Bernard Hopkins is, in my opinion, the best fighter of the last 15 years. With all due respect to Mr. Pacquiao and Mr. Mayweather, I don't think they are quite as complete a puglisitic package as "The Executioner" has been throughout his often inspirational career. No matter how great the fighter, one can usually point out a weakness, but I have a real hard time finding it when it comes to the Philadelphian fighting legend. I also can't favour any of the great middleweights against him in the ring with confidence. During his prime, he had it all. Now significantly past those days, he's still skilled enough to beat top fighters, or at the very least, make them look ordinary.

All that said, this fight marks the first time I'm picking against the old man. Well, kinda...

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Michael Nelson previews tonight's HBO 140lb doubleheader.

Two reclamation projects will endure a final exam tonight at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

Since being knocked out within the first round against Brendis Prescott, Amir Khan has looked dominant while cautiously match against men who aren't known for their knockout prowess. Tonight, he'll be across the ring from Marcos Maidana, arguably the biggest puncher at 140 pounds.

Maidana, of course, handed Victor Ortiz his only setback a year and a half ago, coming off the canvas to beat the Oxnard, California resident into submission. Ortiz has since been moved gingerly. Nate Campbell was someone thought to be lively enough to test the young man's resolve, but instead moved around the ring with lead in his legs (he retired after a recent loss to Walter Estrada). Tonight, Ortiz is facing someone young, skilled, and desperate; a body punching specialist who moves forward undeterred.

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Patrick Connor previews Saturday night's Showtime bantamweight tournament clash between Yonnhy Perez and Joseph Agbeko.  Check out Patrick's preview of the tournament's other match-up between Abner Mares and Vic Darchinyan.

November opened a potential can of worms in terms of action, whetting the appetite of boxing fans that have been long looking forward to the excitement that December may bring.

In a division filled with solid, name fighters, three separate promoters found a way to join forces and stage a tournament between four of the best guys at bantamweight. Not exactly a common occurrence these days, fans have been salivating at the idea of this single-elimination event since it was officially announced mid-September.

Though the Showtime Bantamweight Tournament hasn't been without its own hitches and venue switches, Gary Shaw and Golden Boy Promotions teamed up to headline the telecast with a collision featuring unbeaten rising star Abner Mares and former flyweight and super flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan.

The boxing gods will kindly afford fans a second helping of bantamweight goodness in the form of a support bout, in which Yonnhy Perez will defend his IBF title against Joseph Agbeko.

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Patrick Connor previews Saturday night's Showtime Bantamweight tournament clash between Vic Darchinyan and Abner Mares.  Please check back soon for Patrick's preview of the other tournament match-up between Yonnhy Perez and Joseph Agbeko.

"Remember, remember the eleventh of December..."

Alright, the old rhyme doesn't exactly go that way. But for boxing fans, it should.

Just under a week away, December 11 may see the awakening of this year's snoozing beast. And Yonnhy Perez, Vic Darchinyan, Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares are carrying the stick with which to poke it.

Early 2010 was admittedly a less-than-stellar period for boxing in terms of bigger match-ups between name fighters. Many bouts fell apart before being finalized, and some anticipated fights fell short of high expectations.

But as with a few other recent calendar years for the sport, the little guys may just make all suffering worthwhile.

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Andrew Fruman previews Saturday night's bantamweight clash between Nonito Donaire and Wladimir Sidorenko.

July 7, 2007. That was the date a 24 year old Nonito Donaire sent Vic Darchinyan stumbling with a perfectly placed left hook. With a package of speed, power and poise, big things were immediately expected of the exciting new talent, but in the three years and five months since his explosive arrival, no real headway has been made.

The lack of activity and quality match-ups has been disappointing for fans, and frustrating for Donaire, but this looks like the year everything should change.  Opportunities appear to be plenty, especially when you consider the stacked nature of the 118lb class, a division Donaire will be making his debut in this Saturday night when he takes on Wladimir Sidorenko.

Donaire is coming off a stoppage victory over Hernan Marquez back in July, a bout in which he turned southpaw for several early sessions. Though he’d reportedly had success practicing as a switch hitter in the gym, Donaire had poor results as a lefty against Marquez and didn’t get a firm grip on the fight until he went back to his traditional style.

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Those at Showtime must really believe in Andre Ward, because Sakio Bika is no easy night's work for anyone. While not technically sound, he is strong, tough, awkward, determined and he really can whack. They certainly could have gone a lot easier on him since he has little to gain by taking this fight, besides the experience of being in there with a hard-headed pro.

Bika has been woefully inactive lately, but based on what he brings to the table and the fact that he has won rounds against Joe Calzaghe and Lucian Bute, I think he could give Ward his toughest test yet. It's really not all that hard to imagine one of those weird and wild clubs catching him on the temple, is it?

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When the match-ups were first released, boxing fans everywhere though this one had the potential to be the best out of the bunch, including myself. Much has changed since the tournament's opening set of fights, including my opinion of how this battle will probably play out.

Back then, I pictured carnage. Violence, throughout. The kind of fight that would take a chunk out of both men. Two rugged offensive fighters with rocks for fists... how could it be any other way?

"I’m going back to Plan A against Abraham, back to basics. I’m going to get behind the jab, I’m taller than him, I’ve got a longer reach, I punch as hard if not harder, and he’s coming up from middleweight. The advantages are in my favour in this fight."

- Carl Froch

*exhales*

Just what I had in mind.

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It has been a real privilege watching the great Juan Manuel Marquez work all these years. The man with the best offensive technique in boxing has provided fans with a host of memorable moments and manly masterpieces for quite some time now, but the 37 year old Lightweight Champion is not through just yet.

Being king of three weight classes during his career is not enough. He wants to be the first Mexican fighter to conquer a fourth. And that leftover business with Manny Pacquiao still stings a little. Marquez has never lacked ambition or drive, and that hunger helped him outlast Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales, two more future Hall Of Famers, with whom he will always be compared.

But when does the sad ending come? When does the damage and wear from 17 years of professional prizefighting put an end to it all? The point of no return must be just around the corner.

The question is, can Michael Katsidis bust down the walls with just brute strength and balls? Will the challenger's power and pressure push the old champ over the edge?

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