Tuesday Night Notes: Top Rank signs Samuel Peter

Former heavyweight titlist Samuel Peter (30-3, 23 KO) has signed a deal with Top Rank and will fight on this weekend's Latin Fury 10 card in Mexico. Peter will take on Marcus McGee (22-16, 11 KO), who has been knocked out five times in the past. McGee has lost two in a row and will in theory serve as nothing more than a rebound opponent for Peter to get his career back on track.

The 28-year old Peter has lost two in a row, quitting last year against Vitali Klitschko and getting outboxed by Eddie Chambers in March. Peter has enough sock that if he dedicates himself to training and all that, he's still a wild card in the division, but his days as a top five heavyweight are probably over. There was a time when the boxing world thought he would've been the best challenge for the dominant Wladimir Klitschko, whom he knocked down three times in a 2005 fight, but I think after his last two bouts we can all guess what would've really happened in a rematch.

• Top Rank is fielding Cotto-Pacquiao ticket requests from the likes of Kobe Bryant, Derek Jeter, Carlos Beltran and top players with the New York Giants, who have a bye that week. "I love Manny," Bryant said. "I enjoy being around people who are just as competitive, who have the same passion and work ethic. If I don't have a game that night I'll be there." It's interesting that major sports stars like this are all over Cotto-Pacquiao. Where are they for Floyd?
• Joe Calzaghe is back in the fight game -- as a promoter. Calzaghe Promotions fighters will be trained and managed by Joe's father and former trainer, Enzo, and work out at the Newbridge Boxing Club. Enzo's only great achievement in the sport was his son, but it was quite an achievement.
• Here are some photos from Mark Wahlberg's The Fighter, his passion project film about "Irish" Micky Ward. Wahlberg is playing Ward, with Christian Bale as Dicky Eklund. I am really excited about the movie.
• Here's a good fluff piece on Gerry Cooney, who has become quite the philanthropist since his in-ring career ended. He's one of the good guys.
• Sugar Ray Leonard will be in New Zealand and while there will lend a hand promoting the big domestic heavyweight clash between David Tua and Shane Cameron. Hey, why not?