Years Later, Rectifying Boxers’ Grave Injustices » BALA CYNWYD, Pa.— Hidden in a hilly corner of Merion Memorial Park, just outside the city limits of Philadelphia, are the gravestones of Beatrice Tate (born 3/14/20, died 5/6/99) and Nellie J. Garrett (1929-2001). • The cemetery is filled with mothers, fathers, sons and daughters – everyday people with names nobody knows except the family they left behind. • Between Beatrice Tate and Nellie Garrett, though, is a name whose mention will give pause to any boxing fan and bring a smile to any Philly fight fan. • “Gypsy Joe Harris – 1945-1990”… Thom Loverro, washingtontimes.com

Pavlik To Prepare For Tough Defense » YOUNGSTOWN — Kelly Pavlik’s first middleweight title defense was a mismatch. His latest one is expected to be a classic. • “But I don’t know how he’ll react when he’s in there against a legitimate, big-punching middleweight. He’s never fought that caliber of fighter, while we’ve fought much bigger people than Paul Williams.” —Pavlik’s trainer, Jack Loew… JOE SCALZO, www.vindy.com

How Would Calzaghe Fare Against The Super Six? » TYPICAL isn’t it? The super middleweight division has been arguably boxing’s weakest over the past decade, even when Joe Calzaghe was in his pomp. • For years, and even now, the Welshman was pilloried for not fighting the best guys out there. • But I say to you all. What guys?… Martin Williams, www.dailypost.co.uk

Photos: Harris by Jerry Lodriguss; Pavlik by Al Bello/Getty Images

A NIGHT OF STARS »

Top: Walker Award for “Long and Meritorious service” winner, Steve Farhood and Lamar Clark of ROUND1. Center: Jo-Emma Lavin and Joe Calzaghe, honored as Best Manager. Bottom: Freddie Roach (Named Year’s Top Trainer), Manny Pacquiao (Fighter of Year 2008) and Bob Arum.

© Marty Rosengarten/RingsidePhotos.com

Don King Boxing: Wii Review by Brian Browne » 2K Sports and Don King have teamed up to bring us Don King Boxing. This game takes advantage of the Wii remote/nunchuck and the balance board. However, the balance board is optional for this game. This installment features a lineup of boxers including: Joe Louis • Rocky Marciano • Joe Calzaghe • Kelly Pavilik • James Braddock

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

“I said all along Kelly Pavlik was overrated, overhyped and hadn’t done anything in his career to a warrant a fight with me.  This was evident Saturday night when Hopkins destroyed and exposed him for what he is.  That is why I wasn’t going to waste my time fighting him and went straight to a bout with Roy Jones who has proved himself time and time again that he is one of the greatest fighters in our era. I have been a champion for 11 years and I am only interested in fighting legends.”  •  “They told me that the place was packed with Pavlik fans who either sat stunned or actually started cheering for Hopkins.  My fans will have a great night at Madison Square Garden in New York as I will give them no reason to cheer for Roy Jones.  I am sure it was a long trip back for all those people from Ohio.  I tell my fans, don’t worry, we will be partying on the plane ride home.”  •  “Look at the landscape-I have beat everyman I have ever faced including younger fighters, stronger fighters and of course Bernard Hopkins.  After fighting Hopkins, my biggest wish was to fight Roy Jones Jr. who also has a win over Hopkins.  Hopkins showed Saturday night he is an amazing fighter but Roy and I both beat him.  That says more than enough and come November 8, Roy and I have a chance to settle the score with the winner taking all the glory.”  •  “My boxing career and record speaks for itself.  November 8 will be the biggest fight of my career as I am fighting one of the best, at the best place to fight, Madison Square Garden. Believe me, it can’t get here fast enough.” —Source: Swanson Communications

Pre-Fight predictions and preview with some of boxing’s top journalist and personalities including Steve Farhood (Showtime), Harold Lederman (HBO) and Bert Sugar (ESPN).

