:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/imported_assets/190486/robert_guerrero.jpg)
- HBO's August 22 Boxing After Dark now has a nice co-feature to add to Diaz-Malignaggi, as the rumors of a 130-pound title fight between IBF titlist Malcolm Klassen and Robert Guerrero have panned out. We're talking about two top five guys at 130 pounds, so it's quite a legit fight, even handicapping for the fact that the junior lightweight division has been left in ruins by all the escapees (Pacquiao, Marquez, etc.). Klassen (24-4-2, 15 KO) is ranked No. 1 by BoxRec and No. 2 by The Ring. Guerrero is No. 3 at BoxRec and unranked by The Ring, which is kind of weird considering Jorge Linares is ranked by the publication. If the idea was that Guerrero hasn't done much at 130, OK, but all Linares has done there is beat Whyber Garcia.
- In case anyone missed it (or wasn't watching StrikeForce lately), the Junior Witter-Devon Alexander WBC junior welterweight title fight has in fact been added to Showtime's August 1 card, in support of Bradley-Campbell. Nice night of 140-pound action.
- The heavyweights are starting to sort themselves out, or at least the Klitschkos are, and I suppose you could argue that the Klitschkos are the only heavyweights that matter. Wladimir Klitschko likely will fight Alexander Povetkin next, while Vitali Klitschko is looking at three options: Nikolai Valuev, David Haye and Chris Arreola. As much as I don't want to see Valuev fight, I think I'd most like Vitali to make some money with that fight and also rid us of Valuev in major fights for good. Even with his own physical problems, Vitali is far more mobile than Valuev, and probably hits a lot harder, too. I could imagine Vitali beating him up so badly that it's either mercy-stopped by a referee or Valuev simply quits. Haye really wants the Vitali fight but Klitschko isn't so ready to commit to anything.
- Bob Arum says what anyone rational realizes to be true: Miguel Cotto has more fans and means more money than Shane Mosley, and he even just flat-out says that Cotto is willing to take a smaller split than Mosley. Arum doesn't rule out Pacquiao fighting Mosley and Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2010.
- Jorge Barrios will return to the ring on August 8. He bailed on Lightweight Lightning and last fought when stopped against Rocky Juarez in 2008.