By Frank Warren
THE divisions run hot and cold in boxing.
A few years ago, light-heavyweight was the magnet for big fights, with stars like Roy Jones Junior, Antonio Tarver and Bernard Hopkins pulling in the fans. Joe Calzaghe ended his career operating there.
Now it looks like 175 pounds is the place to be again. Last weekend in Montreal, home fighter Jean Pascal halted American Chad Dawson on a technical decision late on. But he was well on top as he defended his WBC crown.
Pascal is remembered here for losing the tough fight he had with Carl Froch but now Pascal is the man to beat, although he could face stiff competition from Brits Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew in the next 18 months.
First there are big fights for him against Tavoris Cloud, Lucien Bute and possibly Hopkins.
A clash with Bute, current number one at super-middleweight, would be huge in Canada - their equivalent of Benn-Eubank.
Pascal's win at the weekend was another blow for America. Dawson's gone the same way as Jeff Lacy - a hyped prospect beaten when he ventured on to foreign soil in a world title fight.
By coincidence, they share the same promoter, Gary Shaw.
I was impressed with Pascal when he pushed Carl Froch hard a couple of years ago in a world title fight at super-middle.
I thought he struggled at the weight though, and moving to light-heavy obviously suits him.
VITALI KLITSCHKO will defend his WBC heavyweight title against Shannon Briggs in October.
It will sell out in Germany, but, frankly, who cares? As the Klitschko brothers won't fight each other, the fight everyone wants to see is Klitschko against David Haye.
But it looks big odds on that Audley Harrison will be in the opposite corner when Haye next fights. Talk is cheap - as Dave has proved.
THE divisions run hot and cold in boxing.
A few years ago, light-heavyweight was the magnet for big fights, with stars like Roy Jones Junior, Antonio Tarver and Bernard Hopkins pulling in the fans. Joe Calzaghe ended his career operating there.
Now it looks like 175 pounds is the place to be again. Last weekend in Montreal, home fighter Jean Pascal halted American Chad Dawson on a technical decision late on. But he was well on top as he defended his WBC crown.
Pascal is remembered here for losing the tough fight he had with Carl Froch but now Pascal is the man to beat, although he could face stiff competition from Brits Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew in the next 18 months.
First there are big fights for him against Tavoris Cloud, Lucien Bute and possibly Hopkins.
A clash with Bute, current number one at super-middleweight, would be huge in Canada - their equivalent of Benn-Eubank.
Pascal's win at the weekend was another blow for America. Dawson's gone the same way as Jeff Lacy - a hyped prospect beaten when he ventured on to foreign soil in a world title fight.
By coincidence, they share the same promoter, Gary Shaw.
I was impressed with Pascal when he pushed Carl Froch hard a couple of years ago in a world title fight at super-middle.
I thought he struggled at the weight though, and moving to light-heavy obviously suits him.
VITALI KLITSCHKO will defend his WBC heavyweight title against Shannon Briggs in October.
It will sell out in Germany, but, frankly, who cares? As the Klitschko brothers won't fight each other, the fight everyone wants to see is Klitschko against David Haye.
But it looks big odds on that Audley Harrison will be in the opposite corner when Haye next fights. Talk is cheap - as Dave has proved.
FUTURE hall of famer Erik Morales is not that old at 33, but he's had too many hard nights.
It's sad to see him carrying on, but a British boxer could finally send him into retirement.
Scot Willie Limond faces him in Mexico next month for the WBC Diamond light-welterweight title.
"I FEEL I'm a clown, I'm a joke. I just want to do nice things so my kids can respect me. I want to live in a hut in Burma."
So said Mike Tyson in a recent interview. So anyone with a spare room in Burma, Mike is your man.
DON KING celebrated his 79th birthday this week and he is still working as hard as ever.
But it will be one of his greatest achievements if he can persuade Floyd Mayweather to sign with him.
