This special edition of 24/7 begins by contrasting Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley, both in location and the trappings of their day-to-day lives.

We flash back to the official announcement of the fight, with Manny saying it will be a tough fight and Tim stating that he was coming to win. Bradley is comfortable in the role of underdog and doesn't care if anyone doubts his chances of winning. A family man, Baradley is seen with his kids, one of whom says Pacquiao better be ready. no comments

Coming on the heels of Lamont Peterson testing positive for synthetic testosterone, scrapping his rematch with Amir Khan and generally sending everyone who cares about the great sport of boxing into a tizzy, the last thing we needed was someone else doing something similar. The sweet science has an image problem as it is.

Sadly, today we got the cross to go with Peterson's jab in the form of Andre Berto and his positive test for steroids. Berto also had a highly anticipated rematch coming up next month (against Victor Ortiz), but that, too, is probably going to get scuttled. This is, to put it bluntly, officially a mess.

I'm preaching to the choir if you're reading this, a boxing blog, but these developments come at the worst possible time for fans of the sport in the U.S. At a time when we should be celebrating the success of the Floyd Mayweather-Miguel Cotto fight - both financially and aesthetically - we're now stuck defending boxing in the court of public opinion. Other sports have been able to weather the storms brought on by PEDs, but only because there was a sense that the leagues took measures to combat them or (in the case of the NFL) that said sports had built up so much goodwill with the American public that most people simply didn't care that much.

Boxing doesn't have either of those things going for it. Its non-centralized nature and the confusing manner in which it's governed by the state commissions gives the impression that no one is really running the ship. On top of that, it's a fringe sport with the mainstream U.S. sports fan, truly making waves only when Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao fight.

The Berto story is obviously still playing out, so a rush to judgment would be dangerous. It's possible, though unlikely, that there's been some kind of mix-up or mistake, that he may be innocent. But he's built like a tank, and Victor Conte has been helping his camp, so fans have a right to suspect that he's guilty.

If it turns out that Berto was knowingly taking something he shouldn't, it's going to come off looking extremely foolish given all the attention Peterson's situation has just received. The media heat has been turned up in a big way, and boxers are all of a sudden under the magnifying glass in a way they weren't just a few weeks ago.

Many people have been writing obituaries for boxing in the U.S. since the time I first fell in love with the sport in the late 90s. So far they've all been wrong, but if there's a sense that the sport is dirty - not just a feeling, but something proven by the kind of hard evidence that drug tests bring - that could easily change. The sky might really be falling this time.

I don't blame Berto (or Peterson, for that matter) for not thinking about the health of the sport as a whole. It's an individual enterprise after all, and boxers have to do what's best for them.

It's just that using PEDs and getting caught isn't good for them or boxing. And if the latter goes down, the former go with it. I'd rather not be writing about any of that, so it looks like it's finger-crossing time, waiting to see if there's something other than a sad ending coming out of all of this.

 

If it's almost time for Manny Pacquiao to fight again, that must mean it's almost time for him to get another cool pair of trainers from Nike. At least that's how it's been for the past three or four bouts for Pac-Man.

Pictured above is the Nike Air Trainer 1.3 Max Manny Pacquiao, which goes on sale on May 18 for $170. It sports a full length Max Air bag, a Hyperfuse base, and all of the colors of the Filipino flag. The metallic blue in the back is especially sharp.

The undercards are complete.  It's time for the main event.  The fighters should make their way to the ring shortly.  

Here comes Floyd Mayweather.  He's coming out with his entourage and 50 Cent.  He's coming out to "Riot" by 2 Chainz.   

Now walks Cotto.  Not sure what he's coming out to.  A much smaller entourage too.  

The fighters are in the ring.  It's time for the intros.  

Mayweather is 42-0-0 with 26 KOs.  Cotto is 37-2-0 with 30 KOs.

The intros are finished.  Here we go.  

