Brian O. Blake’s Post X-Mas Boxing Notebook (December 27, 2010)

Added on Dec 27, 2010 by Brian Blake in

Boxing

-Boxing’s worst kept secret was finally made official Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions announced that pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao will return to the ring on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas where he will be putting his WBO Welterweight Championship on the line against the 39 year old future hall of famer Sugar Shane Mosley.

-Top Rank’s Bob Arum also recently made it known that WBA Junior Middleweight Champ Miguel Cotto will be making the initial defense of his title in March as anticipated. Arum is working closely with Don King to finalize a deal for Cotto to take on the former two division world champion Ricardo Mayorga at the MGM Grand. If victorious, sources close to Cotto have stated that he is most interested in a rematch with his one time conqueror, Antonio Margarito.

-WBO Featherweight Champion Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez was recently reported by a latin-based television program to have been involved with a domestic dispute with his wife Barbara de Jesus. Pete Rivera, who co-promotes Lopez along with Top Rank, quickly dismissed such claims to be false. Lopez, who returns to the ring in April, likely against undefeated Teon Kennedy, refused comment.

-As has been the case of late former title holder Jorge Rodrigo Barrios of Argentina has made headlines for his antics outside of the ring. Not long after learning he wouldn’t go to trial for his part in the death of a pregnant woman when he lost control of his car, the ex-wife of Barrios filed a complaint alleging that Barrios had beaten his son on several occasions. [Note to Barrios: Get it together man. Seriously.]

-The often talked about and constant failed negotiations took and interesting turn over the weekend as several German new outlets are reporting that both Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko are giving David Haye his choice as to which of team of heavyweight champion siblings he prefers to face. If history serves as any sort of indicator as to which he will choose, odds are Haye will once again attempt to face Wladimir as was the plan in 2009 before Haye pulled out with what some say was a suspect back injury.

-Recent word from the Team Arthur Abraham indicates that the former middleweight title holder will possibly take a tune-up fight following his recent loss to Carl Froch for the WBC Super Middleweight Championship. Abraham is set to take on tournament leader and WBA king Andre Ward in the upcoming semi-final bout of Showtime’s Super Six World Boxing Classic.

-Fresh off their December 4 clash, there are early indications that WBC Lightweight champ Humberto Soto and Urbano Antillon will once again tangle on the undercard of Pacquiao-Mosley. Soto one their first tilt with a close decision. The winner of this bout is likely to take on the winner of February’s Showtime televised fight when WBA Lightweight Champ Miguel Acosta battles Brandon Rios.

-Upon learning that British sensation Ricky Hatton is looking to return to the ring some time in 2011, Dmitriy Salita made it known that he hopes to be the Manchester native’s comeback opponent. Hatton hasn’t fought since his devastating loss to Manny Pacquiao in 2009.

Next on tap: Brian O. Blake’s 2010 Year-End Awards…