Manny Pacquiao vs Shane Mosley and the 20 Biggest Fights of May 2011

With Manny Pacquiao vs Shane Mosley kicking off the month of May, it will be hard for anything to follow such a mega-hyped event, nevertheless there are plenty of amazing boxing programs to witness throughout May whether on HBO, ESPN, Showtime or elsewhere.

Without further ado, I present to you the 20 Biggest Fights of May 2011.

Worst Fight of the Month: Evander Holyfield vs. Brian Nielsen

Here is Evander Holyfield in his last fight.

The 48-year-old Evander Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 KO's) is fighting 46-year-old Brian Nielsen (64-2,  43 KO's) in Denmark on May 7, 2011.

No one will be watching this fight. Not only are they both far past the past of their primes, but there are bigger bouts (Pacquiao-Mosley) happening that night.

Holyfield has already disappointed us once this year against Williams this past January in what ended in a no-contest thanks to an accidental headbutt.

Holyfield is looking more than just his age these days. I usually don't jump on the bandwagon when it comes to kicking boxers out, but I will make an exception for Holyfield.

He's an amazing athlete who had an amazing career. I believe if he was going to win the heavyweight title a fifth time, it was going to happen against Valuev way back in 2008.

Unfortunately, he was robbed of a decision victory and denied history. Holyfield likely feels bitter, but he can't just keep going. Eventually his body will stop for him if he doesn't stop on his own.

By that time, it may be too late.

20. Bernabe Concepcion vs Juan Carlos Martinez

Bernabe Concepcion tastes the canvas thanks to Juanma Lopez in this amazing short fight.

Bernabe Concepcion (28-4-1, 15 KO's) is looking to bounce back from the second-round stoppage loss to Juanma Lopez last July.

Juan Carlos Martinez (18-12-1, 7 KO's) looks to be the type of Mexican journeyman who can bring Concepcion the type of win that will grow his confidence before he competes at an elite level again.

The fight takes place in Las Vegas on ESPN Friday Night Fights May 6, 2011.

19. Jurgen Brahmer vs Nathan Cleverly

Miguel Villagran/Getty Images

MUNICH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 30: Juergen Braehmer (R), WBO Inter-Continental super middleweight champion, and WBC Interim Middleweight World Championship Sebastian Zbik pose for a picture at the Hippodrom beer tent on September 30, 2009 in Munich, Germany

The 32-year-old German veteran, Jurgen Brahmer, (36-2, 29 KO's) was about to be sent to prison for 16 months for assault and insulting behavior, but his legal team has started a very long appeal process that will allow him to defend his world title.

Welsh fighter Nathan Cleverly (21-0, 10 KO's) has meanwhile been fighting for the interim WBO world light heavyweight (175 lbs) championship. When the two clash, the real champion will finally be decided.

Cleverly had this to say about the fight:

"

"There was talk that he might be stripped or would vacate the title, but I never wanted that to happen.

"He's the champion and the only way I would consider myself a true champion is if I took the belt from him, rather than picking up the vacant title."

"

Both men have something to gain from this match, but 24-year-old Cleverly better watch out, because as boxing fans have seen this year, the veterans have taken the young undefeated fighters to task.

Cleverly will have to live up to his last name and fight a very clever fight on May 21 in London if he hopes to beat the 32-year-old German veteran.

This is one match to watch, because the winner could potentially rise to meet one of the "magic four" of the light heavyweight division.

This elite foursome includes Ring division champion Jean Pascal, the legendary Bernard Hopkins, IBF world champion Tavoris Cloud and Chad Dawson.

18. Mike Alvarado vs. Ray Narh

Here's a knockout of Joshua Clottey's brother.

Undefeated Mike Alvarado (29-0, 21 KO's) has been secretly built to be the next great welterweight by Bob Arum after Manny Pacquiao has left.

His performance against Ray Narh (25-1, 21 KO's) is set to be on the undercard of the May 7 Pacquiao-Mosley fight and could add a notch of credibility to his campaign to rule the welterweight division once Pacquiao is gone.

