Patrick Connor recaps Saturday night's 175lb title clash.

In previewing and analyzing the clash between Bernard Hopkins and Jean Pascal in the last few weeks, one of the last things anyone expected was a worthwhile fight.

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Patrick Connor recaps Saturday night's Showtime Bantamweight Tournament action.

There sure was hurlyburly, but we're not done.

The opening round of Showtime's Bantamweight Tournament last night appeared to reinforce what many pundits and fans have been saying for more than 2 years: bantamweight may be the best division in the sport right now.

While most would agree that Vic Darchinyan, Yonnhy Perez, Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares are top level fighters and among the best of the division, the fact that the winner of this tournament likely won't be considered the absolute best at 118 lbs. speaks to the depth and quality of bantamweight.

The excellent card also taught us a number of new things.

In Mares' split-decision win over Darchinyan, we learned that Vic did indeed bring stinging power up to bantamweight with him, and that Mares' chin was good enough to take it. Unfortunately, we also learned that referee Robert Howard has no business refereeing a world title fight, and that Darchinyan can apparently sell a non-foul with the best of 'em.

Agbeko's clear decision over Perez in a rematch of their terrific October 2009 meeting reminded us that we can never underestimate anyone at this level. No matter how we pigeonhole guys into certain style categories, world class guys will surprise us with a new trick or two every so often.

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Andrew Fruman recaps Saturday night's HBO main-event between Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana.

Amir Khan won it, but just barely.  Nearly out on his feet during a hair raising tenth round, the flashy Brit managed to stay upright for the full twelve in holding off a determined rally by Argentinean brawler Marcos Maidana.  It was a punishing, exhausting battle, featuring the kind of high drama that prize fighting delivers every once in awhile, with both fighters having their resolve pushed to the limit.

Early on, it looked like Khan might make short work of his rugged adversary, as a devastating left hand under the elbow crumpled Maidana to the canvas late in the first session.  It was the type of digging liver shot that most fighters don't recover from, but Maidana managed to pull himself up before riding out the remaining few seconds of the round.

Clearly not fully recovered from the blow to the mid-section, Maidana was no match for Khan in the second round but started to work his way back into the fight during the third and fourth sessions.  Making up for Khan's edge in hand speed, Maidana did a fine job of cutting off the ring and ripping right hands that occasionally found the mark.  In response Khan picked his spots to stop and hammer home combinations, though was often forced to hold and at times looked uncomfortable with the pressure.

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Andrew Fruman recaps Saturday night's Top Rank show.

An explosive performance from one of the sport’s most dynamic fighters in Nonito Donaire, followed by an epic back and forth brawl between hard-edged lightweights Humberto Soto and Urbano Antillon - it was a good night for boxing at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Soto Holds Off Brave Challenge From Antillon

A unanimous decision winner on the scorecards, Soto was pushed hard throughout twelve violent rounds by a remarkably resilient Antillon in a pulsating encounter that was arguably the most intense fight of 2010.

Fighting at a torrid pace from the opening bell, the relentless Antillon used a steady slashing attack to constantly force the action to the ropes. Over and over he plowed forward with his head down; banging hooks to the midsection in an attempt to grind down his technically superior rival, while Soto responded with the more precise work, including a number of flush counter uppercuts on the inside.

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By Andrew Fruman

The drinks were flowing and the place was buzzing with boxing chatter as a voice alerted everyone to turn their attention towards the televisions.

"They're showing it, they're showing it!"

All eyes at the bar turned just in time to see the highlight of Sergio Martinez' perfect left hand connect; the moment drawing an audible stir of wonder from the gathered throng of fight fanatics.

With no big screen to replay the action at the Boardwalk Hall venue, it was the first opportunity for many to see the punch up close - and to confirm their eyes hadn't played any tricks.  Yes, it really did happen.

The following slow motion replay drew more and even louder "Ooooohs!" as the moment of impact distorted the challenger's features for an instant.  The image reminiscent of that famous old photo of Jersey Joe Walcott getting tagged by a Rocky Marciano right hand.  Walcott sagged slowly down, his arm hooked on the rope to ease his descent.  There was no such cushioned landing for Paul Williams, as the lanky southpaw crashed face first to the canvas.

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Andrew Fruman was ringside for Saturday night's Rumble at Rama XXIII show.

Fighting in the vicinity of his hometown for the first time in over five years, Troy Ross (194) got back in the win column with a dominating ten round decision over Carl Handy (192).

The Canadian southpaw won all ten rounds, backing Handy up in every session with a full assortment of punishing blows including a number of digging body shots.  With Handy offering little offense in return, Ross was able to plant his feet and rip heavy combinations with regularity though sometimes crowded himself too much in his haste to deliver a fight ending shot.

There were a few moments when the highly rated (Bad Left Hook #3, Ring #4) Brampton fighter appeared to be on verge of putting his Montreal based (via New Orleans) opponent in real distress, though the cagey journeyman always managed to buy time by adeptly ducking and dodging or forcing a clinch.

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Andrew Fruman has the ringside report from this past Saturday night's show at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.

Logan McGuinness (133) made quick work of Buzz Grant (132), handing out a two round drubbing in the main event of Saturday night’s five bout card at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga.

The 23 year old McGuinness was just too strong and sharp as he stalked his fellow Orangeville rival from the opening bell, jabbing his way in while unloading a steady barrage of crisp combinations. Grant tried to use plenty of side to side movement, while occasionally looking to counter between McGuinness’ punches but could do little to slow the younger man’s attack.

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Jeff Pryor takes a look at how the HBO commentary team performed in this past Saturday night's Mosley vs Mora pay-per-view broadcast.

When Shane Mosley and Sergio Mora stepped into the ring with each other not long ago, they completed twelve rounds of on-again off-again combat, officially at a draw. Three men at ringside were seeing a totally different fight then the one that unfolded over those intermittently dull and explosive stanzas. Those three men, were not the judges who each saw a close, but debatable outcome.

Those three men were HBO's broadcast crew of Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant and Harold Lederman.

If Mosley and Mora failed to entertain us for stretches of the bout, no one did a bigger disservice to themselves or the boxing match, than did our three hosts for the pay per view show. According to their call of the fight, Mosley was the clear winner, Mosley made the fight, Mosley was blameless in any of the holding, Mora didn't land more than two or three significant punches, and Mosley is deserving of another big fight.

In the words of the emotionally overwrought and disingenuous Jim Lampley... "This... Sucks!"  Though HBO's longtime call-guy, was protesting the judges decision with that outburst, it's a more fitting charge against his sycophantic flattery of the eminently likable Mosley.

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