The Fight Network

Many kudos to both Hennessey and Victory Promotions for delivering another stellar night of boxing action on May 12th at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga. The highlight of the evening of course was NABA super featherweight champion Logan Cotton McGuinness’s stunning two round knockout of Meacher Major.

There were other outstanding bouts on the card as well.  It was an intriguing night as each bout was a life drama unto itself. Young careers blossomed while some older careers met their end. Boxing is a young man’s game with very few exceptions. Aging is never kind to a boxer who still wants to live his dream.

Former Canadian cruiserweight champion Frank White, in what may have been his last pro fight, was on the receiving end of a hellacious beating, administered to him by a much younger, stronger and better skilled fighter named Denton Daley. The majority of professional boxers in the world are similar in style and record to Frank White. What makes White standard apart from the rest of those fighters plying their trade is his sportsmanship and his never say die attitude.

The UFC's third event on Fuel TV emanates Tuesday from Patriot Center in Farifax, VA., headlined by a featherweight battle featuring young guns Chan Sung Jung and Dustin Poirier.

The six-fight main card features intriguing fights in six different weight divisions.

Here's a closer look:

Main Card (on Fuel TV):

-Chan Sung Jung (12-3) vs. Dustin Poirier (12-1)

An exciting featherweight tilt headlines the card as two exciting young prospects look for a win that could propel them into the top 10 of the division.

Jung, 25, has rapidly become a fan favorite with a charming smile and friendly personality, mixed with a crowd-pleasing style of fighting. The appropriately nicknamed "Korean Zombie" always comes forward, willingly engaging in brawls with just about any opponent, but that hasn't always worked to his benefit.

The Korean Top Team product is coming off a seven-second trouncing over heavily favored Canadian kickboxer Mark Hominick at UFC 140 this past December. The win also furthered Jung's growth as a superstar in his native South Korea, putting his name on major news broadcasts around the country.

Two weeks ago marked a changing of the guard in the light heavyweight division as boxing’s ageless warrior Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins finally showed signs of deterioration, after a historic 24-year career. Hopkins lost his rematch against Chad Dawson by majority decision where clearly the ring legend had lost a step. Whether or not he graces us with his presence inside the ring, his name will live on in the minds of anyone privileged enough to watch this master at work.

Throughout his career Hopkins was repeatedly reminded about his age. Opponents too strong, too fast and too young. However, with his back against the wall, against seemingly insurmountable odds, Hopkins always rose to the occasion and inevitably shocked the world. After such a long and illustrious career, Hopkins has accomplished everything and will be remembered as one of the savviest individuals to grace the sweet science both inside and outside the ring. But it didn't start out that way.

On Thursday, May 24th, Ottawa, Ontario will play host to the biggest single day boxing event in the world. It is called Ringside For Youth and all of the money raised at the event will go directly to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Ottawa to help at risk youth. This is Ringside For Youth’s 18th consecutive year in operation, and, this year’s event will see them pass the two million dollar mark (a staggering amount) in money raised for boys and girls at risk in the Ottawa area.

In the first few years of the event, the money raised went to help the Ottawa Police Youth Centre. Their very first show put on in 1992 featured Canada’s most beloved athlete, the greatest Canadian boxer of all time, George Chuvalo.

That initial Ringside For Youth drew an enthusiastic audience of 200 people who celebrated the life and career of George Chuvalo while raising $15,000 for at risk youth living in the crime-ridden Debra-Dynes neighborhood of Ottawa. The event grew exponentially from there to the highly acclaimed, hot ticket evening of boxing and entertainment it is today.

All too often in mixed martial arts, cards are littered with lopsided matchups. The unpredictability factor always exists, but the competitive nature of the sizzling scraps featured on the UFC’s return to FOX for the third time Saturday in New Jersey will surely epitomize the true intricacies and shock value that make up the game.

Four evenly matched encounters highlight an action-packed event from the Izod Center in East Rutherford.

Multiple divisions are featured on the main card with major implications stemming from who will emerge victorious. In the marquee attraction, top 10 lightweights Jim Miller and Nate Diaz vie for No. 1 contendership in the talent-laden division.

Meanwhile, Josh Koscheck seeks redemption for his former teammate Jon Fitch when he clashes with emerging welterweight force Johny Hendricks, plus red-hot middleweights Rousimar Palhares and Alan Belcher attempt to move one step closer to the upper echelon of the class. Finally, hard-hitting heavyweight strikers will collide as Pat Barry meets Lavar Johnson in a bout that promises to kick off the FOX broadcast with fireworks.

Here’s a closer look at what fans can expect...

As Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto wind down their training camps in preparation for their May 5, WBC junior middleweight title showdown, one has to wonder if Floyd is more concerned about going to jail on June 1st than he is about facing Cotto.  There is something different about this fight than Mayweather’s other fights. The difference to most observers is that this upcoming contest lacks any enmity between both contestants. They are showing each other too much respect. Where is the war of words we have come to expect from the Money Man.  Both Cotto and especially Mayweather seem unusually subdued for two men who are about to engage in what is expected to be a savage fight.

Cotto and Mayweather may not like each other but they certainly don’t hate each other. Floyd’s comments have been rather restrained and almost boring. He is of course full of his usual bravado when it comes to his arch nemesis, Manny Pacquiao, calling him “Miss” Pacquiao,” in the sporting press.  Mayweather was almost gracious, saying that Cotto is “a very good fighter but definitely not in my league.” In fact, that seems to be the general consensus amongst the media hordes and the bookmakers in Las Vegas. Every one you talk to expects this to be just another victory for Mayweather, number 43 to be precise.