* Israel Vasquez will go a fourth time against Rafael Marquez on May 22 from the Los Angeles Staples Center with Showtime broadcasting. I still can’t believe their second fight couldn’t find a home and it ended up in tiny Hidalgo, Texas on the Mexican border. Vasquez now leads the classic series 2-1.
* ESPN’s Dan Rafael was absolutely correct when editorializing that the Bernard Hopkins vs. Roy Jones, Jr. rematch set for March 13 got what it deserved when Jones took one fight too many. The fight could have been made any time in the past 17 years, but they kept putting it off and Jones got knocked off.
* The lesson learned is that Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is getting made on the first available date of March 13 before tuneup fights and elections or other man made disasters.
* But back to Jones: That punch, if it landed would have knocked Jones out at any point in his career. However up until five years ago he wouldn’t have even been caught with it.
* I’m far from sold on the credibility of Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. as even a world class fighter. But nobody can be as pissed off at him as his promoter Bob Arum. Chavez is a big draw for the rabid Mexican fans and I’m sure he would have been the co-main event underneath the Pacquiao vs. Mayweather fight to satisfy the enormous Mexican fan base worldwide. Especially if the fight ends up in North Texas.
* Chavez failed a urine test due to a banned substance in Las Vegas (but is legal in Mexico) and is looking at a nine – month suspension.
* Showtime’s Super Six tournament of super middleweights will be back for its second round April 6 when leader Arthur Abraham of Germany visits American Andre Dirrell in Rancho Mirage, California.
* In other second round action in tournament favorite but now desperate for a win Mikkel Kessler will face WBC Middleweight Champion Carl Froch April 17 in Denmark and Andre Ward faces Jermain Taylor (TBA). However Taylor may pull out and an alternate may come in.
* Kevin “Kingpin”Johnson is an American heavyweight, 22-0 (9 KO’s) fighting Vitali Klitschko on HBO Saturday night. I don’t remember ever seeing him fight and only recognize a handful of opponents he has fought. This looks like a genuine disaster. I can’t believe HBO bought it.
* I hope Johnson doesn’t embarrass himself like other mandatory heavyweights Ray Austin, Tony Thompson and Cristobal Arreola. Or worse like 140 Dmitriy Salita did over the last weekend.
* Congratulations to Dr. Jose Sulaiman for celebrating his 34Th year as president of the World Boxing Council.
* Happy 78th birthday Bob Arum.