17. Koki Kameda vs David Diaz

Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 2: Koki Kameda of Japan celebrates after defeating Juan Jose Landaeta of Venezuela to win the World Boxing Association light flyweight title bout at Yokohama Arena August 2, 2006 in Yokohama, Japan. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Ge

Kameda (24-1, 15 KO's) defends his newly won WBA world bantamweight (118 lbs) championship against Daniel Diaz (18-2, 13 KO's).

Kameda is always dangerous and should put on a good show in his hometown of Osaka, Japan in this matchup on May 7, 2011.

16. Sebastian Sylvester vs. Daniel Geale

Here is Sylvester in a close battle with Karmazin.

IBF world champ Sylvester (34-3-1, 16 KO's) defends his belt in Germany on May 7, a day when most of even his own countrymen will likely be watching the Vegas showdown between Pacquiao and Mosley.

He defends his world championship for the fourth time against Daniel Geale (24-1, 15 KO's).

15. Alfonso Gomez vs. Calvin Green

This is a video highlight of Gomez's stint on NBC show The Contender.

Alfonso Gomez (22-4-2, 11 KO's) is a welterweight (147 lbs) coming off victories over Jose Luis Castillo and Jesus Soto Karass.

The former contestant on The Contender will be looking to extend his recent winning streak against Calvin Green (21-5-1, 13 (KO's) whose previous loss was by way of knockout to another former contestant on the Contender, Sergio Mora.

The California-based fight will be broadcast live May 21 on Fox Deportes.

14. Kendall Holt vs. Julio Diaz

Holt stops Arroyo in one.

Holt (26-4, 14 KO's) blasted previous opponent Lenin Arroyo in one round in January on the undercard of Bradley vs Alexander but now faces new opposition in Julio Diaz (38-6, 27 KO's).

Will he repeat this feat of strength and speed against a slightly more experienced fighter? We'll just have to see May 13 on ESPN Friday Night Fights.

13. Tony Thompson vs. Maurice Harris

Here is Tony Thompson's knockout loss to Wladimir Klitschko.

A 12-round IBF heavyweight title eliminator between the solid former world champ Tony Thompson (35-2, 23 KO's) and recent comeback king Maurice Harris (24-14-2, 10 KO's) should be entertaining.

Harris has gone 4-0 after a three-year hiatus from boxing. The question will be if he can continue this comeback streak against the tough Thompson May 27 on ESPN Friday Night Lights.

Thompson's only losses have come from heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko and an early career loss to Eric Kirkland.

12. Roy Jones vs Denis Lebedev

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

LAS VEGAS - APRIL 03: Roy Jones Jr. appears in the ring before his light heavyweight bout against Bernard Hopkins at the Mandalay Bay Events Center April 3, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hopkins won by unanimous decision. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Image

Roy Jones Jr. (54-7, 41 KO's) is getting back in the ring at age 42 against 31-year-old WBO No. 1 contender Denis Lebedev (21-1, 16 KO's).

Jones has earned world titles at middleweight (160 lbs), super middleweight (168 lbs), light heavyweight (175 lbs), and heavyweight, but has yet to clinch a title at cruiserweight.

Lebedev is slated to be the Russian that can get Jones a shot at the WBO world cruiserweight (200 lbs) championship, but can Jones still compete at a world championship level?

Lebedev is trained by legendary fellow Russian fighter Kostya Tszyu, and the fight is taking place at the Megasport Arena in Moscow, Russia.

Usually fighters at Jones' advanced age fight has-beens and never-weres, not could-be's. Lebedev is still a could-be. This begs the question, is Jones setting himself up for failure?

We'll find out May 22, 2011.

Meanwhile, there's (believe it or not) a poetry contest for free tickets to the show.

Here's the link.

11. Diego Magdaleno vs. Gilberto Sanchez Leon

Here's a video of Diego Magdaleno at work on Derrick Campos last year in a fierce stoppage victory.

Diego Magdaleno (18-0, 6 KO's) takes on Gilberto Sanchez Leon (31-8-2, 11 KO's) May 6 on ESPN Friday Night Lights.

