In that vein, I took a gander at Dan Rafael's essential boxing schedule and culled the potential highlights of January and the first week of February, since action is slow to get going this month. In chronological order:

1. Juan Carlos Salgado vs Takashi Uchiyama, junior lightweights (January 11, Tokyo, Japan) – The last time we saw Salgado, he burst from nowhere to reduce Jorge Linares to linguini in the first round in the upset of the year last year. I’ve never seen Uchiyama before, his resume is sparse but he’s been moved quickly (probably because he’s a 30-year-old super featherweight with 13 career fights) and done well against guys with decent records, though nobody who could even be described as a contender. However, Salgado was relatively unknown until he knocked out Linares, so I won’t be so quick to dismiss Uchiyama. Is Salgado the next to carry the Mexican torch, or is he just the next Breidis Prescott? This could be an interesting way to find out (here’s hoping it shows up on YouTube).

2. Vanes Martirosyan vs Kassim Ouma, junior middleweights (January 16, Las Vegas; FSN) – Martirosyan steps up against Ouma, the former titleholder who comes in having lost five of his last six. The fight itself is not necessarily as noteworthy (though I really like Martirosyan and it is a step up for him, though one he should dominate) as is the debut of Top Rank’s boxing show on Fox Sports Net. More boxing on TV should only mean good things, at least until Bob Arum mucks it up. Adding intrigue is the debut of reported phenom Jose Benavidez.

3. Juan Manuel Lopez vs Steven Luevano, featherweights/Yuriorkis Gamboa vs Rogers Mtagwa, featherweights (January 23, New York; HBO) – A doubleheader at the Garden I plan on attending, this is designed to set up Lopez-Gamboa later this year but on its own, this is an outstanding twin bill. After struggling but showing great guts in beating Mtagwa, Lopez steps up to challenge for Luevano’s strap. Meanwhile, Gamboa defends his trinket against Mtagwa, who certainly earned another opportunity for a big fight after his performance against Lopez. At least one of these fights should be good, and there’s a chance that both will be barnburners.

4. Luis Carlos Abregu vs Richard Gutierrez, welterweights (January 29, Albuquerque, NM; Showtime) – Abregu was in one of my favorite fights last year against Irving Garcia. Gutierrez is somewhat limited but his tough, come-forward style could produce fireworks against an explosive but vulnerable opponent. Should be a good test for Abregu and a potential slugfest to boot.

5. Jesse Brinkley vs Curtis Stevens, super middleweights (January 29, Reno, NV; ESPN2) – It feels like Stevens has been around forever, but he’s only 24 and he hasn’t lost since the worst fight of all time against Andre Dirrell in 2007. So why is he on this list? Because Brinkley is the anti-Dirrell, a guy with limited skills who lays everything on the line and never stops coming. He’s also on a nice little run lately. This is apparently an IBF eliminator and is likely Brinkley’s only chance to angle for a title shot. Meanwhile, Stevens should respond well to Brinkley’s style and could help erase some of the memory of his last debacle. Either that or I’m going to have to look up recipes for crow.

6. Sugar Shane Mosley vs Andre Berto, welterweights (January 30, Las Vegas; HBO) – Last year, Mosley and Berto both began the year with career-best performances, with Mosley adding a crushing exclamation point to his outstanding career by raining karma on Antonio Margarito and Berto surviving his toughest test in an excellent fight against Luis Collazo. This year, they battle to become the best welterweight not embroiled in a drug test debacle (well, this year). This fight is pretty much guaranteed to be good.

7. Edwin Valero vs Antonio DeMarco, lightweights (February 6, Monterrey, Mexico; Showtime) – Valero is something of an underground legend due to his prodigious punching power, string of first-round knockouts, and history of misfortunes and blunders that prevent him from fighting in the United States. That alone makes Valero’s debut on U.S. TV noteworthy, although DeMarco could give him a bit of a test. DeMarco has fought pretty well in his ShoBox appearances, but he’s never fought anyone like Valero.

