By Cliff Rold

The squared circle is loaded this week with more fun fights in a single week than one can shake a stick at.  Some of the sports best divisions will have some of their best fighters on display with HBO and Showtime counterprogramming with two cards that make the invention of TIVO/DVR technology a blessing. 

The week is so strong that a card like Friday’s ShoBox outing featuring Cory Spinks versus Deandre Lattimore for the vacant IBF Jr. Middleweight crown come in way behind the rest of the must-see pack and yet remains a fight worth watching.  The appearance of excellent young Jr. Welterweight Devon Alexander on the undercard rounds out what should be an intriguing show.

Still, most fight fans like the blood and guts stuff first and foremost (and amen to that) and both of the weeks’ biggest main events should provide those in abundance while answering some questions about the key participants.

These are the picks of the week.

Pick It: Carl Froch-Jermain Taylor (Showtime, Saturday, 9 PM EST/PST)

Former World Middleweight champion Jermain Taylor (28-2-1, 17 KO) put the specter of two losses to Kelly Pavlik behind him late last year when he got by former Olympic teammate Jeff Lacy to make a place for himself at Super Middleweight.  How strong that place is, or will be, we’ll know more about after Saturday.  Taylor was a fighter who appeared to be stuck in neutral, if not in recession, from his controversial wins over Bernard Hopkins through his fall but there is something to be said for tough opposition making good fighters look bad.  Was Taylor maligned for struggling for fighters (like Winky Wright and Cory Spinks) who anyone could have struggled with?  WBC 168 lb. titlist Carl Froch (24-0, 19 KO) certainly hasn’t faced the sort of opposition Taylor has and this represents a step up.  What is known is that Froch fights with passion and isn’t afraid to go to war; a fight of the year candidate against Jean Pascal to pick up his the-vacant belt was proof of that.  And, let’s face it, no one has beaten big time foes until they get the opportunities and capitalize.  This is the ‘big time’ opportunity.  Super Middleweight is as good a weight class as any in the sport right now and the winner here will be at the heart of its future.  Jockeying for position on the televised undercard, Alan Green (27-1, 19 KO) will also be in action and could be a fine opponent for the winner of Froch-Taylor if they don’t elect to go after, or can’t make due to his management issues, more dangerous fare like WBA titlist Mikkel Kessler (41-1, 31 KO).

Pick Dark: Juan Manuel Lopez-Gerry Penalosa (HBO, Saturday, 10 PM EST/PST)

Any other week, this strong Boxing After Dark main event would be the leader of the pack.  This isn’t any other week but it doesn’t mean this show can be missed.  The WBO 122 lb. titlist Lopez (24-0, 22 KO) is a ‘star of the future’ who might just meet the hype and could emerge as Puerto Rico’s finest active fighter in the next few years.  He’ll have a cagey veteran in front of him.  Penalosa (54-6-2, 36 KO), though 36, is a respected Filipino technician with a strong resume.  A former lineal World Jr. Bantamweight champion, he made a big stage comeback of sorts when he lost a narrow decision to former WBO titlist Daniel Ponce De Leon at 122, and then followed it with a come from behind body shot knockout of WBO 118 lb. titlist Jhonny Gonzalez.  Can he defuse the mobs of Lopez?  On the undercard, Lamont Peterson (26-0, 12 KO) tries to get a step ahead of little brother Anthony, facing Willy Blain (20-0, 3 KO).  Win and he could be in line for a shot at unified 140 lb. titlist Timothy Bradley; those are quality stakes.

Pick Google: Pongsaklek Wonjongkam-Julio Cesar Miranda (?)

Originally on the schedule for the 14th, this was moved to the 24th and so gets to be a pick two weeks in a row.  No need to change the next much from last week.   It should still be worth a check on the YouTubes of the world.  Thailand’s Wonjongkam (71-3-1, 38 KO) was the lineal and WBC Flyweight champion from 2001-07, breaking the consecutive title defense reign of the great Miguel Canto.  He’s won four in a row since a draw against the man who took his crown, Daisuke Naito, but none were as dangerous as Miranda (29-3-1, 22 KO).  The Mexican has won 21 straight, most notably a savage war in 2008 with undefeated Omar  Salado.  This could be a hell of a lot of fun and the winner moves to the front of the title contention line. 

Also of note overseas next week, WBA Middleweight titlist Felix Sturm (31-2-1, 13 KO) take on Japan’s Koji Sato (14-0, 13 KO).  Sato is a fairly unknown commodity but his knockout percentage says this one could be a worth a look as well.

Back in seven.

Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com