Fight of the Year: Amir Khan UD12 Marcos Maidana
For the last year and a half, boxing scribes were accusing “glass chinned” Amir Khan of ducking dynamite fisted Marcos Maidana. Khan, the WBA Junior Welterweight titleholder, had been viciously stopped a few years back in less than a minute by unknown Breidis Prescott. Naturally, Khan and his handlers took their time before risking a fight with the dangerous Maidana.

The wait turned out to be well worth it.

Last month, Khan and Maidana produced a twelve round thriller packed with non-stop action. Khan appeared close to scoring a knockdown in the opening round after a monstrous body shot, but Maidana battled back valiantly, showing tremendous heart and grit. Both fighters were hurt during this twelve round warfare and Maidana came close to turning the tides down the stretch. Khan managed to whether the storm and finished strong in the twelfth round of a bout that had the boxing world buzzing.

Fighter of the Year: Sergio Martinez
Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez went from being a junior middleweight known mostly for holding one of the many available championship belts to the sport’s newest superstar in 2010. In a matter of twelve months – less than that technically – Martinez won the middleweight title by slicing up Kelly Pavlik and scored one of the best knockouts in recent memory, dramatically stopping a top five pound for pound in Paul Williams. Maravilla’s 2010 was a treat for boxing fans to say the least!

Prospect of the Year: Saul Alvarez:
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is being billed as the next great fighter in a country that has produced hundreds of boxing greats and rightfully so.

He’s already 36-0 as a professional, beat two former world champions, multiple contenders and is only getting better. In 2010, Alvarez defeated Brian Camechis, Jose Cotto, Luciano Cuello, Carlos Baldomir (viciously knocking out the iron chinned Argentinean) and Lovemore N’dou.

Although he is not legally allowed to drink in the United States, Alvarez has many people sipping the kool-aid after defeating 5 solid opponents with a combined record of 169-27-9 record this pat year. Alvarez is definitely on the fast track to becoming a future pound for pound superstar.

Trainer of the Year: Gabriel Sarmiento
Trainer of the Year could once again go to Freddie Roach, but since it’s so close, Gabriel Sarmiento gets it for a change of pace.

Sarmiento had a marvelous year, guiding the Fighter of the Year, Sergio Martinez to two marquee victories, and in doing so, capturing and retaining the WBC and Ring Magazine middleweight championships.

Days before his fighter’s Nov. 20 rematch with Paul Williams, Sarmiento couldn’t sleep, he had noticed flaws in William’s game. He called Martinez and two days before the fight their entire game plan was scrapped, a new one implemented.

Martinez will move to his right and throw a looping overhand left. Williams won’t see it coming.

That was the plan. That was what happened.

Three times in the bout, the third being the KO, Martinez moves his body to the right, while a looping left hand trails. About 20 seconds before the final left hand lands on Williams chin, Martinez lands the exact same punch. Only difference was Williams saw the first one and took it well.

He didn’t see the Knockout Punch of the Year, though. For his guidance of Martinez, Sarmiento earns Trainer of the Year.

Sarmiento also works with Lucas Matthysse, who almost upset Zab Judah in November. He is also the primary trainer of up and coming Dominican prospect, Javier Fortuna, who scored a scary one-punch KO a-la Martinez only one week after the Martinez-Williams rematch.

Story — Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather unable to agree on terms:
When two sides have to split up $60-80 million dollars 50/50, there shouldn’t be much to bicker over. Boxers can only fight on for a certain number of years so why not go for the most money, especially if it’s a fight the entire world is salivating over?

Here’s the shortest possible explanation; Olympic style drug testing and arrogance.

Between Pacquiao’s refusal to take the strictest possible drug tests and Mayweather’s attitude along with his out of the ring issues, the biggest fight of 2010 never happened. Mayweather is currently facing a number of criminal charges and could end up in jail while Pacquiao is fighting on in bouts few care to see him in.

If the two never manage to meet in the ring regardless of circumstances, drug tests or jail time, it will severely hurt the great sport of boxing.

Fight we want to see in 201 besides Pacquiao-Mayweather: (Tie)—Andre Ward- Lucian Bute & Juan Manuel Lopez-Yuriorkis Gamboa
Since it doesn’t look like we’ll witness a match up between the two best fighters in the world (see above), it’d sure be great to see bouts between undefeated world champions that are in their prime and at the top of their weight class.

Andre Ward, the WBA Super Middleweight champion, is likely gong to win the coveted Super Six Tournament. He was a 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and is quickly moving his way onto pound for pound lists. He has few if any flaws and is yet to miss a beat. Bute, like Ward, has a super middleweight title (IBF) and never suffered a loss as a pro. Bute has good skills, massive drawing power in his adopted home country of Canada and US fans have quickly taken an interest in his career.

In addition to being one of the most notable fights possible, the Ward-Bute winner would become a megastar.
A Gamboa-Lopez fight has been discussed during the last year or so and understandably so. Both fighters have solid punching power, dynamic skills, excellent toughness, are relatively young and the backing of premium cable networks. Much like in a potential Ward-Bute fight, the winner in this bout would definitely become a big time star.

Upset of the Year: Jason Litzau SD10 Celestino Caballero
Celestino Caballero fought his way off of many top ten pound-for-pound lists when he dropped a split decision to Jason Litzau.