8. Brandon Rios vs Jorge Teron, lightweights (February 6, McAllen, TX; FSN) – Rios is a prospect that some people are excited about. Teron is a big lightweight who avenged his only loss with a ten-round decision in his last fight. Both guys are pretty aggressive, offensive fighters, so it could be fun. This is a ShoBox-style matchup on FSN, not bad for the fledgling show.

Comments (23)

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Bad timing
written by Scott Kraus, January 07, 2010

I hadn't heard the Pac-PBF news when I sent this over to Tim. A little harder to be optimistic this morning than it was last night, but remember, the sport isn't dead. Just horribly, horribly, horribly crippled.

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PBF Announcement
written by James Sword, January 07, 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpfTth-GQy4

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@sk
written by Tim Starks, January 07, 2010

My bad, Scott -- but I still thought posting it was a good idea, since there are some people who'd like to look ahead. And I agree -- not dead, just less alive.

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I'm still excited
written by Unifythebelts (Dan P.), January 07, 2010

I think that Boxing is at its best when the boxers are still hungry and not yet the big stars. I have found Pacquiao to be less likable with each fight, and PBF has never been likable. While I am pissed that I wont be seeing them in a ring together, I really didn't have that much hope that it would really happen. There are plenty of other fighters out there that offer exciting fights that don't cost me $54.95 (plus the cost of food and drinks for my guests) to watch.

Just in the next few months we get to see some exciting boxers in the ring:
Lucas Martin Matthysse
Edwin Valero
Andre Berto-Shane Mosley
Devon Alexander-Juan Urango
Klitschko-Chambers
The continuance of the Super 6
Marquez-Vazquez
Ruslan Provodnikov-Aris Ambriz
Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym fighting an undefeated prospect
Vanes' next fight
Lopez and Gamboa's fight card
Abregu's next fight
Brewster-Helenius
Adamek-Estrada
Michael Jennings-Kell Brook
Mike Jones-Henry Bruseles
and finally,
David Tua back in action.

That's not a bad list, and I am still a boxing fan despite the two giant egos at the top of the sport. I blame both sides for this, plus the weakness of top fighters in general to allow promoters to have so much power over them. Once a guy like Pacquaio or Mayweather is a world-famous name, he really doesn't need a criminal like Arum involved in his career. If it was just the two men, they could have easily sat down in a room with a mediator and come up with a decision. Ths insistance that we need a sport that is dominated by 3 or 4 ego-driven promoters is simply moronic, and it's amazing that we continue to allow these men to ruin such an amazing sport.

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Partial blow-by-blow transcript of a GBP insider of the Mediation meeting.
written by GBP Press Dept, January 07, 2010

Schaefer: Oscar, Al and I think we should convince Floyd to agree to the fight already.

Al: Yeah Oscar. They have now agreed to let Pacquiao take the test 24 days before the fight and minutes after the fight. It won't be long til the people realize the burden is really on our side to let this fight happen.

Schaefer: I don't think we can make anymore excuses about the HGH windowing.

Oscar: Well, you gotta talk to Floyd into it. But I won't guarantee that he'll say yes.

Al: Yep, I know that.

Oscar: You know how much that guy worships his undefeated record. He wants Mathew.

Schaefer: I'll call him now anyway.

(Phone rings. Floyd answers phone)

Floyd: Yo! This is the pretty boy speaking. No. 1 pound for pound boxing champion! Undefeated! Undisputed! The cash cow of boxing! Who's this?

Schaefer: Uh, hello Floyd. This is me, Schaefer.

Floyd: Yo ma' man! What's up? Any news about Mathew?

Schaefer: None for now Floyd. Uh... listen... Pacquiao has agreed to be tested 24 days before the fight instead of 30. That leaves him no time to make the cycle since he will also be tested minutes after the fight. I don't think he'll ever get away with it in case he really has it in his sys-

Floyd: He's juiced up man! If my daddy says so then that's for sure!

