Sweet, sweet science and the real Pacman

Maybe some of you don't know this, but I'm a huge boxing fan. For me, it's somewhere right in between basketball and track and field.

My father bought me a pair of Sugar Ray Leonard-brand gloves when I was about 7, I grew up wanting to be like Iron Mike (in the ring), one of my favorite books is a boxing memoir and a couple years ago, I even tried my hand (hands?) at learning the sweet science.

Those lessons went over about as well as my pre-cal classes did in high school. But I got into tip-top shape and I can easily beat up someone smaller than me.

Unless that person is Manny Pacquiao.

I hate that I missed the Pacquiao-Hatton fight in Vegas on Saturday. But considering that the bout lasted a second shy of two rounds - which comes out to about nine dollars a minute - I guess I'll consider it the appetizer to the main course that all true fight fans are starving for:

On the morning of the fight and at the same MGM Grand venue, Floyd Mayweather Jr. announced that he was retiring from his 16-month retirement. Mr. Mayweather, the former pound-for-pound king, has signed to meet Juan Manuel Marquez -- a superb fighter who had a draw and later lost a controversial split decision to Mr. Pacquiao. After a long monologue about his accomplishments, Mr. Mayweather, who is bigger, at 5 feet 8 inches, than Mr. Pacquiao, sent his oblique message to the Filipino fighter: "A big, great fighter always beats a small, good fighter."

... There can be no doubt that the boxing world is on the march toward a Mayweather Pacquiao Super Bowl-type event.

Pretty much. I'll be setting aside a Grant and some Washingtons right now.

And speaking of second-round knockouts ...