Mandatory Eight Count: Mundine having weight issues

The Fight Isn't On, but 'the Cold War' Could Resume (MaxBoxing.com)
Steve Kim looks at the potentially very ugly possibility that Top Rank and Golden Boy go back to refusing to work together after two relatively peaceful years. Both Mayweather and Pacquiao plan to fight on March 13, and Kim asks the two questions that will say a LOT: "So who will get the MGM Grand? And who does HBO side with?"

Top boxing stories of 2009 (Yahoo! Sports)
Kevin Iole looks at the ten biggest stories in a dramatic, excellent and heartache-filled year for the sweet science.

Best of the Decade: One man's list (The RING)
Michael Rosenthal picks his best of the decade in several categories. It's a good read. I quibble with Event of the Decade, but my pick isn't one many would go with, either.

Pacquiao-Mayweather: The Blame Game... (The Boxing Bulletin)
Who is to blame for Pacquiao-Mayweather situation? With the mega-fight on the verge of falling apart, Jeff Pryor takes a look at each fighter's responsibility for the current mess.

Choc's challenge: fighting a losing battle (Sydney Morning Herald)
Anthony Mundine dropped from 168 to 160 about a year ago, and in his last fight was back up to 168. Now for some reason he's trying to go all the way down to 154 pounds at age 34, a weight he's never made before, to fight fringe contender Robert Medley on January 11. Predictably, he's badly struggling to make the weight. What's puzzling is that Mundine went down to 160 to make some big international fights, but has gone ahead and apparently blown off that idea. Why?

Graham Earl: 'Amir Khan Fight Was Stopped Prematurely' (BoxingScene.com)
Lee Collier interviews the tough, likable Graham Earl, one of those scrapping fighters that those who see him will probably always remember. Earl says his fight with Amir Khan two years ago was stopped early (TKO-1 for Khan). Judge for yourself:

Mousasi's 2010 plans include Strikeforce in April, DREAM grand prix, boxing (MMAjunkie.com)
Yet another top flight MMA fighter is looking to dabble in boxing next year. Most likely it won't happen, but Gegard Mousasi is definitely a hell of a fighter and without sounding snide or anything, is one of the very few guys I would take even remotely seriously trying to cross over. But a part-time boxer is never going to make any real waves, either.

Steve 'Dr. Death' Williams dies (NewsOK.com)
I know this isn't boxing news, but as I've said before, I was a big pro wrestling fan growing up and still love to watch the old stuff. "Dr. Death" Steve Williams passed away today at the age of 49 after a battle with cancer. Williams was a hell of a performer, considered a genuinely tough guy, and also was a football All-American at the University of Oklahoma, as well as a fine amateur wrestler. As a pro wrestler he did quite well in America, but really made his name in Japan as one of the more successful gaijin of his time. Rest in peace, Steve.