So far the "PBC" has been a mixed bag. It's given us big name fighters in relatively uneven match ups and lesser name fighters in some brilliantly matched bouts. There has been a huge wave of support by fans of the project and massive damnation by those who are against. Whilst both sides have their merits we've got to say that we've really enjoyed the "B level" action, the bouts with out the bigger names. We get one of those later today as well as a bout with a big name in what appears to be another mismatch.

The mismatch in question will see Britain's Amir Khan (30-3, 19) take on Chris Algieri (20-1, 8). On paper it looks an interesting bout, especially with both men having been former world champions at 140lbs. However fans and the bookies have viewed this as a mismatch with Khan a 1/12 favourite. In all honesty that seems about right with Khan being a more skilled, bigger punching, faster fighter. Algieri is a big and tough fighter but one who has to be considered as the big under-dog coming in to this bout. Then again he usually is the under-dog when he faces a "name" fighter.

For us the much, much, better bout is a WBA "regular" Super Featherweight title bout between the once beaten Costa Rican Bryan Vasquez (34-1, 18) and heavy handed Dominican Javier Fortuna (27-0-1, 20). This bout looks like it really could be something special with the explosive Fortuna up against a technically sound, tough and hard working foe. On paper we favour Vasquez who has mixed with better company, and holds a win over Sergio Thompson, though the bookies have really struggled to split the two men in what looks to be a possible contender for fight of the weekend. Interestingly the winner of this will sit behind Japan's Takashi Uchiyama on the WBA's list of champions, and could be a potential opponent for "KO Dynamite" later in the year. Vasquez however has been beaten by Uchiyama already in his career and would likely not be in a rush to rematch the Japanese puncher.

This coming Saturday is a great day for American fans who get a wonderful choice of events with two exciting looking cards going head to head.

On Showtime we get a really interesting triple header headlined by a WBC Silver Welterweight title fight between Britain's Amir Khan (29-3, 19), the defending champion, and Devon Alexander (26-2, 14). Both men are former world champions and both know that a win here could well help them move towards a massive payday against Floyd Mayweather. Khan is the betting favourite but to us this is as close to a 50-50 match up as you'll find and it's great to see the two finally getting it on, several years after they should have fought.

In one of the support bouts on this card fans will see the much touted and heavy handed Keith Thurman (23-0-0-1, 21) defending the WBA interim Welterweight title against Leonard Bundu (31-0-2, 11). Like the main event this appears to be a great bout though Thurman is the clear favourite given his edge in youth and power.

The third part of this card will see Jermell Charlo (19-0, 15) fighting against Lenny Bottai (22-2, 9) in an IBF Light Middleweight title eliminator, with the winner moving towards a shot with Cornelius Bundrage. Sadly this is much weaker than the other two bouts and Bottai really should be brushed aside with ease by the talented Charlo.

The other show is headlined by a non-title bout between former 2-weight world champion Timothy Bradley (31-1-0-1, 12) and Argentinian brawler Diego Gabriel Chavez (23-2, 19). This is expected to be a thrilling contest and a real brawl which could potentially be a FOTY contender though could well be a disappointing bout if Bradley ends up relying solely on his superior skills.

Another great bout on this card will see WBA interim Light Welterweight champion Mauricio Herrera (21-4, 7) defending his belt against the unbeaten and much touted Jose Benavidez (21-0, 15). This is a real test for Benavidez who was tipped as a future star though has yet to show those magical touches against a decent level of foe.

Sadly with the two shows clashing fans will need to make a choice one way or another, though both do look like great cards.

(Image courtesy of http://roundbyroundboxing.com)

This past Saturday was the biggest day in boxing so far this year. It had the biggest name in boxing, it had two men who split opinion like no other, it had one of the most fan friendly fighters in the world, it had a heavy handed champion and it had a major upset.

Of course the day, or rather night, was about money, Floyd "Money" Mayweather (46-0, 26) who faced Argentina slugger Marcos Maidana (35-4, 31) in a WBC/WBA Welterweight unification bout. The contest was widely seen as a mismatch but Maidana made sure to turn it in to a war and gave the #1 pound-for-pound fighter on the planet one of, if not the, toughest bout of his career. Maidana took the action to Mayweather and put him under the type of pressure that Mayweather isn't used to. This pressure made the contest compelling from the opening round though unfortunately the scoring left a lot to be desired.

On watching the Mayweather/Maidana bout it seemed Maidana started like a house on fire and Mayweather played catch up. On the scorecards however things were different with two of the judges having Mayweather in the lead from round 3 onwards in what can only be called mystifying. We wouldn't argue with a close Mayweather victory but the cards really left some major question marks. 