Schaefer: Alright, alright... I don't think he'll be able to get away with it. Anyway, the blood test after the fight will surely show all the HGH and PED in his system so we really got nothing to lose. In case Manny beats you up, he'll still be disqualified after the fight and you'll still have your perfect record. Com'n Floyd this really really big money! Don't you want it?

Floyd: Uh... like how big?

Schaefer: (voice beaming now) Really big! Like you know how big the MGM Grand is?

Floyd: uhuh

Schaefer: That big! Even bigger!

Floyd: Really!?

Schaefer: Yes Floyd. That big. But wait! There's more! You'll surely be in the Hall Of Fame if you have another great fight in your record. You'll be recognized as one the ATG!

Floyd: What's ATG?

Schaefer: ALL TIME GREATS! Like Ali and Ray Robinson. This is the biggest fight of your career Floyd. You'll be remembered for this fa-

(Al takes the phone)

Al: Hello Floyd. Al here. Let's take this fight. We can make so much money here you know. They've already agreed to shorten the test period before the fight. We don't have any other excuses! The people know what we're doing Floyd. Stop chickening out! Fighting Ricky's brother would only degrade you more. Let's fight Pacquiao. What do you say?

Floyd: You know I can beat him Al. I can knock him out cold! He's just a one-dimensional fighter. He's a terrible boxer. He can't-

Al: Yada yada yada. So what's your answer? Is it a yes or a no?

Floyd: Uh... No.

Al: ****!

(Al gives the phone to Schaefer)

Schaefer: Com'n Floyd. Just say yes already. What more do you want? We all know you can beat him. Right? You're father thinks you can beat Pacquiao right? Right Floyd?

Floyd: Damn right he does! Dad said I'm gonna whoop Pacquiao's ***! I'm the best! Pacquiao is just another boxer they built up to beat me! He can't beat me. I haven't been knocked out before. Pacquiao's been knocked out before! He's no match against me. I'm gonna whoop his *** so bad he's gonna wish he never signed up for the fight! Yeah man! I'm undefeated. I have fought the best. And there's no fighter out there that can beat me. I'm the Pretty Boy Floyd!

Schaefer: Great Floyd! I totally agree with you. Pacquiao is gonna get the beating of his life! So does that mean you'll fight him?

Floyd: No.

Schaefer: ****!

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@Tim
written by Scott Kraus, January 07, 2010

No worries, I still stand by it and I'm still looking forward to these fights. Count me among those who would rather just look ahead at this point.

On the optimistic side, when was the last time a superfight was a FOTY? So the hype might not be there, but the action will.

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@Unify
written by Scott Kraus, January 07, 2010

You made a fan with that post, because I'm very easy to manipulate (anyone who calls Arum a criminal is a fine individual in my book). I can't say I'm drooling for every fight you list, but there were a few I neglected to mention that have definite intrigue, though many of them fall outside my month+ window.

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@GBP
written by Scott Kraus, January 07, 2010

Probably a more appropriate comment for Tim's post on the fight being dead. But that is pretty much how Floyd comes across in this whole thing.

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faggot
written by ping lacson, January 07, 2010

F#@#$&#xNG; GAYWEATHER has lots of excuses just to save his Black faggot ass from bein' wooped by PAC...YOU'RE A FAGGOT GAYWEATHER...JUST LIKE YOUR GAY DAD!!!

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@pl
written by Scott Kraus, January 07, 2010

Racist AND homophobic. I'm sure you are beloved and admired. It doesn't help prove your point though, which is...?

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@pl
written by Tim Starks, January 07, 2010

Suffer the consequences of a mighty -1 for your horriblehumanbeingness.

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...
written by ping lacson, January 07, 2010

@SK
am not racist and homphobic, in fact i have colored and gay friends...i'm just discribing this coward...isn't he black? doesn't he talk a lot like a b**tch does?
@ TS: "Suffer the consequences of a mighty -1 for your horriblehumanbeingness." WHAT? I think I lost you there....