Motor-Mouthed Miranda Still Talking A Big Fight During his playing days, Ilie Nastase, the Romanian tennis star of the 1970s, owned a world-class mouth, and at one time held the ATP record for most fines incurred by one player. • “Ilie speaks seven languages,” his wife once said. “Why does he always have to curse in English?” •  Edison Miranda’s interpreters could probably do him a big favor by deliberately mistranslating some of his more inflammatory remarks. • His own matchmaker, Jim Borzell, who’s known the talented Colombian since his arrival in the United States three years ago, describes Pantera as “a true puzzle.” •  “He’s the nicest guy in the world, but before a fight he can be a complete twit, the way he shoots off his mouth,” said the veteran matchmaker. •  You’d have thought Miranda might have learned his lesson 13 months ago in Memphis… —George Kimball, sports.espn.go.com

Time To Cash In: Calzaghe Calls Out Jones For Autumn Clash  The career of Joe Calzaghe, pugilism’s prince of Wales, has at times resembled the haunted life of Hamlet, Shakespeare’s prince of Denmark. • Their circumstances and motivations were very different, of course, but the burning question faced by both — to be or not to be — had a similar ring. • Hamlet had to learn to live with all that had transpired in the rotten state of Denmark before he was able to act upon his vengeful thoughts. • Calzaghe had to come through what British sportswriter Hugh McIlvanney referred to as a “strangely conservative program of fights [which] had obscured historic talent” before the blood on his stage belonged to men like Jeff Lacy, Mikkel Kessler and Bernard Hopkins. • Cast in the role of Claudius this autumn will be Roy Jones… —Brian Doogan, sports.espn.go.com

Mayweather’s Retirement Right Move For Boxing Perhaps your stance is that he retired at the right time — on top, with his faculties still intact and bank account stuffed to the gills. • Or maybe you’re among those disappointed that he leaves the game without defending his linear crown against the world’s best welterweights. • Or maybe, you don’t believe that he’s done for good, that the right fight — and more specifically, the right price to go along with it — will lure him back into the ring. • Regardless of your stance, there’s no denying that Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s sudden retirement announcement comes at a perfect time for the welterweight division and boxing as a whole… —Jake Donovan, msn.foxsports.com

(Mayweather Photograph by Photorazzi)

>> Check out the ‘Fight Party!’ pics from Hopkins vs Calzaghe, Planet Hollywood, LV (4/19/08.) Enjoy!

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Jones And Pavlik Top Calzaghe Hit-List Joe Calzaghe has insisted he wants one more fight…but who is good enough to give his glittering career the finale it deserves? • Realistically, it comes to a straight shoot-out between the multi-weight legend Roy Jones Jr and America’s rising star, Kelly Pavlik. — Blair Wood, icwales.icnetwork.co.uk

(Photo by John Gichigi/Getty Images)

Entourage Economics As welterweight boxing champion Floyd Mayweather showered fans with fistfuls of $100 bills two weeks ago at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, seven men, some in sunglasses, shadowed his every move. But this wasn’t the stereotypical athlete posse, best known for freeloading and waking up at noon. • Mr. Mayweather’s right-hand man, Leonard Ellerbe, is chief executive of a $140 million company, Mayweather Promotions, and starts his days at 5:15 a.m. Underperforming security guards, personal assistants and coordinators can be fired for offenses like ogling women or falling out of shape. “It’s no different than working for Xerox,” Mr. Ellerbe says. —HANNAH KARP, online.wsj.com 

Hopkins: I’m A Legend Bernard Hopkins believes he will deserve a special place in the annals of sporting history for his achievements in the ring. • The 43-year-old dominated the middleweight division before his back-to-back defeats to Jermain Taylor – only for Hopkins to bounce back and destroy Antonio Tarver in the light-heavyweight division. —Source: www.skysports.com

Joe Calzaghe Ready For Las Vegas Bout With Hopkins LAS VEGAS- Joe Calzaghe said he would show America what he was made of when he makes his Las Vegas debut on Saturday against light-heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins. • “It’s the icing on the cake,” the 36-year-old undisputed world super-middleweight champion told reporters… — Kieran Mulvaney (www.reuters.com)

(Ellerbe: Photos by John Locher; Hopkins/Calzaghe: Tom Hogan/Golden Boy Promotions.)