Mike Jones Ready To Take Next Step On Road To Title » He’s the “MJ” you don’t know. But you will soon enough, if Mike Jones’ career plan works out… Bob Velin, www.usatoday.com

Haye All Bark, No Bite » Ducker David Haye is a joke at this point. I mean, how can you possibly take him seriously? He vigorously called out Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko for about the past two years with some of the most childish antics I’ve ever seen… Dan Rafael, espn.go.com

Boxing’s Next Battle: Blood Testing Vs. Urine Testing » United States Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart calls American sports “war” — a landscape full of desperate athletes who will do anything to win. • The Nevada boxing scene is no exception, Tygart said, and with a possible “Fight of the Century” looming between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas, Tygart believes his own battle to convince the Nevada Athletic Commission to adopt blood testing into its drug-screening policy has never been more relevant… Roman Stubbs, www.rgj.com

Mike Jones photo by Chris Sembrot; Haye photo by MEN’S HEALTH

Haye Promises Historic Knockout » David Haye has vowed to produce “one of the most jaw-dropping knockouts of all-time” when he attempts to win Nikolai Valuev’s WBA heavyweight title on Saturday. • Londoner Haye is aiming to secure a portion of the so-called “richest prize in sport”, but to do that he must beat a man who stands nearly a foot taller than him at 7ft 2ins and who has never been down on the canvas in his 16-year professional career… Source: The Press Association, www.google.com

Don King And Mike Tyson Make Nice At Las Vegas Boxing Event: Boxing Insider » No one promotes a fight like Don King. • His Hairness returned to Las Vegas on Saturday — Halloween — for the first time in four years to put on the inaugural boxing card at Treasure Island. While the nationally televised show had its share of action in the ring, the real news was King making nice with Mike Tyson, a surprise commentator for the Showtime telecast… Source: www.cleveland.com

Manny Pacquiao Vs. Miguel Cotto: The Next Super-Fight » On Nov. 14th, two of the biggest stars in boxing will face-off for a PPV super-fight.  Super-fights are something special in boxing; they are the types of fights that get the general public to pay attention to the sport of boxing. • I go through a few different phases for super-fights: • PHASE 1: Going into a big fight like this I always envision an epic battle between two gladiators, blood and guts warriors, grit, sweat, anger, and any other adjectives that sound tough and manly! I blog about what an amazing ballsy, kick-butt fight it will be. I talk to whoever will listen about my expectations, scientific analysis, and true gut feelings.  This is a great phase to be in… Bryan Brennan, www.nesn.com

Tyson photo by Time/Life ©

Cotto Ready For Long Grind » MANILA, Philippines – Fitness expert Phil Landman, tasked to make sure that Miguel Cotto will be in the best shape possible for his Nov. 14 clash with Manny Pacquiao, is now with the WBO welterweight champion in his training quarters in Puerto Rico… Abac Cordero, www.philstar.com

Haye Gets Valuev Green Light » David Haye’s WBA heavyweight title challenge against Nikolay Valuev will go ahead on November 7 after former champion John Ruiz agreed to end his campaign to scupper the fight… Source: The Press Association.

Top Amateur Boxer Geffrard Has Sights On 2012 Olympics » Five years ago, a friend took Steve Geffrard to the Boca Raton PAL gym to lift weights for football. • His Haitian grandmother had signed him up for the Boca Jets youth program thinking he may have a future in football and chance at a college scholarship. • “I think she wanted to keep me off the streets and out of trouble,” Geffrard said. “I was just about to start playing football when I saw the boxing ring and everyone working out. • “I picked up a jump rope and that was it…” Sharon Robb, www.sun-sentinel.com

Poster by Brian Brobbey-Griffiths; David Haye photo by Dan Wilton.

Klitschko Brothers Don’t See Future With Cruiserweight Champ David Haye » LOS ANGELES — Vitali Klitschko says David Haye might have burned the bridge leading to three of the four major heavyweight title belts… Greg Beacham, The Canadian Press

New Chapter » Next to Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, the Pinoy boxer of global interest is no doubt Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire… Source: www.bworldonline.com

Roy Jones Jr. Goes All Out To Promote His Shows » BILOXI, Miss. – A decade ago it was hard to get Roy Jones Jr. to even show up on time for a press conference, let alone get him excited about hyping a fight… Tim Smith, www.nydailynews.com

» David ‘The Hayemaker’ Haye talks about his upcoming fight with Wladimir Klitschko on 20 June 2009

‘Thrilla In Manila’ A Can’t-Miss For Boxing Fans » I had a chance over the weekend to watch an advance copy of HBO’s documentary “Thrilla in Manila,” which will debut on the pay network at 5 p.m. Saturday before the Winky Wright-Paul Williams fight at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. • The story of the classic third and final fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1975 is told from Frazier’s perspective, and the insight is fascinating… Lance Pugmire, latimes.com

