On boxing: Hoping to rock the end of the year

With three months remaining in the year, it's boxing's version of the two-minute warning. For me, that means there are only 92 days left for 2008 to be remembered for something more than the year Metallica turned the clock back 20 years with the release of its new CD "Death Magnetic."

The only thing that could rock my world harder than the track "That Was Just Your Life" would be the much-anticipated meeting between Yerington's Jesse Brinkley and Reno's Joey Gilbert.

But with the fight still muddled in behind-the-scenes negotiations, I'm stuck with only rumors and the feeling that the matchup will end up being "The Day That Never Comes." Oh, well, at least the song rocks.

So, if I'm to witness a brave warrior being left "Broken, Beat & Scarred," I'm going to have to depend on one or more of the five major fights left on the calendar to supply me with some year-ending fireworks.

Unfortunately, one of those fights " WBC light heavyweight titlist Chad Dawson vs. former world 175-pound champ Antonio Tarver " has snooze-fest written all over it. The Oct. 11 bout, in spite of all the pre-fight smack talking, has me feeling that I'd be better off taking (or listening to) "Cyanide."

In previous columns I've already picked Tarver to hand the undefeated Dawson his first loss, so I can't go back on that. Styles make fights and their styles equate to a sloppy wrestling and feinting contest with old man Tarver out-uglying the youngster.

The more compelling bout, also to be held Oct. 11, will feature WBC heavyweight beltholder Samuel Peter taking on "champion emeritus" Vitali Klitschko.

Klitschko has been out of action since 2004 because of injuries, retirement and running for office in his native Ukraine. Known as "Dr. Ironfist," Klitschko, 35-2 with 34 knockouts, has a chance to pull off the biggest comeback since, well, Metallica, or face "The End of the Line."

Peter, a.k.a., "The Nigerian Nightmare," 30-1 (23), has the opportunity to do what no other fighter has ever done: put the 6-foot-8 Klitschko on the canvas. In keeping with the "Death Magnetic" theme, Peter should be able to take advantage of Klitschko's inactivity "All Nightmare Long" and score a convincing knockout.

Such an outcome would surely land Peter a rematch with Vitali's little brother (all 6-7 of him), IBF and WBO champion Wladimir Klitschko, who picked himself off the floor three times to beat the Nigerian in 2005.

Had they met while Klitschko was active I have no doubt Vitali would've stopped Peter; now I have serious reservations. I see this fight ending up like Peter's quick stoppage of Oleg Maskaev or his poor performance in a win over Jameel McCline.

My prediction? Hell, if the greatest heavy metal band can turn the clock back, so can Klitschko, who will score a controversial decision victory in Berlin.

On Oct. 18, undefeated middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik meets former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins in a 12-round bout at 170 pounds.

The 43-year-old Hopkins, 48-5-1 (32) with 1 no-contest, will do his best to make this otherwise intriguing bout as lousy as the "St. Anger" CD. But I think the 26-year-old Pavlik, 34-0 (30), will do a better job of taking advantage of B-Hop's fading legs than Joe Calzaghe did and become the first fighter to stop the cagey old veteran.

This sets the stage for the November 8 bout between light heavyweight champion Calzaghe, 45-0 (33), and former middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight titlist Roy Jones Jr., 52-4 (38).

I originally picked the 36-year-old Calzaghe to beat the 39-year-old Jones, so I can't ask for a takeback. The biggest factors in this fight are Jones' speed and footwork.

While he ended up losing the fight, Hopkins caught Calzaghe early to score a flash knockdown. By controlling the gap with his feet, Jones has the potential to do the same thing, but is capable of following up a big shot early with a lightning flurry to end matters quickly.

Victories by Jones and Hopkins would lead to a rematch of their 1993 bout, won by Jones. It would be nice to see both fighters be able to turn back time, but it would be better for the boxing world to see Calzaghe and Pavlik meet in a battle of two undefeated fighters.

While it's too early for me to make an official prediction on it, the last major fight of the year will either be the worst mismatch or the greatest match of 2008: Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao at 147 pounds on Dec. 6.

On the face of it, the matchup is absurd and is asking way too much of the "Pac-Man." "The Golden Boy" should be much too big and way too strong for his much smaller opponent, who began his professional career as a light flyweight (De La Hoya started as a junior lightweight).

But if Pacquiao pulls it off, it would not only be the fight of the year, but an upset for the ages. Along with "Death Magnetic," it would also be enough to make this 44-year-old man feel young again and be able to end the year on a great note.