By Cliff Rold

The world is righted on its axis in some ways.  For the first time what feels like longer than it's been, the underdog met his billing in a major fight.  When first announced, wise fight followers shook their head at the prospect of Joe Calzaghe-Roy Jones, reacting to Jones as a no-hoper.  Something shifted in the months leading to the fight, old clips of Roy replacing the reality of recent form.  Calzaghe provided a reality check.  Now, we enter a weekend wondering if there is really any underdog at all in the showcase bout on tap…and wondering if it’s really the best fight of the week.

Odds are it might not be.

These are the picks of the week.

Pick It: Raul Martinez-Victor Proa (Telefutura, Friday 8 PM EST/PST)

It’s been a no-brainer for much of the year: when two excellent Jr. Bantamweights are on tap, it’s likely to be worth watching.  Boxing’s best little division has delivered multiple times this year in terms of quality matches and quality outcomes and this Friday should be no exception.  BoxingScene #9 and WBA #4 Raul Martinez (23-0, 13 KO) of Texas is close to a shot at WBO titlist Fernando Montiel but has Victor Proa (26-0-2, 19 KO) of Mexico on tap before he can get there.  Martinez has faced the better competition but Proa has shown serious crack and is closing in on a top ten rating with the WBA.  Currently, he rests at #12.  Sometimes, early career crossroads bouts produce blowouts which usher in new stars.  Still other times, fans get a David Tua-Ike Ibeabuchi sort of battle between two young men whose goals remain in front of them and whose ‘0’s’ mean the world to them.  With the recent news that Telefutura will cancel their Friday Boxing show at the end of the year, and only one week removed from the savagery of Rogers Mtgawa-Tomas Villa, Martinez-Proa should be a must for the diehards and should be the best action fight of the week.

Pick Too: Jermain Taylor-Jeff Lacy (HBO, Saturday 10:15 PM EST/7:15 PM PST)

It’s hard to believe, but at the end of 2005 this looked like THE superfight of the future.  Instead, in 2008, it stands out as merely an intriguing crossroads bout between the former 2000 U.S. Olympic teammates.  The former World Middleweight champion Taylor (27-2-1, 17 KO) is a slight favorite here but the former Super Middleweight titlist Lacy (24-1, 17 KO) could easily be considered even money.  Both have taken damage in recent affairs both in the ring and in terms of reputation.  The victor walks away with a new, if short, leash on life.  It could come down to the mental game and who know where that goes.  Taylor appeared hesitant often in his rematch with the man he lost his crown to, Kelly Pavlik, though his physical talents were in evidence.  Lacy has struggled badly since losing badly in 2006 to Joe Calzaghe, compounded by a serious shoulder injury.  This is the sort of fight which can go any which way.  That makes it worth watching. 

Pick More: Multiple Choice…Fill in the Bubble

There are still other intriguing fights this week.  Versus offers a showdown between former Contender alum as Season Three winner Sakio Bika attempts to get himself in contention for a third title shot at 168 lbs. against Season One runner up Peter Manfredo.  On the same show, Season two winner Grady Brewer, recovered from injury, makes only his second start since 2006 against another show alum in Cornelius Bundrage.  On the YouTube beat, former World Cruiserweight champion David Haye is also back in action this weekend overseas, matched soft enough in his first heavyweight outing to make questions about his chin worth maintaining.  Monte Barrett is by no means a bad fighter and history says most of the best Cruiserweights picked the weight because Heavyweight wasn’t for them.  Haye like to call out Klitschkos; anything less than dominance against Barrett should quiet the chatter a bit.

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