By Jake Donovan

It's brought up every time a card of which we disapprove airs on premium cable - "It's nothing but an infomercial for a future pay-per-view card."

The statement, of course, is followed up by a response longing for a return to the old days - "Back in the day, a show like this wouldn't be worthy of free TV."

From there, the conversation momentarily pauses, as those in the debate quietly think back to all of those Saturday afternoons spent watching Kung-Fu Theatre, followed up by championship-level boxing on any given network. Not the occasional one-and-done fight on ABC, or a five-week season on NBC featuring nothing but prospects. Championship-level prizefighting, all before dinnertime, and none of it requiring you to spend an extra $10-12 per month on your cable or satellite bill in order to access the channel.

The powers-that-be will sit and listen to our complaints, or at least pretend to give the matter their undivided attention, only to revert back to form – at best. Often, it's a regression, where the bar is lowered to where we openly embrace – say a series of showcase bouts only because it features the same names for which we're usually paying out of pocket to watch perform.

This weekend, boxing takes a step in the right direction, as VERSUS network presents live boxing action from Manchester, England (Saturday, 3:30PM/12:30PM PT). Manchester's favorite son, Ricky Hatton defends his linear junior welterweight championship against Juan Lazcano in the main-go of a doubleheader also featuring potential future Hatton opponent, Paulie Malignaggi in a rematch against Lovemore N'Dou.

It's not the familiar three-letter acronyms often found in the first few channels of your TV lineup. In fact, the lone efforts we've had in recent years to bring back boxing to our living rooms before night fall have come in places beyond the freebie stations.

ESPN Classic has performed the daylight dance a couple of times, their most recent live boxing broadcast airing Tomasz Adamek's stoppage of former undisputed champion O'Neil Bell. Both fighters appeared in separate cards aired live on Madison Square Garden network in 2007; Bell losing his crown to Jean-Marc Mormeck in France last March, and Adamek making his cruiserweight debut three months later in Poland.

For VERSUS, it's not even the familiar surroundings often found in its boxing broadcasts. The network launched its Thursday Night Fight series two years ago, back when it was still referred to as Outdoor Life Network. Top Rank was the primary provider of its boxing schedule, including fights of present and once ago.

While Top Rank remains in the fold, their deal with the network soon expires. No word has yet been given on whether or not a re-up is in the works.

Meanwhile, VERSUS explores additional options, which leads us to Saturday afternoon, and the start of what the networks hopes to be a long and glorious relationship with Golden Boy Promotions, who presents this event along with Frank Maloney and Punch Promotions.

This weekend's broadcast drops down 60 or so pounds from the last stateside-aired matinee, with there being even more at stake than the right to fight for an alphabet title. Not to mention its main event representing a quartet of returns in its own right.

In addition to boxing once again airing in the states on Saturday afternoon, this weekend's bout represents the first fight in England for Hatton since November 2005, and first at junior welterweight since knocking out Jose Luis Castillo in a Las Vegas ring last June. The one that makes four would be Lazcano's return to the ring, this being his first fight in 15 months, though it's been even longer since his last win.

The cynical view of the main event is that both sides are coming off of a loss. But that would be ignoring what's at stake.

For Hatton, it's the message that he's still the one true junior welterweight champion of the world until someone says otherwise – in the ring. Some may have lost sight of that fact after he suffered the first loss of his pro career last December. It was his second venture into the welterweight ranks, this time falling short against the game's best fighter in Floyd Mayweather Jr, putting up a brave performance before succumbing in ten rounds.

While it doesn't change his standing in the division where he's spent the majority of his career, it does cast his reign in a different light. Removed is the aura of supremacy that often comes with an undefeated linear champion. Instead, his return to his hometown for the first time since sending Kostya Tszyu in retirement, becomes more than a homecoming – it's the chance to prove that, contrary to popular belief these days, one loss does not kill a career.

Also at stake for Hatton is a showdown in the fall against Paul Malignaggi. Both fighters must do their part this weekend, though Malignaggi arguably has the less daunting task of the two. His mission to repeat what he accomplished last June – fight well enough to win more rounds than Lovemore N'Dou.

It will be nearly impossible to duplicate his performance that evening; Malignaggi scored a ninth round knockdown en route to a virtual shutout for his first major alphabet title (though a belt that Hatton twice vacated without ever losing in the ring). But for this weekend, winning will just be enough.