In the weeks leading up to his fight with Litzau, the lanky Panamanian was seemingly consumed with making YouTube videos taunting JuanMa Lopez. He called him a “chicken” and told him that he has “no heart.” His lack of focus showed during the fight — as he seemed even more awkward as usual (if that’s possible) and didn’t seemed prepared for someone close to his height. The fight on the whole reflects poorly on both Caballero and his trainer, Jeff Mayweather.

Litzau was coming off a nice string of victories, included one against Rocky Juarez, and he was able to keep his momentum rolling when he scored a split decision victory of Caballero. Scores were 96-94, Caballero and 96-94, 97-93 Litzau.

All things considered, this was not a fight Caballero should have lost. As Larry Merchant pointed out in the HBO broadcast, Caballero was a 13-1 favorite.

Fighter Most Likely to Have a Breakout Year in 2011: David Lemieux
Canadian power puncher David Lemieux is quickly becoming a name in boxing. He’s stopped 24 of his 25 opponents, is already a draw in his home country and has a style made for television. Much like Alvarez, the 22 year old Lemieux is taking steps in the right direction, having defeated respected opponents in Walid Smichet, Elvin Ayala and Hector Camacho Jr. With another solid victory or two, Lemieux should become a fighter on every fan’s radar.

Kyle Kinder contributed to this article

LAS VEGAS – LAS VEGAS – Amir Khan’s date with stardom is still there. But for one night it had to wait. Survival got in the way and perhaps forged a stronger possibility that Khan will indeed be the next big thing in boxing.

First, however, he had to prove he could endure.

Khan (24-1, 17 KOs) did so Saturday night in front of an announced Mandalay Bay crowd of 4,600 against volatile Marcos Maidana (29-2, 27 KOs), the son of an Argentine gaucho who was as wild and dangerous as an angry stallion.

Maidana suffered a first-round knockdown from a body punch, a Khan left that he never saw. He was penalized a point by referee Joe Cortez in the fifth for throwing an elbow. In every round, he threw punches that sometimes left Khan looking dazed and often left at the perilous edge of defeat.
Khan danced away, ducked, countered and desperately held on to victory. He won a decision that was unanimous in name only and narrow in fact.

Judges Jerry Roth and C.J. Ross scored it for Britain’s 140-pound champion, 114-111 each. On Glenn Trowbridge’s card, it was even closer — Khan by a mere point, 113-112.

Immediate emotion after the final bell was evident in some frustration expressed by Maidana’s corner, which to a man was convinced that they had been robbed of victory.

“I thought I did enough in the later rounds to win,’’ Maidana said.

An unidentified member of Maidana’s corner rushed into the ring and appeared to go after Cortez.
He couldn’t get to him, unlike Maidana, who repeatedly got to Khan.

For Kahn, however, part the victory as in a newfound ability to withstand the most powerful puncher in the division. His ability to take a punch has been an apparent weakness since he was stopped within a minute by by Breidis Prescott.

“I’ve got a chin,’’ Khan said. “I was hurt, but I came back stronger.’’

Strong enough perhaps to become the star that everybody believes he can be.

The assumption was that Victor Ortiz was fighting for a chance at a rematch with Marcos Maidana.

Think again.

First, Ortiz might have to settle for a rematch with Lamont Peterson.

Ortiz’ priorities and perhaps career were shuffled with a majority draw Saturday night with Peterson at Mandalay Bay in a junior-welterweight steppingstone before Maidana’s bid at an upset of Amir Khan.

Two judges scored, Dave Moretti and Patricia Morse Jarman, scored it 94-94. On judge Robert Hoyle’s card, it was 95-93 for Peterson.

Ortiz (28-2-2, 22 KOs) was left with the tie, an ambivalent mark on his resume, after scoring two knockdowns in the third round. Slowly, Peterson (28-1-1, 14 KOs) came back with series of punches that lacked power, yet were on target.

“I fell like crap,’’ said Ortiz, whose career was stalled when he was knocked out in 2009 by Maidana. “I thought I pulled it off. He doesn’t hit that hard. But, you know, bleep happens.’’

But there was more than just bleep. There were precise Peterson punches from the seventh round through the 10th. He repeatedly sent sweat flying off Ortiz’ face and head with lefts, rights and just about anything else he threw. Peterson landed 111 punches to 95 by Ortiz, according to PunchStats.

It said Mr. Nice Guy on the green waistband of Jacob Thornton’s trunks.

No argument there.

Thornton (2-2), a super-lightweight from St. Louis, was nice enough to go to his knees in the opening seconds of a first-round loss to Jamie Kavanaugh (4-0, 2 KOs) of Los Angeles.

Forty-four seconds after opening bell for the third fight Saturday on the card featuring Amir Khan-Marcos Maidana at Mandalay Bay, Kavanaugh’s opening assault left Thornton kneeling. It looked as if he were begging for a stoppage.

Junior-welterweight Sharif Bogere (18-0, 11 KOs), an African living in Las Vegas, had the look of a lion. The face of one adorned the front and back of his black trunks. A woman in lion’s costume accompanied him into the ring in the fifth fight on the Khan-Maidana card. Chris Fernandez ( 19-11-1, 11 KOs) of Salt Lake City was prey. Boegere, blood streaming from cuts near both eyes, mauled him for eight rounds, winning a unanimous decision.