Prior to the Mayweather/Maidana bout we had had 3 other bouts on the PPV broadcast. The first of those saw J'Leon Love (18-0-0-1, 10) go through a hell-like 5th round to take a decision over Marco Antonio Periban (20-2-1, 13). The bout was one that had great moments though out felt like Love's jab was the key punch as he took a fair decision, albeit one with odd scores again.

The second bout on the show saw the return to the ring of Adrien Broner (28-1, 22) who over-came Carlos Molina (17-2-1, 7) in a bout that was very competitive despite what the score-cards suggested. The cards were basically filled in before the opening round though Molina gave a great account of himself and really gave Broner a serious test in what was supposed to be little more than a confidence builder for Broner, a former 3-weight world champion. On this performance Broner is there for the taking by any top 10 fighter at 140 or 147.

Whilst the Mayweather/Maidana bout stole the show with some really good action one man who shared the plaudits was Britain's Amir Khan (29-3, 19) who over-came the tough Luis Collazo (35-6, 18) in a mature and controlled performance. Khan showed a new found intelligence to his boxing, holding up close, boxing on the move and and surprisingly dropped Collazo 3 times in a dominant and self assured display. It was one of the best performances of Khan's career, though it was also one of Collazo's worst with the American fighting like an idiot with his hands down.

The whole US card was open for criticism, as seen in Takahiro Onaga's recent "Taka's Title Shot" article, but on the whole the main event was exciting enough, and controversial enough, to keep fans talking about it suggesting it was a show plenty enjoyed even if they aren't in full agreement about the scoring.

Prior to the US action fans had been given the opportunity to see WBO Super Middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (40-4, 28) defend his title for the first time since reclaiming it from Robert Stieglitz. Abraham took on the game, albeit light hitting, Nikola Sjekloca (26-2, 8) and took home a decision. From watching the bout we felt Abraham deserved the victory, despite not looking his best, unfortunately we saw another judge who seemed inept at his job as he scored the contest 119-111 to Abraham, a score was simply indefensible.

(Image courtesy of http://www.sho.com)

When May comes around there seems to only be one man worth talking about, Floyd "Money" Mayweather (45-0, 26). The unbeaten American generates money, attention and debate like no other active fighter. Some have described him as being bigger than the sport, others have suggested that when he retires boxing will be sent into a dark age until a new star is born. He is one of the two faces of a boxing generation alongside Manny Pacquiao and it seems that if you like one you must hate the other with a passion.

Mayweather will be continuing his trend of fighting on the first weekend on May as he battles Argentinian slugger Marcos Maidana (35-3, 31) in what will be one of, if not the, biggest money fight of the year.

The bout is "all about Benjamin's" for many though it's a bout that will unify the WBC and WBA world titles at 147lbs and give Mayweather a chance to avenge the loss of his "baby brother" Adrien Broner who was shocked by an inspired Maidana last year. We're not giving Maidana much of a chance though we're hoping he gives a better effort that either Saul "Canelo" Alvarez or Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero did in recent bouts with Mayweather. Neither Guerrero or Alvarez really put forth much of an effort and seemed to resign themselves to losing before the first bell, hopefully Maidana goes in with the bad-ass intentions that he is known for.

On the same card the Mayweather/Maidana fight we have several other interesting bouts, two of which feature former Maidana opponents.

One of those will be the aforementioned Adrien Broner (27-1, 22) who will be hoping to bounce back from his loss to Maidana when he battles Carlos Molina (17-1-1, 7). Molina, not to be confused with the Light Middleweight of the same name, isn't very good and has been picked as a "safe opponent" for Broner. Lets not forget just a year ago people were christening Broner as the heir to the Mayweather throne and future face of boxing, he is now fighting for his career and for this bout his career really should be very safe.

A man who beat both Molina and Maidana, and was actually in the running for the fight with Mayweather, is Amir Khan (28-3, 19) who has a tricky assignment himself. Khan, one of the most famous names in boxing right now, will be in a serious crossroads fight with the resurgent Luis Collazo (35-5, 18). Collazo is an unlucky fighter who ran both Ricky Hatton and Andre Berto close in fights many felt he deserved to win, though in recent bouts he has been in form winning his last 4. For Khan this is a must win and anything but a stirring performance will see him ruled out of a Mayweather fight in September.

The next most significant bout to the trio on the American show is in Germany as multi-time world champion Arthur Abraham (39-4, 28) defends his WBO Super Middleweight title against the once beaten Nikola Sjekloca (26-1, 8). It's hard to view this as anything but an "easy" first defence for Abraham however Sjekloca did prove his toughness in an entertaining scrap with Sakio Bika last year. Bika dominated Sjekloca but couldn't finish him and we'd be a lil shocked if Abraham could finish him inside 12 rounds.

(Image courtesy of The13thround and Golden Boy Promotions)