Move Over Mayweather: Pacquiao Is The New Pound-For-Pound King  In what was seen as a potential grab at the pound-for-pound throne, the number one contender to Floyd Mayweather’s top spot, crowned himself king last night. • With a chilling ninth round knockout of WBC lightweight champion David Diaz, Pacquiao showed boxing fans that he is indeed the sport’s top fighter… —Bryan Trafford, bleacherreport.com

Steward: Klitschko Can’t Take Thompson Lightly  Though the heavyweight division is an afterthought these days, IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko remains one of its few bright spots. Klitschko is the undisputed king of the big boys, but he isn’t flawless… —Franklin McNeil, www.nj.com

(Pacquiao photo by Harry How/Getty Images) 

CHOCOLATE: MUCH MORE THAN A BOXER  He never lost a fight in Cuba • He was the first Black star in the Garden  • In 1931, he stopped the traffic on Broadway and that same year was voted “the world’s best dressed man” • He was friends with Gardel, Maurice Chevalier, Louis Armstrong and Cab Calloway • A Cuban king and extremely generous, this August sees the 20^th anniversary of his death, a well-deserved motive for glorifying him today —Elio Menendez (Special For Granma International), www.granma.cu

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. STEELHAMMER!— KLITSCHKO ENCOURAGES HAYE’S AMBITIONS  WBO and IBF world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko tells BBC Five Live he could fight David Haye one day if the Briton can live up to his hype. • Klitschko confirmed that he will defend his WBO belt against American Tony Thompson in Germany this summer. • “Until the fight with David Haye I have to stay active as I am nervous and I have to get myself in shape,” he said. • “So I am going to fight in July against Thompson - he is the WBO’s number one mandatory contender so I have chosen him.” —(Source: news.bbc.co.uk)

(Klitschko photo by dieter schwer photography)

Press Release: “Box-NYC” (www.box-nyc.com), New York City’s premier social boxing event, returns for a fourth consecutive year to the Hammerstein Ballroom, Wednesday, April 16th with an exciting combination of professional boxing, fine-dining, Texas Hold ‘em Poker Tournament and model and celebrity appearances. World Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko will appear at the event and will accept a check from BOX NYC for The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, the official charity of the event. (more)