The show starts live at 11pm ET on FOX Sports Net. God help us all. This sucked two years ago, and neither guy has exactly been lighting up the world since then. But again, I stick by one of my chief rules of boxing fandom. To love the great fights, you gotta watch the bad ones.

That and I'm thinking these two aging, increasingly desperate guys might just come out and throw down in an attempt to impress. It's do or die for both.

The show starts live on HBO at 4:30 PM ET -- so two and a half hours from time of post.

I'm really not trying to downplay or disrespect the man, but it is going to take something pretty f'n special from Tony Thompson today.

By now you've no doubt become familiar with the controversy surrounding Torres-Holt I, held last year in Colombia. The ring was pelted with bottles, cans and liquids, with the American challenger saying he was hit with a can during the fracas.

The refereeing was also quite bad, the environment was positively unsafe for a pro boxing affair (the event was anything but professional, honestly), and this rematch is deserved.

Torres says there was no controversy. Of course he does.

But even better than all of that is the fact that this is a good matchup, a puncher (Torres) against a boxer (Holt). Holt has a habit of running when he's not on his game, but when he's going good, he can really fight. Torres is a tough son of a gun with big power that went toe-to-toe with Miguel Cotto a few years ago in one of Cotto's best fights.

The undercard bout will see Lamont Peterson, brother of the recently-seen Anthony "Fwah!" Peterson, going up against veteran Rogelio Castaneda, Jr. Not much of a step up at all for Peterson. In fact, it is generously a step sideways. Neither has much power, so don't expect a knockout.

The show starts at 11pm from Planet Hollywood in Vegas, live on Showtime.

For those not ponying up $49.99 for tonight's pay-per-view, you're in luck. We'll be covering all four fights, including the Diaz-Pacquiao main event for Diaz's WBC lightweight title. Even if you consider it a mismatch, this is a fight that promises action. Diaz is a straight-ahead fighter and we all know what Manny does.

The action starts at 9pm ET, assuming Comcast doesn't screw up (and this is always worth mentioning beforehand, because it wouldn't be the first, second, or third time). Live updates will take place in the comments section. Join us!

via Chris Cozzone/AFP/Getty Images

Picks and a little pre-fight talk? Why not!

Diaz-Pacquiao: Stepping up yet another weight class is a huge, huge deal for Pacquiao, but he looks no different than usual physically, and Diaz has no real size advantage on the Pac Man. Diaz himself says he's used to fighting guys taller than him -- Pacquiao is listed as a half-inch taller, but it looks like more than that. Both are southpaws. Pacquiao has almost every physical edge, it appears, and has knocked out some tough, tough guys along the way. I think Diaz will show up and make a fight of it as best he can, but in the end, he gets outclassed by a better, stronger, faster man. Pacquiao TKO-9

Luevano-Santiago: Luevano is a solid but unspectacular boxer who does all the little things, but he was knocked down in his last fight against Terdsak Jandaeng. He recovered very well and dominated the bout (he was dominating the round in which he got caught, too). I'm a big fan of Santiago's. Do I feel upset? No, not really. But I think he's got a very good chance, and that this is the most even fight of the night on paper. Luevano UD-12

Soto-Lorenzo: Think of this fight as Soto being rewarded by Top Rank for all his hard work. The interim WBC 130-pound strap (held by Pacquiao, but sure to be vacated) is on the line. Soto was made to look foolish by Joan Guzman in his last major outing, and Lorenzo is a 36-year old knockaround guy who'll have some decent tales to tell someday. They're similar fighters in many ways, but Soto is taller and eight years younger than his opponent. Give me Humberto via piling up the punches and doing good damage. Soto TKO-6

