Mandatory Eight Count - Respect Your Elders

Pacquiao's next steps if he beats Margarito - Boxing Scene

Bob Arum sat down with Michael Marley to discuss what might come next for Manny Pacquiao if Pacquiao gets past Antonio Margarito in November. It sounds like they're looking for one last fight for the superstar, which would take place in May of next year. Obviously, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the ideal opponent, but if that doesn't happen (and considering Mayweather's current legal problems and the history of botched negotiations between the two, it might never happen), then Pacquiao would move back down to 147. Potential opponents mentioned by Arum include the Bradley-Alexander winner, Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez, Andre Berto and Miguel Cotto. Only one of those guys is with Top Rank, so while the world would probably rather see any of those fights more than a Miguel Cotto rematch, you can bank on Arum starting to talk up a Cotto rematch if Cotto looks strong in his next fight.

Zsolt Erdei coming to U.S. after signing with DiBella | ESPN

Former two-division titlist Zsolt Erdei, one of the most talented but obscure titleholders in boxing in recent years, is coming out of retirement and coming to America, looking to make a name for himself under the guidance of promoter Lou DiBella. He'll make his American debut on the Martinez-Williams undercard. He looked very faded in his last fight against Giacobbe Fragomeni, but he also reportedly had the flu. If he has anything left, he can probably still give a tough fight to anyone not named Pascal or Dawson. The flood of outbound talent from German promotional giant Universum is almost complete.  Almost universally citing their inability to make competitive matches, Erdei, Sergei Dzinziruk, Felix Sturm, Gennady Golovkin and Andriy Kotelnik have all managed to leave the company within the last year, often through legal battles.

Erik Morales ready to face Jorge Barrios | Latino Boxing Examiner

Erik Morales's next fight will come against Jorge Barrios on December 18 in Tijuana, Mexico. While Morales is a fraction of what he once was, Barrios reportedly didn't look too hot in his last fight either, and The Hyena is just as undersized at light welterweight as Morales. While not yet final, expect this one to get signed if Mexico will give Barrios visa clearance, as he's had recent legal troubles. Also expect it to air on Integrated PPV opposite Showtime's Pascal-Hopkins fight.

Shannon Briggs Statement | Fight News

Shannon Briggs made a public statement today, giving props to Vitali Klitschko and stating that he hasn't suffered any brain injuries and isn't in critical condition, as was reported elsewhere. He did, however, break his orbital and nose and tore his left bicep, on which he had surgery today.

Mike Tyson Plans To Become Boxing Ambassador Of China | Hip-Hop Wired

Chinese officials have announced that they have entered into a development deal with Mike Tyson, and he's scheduled to head over to China with the possibility of becoming the "boxing ambassador" to China. The money quote from Tyson: "I didn't even know what an ambassador really was. When I think of ambassadors I think of living off government money and jet-setting with girlfriends."

Veteran Hopkins looks to serve ring lesson on light heavyweight king Pascal | Winnipeg Free Press

The hype for the bout between Bernard Hopkins and light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal is starting to build up. Hopkins, trash talking as usual, said he would take Pascal to school. Pascal, evidently not getting this whole trash talking thing, responded that he already got his college diploma.

Luis Concepcion arrested in road rage incident | Ideal.es (in Spanish)

WBA interim flyweight titlist Luis "El Nica" Concepcion was arrested today in what appears to be a road rage incident. Evidently, another driver cut him off and almost lost control of his vehicle. When the two got out to exchange words, Concepcion pulled out a 9 mm to bolster his argument. Concepcion denies the charges, but if they stick, it could make it difficult for him to fight outside of Panama.

Boxing In Ireland: Garcia vs. Former World Champ Mitchell November 6 | Saddo Boxing

Former two time titlist Byron Mitchell has promised to end the hype surrounding unbeaten Cork based Cuban Luis "El León" Garcia. The Irish-based Cubans haven't received as much hype stateside as guys like Gamboa, Rigondeaux and Solis, but that doesn't mean some hype isn't warranted. From what I've seen, Garcia is an aggressive and exciting fighter who still has top notch amateur credentials, and unlike the others, is still quite young. Brian Peters has him, along with Alexei Acosta and Mike Perez, on an aggressive path, and Mitchell seems like a decent step up in class less than a dozen fights into his career.