Of course, with their winning comes two fighters losing – something Juan Lazcano and Lovemore N'Dou have little interest in doing.

Of all of the fighters on the card, Lazcano is the closest to desperate measures. The Californian hasn't won since October 2006, and even that came under suspect circumstances as he was awarded a highly controversial decision over Manuel Garnica. Disputed as it may have been, it still put Lazcano within one fight of his second alphabet title fight, only to fall short against Vivian Harris in their February '07 clash, the last ring appearance for The Hispanic Causing Panic.

Retirement was supposed to follow, or so he told anyone who asked. Those plans changed the moment he was offered the opportunity to face Hatton in England for the world junior welterweight crown. For Lazcano, the possibility of scoring a huge upset and what would be by far his biggest win was enough to have him ditch the silk pajamas and try one last time to improve on a respectable, yet not quite fulfilling pro career.

N'Dou might not be thinking about retirement any time soon, but it stands to reason that "now or never" is the proper theme for the rematch with Malignaggi. The 36-year old has long ago established his willingness to take on all comers, only he's all too often best known for the nights on which he came up short more so than any winning performance.

That changed for a moment after the Aussie-based gatekeeper upended countryman Nauofel Ben Rabah last February. With the win came his first alphabet title, though the reign was short-lived, succumbing to Malignaggi in his lone attempted defense four months later.

There are two reasons why he gets a second – if not last – chance a lasting impression against the brash Brooklynite: 1) The show's promoters felt it was wise to pair up Hatton's title defense with a potential future opponent, and 2) because Malignaggi was contractually obligated to grant him a rematch.

Malignaggi could've easily ditched the title, and taken any tune-up fight while biding his time for a fall classic with Hatton. But after barely escaping against Herman Ngoudjo earlier this year, Paulie decided that now wouldn't be the time to leave even the slightest hint of his playing it safe from now until Hatton. A willingness to take on all comers is important in the sport, but being a man of your word is an honorable trait in any walk of life. Malignaggi agreed to a future rematch with N'Dou, which leads us to this weekend.

That he and Hatton are willing to collide head-to-head later this year gave the perfect excuse for both to appear on this weekend's telecast. What a shame it would've been if everyone followed HBO's lead in rejecting the card, though to the network's credit, they were right in doing so, instead holding out for the finals bracket.

No, the card is right where it belongs – on free TV (or at least basic cable) for all to see. So long as there are no strings attached, there's very little that's better than free.

Except, of course, free boxing on a Saturday afternoon.   

BOXINGSCENE PRESENTS THE DEBUT OF JAKE-N-DA-(MAIL)BAG

This past Wednesday's launching of Jake-N-Da-Blog was an overwhelming success, with tons of fan mail pouring in over the topic de jour, "The Paper Title Chase." Future mailbags will be found in the mid-week blog-style column, but I've decided to kick off the read-and-reply festivities with this column.

Surprisingly, not a single e-mail expressed disagreement – or even disappointment – with what was stated in the column. Either I'm simply stating what everyone already knows, or I'm finally getting something right. Whatever the case, I'll try my hardest to come up with a topic that helps bring both sides of the argument out of the woodworks.

In the meantime, a pair of letters offered from two long-time e-mailers, both published verbatim, save for their full names, which are omitted for the sake of privacy:

Where Have You Gone Marvin Hagler?

Hey Jake, (full name omitted) another good article, I hope a lot of people read it.  We really need the whole of boxing to stop with all the games and get down to what this sport is about.  If "champions" are not willing to fight the top contenders, and the sanctioning bodies don't declare mandatory match ups for situations like the Mayweather/Cotto situation, how do any of the people in boxing expect it to survive very well.  Promoters and boxing commissions have to stop directing the traffic.  

When Marvin Hagler, Larry Holmes, Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Robinson, Marciano and many fighters before them ( obviously the great Joe Louis )  Duran,  etc..  fought, they fought the top people because it was important to them to be real champions.  They would not have felt like they deserved to be called champion, if they didn't fight the top contender.  I remember the look on Ray Leonard's face when an interviewer was asking him about Hearn's ( as Tommy was boxing )  and destroying yet another opponent within the first round or two, and Leonard said, he's obviously the guy I have to fight very soon.  Ray wasn't looking forward to that.  But he was willing to do it, because he was a guy who wanted to know if he could stand in and call himself a champion.  

