By Cliff Rold

It still pisses this scribe off.  Erislandy Lara-Paul Williams?

Robbery.  Period.

It’s not the first in boxing and won’t be the last.  Neither was last week’s Brandon Rios-Urbano Antillon the first or last all-out sprint war in the lore of fistiana.  It was just the latest and, every time, fights like that make us remember why would put up with the b.s.

When boxing gets it wrong, it’s legitimacy feels less than pro wrestling because at least that venture is promoted as fraud. 

When it gets it right, there is nothing, absolutely nothing better than the sweet science.  This isn’t its busiest week but there’s enough to mark the time.

These are the picks of the week.

Pick It: #6 Pawel Wolak vs. Delvin Rodriguez (Friday, ESPN2, 9 PM EST/6 PM PST)

For an off, slowish week, this is pretty intriguing stuff.  Wolak (29-1, 20 KO) is coming off a career-making win over Yuri Foreman.  Rodriguez (25-5-2, 14 KO) has been waiting for one of those for a long time.  He’s lost some close ones; he’s lost some he could have won with different scoring.  In a division where opportunity is flourishing in a time of flux, the winner could be staring down the barrel at a title shot by 2012.  The defeated starts over.

Again.

This is high drama on Friday night and might just be one hell of a fight.  Wolak presses.  Rodriguez will look to counter.  Who’s brining the popcorn?     

Pick Online: World Champion Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Likar Ramos (Saturday, toprank.com, 10 PM EST/7 PM PST)

 

His lineal crown, and assorted other belts, won’t be on the line when the Lightweight champion and future Hall of Famer Marquez (52-5-1, 38 K) steps in the ring.  This, instead, is the classic tune-up.  Opponent Likar Ramos (24-3, 18 KO) is supposed to be just that: an opponent.  He’s the guy Marquez will go through to get to Manny Pacquiao for what is likely to be Marquez’s cash out, a trip to Welterweight the former Featherweight doesn’t appear to have the frame for.  This is worth a look if only because, every once in a while, tune-ups don’t turn out the right way.

Oh, and it’s Marquez, and he makes even tune-ups look good when they turn out just fine.

Note the online distribution.  Kind of important.  

Pick Sho: Diego Magdaleno vs. Alejandro Perez (Friday, Showtime, 11 PM EST/PST)

If nothing else, after years of quality shows and great early looks at future champions like Ricky Hatton, Carl Froch, Andre Ward, and Chad Dawson, this Friday is the 10th anniversary special for Showtime.  That, alone, means worthy viewing.  The highlight reel they are likely to put together should be stellar.  That it has a compelling match at Jr. Lightweight, and Magdaleno (19-0, 7 KO) versus Perez (15-2-1, 10 KO) should be just that, is a bonus.

For BoxingScene’s latest full divisional ratings, log on to: //krikya360.com/forums/view.php?pg=boxing-ratings

Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com