Round 1:
They square up in the center.  Cotto is wearing high bright red socks.  Cotto throws a left hook, but it's blocked.  Floyd is moving well as usual.  Nothing landed from either fighter.  They're feeling each other out.  Cotto is more active in round one.  He's looking comfortable.  They're tied up a lot.  Nice combo from Cotto.  Good round for Cotto.

Parker: 10-9 Cotto
Tywalk: 10-9 Mayweather 
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Two uncard matches down, two to go.  Next up is the highly anticipated welterweight bout between Canelo Alvarez and Shane Mosley.  The fighters are about to make their way to the ring.  The most staggering difference between the fighters is the age difference.  Alverez is 21 and Mosley is 40. 

Here comes Mosley.  He's walking to the ring to the tune of "I'm Back" by T.I.  

Now Alvarez walks out.  For many in attendance tonight, he's the main attraction.  

Time for the introductions.  Mosley is 46-7-1 with 39 KOs.  Canelo is 39-0-1 with 29 KOs.  

Here we go.

Round 1:
Suger Shane launches the jab early.  Canelo is decked out in what looks like a new sponsor's gear of Under Armour.  Nothing from Alvarez in the first minute.  He's sizing up Mosely.  Mosley continues to test the jab.  Canelo throws his first jab at 1:50.  Not much upper body movement yet from either fighter.  Canelo throws a jab followed by a right hook.  Mosley goes to the body with 3 hooks.  This was a feeling out round for both fighters.  Canelo finishes strong with 2 big hooks.

Parker: 10-9 Alvarez 
Tylwalk: 10-9  Alvarez

We're wasting no time getting to the second televised fight on the Ring Kings card, with young Floyd Mayweather protegee Jessie Vargas taking on Steve Forbes in a 147-pound bout. Forbes was a late replacement in this one, getting the call about three weeks ago when Vargas' original opponent got back spasms.

Referee Vic Drakulich is the man in charge of the action. Forbes is 35-10 with just 11 KOs, while Vargas is a perfect 18-0 with nine KOs. Perhaps most significantly, Vargas is 13 years younger than the 35-year old Forbes.


Round 1

Forbes comes out jabbing and gets met with a stiff jab coming back. Forbes throws the left hook off his jab. He doubles the jab too. Vargas reaches to land a left to the body. Nice counter shots by Vargas with both hands. Vargas shoves Forbes back, then whacks him with a right hook at clse range. Left to the body by Vargas. Right hand and more jabs to end the round for Vargas.

Tylwalk: 10-9 Vargas
Parker: 10-9 Vargas
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Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto will face off in just a few hours from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It's most likely the biggest fight of the year, but we've got three bouts before we get to the big one.

First up is a 154-pound bout between Deandre Latimore and Carlos Quintana. The tale of the tape shows that Quintana is slightly taller and rangier, but Latimore is nine years younger. He's also a more natural fit for this weight, while Quintana campaigned for most of his career at 140 pounds.

Kenny Bayless is the referee for this one. Latimore is 23-3 with 17 KOs, while Quintana comes in with a pro record of 28-3 with 22 KOs.

Michael Buffer does the official introductions, and we're all set for a scheduled 10 rounds of boxing.


Round 1


Quintana moves from side to side while Latimore tries to track him down. Both men try rangefinding jabs. Latimore bangs to the head and body along the ropes, but Quintana fights his way out. Good combination punching by Quintana back in the center of the ring. Latimore is jumping in a bit to try landing his jab. He blocks two head shots from Quintana. Both men get some work done while leaning on each other. Latimore lands nice rights tot he head and body with Quintana backed into the corner.

Tylwalk: 10-9 Latimore
Parker: 10-9 Latimore
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Well, the time for talking, 24/7, crowns and thrones is over. Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto meet in the ring tonight in Las Vegas in a fight that will either add another notable victim to the former's undefeated record or propel the latter's career to an even higher level with a huge upset.

The action will unfold live on HBO pay-per-view and in theaters all across the U.S. Those are both solid options.

