By Cliff Rold

From Yankee to the Garden, Puerto Rican star to Puerto Rican star, boxing will feel a little bit different and a little bit same this weekend (at least for those tuning into Saturday’s main event).  For those who won’t, those who might be surprised to find Saturday has a main event, it might feel like a great night to take out the ol’ significant other.

There can be solace that this weekend’s sort of obscure show is at least free.  Cross those fingers that it airs when it is supposed to.     

These are picks of the week.

Pick Slick:  World Jr. Flyweight Champion Ivan Calderon (Saturday, Fox Sports, 10:00 PM EST/PST)

If there was one aspect of Miguel Cotto’s triumphant return at Yankee last weekend that felt just a wee bit off, it was that he wasn’t part of Puerto Rican day weekend in New York City.  This year, the honor of that marquee slot goes to one of the most talented pure boxers of his era (and one the smallest).  108 lb. king Ivan Calderon (33-0-1, 6 KO) will attempt the sixth defense of the title he won from Hugo Cazares in 2007 in what is really a tune-up against Jesus Iribe (16-6-5, 10 KO).  A tune-up for what could be a troubling question.  Now 35, Calderon should be looking for that last big win; instead, he’s likely headed towards a mandatory with Johnriel Casimero (14-0, 8 KO) instead of something more appealing like unification with Giovanni Segura.  With every day that goes by, every tick of reflex that escapes Calderon, the things that have made him special will slip away.  But he has been special and, even in a tune-up, the purist favorite merits a look.

Pick Friday: Telefutura and ESPN2

Of course not everyone is a purist and, for some, Calderon is a long night to sit through.  Fair enough.  Friday night will present two separate cards which, while not screaming must-see, could at least provide fireworks.  The better fight might be en espanol at 11:30 PM EST/PST because, well, Jr. Featherweights are always a safe bet for violence.  Of course, there’s not much for punching in the main event there but young Christopher Martin (17-0, 5 KO) and veteran Adolfo Landeros (20-13-1, 9 KO) should mix pretty well.  On the Deuce, all the fallout from “Towelgate” at Cotto-Foreman should be open for discussion along with a main event in the land of super hot crowds (Montreal…seriously, those fans blow it out the box).  David Lemieux (22-0, 21 KO) brings the heat in the ring and Elvin Ayala (20-4-1, 9 KO) has been a knockout victim in the past.  Look for an early end.     

Pick Classic: Evander Holyfield-Bert Cooper (Tuesday, ESPN Classic, 8 PM EST/5 PM PST)

In what is really a calm before the storm type week (one week from Andre Ward-Allan Green in the Super Six!), memory lane never fails.  This week, ESPN Classic goes with one of the classic Heavyweight fights of the 90’s, an almost upset for the ages.  Evander Holyfield was in training for Mike Tyson in the fall of 1991 when a rib injury kayoed their showdown.  Looking to not let a camp go to waste, Holyfield switched venues from Las Vegas to Atlanta for a homecoming consolation.  A showdown with Francesco Damiani looked on tap but that opponent fell through too.  In stepped Bert Cooper, a man with no chance.  Right?  For those who have seen it, and those who haven’t, watching this bit of savage action can never get old.

Back in seven.

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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