We don't even need to get started on the list of people all of these men fought, but suffice it to say they fought the top people when it was time to step up.  Who didn't Marvin Hagler fight?  Hearns stepped in with Marvin, even Leonard did.  Holmes came out of retirement and fought Tyson!  

The fighters today need to look at some of the past champions and take some inspiration from them, and get busy fighting the best, as Cotto has done, and is doing with Margarito, a man Floyd ( Mr. pound for pound ) avoided like the plague. Cotto's legacy , in my opinion, is already established. If he were hit by a bus today, no one could say he ever ducked anyone.  He wants to know how he can do against the best out there, and that is what makes boxing a great sport.  Floyd Mayweather and other's like him avoiding the toughest matches so they can claim to have a spotless record and massage their own delicate ego's is not what this sport needs, and it sure would be nice if more people understood that.  

To talk like I have, and not acknowledge Floyd's victories over tough opponents isn't fair, but I am tired of men who have not carried themselves with near the same kind of grace and dignity of past champions, and who have the audacity to compare themselves to those same men.  Thanks for the good article,     Scott

Jake's Response: Thanks as always for the kind words, Scott. Your e-mail is damn near worthy of its own by-line in and of itself. I couldn't agree more with your thoughts, and how the game used to be played. Understood that it's a business first, but if you're going to pursue a "Champion" label, then start acting like one. Paper titles only mean something once you defend with honor. Even if it's not the linear crown, just carry yourself like a champion to which you want to be referred, and respect will soon follow.

The title of your e-mail is a fitting one indeed. The Marvelous one said it best during his middleweight title reign, in boldly stating that he'd never allow two top contenders to face one another, as it would rob him the chance of beating both of them himself.

But How Can We Help?

I've written you a few times and again, great article. You continue to be one of the best (and thankfully prolific) writers on Boxingscene.com.

I could not agree with you more about the pathetic state of boxing these days.  Sure 2007 and the first half of 2008 have been above average, but still, it could be better. You have accurately placed blame on the sanctioning bodies for allowing the bauble wars to continue.

Though 99% of true boxing fans probably agree with the points in your article, we have also become ambivalent to these common themes.  Trust me, every few months or so, constant boxing fans are subject to these commentaries, especially when obvious travesties (such as with the case of the lightweight division).

OK, I've BS'd enough - here's the point of this email: instead of reading eloquent complain, I want to read about what I can do as a fan to change the situation.  I would love to see solutions.  What can the average boxing fan do.

I am interested in proposals, Jake.  What can we do about it?  Not watch? Sorry, can't do that.

Capt. Kenneth

Jake's Response: No, my brother. By all means, DO NOT stop watching the sport. All we have left is each other (at least until others follow the lead of VERSUS, ESPN Classic, MSG and the likes, and bring boxing back to a place of familiarity, if only to silence the "not like in my day" generation before us). Rather, fans merely need to educate themselves from where true title lineages began and not depend on any given publication, website or network dictate to you who they consider the champions.

Obviously, the sanctioning body rankings no longer carry even a shred of validity. Places like The Ring, ESPN.com and of course BoxingScene.com Quarterly Rankings are all valid in their own way, but none are the be-all, end-all of rankings. They should be used as a starting point, a guideline if you will, in helping fans draw their own conclusions.

As far as true title lineage, CyberBoxingZone.com has the most detailed research available for each division, though it's worth mentioning that even a few of their choices are on the suspect side (like claiming no lightweight champion even after Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo met for the first time in their May '05 all-time classic).

Past issues of The Ring also used to list the linear champ, before they switched to simply ranking 'em 1-10 – which quite honestly is probably the most effective method of rating fighters. Rather than allowing a fighter to win the linear crown and then sit on his lead for however long he wants (and it's been done throughout history, not just today), start at #1, with that spot ALWAYS based on merit. This way, if you sit on the sidelines for the year, while the next highest rated fighter is doing all of the heavy lifting, HE becomes #1 in that division, regardless of lineage.

The top prize is always up for grabs in every other sport; boxing shouldn't be any different.

Jake Donovan is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the Tennessee Boxing Advisory Board. Comments/questions can be submitted to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com .