Calling Fact or Fiction for All the Top Rumors in Boxing

The anticipation in boxing is almost as exciting and intoxicating as a great fight.

The idea that two stellar rivals are going to get in the ring together and pound each other makes for an incredible atmosphere in the days and weeks leading up to a fight. Logical fights don't always get made unless there is some legitimate bad blood between the two combatants.

Rumors often surround fighters and their prospective opponents. Here's a look at the top boxing rumors and how they impact the sport.

Pacquiao-Marquez V Coming If Manny Beats Rios

Manny Pacquiao is getting back in the ring with dangerous Brandon Rios, but that's just the first fight of Pac-Man's comeback attempt.

If he can beat Rios, trainer Freddie Roach would like to see Pacquiao get back in the ring with Juan Manuel Marquez for a fifth time. Roach said Marquez will basically owe Pacquiao a chance, because Pacquiao gave Marquez another opportunity when Dinamita was 0-2-1 in their rivalry.

Roach poured gasoline on the rumor mill when he called Marquez an epithet and demeaned his manhood (through Boxing Scene) if Marquez does not give him the opportunity to get revenge.

Fact: If Pacquiao beats Rios and Marquez beats Timothy Bradley, look for Roach to beat the drums for a fifth fight with Marquez and it will come off.

Broner-Maidana Fight Will Be Made

Adrien Broner is a hot boxing commodity. After he defeated Paulie Malignaggi in June, Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaeffer quickly started talking about who Broner would fight next.

ESPN boxing honcho Dan Rafael said in his blog that Schaeffer and Golden Boy wants Broner to fight Marcos Maidana next.

While this fight would undoubtedly create a lot of interest, it could be a dangerous fight for Broner. Maidana's left hook is one of the most dangerous punches in the business and if he caught Broner with it, it could be lights out.

Still, it looks like this fight will happen. Maidana is Broner's mandatory challenger, and Maidana appears ready to sign with fight adviser Al Haymon, who also represents Broner.

All the stars are aligning for this fight, but it could be a much better proposition for Maidana than Broner.

Fact: Unless Broner chooses to go down in weight class, this fight will happen.

Erdei Looking for Bout with Ward

Give former light heavyweight and cruiserweight champion Zsolt Erdei credit for having plenty of confidence and nerve.

He may not be realistic, but he thinks he deserves a fight against undefeated Andre Ward and that he would give a good account of himself if he got that opportunity.

Erdei is coming off a loss to Dennis Grachev in his last fight. Erdei claims he was robbed in the close fight, but it just seems the decision did not go his way.

Erdei told website proboxing-fans that he would move down in weight class to accommodate Ward. However, Erdei does not give any decent reason why Ward would be interested in fighting him.

Fiction: This fight has almost no chance of coming off.

Tyson Fury Wants the Klitschko Brothers

British heavyweight Tyson Fury will be stepping in the ring with David Haye Sept. 28.

Fury's manager and uncle, Peter Fury, would like to see his fighter jump in the ring with one of the Klitschko brothers if he is victorious against Haye.

Peter Fury told Doghouse Boxing that "politics" is likely to keep that fight from happening, but he knows Tyson Fury would have no chance in a fight against Vitali or Vladimir Klitschko. Fury has the kind of record (21-0-0) that would seem to earn him such an opportunity, but you would be hard pressed to find anyone who thinks Fury could compete in such a fight.

Behind closed doors, it's a good bet that neither the fighter nor his uncle truly want such an encounter. Even if they do, it would not be good for Fury at this point in his career.

Fiction: Fury would have no chance in a fight with either Klitschko brother and this fight will not be made.

Marquez Playing Cat and Mouse with Drug Testing

It seemed like Timothy Bradley stepped into a match beyond his reach when he agreed to fight Juan Manuel Marquez. Bradley is probably having second thoughts about the fight because of Marquez's power punching.

Marquez, of course, knocked out Manny Pacquiao last December.

Bradley is concerned about Dinamita, and badlefthook.com published a story that indicated Bradley will pull out of the fight unless Marquez will submit to PED testing by drug-testing agencies USADA or VADA.

Marquez has improved his physique and strength since his association with Angel Heredia, and Bradley has every reason to be concerned. Marquez insists he is clean, but Bradley has every right to require Marquez to deliver a clean test.

Fact: Bradley will pull out of the Oct. 12 fight unless an authorized testing agency gets a clean test from Marquez.

Ward Joining Top Rank

Andre Ward recently went through a dispute with fight promoter Dan Goosen in which he tried to extricate himself from a promotion deal the two had signed in 2011.

However, the California State Athletic Commission ruled that the contract was enforcable. Ward seems to have accepted the ruling, but rumors have surfaced that the fighter would soon partner with Bob Arum in the future.

Ward shot down the rumor, even though it seemed Arum could help make a fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. become a reality.

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“That’s a very superficial reason to try to leave a promoter," Ward told CSN  Bay Area. "You know, I’m a man of my word, and as long as my contract is binding, I’m going to adhere to my contract like I always have. And people have to understand that litigation, these types of things, lawsuits, they cost money, and that’s the wrong reason to get out of a contract.”

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Sounds like Ward is leaving the door open for Arum. If the long-time promoter is willing to buy out Goosen so it didn't cost Ward anything, he might be willing to go with Arum.

That's not likely to happen.

Fiction: Ward is staying put.

Pacquiao Still Has Killer Instinct

Manny Pacquiao will be fighting more than Brandon Rios when the men get in the ring in China this November.

Pacquiao will also be fighting critics who claim his skills have diminished and he should retire from the ring. They claim that if Pacquiao still had all his talent, he never would have been knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez in the sixth round of last December's fight.

However, Pacquiao looks at that same fight as evidence that he has all his skills and a tremendous amount of "killer instinct." He made that pronouncement while promoting the Rios fight (through Boxing Scene), and said his conditioning and hard punching left him trying to take out Marquez, noting that he was left vulnerable for an instant and that's when he got caught with the punch that flattened him.

Fact: Pacquiao retains his boxing skills he will not appear diminished against Rios in November.