Referee Jay Nady granted Thornton’s apparent wish, stopping the fight as though it had been scheduled to last only within the span of two NBA shot clocks.

In the card’s second bout, super-bantamweight Randy Caballero (6-0, 4 KOs) of Coachella, Calif., got a predictable victory and some necessary work in a four-round unanimous decision over Robert Guillen (5-9-3, 1 KO), a tough Phoenix fighter who was knocked down in the opening round.

The show opened in front of few fans and fewer chances for Arizona middleweight Gustavo Medina (1-3-1), who had no defense and even less offense in a third-round loss by TKO to rangy Venezuelan Alfonso Blanco (2-0, 1 KO).

The fourth bout on the Khan-Maidana card was a cross-town battle, two junior-welterweights from Las Vegas. Unbeaten Jessie Vargas (13-0, 7 KOs) prevailed. With Floyd Mayweather Jr. advisor Leonard Ellerbe in his corner, Vargas scored an eight-round, unanimous decision over Ramon Montano (17-9-2, 2 KOs).

Junior-welterweight Sharif Bogere (18-0, 11 KOs), an African living in Las Vegas, had the look of a lion. The face of one adorned the front and back of his black trunks. A woman in lion’s costume accompanied him into the ring in the fifth fight on the Khan-Maidana card. Chris Fernandez ( 19-11-1, 11 KOs) of Salt Lake City was prey. Boegere, blood streaming from cuts near both eyes, mauled him for eight rounds, winning a unanimous decision.

Heavyweight Seth Mitchell (20-0-1, 14 KOs) won the card’s sixth bout. But he didn’t celebrate. At least, not immediately. The ex-Michigan State linebacker was disappointed that Taurus Sykes (25-7-1, 7 KOs) of Brooklyn quit. Not long after a Mitchell left dropped him early in the fifth, Sykes went down again from what appeared to be a grazing punch. Mitchell urged him to get up. Sykes wouldn’t. He stayed down, a KO loser, at 1:42 of the fifth. Mitchell waved his gloves at him in disgust. Then, he celebrated.

In the end, only a white towel was defense against New York welterweight Joan Guzman (31-0-1, 18 KOs). Jason Davis’ corner threw it in surrender at 29 seconds of the second after the intimidated Canadian (11-8-1, 3 KOs) was unable to cope with the powerful Guzman, who dropped him in the opening round with a low blow in the card’s seventh fight and the last one before junior welterweight Victor Ortiz and Lamont Peterson clashed in the co-main event.

LAS VEGAS – He has mastered the Manny Pacquiao pose. Amir Khan looked as if he had been rehearsing it Friday at the weigh-in for his junior-welterweight date with Marcos Maidana at Mandalay Bay.

Khan was on target, on the scale and for the cameras. After checking in at the mandatory 140 pounds, Khan went into the Pacquiao pose, arms down and hands pressed together in a familiar look that has rippled through the internet for as long as the Filipino has been the brightest in a sport without many.

It was no coincidence, perhaps. Khan (23-1, 17 KOs) has been learning at the foot of Pacquiao’s throne as a sparring partner. For now, at least, Khan is Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach’s second favorite student. But it is impossible to know whether the pose was just another imitation in a town already full of Elvis impersonations.

A hint is forthcoming Saturday night.

Against Maidana (29-1, 27 KOs), the pose will prove to be nothing more than a cheap mask or in fact a sign that Khan is poised to move in when Pacquiao moves on, possibly in three years. The bet is that Khan’s pose is real — a good look at what can happen. He is about a 3-1 favorite to beat Maidana, a feared power puncher who was at 139 pounds Friday.

In the other featured junior-welterweight bout on a nine-fight card, Maidana knockout victim Victor Ortiz (28-2-1, 22 KOs) was 141 pounds and Lamont Peterson (28-1, 14 KOs) was at 140.

But the small crowd was there to see Khan and only Khan

“A-mir, A-mir’’ was the chant from his British fans.

There was only a fraction of the UK party that used to follow Ricky Hatton to Vegas. Then again, the Maidana fight is Khan’s first on the Strip and only his second in the United States. His first U.S. bout was in New York last May in a victory over Paulie Malignaggi.

Khan, who was was heavier Friday than he has ever been at a weigh-in, remains mostly-unknown in the U.S. and that might be evident at the box office. Ticket sales were reportedly slow Friday.

But if the pose takes on the real look of a potential Pacquiao successor, Saturday will be remembered as a successful introduction.

Photo By Claudia Bocanegra

LAS VEGAS — There is no advantage in hype, at least not at opening bell. Amir Khan has all of it. Marcos Maidana has none of it.

Maidana, an Argentine farm boy who can punch like a mule, is the son of a gaucho and about as anonymous as one in the hours before he faces Khan, whose good looks and versatile collection of agile skill have some anointing him as Manny Pacquiao’s heir apparent.

If this was a horse race, Maidana’s advertised chances Saturday night at Las Vegas Mandalay Bay would be about as good as a Clydesdale pulling a keg-filled wagon in six furlongs against Secretariat. It’s not. It is 12 rounds, thirty-six scheduled minutes and every second a chance for Maidana to unload a kick that damaged one prospect’s career with doubts that have yet to be eliminated.