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...
written by ping lacson, January 07, 2010

@SK: my point my friend is this Gayweather is nothing but a coward Son of B****...he's making excuses just so he'd save his black gay ass from being whooped and he being humiliated worldwide...got it? and by the way, yes, I'm admired and beloved by my fans...hehehe

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@pl
written by Tim Starks, January 07, 2010

You can get it or not, but you're one more uttering of a homophobic epithet from being banned.

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...
written by ping lacson, January 08, 2010

@TS: I apologize... It's just Floyd Whateverweather disgust me...His big mouth and coward ways...

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Scared
written by Pacquiao vs Mayweather, January 08, 2010

Manny Pacquiao scared the shit out of Floyd Mayweather Jr.

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...
written by Kareem, January 08, 2010

Lopez/Gamboa is intriguing (assuming they both take care of business in NYC), even if the prize is a boxing lesson at the hands of Chris John. Those wide, weak punches Gamboa likes to waste aren't gonna bode well against stiffer competition, so I'm anxious to see how far along he's come when he fights Mtagwa.

Certainly a nice start to 2010 though with Juanma/Luevano, Gamboa/Mtagwa, Mosley/Berto and Valero/DeMarco all coming within the first 5 weeks.

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@pl
written by Tim Starks, January 08, 2010

I appreciate that. He frustrates me too.

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...
written by Pierre Burger, January 08, 2010

All Manny has to do is agree to take the tests. What's the problem. And please don't insult my intelligence by telling me that a guy who can bleed buckets and still keep firing haymakers SERIOUSLY believes he will be weakened by drawing a little blood.

For the record, I WAS supporting Pacman against Mayweather prior to this disgusting display. Now I'm hoping my African brother Clottey hands the the 'roid-head his head in a shopping bag.

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@Kareem
written by Scott Kraus, January 08, 2010

Interesting, I would probably like both Gamboa and Lopez over John, but I'd have to think hard about it. Gamboa's punches might not always be technically flawless but he is so fast I think he would still give John issues. Lopez's power could possibly pose issues for John as well; Juarez rocked John badly in the 12th round of their second fight and Lopez has better power than Juarez. Either fight would be interesting, but I think Gamboa and Lopez are both better than Juarez and John struggled at times with Juarez, so it would be interesting.

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@PB
written by Scott Kraus, January 08, 2010

I think the problem is that Manny was insulted by the request for the tests (and Mayweather Sr.'s accusations sure didn't help) and has taken a stand on principle. I think it's a little ridiculous considering the stakes, but the request was also ridiculous. Both sides stink.

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@pl
written by Scott Kraus, January 08, 2010

I can only judge things by the content of what you write. Personally, I tend to dismiss people who dismiss men who fight for a living as cowards. I've spewed frustration over my share of fighters but all boxers deserve a measure of respect for the courage their profession requires. I understand that you're frustrated. I'm sympathetic; I'm frustrated too, I just choose not to blame one side completely and pardon the other. We see the issue differently and that's fine. I just think there are more appropriate ways to vent your frustration.

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...
written by ping lacson, January 10, 2010

@SK: It's not that I'm biased or so but there's a rumor that G-weather is doing this in purpose. Before this issue with drug testing came up, he or his camp chose March 13 as the fight date, which is, a month and a half before the election in the Philippines(as we know, he's running for public office)and fresh from his last fight against Cotto. Rumors has it that G-weather announced the date thinking that Pac wouldn't accept it because it would be the busiest time for Pac(campaigning). He was shocked when Pac agreed without even thinking twice. And so came the drug testing issue. And I agree with you that every fighter should get respect for their courage.

@PB: Drawing a little blood in your system doesn't weaken you, It affects your mental conditioning. By the way, Have you tried drawing a couple of cc's of blood in your body? I do and I know how it feels. And besides, doing the drug test minutes after the fight, the blood is more concentrated (less plasma) after a fight because of dehydration, and it's easier to detect steroids that way.

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