If neither will work out for you, we'll be keeping it real here on this very site. And by that I mean liveblogging all four fights on the card, including the main event and a supreme youth versus experience bout in the form of Saul "Canelo" Alvarez versus "Sugar" Shane Mosley.

So here's what you need to do if you can't watch the fights: Surf to our main page and look for individual posts for each fight. Reload every couple of minutes, and voila! You'll instantly be up to speed on what's going down.

Join us at 9 pm tonight when everything gets going, and for those watching the fights, enjoy! 

Floyd "Money" Mayweather Jr.

Birthplace: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Resides: Las Vegas, Nevada
Age: 35
Height: 5' 8"
Reach: 72"
Current World Titles Held: WBC Welterweight (147 lbs.)
Former World Titles Held: WBC Super Featherweight (130 lbs.), The Ring, WBC Lightweight (135 lbs.), WBC Light Welterweight (140 lbs.), The Ring, WBC, IBF Welterweight, WBC Light Middleweight (154 lbs.)
Professional Record: 42-0, 26 KOs
Record in World Title Fights: 19-0, 10 KOs
Record in Fights Going 12 Rounds: 11-0

Notable Wins: UD12 Juan Manuel Marquez, SD12 Oscar De La Hoya, TKO10 Diego Corrales

Miguel Cotto

Birthplace: Caguas, Puerto Rico
Resides: Caguas, Puerto Rico
Age: 31
Height: 5' 7"
Reach: 67"
Current World Titles Held: WBA Light Middleweight (154 lbs.)
Former World Titles Held: WBO Junior Welterweight (140 lbs.), WBA, WBO Welterweight (147 lbs.)
Professional Record: 37-2, 30 KOs
Record in World Title Fights: 17-2, 14 KOs
Record in Fights Going 12 Rounds: 5-1

Notable Wins: RTD10 Antonio Margarito II, TKO12 Ricardo Mayorga, UD12 Shane Mosley
Notable Losses: Manny Pacquiao TKO12, Antonio Margarito TKO11

Analysis:

Come Saturday night in Las Vegas, Miguel Cotto will step into the ring for what will be both the biggest challenge and the biggest payday of his immensely successful boxing career. There's a good chance the latter will also be the case for his opponent, Floyd Mayweather.If the former also turns out to be true, the fans on hand at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas will really be in for a treat.

Following an entertaining but short heavyweight battle, it's almost main event time in Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall. Jim Lampley, Emanuel Steward and Max Kellerman are on hand to call the action as Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson meet for a second time.

The first meeting between these two fighters ended in controversial fashion. Dawson appeared to throw Hopkins to the mat early in the fight, and the 47-year old former middleweight king was unable to continue due to a shoulder injury. The fight was originally awarded to Dawson before getting thrown out a few weeks later.

The tale of the tape shows that Dawson is an inch taller and has a two-inch reach advantage. Of course, the big number on everyone's mind is that Dawson is 18 years younger. He also re-hydrated to about four pounds more than Hopkins.

Dawson hears some jeers from the fans as he comes in first. "Bad" Chad is 30-1 with 17 KOs, his lone loss coming at the hands of Jean Pascal.

The hood and partial mask are in effect for Hopkins as he makes his ring walk. Hopkins' pro record stands at 52-5-2 with 3 KOs.

Before the punches start flying, there's going to be a tribute to the late, great Bert Sugar. He gets the honorary 10-count, and there is a cigar and a fedora at the ringside press row in his memory. 

New Jersey's own Ed Cotton is the referee in charge of the action. Joe Martinez does the official fighter introductions, and we'll look to go more than two rounds without controversy with the WBC light heavyweight title on the line.


Round 1

Dawson flicks jabs but Hopkins stays just out of range. Kellerman says he thinks Hopkins' body is finally looking a little soft. Chad certainly looks much bigger. Dawson keeps Hopkins moving constantly from side to side. Left hand by Dawson is answered by a quick flurry by B-Hop. Bernard rushes in and forces some in-fighting. Dawson shoves him away to prevent more. Right hook by Dawson right before the bell.

Tylwalk: 10-9 Dawson no comments