Victor Ortiz still bristles at suggestions that he surrendered in June, 2009 to Maidana, who was more anonymous then than he is now. A few days ago during a conference call, Ortiz would not answer questions about whether he wants a rematch with Maidana. No answer needs no translation. Of course, he does. A complete rehab of his prospects can’t be complete without one.
For Khan, the good news is that Ortiz is there, on the Golden Boy-promoted and HBO-televised card against Lamont Peterson. Khan won’t have to look far to know what can happen if he lets the hype blind him to the imminent danger posed by Maidana.

Khan, a British silver medalist at the 2004 Olympics, is the latest Pied Piper for the UK media, which is about to stage its biggest invasion of Vegas since Ricky Hatton.

“A mini-England,’’ Khan said of beer, Union Jacks and more rounds of beer that he expects will transform Mandalay Bay into another colony for one night.

By the way, Hatton was a good example of what hype can do. Likable and entertaining, Hatton also was overrated, a fact proven first by Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and then Pacquiao in crushing stoppages. The guess here is that Khan, the British-born son of Pakistani immigrants, has more physical skills than Hatton and is smarter than Naseem Hamed. In boxing terms, Khan has the skill and instinct to be the UK’s best since heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis.

But Maidana stands in the way. For fans and often media with a short memory, the Argentine’s chances at an upset have been ignored, mostly because of a lousy performance against DeMarcus Corley, who hurt him with an uppercut.

But that performance was a lesson, says Maidaina trainer Miguel Diaz, a fellow Argentine with as much horse sense as anybody in any corner. The Argentina connection is coincidence perhaps, yet impossible to ignore. Khan’s quickness, precise jab and budding relationship with Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach are considered insurmountable.

Khan can just do more things. If that sounds familiar, think back to Atlantic City a few weeks ago. Paul Williams was feared, had speed, energy and all of the hype against Sergio Martinez, another Argentine. But with one big punch, Martinez made himself a contender for Fighter of the Year with a stunning second-round stoppage. Sometimes, upsets come in bunches.

If there is a weakness in Khan, it is his vulnerability to the big punch, which Maidana possesses two-fold, right and left. Breidis Prescott exposed that vulnerability in 2008 with a KO within a minute of opening bell. Sparring with Pacquiao and listening to Roach are the double-edged lesson in the plan to resurrect Khan and transform him into the fighter who was the talk of the 2004 Games in Athens.

Until opening bell Saturday night, however, the only sure thing is that the hype is back. The guess in this corner is that Maidana is too. That might not be enough against a fully-restored Khan. But for everybody talking about Khan as the next Pacquaio, or against Pacquiao or against Mayweather, beware.

Beware of Maidana.

The sun set on the British Empire long ago, but it might be rising for the UK’s newest hope at conquering the world, or at least the junior-welterweight’s version of it. Amir Khan’s promotional nickname is King.

King Khan sounds good, but an alliterative ring straight from Hollywood’s history of a much-aped film doesn’t make him worthy of a real crown. Not yet, anyway.

Khan’s chance at a claim takes him to Las Vegas next week for a Dec. 11 date against Marcos Maidana at Mandalay Bay. On the path back from his lone defeat, the fight looms as a decisive marker en route to perhaps the Devon Alexander-Tim Bradley winner and undisputed rule of the rich 140-pound division. Lose it, and a potential milestone turns into a deadly millstone, a career killer.

In a conference call Thursday, Khan was part confident, part cautious.

The confidence comes from the most capable corner in this empire and perhaps a few others.

Freddie Roach is there and has been since Khan beat Marco Antonio Barrera, a fading fighter with a master tactician’s undiminished smarts. Through four fights with Roach, Khan first re-established credentials tarnished by a 2008 loss – a first-round knockout – to Breidis Prescott in front of his stunned countrymen in Manchester, England. A steep learning curve followed, one which displayed a marked increase in versatility and poise.

“We haven’t lost a round since we’ve been together,’’ said Roach, who predicts Khan will knock out Maidana in a late round. “… I don’t see us losing a round here either.’’

Further confidence is rooted in Khan’s work with Manny Pacquiao in a globetrotting camp that started in the Philippines, stopped in Los Angeles at the Wild Card Gym and ended in Dallas before the Filipino Congressman dismantled Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13 at Cowboys Stadium. During 15 to 20 rounds of sparring, Roach said Khan had some good moments against Pacquiao, who took the mythical out of the pound-for-pound debate with a performance that, among other things, displayed speed that Maidana does not possess.

Do well against Pacquiao, Khan said, “and you can do well against anybody.’’

But a good measure of caution was unmistakable Thursday in perhaps a reflection of Khan’s growing maturity and certainly a byproduct of Maidana’s record. Maidana has already proven himself to be a dangerously effective roadblock for anybody with eyes on a bigger horizon. Ask Victor Ortiz, a surfer who sounded as if he wanted to leave the ring and retire to his board after suffering a sixth-round stoppage at the powerful hands of Maidana.

Lest anybody forget that Maidana is dangerous, the Dec. 11 card includes a warning with the presence of Ortiz, who faces Lamont Peterson in an attempt to go 5-0 since his lone loss in 2009 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

“It won’t be easy, because he is durable guy,’’ Roach said.

And Khan said he won’t be focused to on trying to make good on Roach’s knockout prediction.

