The Fight Network

There is always a story or issue to bring to light in the busy world of prize-fighting (I speak of Boxing; the sport for which the term was coined in earlier centuries), but there is so little time. This weekend being a long one in Canada, I will be using a rapid jab to cover the range of news and views from the red corner.

I will start the jabs with the biggest story of any non-team sport; the ongoing drama of Pacquiao - Mayweather :

*  I am on the fence about whether Floyd Mayweather jr. should be dictating what testing method that opponents must submit to (this is up to state commissions). This is as much about control as it is about protecting his health. I personally believe that you can't test for every new enhancer.

* The Philippines' newest Congressman has made it clear that he will agree to a 14 day cut-off for random blood testing for the Mayweather fight.

* While David Haye drags his feet deciding whether to fight Wladimir Klitschko this fall, Tomasz Adamek is finalizing ("98% done") a bout with Micheal Grant.

* I would love to see Adamek meet Haye in a scrap that should have happened two years ago at cruiserweight.

* I like Israel Vazquez over Rafael Marquez in their 4th (& gratuitously violent) fight in L.A. on Saturday. I hope that they stop the carnage after this one.

* The undercard scrap of Yohnny Perez - Abner Mares will be the gem of the week. Tough, undefeated fighters in their prime who have sparred for years.

* I think that Vitali Klitschko should decision Albert Sosnowski on May 29th because of the disparity in experience. I do like the level of conditioning that Sosnowski brings to the ring. Vitali is looking on the downslide though.

* Freddie Roach promised me Amir Khan would KO Paulie Maglinaggi (in 3 as opposed to the stubborn 11 it took) when I visited the Wild Card Gym last month. Let's hope we see a Khan/Tim Bradley/Devon Alexander series.

* The Miguel Cotto - Yuri Foreman jr. middleweight title fight at Yankee Stadium should tell us if Miguel belongs in the knee-deep division. I think that Angulo, Cintron, Margarito and Williams are just too big for the natural jr. welter.

* It was erroneously reported by one or two shoddy internet boxing opinionists that HBO had fired former undisputed Heavyweight Boxing Champion Lennox Lewis. The reality is that HBO had decided two months ago to go to a two-man team for budgetary reasons. (ESPN's Dan Rafael has an accurate report for those who chose to live by fact). HBO still insists that they only want a two-man team, but are in fact auditioning (less expensive) air-fillers such as Freddie Roach and Nazim Richardson.

* On a related note, the short break from broadcasting will give Lennox the time to roll out some of the myriad of endeavors that are on his plate. Being on the inside, I can only illuminate that Lennox is approached from all angles with projects from ad firms, promoters, television networks as well as governments all eager to partner with him on deals.  Wealthy beyond need, the big man weighs his business opportunities with a keen/critical eye.