Not surprisingly, the aftermath of the Floyd Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez match has produced some very simplistic commentaries about the commerce of the fight.

The very good buy rate that topped 1 million has been viewed in a number of different ways. Many of them so absurdly one dimensional that it boggles my mind.

The black and white mentality of commentators in both sports and news is astonishing. There is no more gray. And, I hate to break it to them and the people who buy into their messages, but, most things are in the gray area. Usually there are several factors that make something happen, not just one.

First, the huge buy rate is good news for boxing and it’s good news for Floyd Mayweather, who has long struggled to provide evidence that he can carry a pay per view. In this case, Marquez brought a following, but it was incumbent upon Mayweather to provide the bulk of the interest.

The other specific point that this huge buy rate demonstrates is that, as I suggested in my special commentary (which you can watch below on my boxing channel), when a major match gets the appropriate amount of coverage from the mainstream media, it will flourish and fans will be interested.

That was the case with this fight. Because of Mayweather’s return to the ring, this match got good coverage from newspapers, television and radio. More...

By Gary Todd

When Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton walk out from their dressing rooms, Hatton's head draped in an oversized hood with trainer, Mayweather Sr ., right behind him, talking the talk as usual, and Pacquiao looking up, smiling to his beloved countrymen, both men will be enjoying the thunderous roar that they each demand .

Why not? They are fighting for the pound for pound, best of the best title, and it's all about them.

With a combined career of 101 fights and 68 knockouts between them along with close to 600 rounds boxed, they deserve it.

Over their career, neither man has been banged up too badly, despite each of them fighting in tough, hard fights, giving their all for their fans, the sport and themselves. More...

Richard Schaefer:?So it's Ricky Hatton versus Manny Pacquiao, two of the most exciting fighters of our generation, the best pound for pound fighter against the most popular fighter in the world, and the stage is set for a great showdown on May 2 live from the MGM Grand and live on HBO Pay-Per-View.

In 1889, exactly 120 years ago, one of the most famous poets, and no, I'm not talking about Floyd Mayweather, Sr. but Rudyard Kipling came up with the "Ballad of East and West," and let me just quote you quickly: But there is neither East nor West, border nor breed nor bird when two strong men stand face to face, though they come from the ends of the earth." So the stage is set not for the Ballad of East and West, but for the Battle of East and West.

So I'd like to give you as well a quick summary for the media, we just concluded in England, a two-city media tour which started in Manchester with over 6,000 fans, including a large contingency of Filipinos, I would estimate about 1,500, cheering on their hero, and appreciating as well Floyd Mayweather, Sr.'s talent as a poet. More...

During a national conference call held today for members of the media, Ricky Hatton's trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr., all but ensured a Hatton victory over his next opponent Manny Pacquiao when the two meet in a world junior welterweight championship on Saturday, May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and live on HBO Pay-Per-View. More...

© Chris Farina - Top Rank

During a blistering two-day UK media tour, superstars Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and Ricky “Hitman” Hatton set the tone for their world junior welterweight “The Battle of East and West” championship set for Saturday, May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View. More...

The anticipation is growing and the stage is now set for two of boxing's biggest stars, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao and IBO Junior Welterweight Champion Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton to meet in "The Battle of East and West," Saturday, May 2 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

These two boxing artists, who will rumble for Hatton's title, will have a 20 x 20 foot canvas to paint a black and blue masterpiece that the world is anxiously waiting to see. More...

The Chicago Cubs, owners of the best record in Major League Baseball, will welcome WBC Champion David Diaz to throw out the first pitch this Tuesday night, June 10, prior to the opening game of their three game home series against the Atlanta Braves. Diaz will take to the mound approximately 15 minutes prior to the 7:05pm local start. More...

World Boxing Council Lightweight Champion David Diaz will take a break from training for his title defense against boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao to give the commencement address at Carl Von Linne Elementary School in Chicago on Monday, June 9.

Diaz is currently training in Chicago for his world title defense against "The Mexicutioner" set for Saturday, June 28 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. More...

Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao jets to Chicago, Illinois, on Tuesday night in preparation for a full media day on Wednesday, May 21st which includes a Public Pep Rally at 12 Noon at Federal Plaza, 230 S. Dearborn (corner of Adams and Dearborn) to promote his showdown with World Boxing Council champion David Diaz set for June 28th at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"I am looking forward to my first visit to The Windy City and meeting Chicago’s great boxing fans -- both Hispanic and Filipino," said Manny Pacquiao. "Chicago has a lot to be proud of in its world champion David Diaz. I just hope Chicago doesn't think of me as an ill-mannered guest when I go after David and his title with everything I have on June 28th." More...

The Battle is on! Welterweight superpowers Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito square-off in a compelling and eagerly-awaited world title fight to determine the division’s top dog and arguably boxing’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter. “The Battle!” / “La Batalla!” -- the pay-per-view extravaganza -- headlined by the Cotto vs. Margarito World Welterweight Championship, will take place Saturday, July 26, at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Promoted by Top Rank, the fight will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. More...

WBC champion Cristian Mijares fights WBA title-holder Alexander “El Explosivio” Munoz on this Saturday night, May 17, in the first super flyweight unification title bout in more than 10 years, headlining the “Noche de Campeones” pay-per-view event live from the Auditorio Centenario in Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico. More...

Welterweight superpowers Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito, and Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum will embark on a coast-to-coast media tour next week announcing "The Battle!" / "La Batalla!" -- their compelling and eagerly-awaited world welterweight championship fight.

The tour will begin in Mexico City on Monday, May 19, followed by stops in Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 20, New York on Thursday, May 22, and concluding in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Friday, May 23. Look for specific alerts for each city shortly. More...

IBA junior flyweight champion Wendy “Little Thunder” Rodriguez will be seeking revenge June 13 when she fights one of only four opponents to ever defeat her, Hollie “Hot Stuff” Dunaway, in their 10-round bout for the vacant IBA strawweight belt on the “Finally” pay-per-view event, airing live at 10 PM/ET-8 PM/MT from Isleta Casino and Resort in Albuquerque, NM. More...

WBC lightweight champion David Diaz, 34-1-1 (17), from Chicago, paid a media day visit to San Antonio yesterday, May 6, to talk up his title defense against WBC super featherweight champion and Filipino national treasure Manny Pacquiao, 46-3-2 (34).

After visiting The Alamo, the birthplace of Texas independence from Mexico, Diaz, whose family hails from Mexico, said: "Yesterday may have been Cinco de Mayo, but June 28 will be the sinking of Manny. More...

WBC Lightweight Champion David Diaz will be honored This Sunday! May 4, as the co-Grand Marshal in Chicago’s Cinco De Mayo Parade, the highlight of the city’s 25th Annual Cinco De Mayo Festival and Parade Celebration.

“I’m thrilled to be given this honor as part of the celebration of our Mexican culture. It’s great to participate in the Cinco De Mayo festivities with my family and all of the Mexican families,” said Diaz. More...

When two explosive world champions at the top of their game mix it up for the world title, it’s a “Lethal Combination!” Newly-crowned WBC super featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao and WBC lightweight champion David Diaz will battle in a 12-round rumble with Diaz’s title at stake. More...

The two best female boxers in the world, Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm and Mary Jo Sanders, headline the June 13th “Finally” pay-per-view event at 10 PM/ET-8 PM/MT – the greatest collection of women fighters on one show in history – live from Isleta Casino & Resort in Albuquerque, New Mexico. More...