“Because when you do, you make mistakes,’’ said Khan, who perhaps betrayed some of his confidence when he said Maidana’s unadorned, straight-ahead style means he “won’t be hard to find.’’
In terms of career momentum, Khan has an edge. He has been on a roll, especially since he joined Roach. For Maidana, there are questions left by a poor showing in a decision over DeMarcus Corley in August. He spent too much time training in his native Argentina, trainer Miguel Diaz said.

“First he came to the United States, late and fat,’’ Diaz said. “Then, he signed a contract with Golden Boy (Promotions). That was another week lost.

“For this fight, he has already been here nine weeks. By the time of the fight, it will be 10 weeks in America. He has been isolated. He comes only to the gym, leaves and rests. He is ready.’’

Problems against Corley, Diaz said, taught Maidana that there would no more training in Argentina, where boxing has become a popular diversion from soccer and tango. First, there was Maidana. Then, there was Sergio Martinez’ stunning second-round knockout of Paul Williams.

Translation: Khan would be surprised if he doesn’t see the best in Maidana; if he doesn’t encounter the stubborn, power puncher who shocked Ortiz. Actually, it sounds as if he would be more than just surprised. He’d be disappointed. Khan’s birthday is Wednesday. He’ll be 24.

But there won’t be a celebration of some newfound maturity until at least Saturday, Dec. 11. And there won’t be one at all if Khan can’t display it against a prepared and capable Maidana.

Canelo in, Junior out
In a budding rivalry to win over Mexico, Saul Alvarez appears to have grabbed an advantage over Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., who inherited a name and crushing expectations from his father, the senior legend and scarred face of the Mexican franchise.

Alvarez is fighting Saturday.

Chavez isn’t.

The Golden Boy-promoted Alvarez, better known as Canelo, faces Lovemore N’dou in Veracruz on a night when a reported fever and flu bumped Junior off a shuffled Top Rank card Saturday in Anaheim, Calif., against Pawel Wolak, who stepped in for injured Alfonso Gomez.

“This happens sometimes,’’ said Chavez promoter Bob Arum, who went on to to describe Junior’s luck as the kind that gets flushed. “Really bad luck, not of his doing. Anybody can get a serious fever and get knocked out of a fight. It’s not something you can really guard against. It just happens.

“It’s like fate, man. It happens. Bleep happens.’’

What won’t happen any time soon is a fight with Miguel Cotto, who could do more damage to Chavez’ career than the flu.

“I don’t think it would be prudent, at this point, to put him in with Miguel,’’ said Arum, who is offering ticket refunds for anybody who wants one, yet will proceed with the pay-per-view card at the Honda Center with bantamweight Nonito Donaire in the main event against Volodymyr Sydorenko.
Ideally, Arum said, he would like to see Chavez win two fights at 154 pounds before Cotto is again a possibility for Junior, still an heir-apparent in name only.

Donaire, who has Margarito trainer Robert Garcia in his corner, is fighting for a shot at Fernando Montiel. Montiel and Donaire turned down a chance to be part of a bantamweight tournament that includes Yonnhy Perez -versus-Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares-versus-Vic Darchinyan at Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Wash., in a Showtime-televised doubleheader on Dec. 11.

Drachinyan ripped Montiel in a conference-call doubleheader Thursday.

“He’s already a loser,’’ Darchinyan said from Australia. “He didn’t want to be part of the tournament.’’

On second thought
Attendance was disappointing for cards in November, which looked like a banquet for fans starved for fights throughout a long, dark summer.

Juan Manuel Marquez’ victory over Michael Katsidis at Las Vegas MGM Grand on Nov. 27 drew 4,920.
Andre Ward’s win over Sakio Bika, also on Nov.27, in Oakland, drew 4,100.

There were 4,818 for Juan Manuel Lopez’ win on Nov. 6 over Rafael Marquez, also at the MGM Grand.
Pacquiao’s destruction of Margarito on Nov. 13 attracted 41,734, but even that was a disappointment. Arum predicted 60,000-plus.

In a tight economy, perhaps there were too many fights. It might have been tough on the wallet to see them all. Or maybe fans are staying away, turned off by the abortive talks for Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Then again, more and more living rooms have high-definition television screens, which are getting cheaper almost by the day.

It is easier to stay at home and more satisfying to watch a fight on HDTV than it is from a seat at the venue. You save on parking and see more. A lot more. Even from the press section on the floor at Cowboys Stadium, I found myself looking up at the brilliant screen above the ring throughout Pacquiao-Margarito. The fighters were bigger on that screen than they were in the ring.

Photo by Claudia Bocanegra

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that WBA Super Lightweight champion Amir Khan will battle interim champion Marcos Maidana on December 11 in Las Vegas.

“We came to an agreement [Tuesday] night. Khan is on board. Maidana is on board and I am finalizing everything with Mandalay Bay,” Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer said outside of Staples Center during a news conference promoting Saturday night’s Shane Mosley-Sergio Mora HBO PPV card.

“Amir wanted to have this fight in the U.K. and Maidana wanted the fight to be in the United States, but we worked on things and I was informed by Amir’s lawyer that he would fight in the U.S.,” Schaefer said. “There was some urgency for us to make a deal because of the purse bid coming up, but now we have a deal and I will inform the WBA that the fighters have reached agreement.”

“We worked it out financially where everyone was happy,” Schaefer said. “It was a difficult fight to put together but this was the fight I kept hearing from fans and media that they wanted to see. Golden Boy made some concessions and we got the fight done.”