Fields-Barrett: Well, they had to drop one absolute turd onto the card, I guess. This 10-round heavyweight "attraction" features a couple of guys that either have been waxed by good opposition (Barrett) or surely would get waxed if they ever fought good opposition (Fields). I like "Two Gunz" more than I like "Railroad Tye," but that's not really Tye's fault. It's just that Arum so often put his junk fights against bums and cans on TV with their Versus Network deal, and I've had to see way too much of an uninteresting if likable fighter. I'd pick Monte because I hope he wins and rids us of Fields before Tye's 6'8" frame and Americanness grants him a title shot where he gets manhandled, but Barrett's 37 and it's been three years since he beat anybody of any note whatsoever -- and really, have Owen Beck and Dominick Guinn every truly distanced themselves from the likes of Cliff Couser and Damon Reed? Fields TKO-7

It's a night of prospect tests against tough journeymen on Versus, starting at 9pm ET. We'll be here for the fights, partly to stay warm and in a boxing mood for Saturday's PPV.

This is the type of fight that shouldn't require any hype. Their first fight -- which is going to be replayed again tonight at 6pm on Showtime -- was a war, with Abraham having his jaw broken in the fourth round and fighting on to a 12-round decision win anyway. A controversial, very close decision win, yes, but a win. It was the first loss of Miranda's career.

Though this fight won't be for Abraham's 160-pound title since it's being fought at a 166-pound catchweight, it's intriguing and feels necessary. Abraham and his team have been quoted as saying they simply do not like Miranda as a person, and Miranda seems to have little personal regard for Abraham either. But trash talker extraordinaire Miranda has shown begrudging respect for the toughness of King Arthur. How could he not?

Most feel that since Abraham is the better all-around fighter, he should have an easier time with Miranda so long as he doesn't have his jaw broken again. But Miranda is the epitome of a guy with a puncher's chance -- any shot could finish any fight. He's a monster puncher who looked a lot more disciplined in his January destruction of David Banks, finishing Banks with what amounted to the first good shot he landed in the fight, as he laid back and picked his spot in the third round.

Abraham has to be the favorite, but I think Miranda might just win this one on power. If he does, he's red-hot again. He'll always be in demand thanks to the way he fights, but a shot at a 168-pound title could await him should he win tonight. For Abraham, this is a first trip to the States, and like it or not, that means a chance at real stardom outside of Germany. He's a legit fighter; there is no doubt of that. But he's a virtual unknown over here. He'll get the chance to end that. And he does have the power to knock Miranda out.

The undercard fight is marginally interesting just because the winner gets Abraham next, which is scheduled tentatively for this fall. Lorenzo is totally unproven, but skilled. Marquez is just another 36-year old guy who is past his prime. His status as a former 154-pound titlist isn't all that amazing, since he didn't ever score a win over a great fighter. The three best fighters he's ever fought have all knocked him out. Even so, he's the best fighter Lorenzo has ever faced.

Card starts at 9pm on Showtime. Be here!

via espn.com

This fight is about ready to go. I didn't see any of the undercard.

I love the Montreal crowds, and I expect a decent fight in this main event. Give me Ngoudjo by decision.

Herman Ngoudjo (16-2, 9 KO) v. Souleymane M'baye (36-2-1, 21 KO)

There's only one Ricky Hatton. And he's fighting today at 3:30 pm eastern on the Versus Network. It's great to see a couple of noteworthy fights on basic cable again.

Ricky Hatton Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight Champion   Juan Lazcano     43-1 Record 37-4-1 31 KO 27 Manchester, UK Hometown Sacramento, CA (Ciudad Juarez, Mexico) 5'6 1/2" Height 5'9" 65" Reach 72" Jose Luis Castillo (KO-4) Juan Urango (UD-12) Kostya Tszyu (RTD-11) Notable Wins Stevie Johnston (TKO-11) Jesse James Leija (SD-10) Wilfredo Vazquez (TKO-9) Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (TKO-10) Notable Losses Vivian Harris (UD-12) Jose Luis Castillo (UD-12) Golden Johnson (TKO-3)

