By Lamar Clark

Call me a hater, because I wish I owned and published The Ring magazine, but can anyone explain to me why Floyd “Money” Mayweather is placed behind Juan Manuel Marquez on the August 2009 cover?

You may think I’m petty for even noticing the placement, but I’ve worked in the publishing industry for over 10 years, and the mission has always been to sell as many magazines on the newsstand as possible. You do that by placing a recognizable star to lead (left to right) on your cover.

Mayweather may not be the self proclaimed ‘Pay-Per-View Cash-Cow’ he boast about in his infamous ESPN interview with Brian Kenny, but there’s no denying his worldwide popularity. He’s not the ‘PPV King’, but I’m sure he can sell more magazines on the newsstand than Juan, a glimmer next Floyd’s star power.

“The Bible of Boxing” was purchased in 2007 by Sports and Entertainment Publications, a company under the umbrella of Golden Boy Enterprises, Oscar De La Hoya’s holding company whose assets include Golden Boy Promotions who promotes Juan Manuel Marquez. The August cover is a total flip-flip in presentation from the original HBO/Golden Boy promotional poster (see above.) Why the switch-a-roo? Has the boss’s influence rubbed off or did The Ring’s editorial team simply like this set up better? Remember the mission…

De La Hoya said he understood the skepticism that would come when he purchased The Ring, “We’ll have no say over the editorial content of the magazine. We’re promoters who are going to be fair to everyone. That’s the responsibility we carry. I’m sure we’re going to read the magazine one-day and we will be criticized. Our fighters won’t be on the cover every month. You’ll be seeing Top Rank fighters on the cover.”

We all know and understand why Floyd was placed in the forefront of this boxing promotion. But why is he placed in the background on The Ring?

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» De La Hoya Retires. “It’s over, It’s over inside the ring for me .”

“I’m hot. Somebody is going to have to step up to the plate if they want to eat. All of those guys, they’ve got to call me out now. I’m tired of calling people out.” —Paul Williams

Paul Williams Ready For Anything After Impressive Win Over Winky Wright » The Canadian Press

Oscar De La Hoya To Make A Career Announcement Tomorrow » Tomorrow at noon, Oscar De La Hoya will be at the Nokia Live Plaza in downtown Los Angeles to make a big announcement regarding his career plans. Since his loss to Manny Pacquiao in December, many have been wondering what De La Hoya’s next move will be… Ramon Aranda, www.411mania.com

Ricky Hatton Pays Tribute To Man Who Got Career Back On Track » Three weeks from the latest big night of his career, Ricky Hatton believes that he is entering his greatest period. Few outside Hatton’s team are tipping him to beat Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas on May 2, but belief inside the Hatton camp is strong. A year ago, many were writing off the world No 1 light-welterweight as a man on the slide, but Hatton believes that it is his partnership with Floyd Mayweather Sr, his new trainer, that has breathed new life into his career… Ron Lewis, www.timesonline.co.uk

Manny Pacquiao Promises ‘Once In A Lifetime Fight’ Vs. Ricky Hatton » In a telephone interview with FanHouse, Manny Pacquiao, widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, talked about his dominant win over Oscar De La Hoya, his upcoming fight with Ricky Hatton (Saturday, May 2 on HBO pay-per-view) and what it’s like to be the biggest star in the Philippines. • Michael David Smith: We’re a few months removed from your fight with Oscar De La Hoya. When you look back on that fight, are you surprised at how thoroughly you dominated him?… MICHAEL DAVID SMITH, fanhouse.com

HBO Banks On Pacquiao, Hatton To Draw Younger Viewers To Boxing » MANILA, Philippines – Premium television programming giant HBO is banking on the huge popularity and appeal of both Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton to attract younger viewers to the sport as it unveils its Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7 preview series. • Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7 is a four-part series that will extensively chronicle the respective training of Filipino pound for pound king Pacquiao and British bomber Hatton for their May 2 pay-per-view fight in Las Vegas… www.gmanews.tv

Pair Of Veteran Boxers Pushes Limits To Prolong Careers » If 38-year-old Carlos Hernandez needed a reminder that he may have been out of place in a game for the young, his 27-year-old opponent accidentally gave him one. • “I remember watching him fight,” said Vicente Escobedo. “I got to say that I am a fan of Carlos Hernandez.”… Colby White, www.dailytexanonline.com

They’re Giving This Fight A Hook  Manny Pacquiao versus Oscar De La Hoya has a chance to become the most chewed-on boxing match since Tyson versus Holyfield. • It is still 19 days until the celebrated pair steps into the ring at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas for what has become the most anticipated 12 rounds of the year. But the slings and arrows of pre-fight propaganda have been flying for some time now… BILL DWYRE, www.latimes.com

Boxing Club Holds Tryouts  For the past two weekends, Penn State students have stepped into the ring in Room 52 of the White Building trying to earn a spot on the boxing team. • Nearly 50 people packed themselves into the basement room during each of the tryouts on Nov. 8 and 16, which determined who would be added to the team to replace the boxers lost from last year. About 30 percent of the nearly 50 people who tried out are expected to make the team… Ryan Loy, www.collegian.psu.edu

(Photos— De la Hoya: Tom Hogan; Boxing tryouts: Michael Felletter)

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

Holyfield Says ‘Time Is Running Out’  The end might actually be near for Evander Holyfield. It won’t arrive, however, without one more title shot. • Holyfield, who said he plans to retire by the end of 2009, will meet 7-foot Russian Nikolai Valuev for the WBA heavyweight title Dec. 20 in Zurich, Switzerland. Final contracts are expected to be signed before the end of the week… Jeff Schultz, www.ajc.com

Roach: Oscar – Not Me – Lost Mayweather Bout  MANILA, Philippines— If Oscar de la Hoya loses on December 6, Freddie Roach won’t feel bad about getting blamed for it. • Roach said in an international media-conference call on Monday that de la Hoya blamed him for losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2007. • The Hall of Fame trainer rejected de la Hoya’s claims, saying de la Hoya strayed from using his bread and butter, the jab… DOMINIC MENOR, www.gmanews.tv

Pre-Fight predictions and preview with some of boxing’s top journalist and personalities including Bert Sugar (ESPN) and Ed Mulholland (Fightwireimages.com).

>> Check out the ‘Fight Party!’ pics from Oscar De la Hoya vs Steve Forbes, Home Depot Center (Carson, California 5/3/08) Enjoy!

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)