“I want this fight and the fans want to see this fight,” said Khan, who had called Schaefer’s cell phone from England and spoke to ESPN.com. “It’s two explosive styles meeting up. It’s the explosive puncher [Maidana] against the quick and explosive boxer. They say Maidana has a style to beat a boxer, so let’s see how good he is. Maidana wants to stop me from having my legacy, but that is not going to happen. But let him try.”

“I’m coming to fight him where he wants to fight. But I want this fight, so I am going where he wants to fight,” Khan said. “That’s how much I want this fight.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Golden Boy Promotions for 90 days due to The promotional company failure to turn in paperwork as relating to the May 15th fight card that featured Amir Khan’s WBA Super Lightweight title defense over Paulie Malignagii and Victor Ortiz’s uananimous decision over Nate Campbell at the Madison Square Garden Theather.

“The reason that it was issued was the lack of disclosure of information on their previous show at Madison Square Garden related to their promotional agreements,” said Ralph Petrillo, who is the commission’s director of Boxing.

“They are obliged to supply to the commission any promotional agreements for any boxers they have on that show. They didn’t do that,” Petrillo said.

New York attorney Judd Burstein, who is representing Golden Boy, told ESPN.com the paperwork was turned over to the commission Monday. He was contrite about the situation.

“The commission is not wrong. Their unhappiness was well justified,” Burstein said. “There were innocent errors of omission by Golden Boy. I became involved on Friday. Since then every single document the commission requested has been provided. We’re in talks with the commission to resolve this matter. There’s nothing to hide.”

“This is not a situation where I will say the commission is acting irrationally by being upset,” Burstein said. “There was no willful intent or false statement made. The guy [David Itskowitch] who usually handles it went on his honeymoon and the guy [Armando Gaytan] who [handled it] didn’t know what the hell he was talking about. It’s a completely honest mistake.”

“We were in constant weekly e-mail contact with them after the fight asking them for it,” Petrillo said. “We went back and forth. They were going to check with their legal department was what we were told in the last [e-mail] about three weeks ago. They originally signed our disclosure form saying they would release [the contracts]. They said they hadn’t disclosed their contracts to other states.”

Moments after Amir Khan dominated Paulie Malignaggi in his American debut in mid May he declared he wanted to fight again and soon. He even went as far as to say his preference would be at the end of July or early August before he begins his religious fasting for Ramadan begins.

On the same day as Khan’s beatdown of Malignaggi two possible future foe’s collided when Michael Katsidis and Britain’s Kevin Mitchell clashed. Katsidis proved to strong and to good stopping Mitchell in the third round thus very much putting himself in the box seat for a fight with Amir Khan.

However as time has passed in the ensuing weeks word was the Katsidis had turned down the fight. Not so according to Katsidis manager/trainer Brendon Smith who would say.

“Michael Katsidis has never pulled out of a fight with Amir Khan. I don’t believe a fight can be made because Michael is too much of a risk for Amir Khan”

Before continuing “I am confident in saying team Khan has viewed the tape of Michael with Kevin Mitchell and a cross would of went through Michael’s name immediately as an opponent as it did before when Malignaggi was selected for Amir’s US debut and therefore Joel Casamayor has now become a much safer choice”

British newspaper The Sun is reporting that Golden Boy have offered Casamayor in the region of £400,000 (Just short of $600,000) to face Khan on 31 July at London’s 02 Arena.

A disappointed Smith added that “I have never received an offer to fight Amir Khan with Michael, but I did have a discussion with Richard Schaefer who would love to put this fight on and knows we are available on the proviso that Michael is paid accordingly and trust me on this, only paid fairly and not over priced”

It’s not only Khan who isn’t safe from Smith’s broadside, European champion John Murray was also brought up.

“I am also sad to say that i am right on this one too. I have never heard back from his camp with any offer whatsoever. But this is not the first time this has happened as well. I have on a couple of occasion’s in the past (pre Mitchell fight) been contacted by team Murray but that is as far as it goes!”

The shame as Smith puts it is that neither British fighter will step up and fight Katsidis who is also popular in Britain having fought there twice previously when he KO’d both Graham Earl & recently Kevin Mitchell. Though he believes Katsidis must be doing something right if both are using Katsidis name to promote there own. He ended with this message for British fight fans.

“England your two great fighters have temporarily lost their balls and unless they find them quickly, you won’t be seeing Michael Katsidis in the opposite corner and that is the truth!!”

Just encase you missed it Michael Katsidis is available for a fight and he’d love it to be in Britain so he can attempt to complete his hatrick of victories over British fighters.

WBA Super Lightweight champion Amir Khan meets the media after his stoppage win over Paulie Malignaggi and discusses his future plans

Watch Amir Khan Post Fight Press conference in Sports  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

At the WaMu Theater in Madison Square Garden, the hotly contested war of words between Amir Khan (22-1, 16 KO’s) and Paulie Malignaggi (27-3, 5 KO’s) finally reached it’s pinnacle in this match-up for Khan’s WBA Super-Lightweight title. After weeks of verbal attacks from both camps and a full scale brawl that broke out at the weigh in, the atmosphere in the arena was nothing short of electric. Flags of England and Pakistan were seen in the crowd showing support for Khan, while American and Italian flags were being waved for Malignaggi. The world’s melting pot of New York City was the perfect setting for the fight.