Paulie Malignaggi IBF Junior Welterweight Titlist		Lovemore N'dou
24-1	Record	46-9-1
5	KO	31
Brooklyn, NY	Hometown	Sydney, Australia (Transvaal, South Africa)
5'8 1/2"	Height	5'8"
70"	Reach	68"
Herman Ngoudjo (UD-12) Lovemore N'dou (UD-12) Edner Cherry (UD-10)	Notable Wins	Naoufel Ben Rabah (RTD-11) Damian Fuller (TD-8) Carlos Rios (KO-5)
Miguel Cotto (UD-12)	Notable Losses	Paulie Malignaggi (UD-12) Junior Witter (UD-12) Miguel Cotto (UD-12)

I'm not feeling great and not going out as I usually do on Wednesday, plus I can't stomach listening to the YES broadcast of the O's-Yankees game, PLUS I like both Cherry and Johnston, so here's a short-notice BLH Fight Night for tonight's Wednesday Night Fights, which starts in just moments -- EDIT: this has been pushed back to a 10pm start time on ESPN2, or you can watch on ESPN360. Given that I mostly just care about the main event, I'll wait until ESPN2 gets it on.

Edner Cherry   Stevie Johnston 23-5-2 Record 42-5-1 11 KO 18 Wauchula, FL (Nassau, Bahamas) Hometown Denver, CO 5'8" Height 5'5" Wes Ferguson (TKO-6, UD-10) Daniel Alicea (TKO-12) Monty Meza Clay (TKO-11) Notable Wins Angel Manfredy (UD-12) Cesar Bazan (SD-12) Sharmba Mitchell (TKO-9) Paulie Malignaggi (UD-12) Jose Armando Santa Cruz (UD-12) Ricky Quiles (SD-12) Notable Losses Juan Lazcano (TKO-11) Jose Luis Castillo (MD-12) Cesar Bazan (SD-12)

Join us tonight with HBO's Boxing After Dark for what promises to be an exciting and noteworthy night of fights. Three top prospects will face tests, and I think we have a good chance to see two upsets. Plus, seeing Yuriorkis Gamboa is always worthwhile.

Here's the lineup.

Yuriorkis Gamboa   Darling Jimenez 9-0 Record 23-2-2 8 KO 14 Miami, FL (Guantanamo, Cuba) Hometown Bronx, NY 5'5" Height 5'6" Johnnie Edwards (TKO-1) Adailton de Jesus (TKO-6) Samuel Kebede (TKO-2) Notable Wins Mike Anchondo (KO-3) Jose Soto (KO-3)       Notable Losses Fernando Trejo (MD-8) Miguel Huerta (MD-8)

James Kirkland   Eromosele Albert 21-0 Record 21-1 18 KO 10 Austin, TX Hometown Miami, FL (Lagos, Nigeria) 5'9" Height 6'0" Allen Conyers (TKO-1) Mohammad Said (KO-2) Ossie Duran (UD-10) Notable Wins Daniel Edouard (TKO-7) Yori Boy Campas (UD-10) David Banks (UD-10)     Notable Losses Julio Jean (UD-8)

Alfredo Angulo   Richar Gutierrez 12-0 Record 24-1 9 KO 14 Mexicali, Mexico Hometown Miami, FL (Arjona, Colombia) 5'10" Height 5'9" Ricardo Cortes (KO-1) Archak Ter Miliksetian (TKO-1) Emmanuel Gonzalez (TKO-2) Notable Wins Jose Varela (UD-10) Luciano Perez (UD-10) Teddy Reid (KO-4)     Notable Losses Joshua Clottey (MD-12)

Hey, you find a picture of Darling Jimenez. He'll have to live with what he gets.

Picks? Why not. Gamboa TKO early (first three rounds), Kirkland TKO-6 but he'll struggle with Albert, and Gutierrez in what I'd only consider a mild upset via decision over Angulo.

There are also two pay-per-view cards tonight, one topped by what should be a good fight between Cristian Mijares and Alexander Munoz, and the other with Jorge Arce against a scrub he should knock out in a round or two in an alleged eliminator. I'm taking Munoz in a close scrap over Mijares.

But we'll be here for the HBO card, starting at 9:45 eastern. Join us and talk some boxing with your Saturday night.