Magdaleno is 24 years old and rising in the ranks of the super featherweight division. 

Leon is sturdy and but more battle-tested at 30 years old. Should make for an interesting "young vs old" scenario.

10. Librado Andrade vs. Aaron Pryor Jr.

Here is Andrade in his only knockout loss.

Pryor Jr. (15-3, 11 KO's) is not his legendary father, but he is capable. Andrade (29-3, 22 KO's) is pretty capable as well with losses only taken against the best of the super middleweight (168 lbs) division.

Andrade fell to the great Mikkel Kessler and current undefeated Canadian knockout sensation Lucian Bute by way of unanimous decision before suffering his first and only knockout loss to Bute in the rematch,

In between these losses, he has compiled some interesting KO's against the likes of former world champion Robert Stieglitz and Yusaf Mack.

Pryor Jr's only losses have come by way of majority decision, split decision, and unanimous decision. He's knocked out 11 of 15 opponents. If he's going to win, it most likely has to come by knockout. Scorecards are not his friend,

This could be a grand shootout with fists as Andrade's durable chin, and Pryor Jr's height and size advantage play a role May 6 on Telefutura.

9. Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. vs Jorge Arce

Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. trains for legendary Jorge Arce.

The 26-year-old undefeated Puerto Rican hotshot Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. (20-0-1, 17 KO's) defends his WBO super bantamweight (122 lbs) world title against durable Mexican veteran Jorge Arce (56-6-2, 43 KO's).

Arce is 31-year-old and has been through many wars with the likes of Michael Carbajal and Vic Darchinyan. Arce may have enough left in the tank to school the young Vazquez, whose fame many say comes mostly from his legendary father.

To further distance himself from his father and create his own legacy, Vazquez will have to be impressive in this major win. If he continues his winning legacy for a few years, it could one day rival his father's.

This fight will take place on the undercard of Pacquiao vs Mosley on May 7, 2011.

8. Andy Lee vs. Alex Bunema

Nice last-minute KO for Lee in his last fight.

Lee (25-1, 19 KO's) is always an action-fighter, and this match should be no different than any other match he's participated in.

May 18 will see Lee face Bunema (31-7-2, 17 KO's) whose biggest match came against middleweight (160 lbs) king Sergio Martinez in 2008.

Lee will be looking to replicate if not obliterate Martinez's eight-round knockout performance if he wants to advance any further in the middleweight division.

7. Prizefighter: International Heavyweights

Here's a first round stoppage in favor of Mike Perez, one of the tournament competitors.

The idea is to have eight fighters engage in a one-night tournament in London.

The heavyweights will compete in three round fights. One in the quarter-final round, and one in the semi-final round if they advance and one in the finals if they advance.

Here's the revised draw after the last-minute pull-outs have been replaced:

Quarterfinal one: Mike Perez v Kerston Manswell
Quarterfinal two: Kevin Johnson v Gregory Tony
Quarterfinal three: Michael Sprott v Tye Fields
Quarterfinal four: Lucian Bot v Konstantin Airich

The winners of match one and two will meet each other in the semifinal round. The winners of match three and four will do the same.

The winners of those two semifinal matches will compete to become the tournament winner. The heavyweight tournament takes place the same night as the Pacquiao-Mosley fight on May 7 and I must say it looks enticing.

If there's one event that could draw me away from Pacquiao-Mosley, it's this one.

6. Kelly Pavlik vs. Alfonso Lopez

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

YOUNGSTOWN, OH - DECEMBER 19: Kelly Pavlik celebrates after defeating Miguel Espino for the World Middleweight Championship during their match at the Beeghly Center on December 19, 2009 in Youngstown, Ohio. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Pavlik (36-2, 32 KO's) has had his struggles, but like most good athletes seeking to be great, he's looking to overcome them using what he's good at, the ring.

Alfonso Lopez (21-0, 16 KO's) is an undefeated fighter trying to make a name for himself, which beating Pavlik certainly can do.