The first round was a scrappy affair as each fighter was eager to show off their lightning-quick hand speed. The boisterous crowd was on their feet for every glancing blow. It was clear from the outset that Malignaggi hoped to disturb his opponent by getting low and clinching on the inside while landing short punches to Khan’s belt line, while the bigger Khan was keen on keeping the fight at a safe distance for his hard punches.

Throughout the first three rounds, neither fighter was able to land any hard punches, but each made their mark with crisp punches from a distance. The action picked up as the fight progressed, with Paulie throwing more combinations, while Khan threw the harder punches.

Midway through the fourth, Khan was able to land a left-right-left combination that seemed to annoy Malignaggi more than hurt him. Still, it showed the course that the fight could take. Thirty seconds later, a hard uppercut snapped Malignaggi’s head back and brought the crowd back to their feet. Ten seconds later, a hard left had Malignaggi against the ropes. He was not visibly shaken, but Malignaggi was getting a serious taste of Khan’s power, and Khan’s control of the fight was clear.

An abrasion over Malignaggi’s left eye that would eventually turn into a bad cut was visible to those at ringside.

Early into the fifth round, we saw Malignaggi on the canvas after a tangle on the inside. It was not a knockdown, but the crowd certainly showed that they were hungry for blood. Khan’s lead right hand output slowed, as Malignaggi was able to counter it with a short left hook. That led to Khan using a more proper right hand that followed a jab. The sixth round was a jab-fest with both fighters once again showcasing their amazing hand speed. Khan continued to follow his jabs with right hands with success and was maintaining control of the fight.

Entering the seventh round, it was Khan’s power advantage that was the deciding factor throughout. His output grew as the fight progressed, and Malignaggi had no answer. Two minutes into the eighth, Khan was able to snap Malignaggi’s head back with two very stiff jabs. Thirty seconds later, he landed a right hand followed by a left while Malignaggi was up against the ropes. The difficulty with the cut over Malignaggi’s left eye was beginning to show in his performance, as he was falling hopelessly behind.

Entering the ninth, a more confident Khan was in the ring against an opponent who was keen on re-establishing his jab in the hopes of putting together a more potent offense. The problem with Malignaggi is that he has never been a very feared fighter offensively. Khan walked through Malignaggi’s hard jabs and was able to land a right hand the knocked Malignaggi into the ropes.

While the action was not constant, Khan was consistantly landing hard shots throughout the fight. It was at this time that the damage became very visible as the cut grew to a dangerous level.

Most experts believed that this fight would go the distance, so as both fighters entered the championship rounds, the expectations in the crowd grew even more. Those expectations were delayed for a moment as the ringside physician took some extra time to examine a cut and some serious swelling that had been developing on Malignaggi. He seemed disappointed in himself, and while not having an ounce of quit in him, he was emotionally not in the fight at this point.

Khan saw this and decided to pounce. Malignaggi had no response. He was not hurt, but esteemed referee, Steve Smoger, immediatly jumped in and stopped the action at the 1:25 mark of the eleventh round giving Khan a TKO victory.

The co-feature of the evening featured a very interesting crossroads matchup between junior welterwights, Victor Ortiz (26-2-1, 21 KO’s) and Nate Campbell (33-5-1, 25 KO’s), scheduled for ten rounds. Ortiz, at 140lbs, plays the role of the emerging up and comer looking to prove himself against a savvy veteran in Campbell, at 139lbs. The first round opened up at a decent pace. Ortiz took no time in showing off his power, as he was able to land a right hook around Campbell’s high guard. In the final thirty seconds of the round, Campbell got into his groove and was able to get inside where he works best. That plan backfired, as Ortiz was able to land two uppercuts followed by a right hook that acted more like a push than a punch. Campbell’s gloves touched the canvas, and the referee ruled it a knockdown despite Campbell’s valid argument.

The second round opened up at a brisk pace, as Campbell was out to prove that he wasn’t hurt. He got right inside and was able to land some strong uppercuts. Ortiz, feeling better suited working from the outside, stepped back and brought the fight to the center of the ring, where he was able to land. A strong southpaw lead.

The battle of ring generalship continued into the third round, but for the moment, Ortiz seemed in control. When Campbell used his patented technique of using savvy smarts and footwork to force his opponent into the ropes, Ortiz would showcase his southpaw right hook to take advantage. When the fight went into the center of the ring, Ortiz would utilize his lead southpaw straight left. Early in the fight, Ortiz was showing the New York City fans that he was just as crafty as his veteran counterpart.

But would it last against a fighter that has no problem maintaining a grueling pace for twelve rounds?

By the fourth round, Ortiz was moving more than usual, but was able to prevent Campbell from planting his feet and throwing punches. Campbell did not seem concerned with this tactic, as he was able to land long straight right hands. Ortiz maintained control, but Campbell was slowly bringing the action to a pace he is more accustomed to.

In the sixth, Ortiz managed to work Campbell into the ropes and unleash a barrage of punches to the body and head. None of the punches did any serious physical damage to Campbell, but it definitely did some damage to his scorecard. Campbell managed to retaliate by landing a long right hand flush on Ortiz’ chin, but that might have proved that Campbell does not carry much power at the higher weight.

