» WHO YOU LIKE? Manny Pacquiao vs Antonio Margarito. Check out my pre-fight coverage from the NYC press conference (Wednesday, September 1, 2010.) I received some good quotes from Harold Lederman (HBO), Chris Mannix (SI.com) and boxing aficionado Pablo Santiago. I like Manny. Enjoy! —LC

» “I feel him and his trainer should be banned for life.” —Freddie Roach. Antonio Margarito vs Manny Pacquiao? Looks like Roach is singing a different tune now.

Bad Chad Dawson’s Loss Is Light-Heavyweights’ Gain » From most boxing reporters’ accounts Chad Dawson fought his usual safety-first fight and paid the price for his frustrating lack of gusto against Jean Pascal on Saturday night. Chad had been talking up the contest in the lead-up; saying he knew he had to be more aggressive because of the Montreal (Pascal’s adopted homeland) location. • Sadly for him, he didn’t seem to realize the urgency of the situation until it was far too late in the day, and even then, he didn’t pull the proverbial trigger when Pascal slipped groggily into the firing line in round 11. A big chance to leap on a wounded Pascal was also passed up in round nine… Source: www.boxingnewsonline.net

Boxing Needs Another Mike Tyson » It’s no secret that outside of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., boxing’s mainstream popularity has been in a downward spiral. The sport’s efforts (or lack thereof) of breeding new stars has failed. This past weekend saw Chad Dawson—who Floyd Mayweather Jr. coined as one of the best pure boxers in the sport—get soundly defeated by Canadian Jean Pascal. The weekend before that, Devon Alexander had a tougher than expected challenge when he defeated Alexander Kotelnik. Both fights saw boxers who played it relatively safe. In Dawson’s case, he paid dearly by losing… Andreas Hale, live.drjays.com

Boxing Vs. MMA Or Boxer Vs. Reality? » The Ultimate Fighting Championship was originally sold on the concept of fighting style against fighting style. Masters of kung fu, karate, Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu would battle to prove which fighting discipline was superior. • The elephant in the room during MMA’s discipline versus discipline days was the sport of boxing. A few boxers did compete in the UFC. Most memorably, Art Jimmerson wore one boxing glove for his bout with Royce Gracie at UFC 1. But a topflight boxer never competed in the UFC, and for many years top MMA fighters such as Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn would field questions about how they would fare against a Mike Tyson or Evander Holyfield… Todd Martin, sports.espn.go.com

Toney photo by Matthew Felix Rosenthal

Taking A Field Trip To Canada For Chad Dawson Vs. Jean Pascal » Chad Dawson-Jean Pascal on Saturday is about as meaningful a bout as there is on the 2010 schedule. It offers Dawson, a strong contender for the best young American fighter there is today, and Pascal, a Canadian all-action highlight reel who very well could defeat Dawson. It’s being staged in the biggest city in Quebec, where they root loudly for their Canadian fighters but where the classy fans appreciate good performances by all. And it offers something that’s rarer than it should be: a chance to crown an honest-to-God, real division champion, in this case, the light heavyweight division… Tim Starks, queensberry-rules.com

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Deal Is Near To Bring Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito Fight To Cowboys Stadium » Apparently Manny Pacquiao hopes to make it back-to-back bouts at Cowboys Stadium. And if promoter Bob Arum is correct, the crowd for a Nov. 13 fight against Antonio Margarito would dwarf the 50,994 that watched Pacquiao easily handle Joshua Clottey in March… BARRY HORN, www.dallasnews.com

Marquez In Vegas Or Mosley At Staples? Tough Call For Boxing Fans On Sept. 18 » Shane Mosley’s return from his Floyd Mayweather Jr. loss — in which he’ll square off against fellow Southern Californian Sergio Mora on Sept. 18 at Staples Center — would be a natural stop for L.A. boxing fans. • But there’s likely a better fight across the Mojave Desert in Las Vegas that same night: the world featherweight title bout airing on Showtime pitting unbeaten champion Juan Manuel Lopez against Rafael Marquez at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The pair appeared in L.A. Tuesday at the downtown Biltmore hotel… Lance Pugmire, latimesblogs.latimes.com