Boxing Helps Teenager Put Life On The Streets Behind Her » Jeannine Vides sat in a folding chair, her elbows resting on her thighs. • She bobbed her head to music as her legs rocked. She was fidgety and nervous. Her eyes were fixed on an empty boxing ring at a Council Bluffs convention center. • She took a few deep breaths. • Despite her nerves, she knew she’d be all right. She could handle anything. She was a fighter… LEIA BAEZ, www.omaha.com

Brief-Boxing-Klitschko To Fight Briton Haye In Schalke Stadium » BERLIN, April 7 (Reuters) – Heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko will fight British contender David Haye in Bundesliga club Schalke’s soccer stadium on June 20, the Ukrainian’s manager said on Tuesday… Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Martin Petty, uk.reuters.com

(Photos: Vides by ALYSSA SCHUKAR/THE WORLD-HERALD; Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier by Associated Press)

“Wladimir wants to feel comfortable inside the ring and at the negotiating table. He was as reluctant to put pen to paper for this fight as he is when throwing a right hand. He’s a mentally weak fighter and has been terrified to take risks ever since he was blitzed by a semipro golfer (Corrie Sanders).” — David Haye

Klitschko Vs. Haye Finally Set For June 20 » LONDON (AP) – David Haye can become a heavyweight world champion in only his second fight at that class. • The British former cruiserweight world champ announced Thursday that he has finalized a deal to fight IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko of Ukraine on June 20…

Boxers Getting Chance On ESPN Telecast » Call it a fight for opportunity. That’s how junior welterweights Randall Bailey and Frankie Figueroa view their IBF title elimination fight tonight. • Their scheduled 12-rounder is the featured event for tonight’s ESPN “Friday Night Fights,” which will take place at Handy Park Pavilion on Beale Street… Marlon W. Morgan, www.commercialappeal.com

Haye Happy To Do Things His Way – Former cruiserweight boxer believes it made sense to move up to heavyweight  In the days after David Haye knocked out Enzo Maccarinelli in March to win his third version of the world cruiserweight title the messages and offers started to pile up. Haye was simply too big for the cruiserweight division and there were a lot of people in the business desperate to turn Haye into a heavyweight. He listened and nodded but he had his own plans and was soon back near Girne in Northern Cyprus to begin his big push… Steve Bunce, www.independent.co.uk 

Calzaghe Sr Says Fear Of Boredom May Persuade Joe To Keep Boxing  Joe Calzaghe’s determination to retire following his unanimous points victory over Roy Jones Jr on Saturday appears to be softening after his father and coach, Enzo, yesterday insisted the fighter had not made a final decision on his future and could well continue in an attempt to avoid “boredom”… Sachin Nakrani, www.guardian.co.uk

Oscar De La Hoya Takes On All Comers At Media Day  There was a good omen the other day at Oscar De La Hoya’s training camp. The venerable boxer stayed on his feet for more than two hours. • Not that the 35-year-old De La Hoya has spent all that much time on his back in a 16-year career of 44 fights and 39 wins. But the talk has been hot and heavy that De La Hoya’s Dec. 6 opponent, the younger and harder-punching Manny Pacquiao, 29, is thinking knockout more than decision… BILL DWYRE, www.latimes.com

>> HAYE HAS EYES ON BOXING’S BIGGEST PRIZE LONDON, England—In the jubilant minutes following his unification of the world cruiserweight division, David Haye saved his sharpest comments and wittiest prose for his interview with American television. —Martin Rogers, Yahoo! Sports

>> CANCUN, Mexico— When Samuel Peter stepped on to the polished marble in his upscale hotel’s lobby late Saturday night, he looked more like a vacationing millionaire than the heavyweight champion of the world. —The Canadian Press, canadianpress.google.com

>> CANCUN, Mexico — The fox turned the gun on the hunter. The funnel cloud finally ran into a building it couldn’t pick up and toss around like a toy. • After climbing to the top of the lightweight division, Houstonian Juan Diaz suffered the first loss of his pro career and was dethroned as champion by Nate Campbell on Saturday night. —Fran Blinebury, www.chron.com

(Haye Photo by John Gichigi/Getty Images; Campbell/Diaz/Peter photo by LUIS ACOSTA: AFP/GETTY IMAGES) 

>> HAYE V MACCA V SLEEP DEPRIVATION  That rarest of sporting events is coming… • A genuine top-class domestic boxing match-up. A true Battle of Britain to rival or eclipse Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank’s dust-ups of the early 1990s, fights that made them household names. • I can hardly wait for the David Haye v Enzo Maccarinelli slugfest and am looking forward to providing the live round-by-round (if there is more than one!) coverage on the BBC Sport website. • But there is something niggling at me and I don’t think I’m alone. In fact, I know I’m not… —Alex Trickett/BBC Sport, www.bbc.co.uk

>> Things will become more clearer in the heavyweight division on Saturday night when Samuel Peter and Oleg Maskaev square of, in all of places, Cancun. —Chris Iorfida, www.cbc.ca

>> PARKINSON’S PATIENTS TAKE UP BOXING TO FIGHT DISEASE “It is just completely inspirational to be around these people,” said Follmar, a former North American Boxing Council champion who retired from boxing three … —Barbara Pinto, www.abcnews.go.com