By the eighth round, Ortiz was very much in control of the pace of the fight, as Campbell was unable to pin him onto the ropes and get into a grueling type of affair that he normally excels in. The ninth stanza saw some exciting back and fourth anction. Ortiz unleasged multiple punch combinations on an opponent that could do nothing but cover up and weather the storm. Campbell was able to get in closer and land long hooks that sent Ortiz’ perspiration flying into the paying customers at ringside. Still, Campbell’s offensives were few and far between.

The last round of the fight saw Campbell chasing down the very mobile Ortiz to no avail. Ortiz decided to play it safe in a fight that he was comfortably leading in. As the final bell rang, the crowd gave both fighters a very appreciative applause for the style match-up that they displayed over ten rounds. The final scores read 100-89, 100-89, and 99-90 all in favor of Victor Ortiz.—Arben Paloka

Good looking Middleweight prospect Daniel Jacobs annihilated an over matched Juan Astorga in under two rounds in a scheduled ten round bout.

Jacobs scored two knockdowns in round one, first from a body shot than a right hand. It was only time before a vicious body shot sent Astorga down in round two. Jacobs closed the show with two hard shots that sent Astorga to his knees and the fight was waved off at fifty-one seconds of round two.

Jacobs, 160 lbs of Brooklyn is now 20-0 with seventten knockouts. Astorga, 164 1/2 lbs of Brownfield, TX is now 14-5-1.

In a six round battle of undefeated Heavyweights, Kelvin Price scored a split decision over Tor Hamer

Price landed a grazing left hook that sent Hamer into the ropes in round two for which referee Benji Esteves ruled a knockdown. After that it was mostly Hamer landing some solid over hand right and body punches. Price was mildly effective was jabs but the judges saw it in his favor

Price 243 lbs of Pensacola, FL won by scores of 58-55 on two cards while Hamer won a card 57-56.

Price is now 7-0. Hamer is 11-1.

Former Amir Khan conqueror Bredis Prescott stopped Jason Davis at 1:11 of round three of a scheduled eight round Welterweight bout.

Prescott dropped Davis twice in the third round with the second knockdown being a hard body shot that forced Davis to retire at the 1:11 mark.

Prescott, 140 1/2 lbs of Miami is now 22-2 with nineteen knockouts. Davis, 144 1/2 lbs of Vancouver, WA is now 11-7-1.

Jamie Kavanaugh made a successful pro debut as he stopped William Wade in round two of a scheduled four round Jr. Welterweight bout.

Kavanaugh dropped Wade with a right to the body and again with a left to the body in round two. Moments after that, Kavanaugh scored a third and final knockdown with a winging left to the head and referee Sparkle Lee stopped the contest at 1:39.

Kavanaugh, 139 1/2 lbs of Dublin, Ireland is now 1-0 with one knockout. Wade, 141 lbs of Augusta, GA is now 1-3.

In the opening bout Dennis Douglin took apart veteran Joshua Onyango at 1:10 of round two of a scheduled six round Middleweight bout.

Douglin dropped Onyango twice in round two from hard straight left hands and referee Sparkle Lee waved the contest off immediately after the second knockdown.

Douglan, 156 lbs of Morganville, NI is now 9-0 with five knockouts. Onyango, 157 lbs of Trenton, NJ is now 13-19-1.

15rounds.com, Claudia Bocanegra was at the Trinity Boxing Club in New York where WBA Super Welterweight champion Amir Khan worked out for the media in advance of Khan’s title defense against Paulie Malignaggi

15rounds.com Claudia Bocanegra was present to capture the vivid pictures as Golden Boy Promotions along with DiBella Entertainment announced the long awaited American debut for WBA Super Lightweight champion Amir Khan as he will take on former IBF champ Paulie Malignaggi on May 15th at WaMu Theater in Madison Square Garden

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Golden Boy Promotions has signed WBA Super Lightweight champion Amir Khan which will pave his way to fight in America possibly on HBO.

Khan, who had been working with Warren on a fight-by-fight basis in recent bouts, agreed to a three-fight deal with Oscar De La Hoya’s company, according to a source familiar with the agreement.

“I am really happy Khan Promotions is partnering with Golden Boy as I know that together they will be the right team to help me continue my career as an elite fighter and to expand my fan base to the United States and around the world,” Khan said. “I’m ready to fight anyone, anywhere, anytime and know that Golden Boy will help me accomplish these goals.”

It is unclear if Khan will face Maidana, a dangerous opponent whom trainer Freddie Roach would prefer for Khan not to face. If Khan does not face Maidana, he could be stripped of his title. It is also possible that Maidana could step aside and allow Khan an interim bout. Golden Boy is a partner with Germany promoter Universum on Maidana’s promotional contract, so that scenario is possible.

“Amir Khan is one of the most talented fighters in the world at any weight,” said Oscar De La Hoya. “That talent, combined with his charismatic and outgoing personality, makes him a promoter’s dream, and I feel will one day lead him to being the face of boxing. We are extremely excited to team with Khan Promotions and look forward to introducing Amir to fight fans in the United States and around the world.”

On a recent trip the United States, Khan discussed a promotional deal with Golden Boy and rival Top Rank. Roach told ESPN.com that Khan called him from England on Friday and asked for him to put him in touch with Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer.

“So I put them together,” Roach said. “I know Amir was not happy with the offer to fight Maidana and wanted to see if there was a better deal out there.”

Apparently, he got one from Golden Boy, which hopes to make Khan’s American debut fight against New Yorker Paulie Malignaggi at Madison Square Garden, perhaps as soon as April.