Mayweather Ensures Pacquiao Negotiations Descend Into Farce » Floyd Mayweather is a bully, one neatly wrapped in a cut 5-foot-8, 147-pound package. Like most bullies, Mayweather is intimidating. He sends promoters, managers and networks cowering in the corner with the mere threat of withholding his services. He holds the boxing world hostage by saying he will take his gloves and go home unless the fight isn’t when he wants, where he wants and at what weight he wants. He perpetuates a lie — like the one about his advisor, Al Haymon, not being involved in negotiations with Manny Pacquiao — because he is confident in the fact that no one in the industry will stand up to him… Chris Mannix, sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Juan Manuel Marquez: Mayweather Better Than Pacquiao » Manny Pacquiao is good. Floyd Mayweather Jr. is better… Brett Okamoto, www.lasvegassun.com

Pacquiao vs Margarito. Please Don’t Reward A Scoundrel! » Manny Pacquiao is without a doubt one of the greatest fighters in the history of professional boxing. His talent in the ring may only be surpassed by his enormous generosity and love of the people of his native Philippine Islands. Many people can learn something very valuable from Manny Pacquiao • He fights all comers and always without question gives the fans their monies worth. To this I say- Thank you and much respect, Sir. • But his team’s decision to fight Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13th has me scratching my head… Dr. Johnny Benjamin, www.huffingtonpost.com

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Camp Responds To HBO, Arum Comments » Hours after the president of HBO Sports said he had negotiated with both sides in an effort to make a Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. mega-fight on Nov. 13, Mayweather’s lead adviser again denied the claim… Lance Pugmire, latimesblogs.latimes.com

Time For Pacquiao To Stop Cheating History By Inventing Weight Classes » Another event, another catch … weight, that is… Jake Donovan, sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Boxing Needs Top Two To Meet – And Soon » After another week of anti-boxing, in which the two best fighters on the planet hogged the headlines for continuing to maneuver away from their proposed mega-fight, the sport has some serious questions to answer… Mark Staniforth, www.sportinglife.com

Golden Boy Promotions Reinstated In New York » The New York State Athletic Commission has lifted its suspension of Oscar de la Hoya’s company Golden Boy Promotions, according to an ESPN report… Source: losangeles.bizjournals.com

Boxing Betting: Froch Out To Give Abraham Sleepless Nights » Ralph Ellis tells us why new-born babies and preparations for big boxing matches don’t go hand in hand and how it’s make or break time for Carl Froch… Source: betting.betfair.com

» “Let me tell you something, when Bob Arum got Pacquiao, he was a star. I represented Pacquiao. I put him in with Morales, not Bob Arum. So, right now, what we have going on in boxing is leagues and there are two people that are involved in these leagues, there are two promotional companies, and that’s Golden Boy and Top Rank, and they only want to fight their fighters against their fighter because they don’t want to take the chance of fighting the best fighters in the world.” —Gary Shaw (Gary Shaw Promotions)

The Guru Of Toughness » What is it about “Irish’’ Micky Ward, the retired light-welterweight boxer from Lowell, that draws men to him in the hope that some of his old-school tough-guy virtue will rub off on them? It’s not because they all want to learn the secret of his left hook to the body, and it’s not because he’s so charming or clever or in such fabulous shape. It’s certainly not because he won all the time… Carlo Rotella, www.boston.com

Brother Of Boxing Boss In Death Fall » Millionaire boxing promoter Frank Warren was in mourning last night after his brother died in a 50ft horror plunge… Lee Cain, www.mirror.co.uk

Mayweather Won’t Be Rushed » The long-anticipated showdown between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao appears unlikely to take place this year as negotiations between the two camps are at an apparent standstill… Source: www.skysports.com

Boxing vs MMA – The Showdown » Next month at UFC 118, Randy Couture will square off against former heavyweight boxing champion James Toney. With not a punch or kick yet thrown, the fight is already proving one of the most controversial in UFC history… Alan Murphy, www.joe.ie

Chantilly High Grad And Artist Continues His Passion For Boxing At Age 35 » There are things you should know about Zain Shah’s hands. • In a studio, they can snap an artsy photograph and create classy graphic designs. In a boxing ring, they can rearrange your face like a cubist Picasso painting… Reed S. Albers, www.washingtonpost.com

Undefeated Hopefuls Are Fighting For Recognition » The biggest and most anticipatedfight in boxing is Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather. What could be the highest-grossing fight of all time doesn’t look like it will happen this year, however, asPacquiao’s representative, Top Rank, has given Mayweather until Friday to decide if he wants to fight Pacquiao on Nov. 13. Mayweather has given no indication he wants to fight again in 2010… Bob Velin, www.usatoday.com

Toney photo by Howard Schatz; Shah photo by Shamus Ian Fatzinger/fairfax County Times.