Joachim Alcine lays flat on the canvas after being knocked out by Daniel Santos in Montreal. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz)
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I guess we can say that Daniel Santos is "back."

The former WBO welterweight and junior middleweight titleholder knocked out WBA junior middleweight titlist Joachim Alcine at 2:10 of the sixth round to take his title and firmly establish himself as having fully returned to the sport, after his career sagged following a 2005 loss to Sergei Dzinziruk.

The 32-year old Santos (32-3-1, 23 KO) succeeding in dethroning Alcine (30-1, 19 KO) throws a potential big, big wrench into the mix at 154. While Alcine could be generously described as potentially entertaining to watch and still a bit unproven despite his age (32, as well), Santos' chops are well-known and respected.

It was a left-right combo that felled what the AP report called a "nervous-looking" Alcine. The now former titleholder had fought just once since beating Travis Simms in a dreadfully dull bout last July to win the title, scoring a TKO over fringe contender (at best) Antonio Mosquera last December.

I'm really happy to see Santos back near the top of the mountain. He's always been a quality fighter, and I just plain am a fan of his. Congratulations to him.

On the Montreal undercard, Alex Bunema (30-5-2, 16 KO) had a successful return to the ring after six months off, dropping super vulnerable slugger Walter Matthysse (26-4, 25 KO) at the end of the sixth round. It is Matthysse's third straight knockout loss, and his fourth in his last five fights.

Over in Lancashire, John Murray (25-0, 13 KO) stayed unbeaten and gained the vacant British lightweight title with a fifth round TKO victory over Lee Meager (21-3-2, 8 KO). Murray, 23, isn't exactly Amir Khan, but he could snatch a recognized world title or two sometime.

On Friday Night Fights, Tomasz Adamek (35-1, 24 KO) made easy work as expected of out of shape, short, outgunned, overmatched, stay-busy opponent Gary Gomez (18-10-1, 7 KO), winning when Gomez refused to return to the ring for the seventh round, claiming a hand injury. I'm not sure what Gomez hit that might have hurt his hand. There must've been some mighty solid air in Chicago last night.

I don't really mean to make fun of Gomez -- mostly because, yes, he could beat me up, I understand -- but the guy would've been a chubby dude at your local beach, let alone as a pro boxer. He has no height listed on BoxRec, but if Adamek is 6'1 1/2" as reported, Gomez could have been no more than 5'9", and he weighed in at a floppy 201 pounds. Adamek was also at 201, the heaviest he's ever fought.

Now what bothered me watching Adamek was he never took advantage of Gomez and just wasted him, which he clearly could've done at any point he really felt like it. Sure, maybe Gomez lands the perfect punch. More likely Gomez panics and fears for his life, and Adamek assaults him into the canvas. Tomasz won easy because he was 400% more talented than Gomez. But where was the fire? This guy has been in some wars before, and now he's boxing like an amateur. It worked against a super-rusty O'Neil Bell and Chubby Cherub, but how's that going to go when he fights Steve Cunningham?

While most eyes in the boxing world will be firmly upon the in-ring return of uncrowned heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko when he faces Tony Thompson this Saturday, it's a pretty busy weekend all around the sport.

IBF junior flyweight titlist Ulises Solis (26-1-2, 20 KO, pictured) will face Glenn Donaire (17-3-1, 9 KO) in Hermosillo, Mexico. Solis has held the title since March 2006, when he defeated Eric Ortiz. He has defended successfully against Omar Salado (a draw), Will Grigsby, Jose Antonio Aguirre, Rodel Mayol (excellent scrap) and Bert Batawang.

Donaire, 28, is going to be a pretty big underdog, and deservedly so. While Solis is a fringe pound-for-pound guy with lots of grit and good skills, Donaire is best known for being the avenged brother of flyweight titleholder Nonito Donaire. Glenn fought and was obliterated by Vic Darchinyan in 2006. He has been woefully inactive, fighting just once since then, and he had even been out for 15 months before fighting Darchinyan.

The headliner that night on Azteca America will pit Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (36-0-1, 29 KO) against journeyman Matt Vanda (38-6, 21 KO), who once beat Yory Boy Campas, and...that's about it. It's just another KO to add to Chavez's record, as the 22-year old pads away. The way he's going, he'll reach 40 wins before facing anyone of real consequence. At the same time, you have to admire the work ethic and dedication.

On Friday in Montreal, Joachim Alcine (30-0, 19 KO) will make his second defense of the WBA junior middleweight title when he takes on former WBO junior middleweight and welterweight titleholder Daniel Santos (31-3-1, 22 KO), who twice fought Antonio Margarito with no definitive conclusion either time (first bout was a one-round no contest, the second affair a technical decision win for Santos that came as a result of cuts in a close fight).

The 32-year old Santos would seem like he's getting his last shot at a younger man, but Alcine is 32, as well. It's just that Santos was winning world titles in 1999, while Alcine was getting in his first three pro fights that year. This is a pick'em fight if you ask me; if Santos shows up in good shape and fights to the best of his ability, Alcine will more than have his hands full.

On the undercard at Uniprix Stadium, Alex Bunema (29-5-2, 15 KO) will finally get back in the ring after his January upset of Roman Karmazin on the undercard of Jones-Trinidad, a 10th round TKO that served as the year's first real upset. Bunema will face powerful/vulnerable Walter Matthysse (26-3, 25 KO), a slugger who has been knocked out in three of his last four fights, losing most recently to Sebastian Lujan (who will be fighting Jose Luis Castilo on July 30). He was also dropped by Paul Williams, and most sensationally by Kermit Cintron. It will be for a regional WBA title at 154 pounds, meaning Matthysse is stepping up from welterweight for the first time.

The good thing about a Walter Matthysse fight, though, is someone is getting knocked out. Even though Bunema isn't the biggest puncher, I expect it will again be Walter that goes down.

This week's Friday Night Fights has an odd main event, as former WBC 175-pound champion and current IBF No. 1 cruiserweight contender Tomasz Adamek (34-1, 23 KO) returns to his "American hometown" of Chicago to take on tomato can Gary Gomez (18-9, 7 KO). Adamek has come back strong since being wailed on last year by Chad Dawson, as he beat O'Neil Bell into quitting in April in Poland, a fight that was broadcast on ESPN Classic, something I wish would become more of a regular feature. What are we missing out on? Another re-run of a Hideo Nomo no-hitter?

It's a weak main event and there's nothing good on the undercard, either, but I'm considering staying in on Friday to catch Adamek fight simply because I like him.