The Classical, and the rankings earned a place on the popular Boxing.com and were adopted exclusively by The Sweet Science.com and East Side Boxing (which also hosts a thread monitored by member Matt McGrain that has received over 34,600 hits thus far). A number of other websites have also adopted the rankings, including Mexico’s Esquina Boxeo and Italy’s boxeringweb.net, and they have been featured in The New Yorker, The Guardian, and NPR. Our Twitter account is nearing a thousand and we have approximately eight thousand social media shares directly from the website with an untold number of visits by other means.

Early in 2013, ESPN commentator Teddy Atlas contacted this writer to learn more about what we are trying to do for boxing. He decided to support the effort and on the March 29th edition of Friday Night Fights, he did so. The segment began with an on-air question posed to Atlas: “Is something like this good for the sport?”

“It’s not good—it’s great.” Atlas replied. “It might save the sport.”

In August, Friday Night Fights included a featherweight bout between Jesus Cuellar and Claudio Marrero. Neither fighter was ranked in the Transnational Boxing Rankings, though the WBA inexplicably had Marrero at number-two and Cuellar at four. Atlas shook his head at that. “It makes you wonder about some of these ratings,” he said. “When are we gonna get some real ratings committees? I think there's one out there.” The Transnational Boxing Rankings, he said, is “a group of national and international writers that have no biases. They have no agendas. They call it the way it is and they rate it the way it is.”

The Robbery Clause

“We wuz robbed!” Manager Joe Jacobs shouted into a radio man’s microphone minutes after Max Schmeling lost a decision to Jack Sharkey for the heavyweight championship of the world. Since that night in 1932, the term “robbery” has been used as a descriptive whenever the wrong man is declared the winner.

Eighty years to the month later, we introduced the robbery clause into our charter to address a major problem in boxing. If more than 75% of the Board believes that the judges’ decision in a non-championship fight is egregious enough to constitute a robbery, we reserve the right to rank the official loser over the official winner, effectively overturning the decision.

The Divisional Thrones

Upwards of 90% of those routinely announced as champions are actually contenders. This is a focal point of a charter that rejects shortcuts and appointments to the top of the division. We look toward the path of combat to fill each divisional throne. If vacant, only the two top-ranked contenders can fight for it. This iron rule, controversial to some, is all that makes sense in boxing. And it is working better than we anticipated. When we began one year ago, we recognized four successions that began the moment a victor was declared in a bout between the rightful top two RING-ranked contenders. Since then, Wladimir Klitschko has finally and convincingly assumed the heavyweight throne. Three more thrones have also been seized under our auspices as the new authority for a total of eight.

The seventh was seized in September when Mayweather himself defeated Canelo Alvarez, his next-best rival in the Jr. middleweight division. The bout was announced as a defense of his WBA “Super Title” which isn’t worth a fraction of the $1,245,000 sanctioning fee. The truth is far more significant than seven figures or silly belts. The truth is, Mayweather has the last laugh; someone should tell him he’s a king.

His throne, recognized by a new rankings board with an old mandate, is not for sale. Four of us were there bearing witness —and keeping our hands in our own pockets.
________________________________
Floyd Mayweather’s comments found on www.mayweatherpromotions.com (“The One Mayweather vs. Canelo” Floyd Mayweather Media Conference Call Transcript, 9/6/2013). Special thanks to Teddy Atlas for his efforts on our behalf and for all he has done and continues to do for the sport we love.

The Transnational Boxing Rankings are found at www.tbrb.org.

Springs Toledo can be contacted at scalinatella@hotmail.com.

Money, as always, can change firm decisions.

Lennox Lewis is willing to come out from retirement to fight Wladimir Klitschko, but demands $100m purse according to a report posted on The Independent.

I said at the time that it will take $50m to get me out of my pyjamas but now I have to consider the value of my legacy of having retired as undisputed champion. That will cost them $100m.'

Well, for me, having the right price, then why not? And as a boxing fan; I love to see Lewis fights Wladimir Klitschko. I'm bored watching Wladimir fought challengers that can't match his size and height advantage. Wladimir's fight with Povetkin last week evolved in an old boxing cliché; "big man can whip good little man".

Alexander Povetkin will die trying but can't overcome the bigger man, simply because Klitschko maximized his size advantage and fought wisely.

Lewis obviously can match Wladimir size and height advantage.

Well, it's still early to preview this fight. It's not even sure if any promoter could guarantee such big amount.

Do you think a promoter can afford to risk a guaranteed $100m for Lewis at this point?

This week has been very tough for me. Maybe you noticed some error messages when you visit this blog--that if  you're one of those returning visitors of this blog. Well, there are some few changes that I made here at SPB. Now, this blog is being shifted from blogger to WordPress platform. And it is also self hosted, so that I can maximize the customization that I feel would be great for this blog. And to all boxing fans that may stumbled upon on this blog.

During the migration process, I went through series of difficulties. The whole process were new to me. But thanks to the help of one of my colleague. Zaldy, an affiliate marketer and blogger who guided me to all these processes and technicalities. You can find his work here.

I'm trying to improve the feel, look and your browsing experience  of this blog while covering the sport I followed for several years.

Up to the time of this post, there are still some issues that needs to be addressed. But I'm trying to tackle these issues one at a time.

Although, some of these  issues need to be addressed immediately, but I can't afford myself  to miss out in sharing my thoughts on the upcoming fights that we have this weekend.

We have Timothy Bradley taking on Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday. And this is a huge fight after Mayweather-Canelo on September. We have also Pacquiao-Rios coming up in November.

Next week, there will be a long holiday here in Kuwait. This means that I have the needed time to finally finish the work I just have started here at SPB.

Thanks for your patience.