Both will be looking to make an impression on the super middleweight (168 lbs) division. Pavlik will be moving up from the middleweight (160 lbs) division to start fresh after dealing suffering a loss last year to Sergio Martinez.

Lopez has been in the division for some time and is looking to take down his first credible opponent in Pavlik, but in a year that is already marked by how many undefeated fighters have lost their "0," he better be careful.

May the best man win.

5. Chad Dawson vs. Adrian Diaconu

Here's the highlights from Dawson's first loss suffered at the hands of Ring division champ Pascal last year..

Light-heavyweight (175 lbs) Chad Dawson (29-1, 17 KO's) is in need of a comeback after suffering his first loss last year against capable, but arguably less talented Jean Pascal. What Dawson needs and has hopefully gotten is a wake-up call.

He can't cruise toward victory, he has to drive for it. If he can't find the drive, he will find himself getting up from the canvas a lot more than he'd like especially against a capable opponent like Adrian Diaconu (27-2, 15 KO's).

This fight will take place on the undercard of the HBO-televised Jean Pascal vs Bernard Hopkins May 21. The winner of Pascal-Hopkins will likely clash next with the winner of Dawson-Diaconu, so a lot is on the line here.

4. Chris Arreola vs. Nagy Aguilera

Here's a video of "Crazy Chris's" last fight.

Arreola (30-2, 26 KO's) is crazy.

Fans love him.

He brings the action and god knows what else to a fight.

At an Arreola fight, you're liable to get treated to a beating, a weeping and maybe even some kissing.

You just don't know what Arreola will do to his opponent and Aguilera (16-5, 11 KO's) better watch out. 

All in all, this will be a fun undercard to Showtime's Ward-Abraham Super Six Showdown on May 14.

3. Andre Ward vs. Arthur Abraham

Here is a highlight video of Ward's and Abraham's best victories of the Super Six tournament.

Andre Ward (23-0, 13 KO's) seeks to defend as well as extend his undefeated streak against the redemption-seeking knockout artist, Arthur Abraham (32-2, 26 KO's).

Ward and Abraham are members of the Super Six tournament and this is the semifinals. Abraham got this far off the strength of his brilliant KO of Jermaine Taylor. Now he needs another brilliant performance if he wants to advance to the finals.

The only problem is Abraham has not been successful ever since the Taylor victory. He was being thoroughly outboxed by Andre Dirrell before he hit Dirrell while he was down,  disqualifying himself from the match.

Abraham met Carl Froch next, who handed Abraham the beating of a lifetime.

Now Abraham must carry these defeats with him into the ring and learn from them if he wants to defeat the always smart and well-conditioned Ward.

2. Jean Pascal vs Bernard Hopkins II

Here is a recap video of their first fight.

Ring Champion Jean Pascal (28-1-1, 16 KO's) was thoroughly humbled in a majority draw to Bernard Hopkins (51-5-1, 32 KO's) this past December.

Pascal will be looking to prove he deserves to be champion and Hopkins will be looking to become the oldest world champion in boxing's history at age 46.

The fight will be broadcast live on HBO May 21, 2011.

1. Manny Pacquiao vs Shane Mosley

Chris Trotman/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 14: Manny Pacquiao addresses the media at a press conference to promote his upcoming fight with Shane Mosley at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers on February 14, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

This fight is important for a number of reasons.

1. This is the fourth opponent by which Manny Pacquiao can share with Floyd Mayweather Jr. That means more comparisons and online debates can be furthered as to who would win should the boxing public never get to see Mayweather vs Pacquiao.

2. Mosley is on his last leg. He's wanted to fight the best fighters in the world for a while. So far, he has lost to Mayweather, one of the best in the world and faces Pacquiao on May 7, arguably the best in the world right now. If he should lose this fight, it will be an obvious sign that he can no longer compete on the elite level and should retire.

3. This is Pacquiao's first fight with Showtime and not HBO. This fight also used CBS promotion. If this fight's pay-per-view numbers are dramatically more successful than Pacquiao's ever had, HBO could have some major competition and the movement to bring boxing back to network television will officially begin.