By Dave Sholler

You can debate whether the sport of boxing is in decline, but the past few months in the world of the sweet science have been nothing but tantalizing. From the rise of Miguel Cotto to the fall of Shannon Briggs, boxing fans have had their own soap opera to follow. What's more, like an athletic version of the television series Desperate Housewives, these boxing stories keep watchers tuned in to see who fails, who succeeds, and who gets laid....out.

As interesting new boxing episodes prepare to debut - the return of Arturo Gatti, the Klitschko-Brewster rematch, and the Hopkins-Wright battle, to name a few- it's time to reflect on some of boxing's most intriguing characters and sagas. You'll find that each falls into good, bad and ugly categories.

The Good

Miguel Cotto - He's not as flamboyant as Tito Trinidad, but this Puerto Rican sensation fights with just as much star power. Viewed by many as the best welterweight in the world, Cotto steamrolled Zab Judah on June 9 and has plenty of intriguing options ahead. A bout with Antonio Margarito - who must first defeat Paul Williams on July 14 - would be entertaining, while a bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. would be an outstanding clash. Like any other fight speculated for Mayweather though, money and Floyd's willingness would first have to be determined.

Sultan Ibragimov - While American fans may criticize the international flavor of the heavyweight division, one cannot deny the blue-collar, in-ring work ethic of Ibragimov. With calculated punching, the southpaw outclassed Shannon Briggs on June 2 to capture the WBO Heavyweight Championship. Not satisfied with one title, Ibragimov is tentatively scheduled to try to unify the world titles when he battles WBA champ Ruslan Chagaev in October.

Paulie Malignaggi - The New York native literally earned his respect from the boxing faithful by surviving a lumping at the hands of Miguel Cotto in June 2006. Rebounding nicely in 2007, Malignaggi looked dominant against Lovemore N'Dou on June 16 and claimed the IBF junior welterweight title. With his spiky dyed hair setting the backdrop, Malignaggi told HBO's Larry Merchant that he'd like to fight Ricky Hatton. A bout with the brawling Englishman might just be what the flashy Paulie needs given his recent success.

Ricky Hatton - His legion of fans would travel to Antarctica to watch him fight if necessary. With a vicious body shot, Hatton sent Jose Luis Castillo stumbling to the mat in the fourth round of their June 23rd bout. That victorious shot was enough for the undefeated Hatton to call out Floyd Mayweather Jr. If Hatton were director of his next performance, he'd have "The Pretty Boy" lined up as his co-star. He might want to be careful what he wishes for.

The Bad

Shannon Briggs - Call him out of shape, too muscular, or past his prime, but just don't call Briggs a heavyweight champion. His sluggish performance against Ibragimov was difficult to watch, as the 270-pound Briggs struggled with boxing's basic movements. After the fight, Briggs claimed that medical reasons were to blame, but either way, he looked overmatched against the smaller, quicker Ibragimov. While other heavyweights have aged with grace, Briggs' decline looks increasingly steep.

Jermain Taylor - "Bad Intentions" is by no means a bad fighter, he's just becoming boring to watch. After consecutive fights against smaller opponents that many deemed "safe" bouts, Taylor would be best suited to pick on fighters his own size. Kelly Pavlik, fresh off defeating Edison Miranda, should be a powerful challenger in September, while a dream bout with Joe Calzaghe would be appealing.

Ray Mercer - God have mercy if the 46-year old former world champion and
Olympic gold medalist ever steps foot in an MMA ring again. After having the oxygen sucked from his lungs via guillotine choke by Kimbo Slice in an MMA event held at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ June 23rd, Mercer proved he's better suited to follow the comeback of 45-year old Evander Holyfield than the one launched by 43 year-old UFC Heavyweight champ Randy Couture.


The Ugly

Zab Judah - Once one of boxing's most promising prospects, Judah's tailspin continued with a loss to Cotto on June 9. Pummeled with power shots, Judah's night, and possibly his career, ended in the 11th round at Madison Square Garden. While he possesses all of the in-ring skills necessary to recapture his champions' status, one must wonder how severely he has been psychologically damaged by his recent downfalls. A comeback can never be ruled out for a boxer, but how far is Zab willing to go to reestablish himself within the ranks?

Referee Terry O’Connor – Teeing off on a boxing referee is not normally fair game, however O’Connor’s handling of the Calzaghe-Peter Manfredo Jr. title bout in April was downright awful. With his hands clearly defending his face and head, Manfredo Jr. was subjected to a premature stoppage orchestrated by O’Connor. While many have argued that it was only a matter of time before Calzaghe KO’d Manfredo and that the ref was doing the former Contender star a favor, O’Connor should have let the fighters determine the outcome. The safety of boxers is always of utmost importance, but title shots are not easy to come by. Simply put, boxers train to hit and be hit. They also train to defend, as Manfredo was doing in the third round of that fateful April night in Cardiff, Wales.

The Untimely Death of Diego Corrales – It was hard to find a fighter more compelling than “Chico.” His legendary battles with Jose Luis Castillo aside, Corrales will unfortunately be often remembered for the demons he battled in his personal life. Moreover, Corrales’ tremendous accomplishments in the ring will likely be overshadowed by a reckless evening in Las Vegas that featured two elements that should never be mixed: a motorcycle and alcohol.

As you can see, there are plenty of storylines that will keep fans busy throughout the rest of 2007. Just like jabs, hooks, and uppercuts, you can guarantee that the boxing ring will continue to be canvassed by some of professional sports’ most entertaining characters and must-see chronicles.

Dave Sholler can be heard on The Mike Gill Show, weekdays from 4-7pm on ESPN Radio 1450 in Atlantic City.