By Dave Sholler

Last week, I took a look at the stories that didn’t get the appropriate amount of attention from the boxing media. Judging by the response I received from the BoxingScene faithful, the fans seemed to enjoy the critical, outside-the-box look I provided. This week, we’ll take another hard look at the issues that arose this week and offer our take on some things that just didn’t make sense.

PAC-MAN-HATTON ON; MAYWEATHER A PAWN

This is downright mind-boggling. The proposed Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton bout has been on-again, off-again worse than a celebrity marriage. For a while there, we were wondering if TMZ would start covering this debacle. However, with the terms of the deal reportedly ironed out, it looks like we’ll get Manny-Ricky in May as promised. We have to admit, we knew Manny would come to his senses.

But what’s with Pac-Man lately? Apparently, one win over Oscar De La Hoya has transformed Pacquiao into a diva. Quite honestly, we were getting sick to our stomachs over Manny’s actions during this whole mess. In the span of a few days, he wouldn’t call his longtime trainer and mentor Freddie Roach back, baffled his never-lost-for-words promoter Bob Arum, and actually floated the idea of fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. instead. We’ve heard of driving a hard bargain, but Pacquiao was being rather irrational in his business dealings, don’t you think? Truth be told, it was starting to look like maybe he thought fighting Hatton was a bad idea.

In the end, it has all been resolved (for now) and we’re happy that the Filipino star saved face and saw the light. He almost flushed millions of dollars down the toilet, not to mention tarnished his image. That would have been the ultimate tragedy.

MOSLEY THINKS HE CAN OUTBOX MARGARITO

Shane Mosley told reporters that he feels his style can beat the style offered by Antonio Margarito. Hmm. That’s a curious statement. While we aren’t going to rule Mosley out of Saturday’s contest, we find it hard to believe that “Sugar”, who struggled with Ricardo Mayorga and couldn’t capitalize against Miguel Cotto, will match the output of Margarito.

Given that Margarito starts slow out of the gate, Mosley may keep it competitive in the first six rounds. However, much like most of the Mexican champion’s bouts, we see Margarito battering Mosley as the fight progresses. This just isn’t the same Shane Mosley that once sat atop the pound-for-pound rankings.

On a side note, has any alleged performance enhancing drug user gotten off easier than Shane Mosley? Sure, there have been a few columns picking on Mosley, but for the most part, the happy-go-lucky Californian has walked away unscathed. Somewhere in Texas, Roger Clemens is growing increasingly jealous…

COLLAZO IS THE ALMOST CHAMPION OF THE WORLD

It’s no secret that we are big fans of WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto. But last Saturday, we became fans of the almost-champion-of-the-world, Luis Collazo. For the second time in three years, Collazo fought an entertaining bout against a championship-caliber fighter (the New Yorker fought Ricky Hatton in 2006 and lost a razor-thin decision) and nearly came out with a victory.

We know that sanctioning bodies rarely reward a fighter for “nearly,” “practically,” or “all but” winning world titles, but we think Collazo deserves some recognition. Would it hurt to call Collazo the Ring Magazine Almost Champion of the World?

JERMAIN TAYLOR’S EARS MUST BE RINGING

This week, Edison Miranda joined the growing list of fighters to have called out former middleweight champion Jermain Taylor. He jumps in a line that includes Carl Froch, who cleverly issued a missing persons alert for Taylor, Roy Jones Jr., Allan Green, and a few others.

Our take? We think Jermain Taylor should fight Miranda. Miranda is technically inept, but still offers the name value that could help propel Taylor. We have little doubt that Taylor could power past Miranda using his snappy jab and decent right hand. Plus, Showtime loves Miranda. Since HBO dropped Taylor like Miranda dropped David Banks, what better way than to arrive at Showtime than by KO-ing Miranda?

MICHAEL JENNINGS IS COMING TO WIN AGAINST COTTO

And Lennox Lewis is losing the dreads in favor of an old school flat-top…

WLAD-HAYE CONTINUE TO TALK JUNE FIGHT

Is anyone else concerned that this fight may never happen? First, we didn’t know which Klitschko Haye would fight. Now, we can’t figure out how to divide up the payment pie? Give us a break.

Both need to leave their egos at home. Klitschko, the champion, deserves a much higher percentage based on his status. Haye, the former cruiserweight, is entitled to a nice chunk of change, but certainly nowhere near 50 percent. How’s 65-35 sound? Good, see you in June.

By the way, has anyone else seen Wlad on the cover of Muscle and Fitness? We have to admit, we were mightily impressed with the workout. Too bad he bores us in the ring.

NASEEM HAMED AIN’T DONE YET?

TK Stewart tracked down the 34-year-old who said that he isn’t “completely” retired. Let us ask a very simple question. Is any boxer ever completely retired?

Inactive since 2002, we highly doubt that Hamed will actually make a comeback. But if he does, would he dare fight Marco Antonio Barrera again? How about the equally unretired Erik Morales?

If those bouts fall through, do you think Oscar would give Hamed, shunned by the International Boxing Hall of Fame, a shot? Ok, you can stop laughing now. But admit it, they could battle for The Ring Magazine Please Really Retire world title.

MOSLEY-MARGARITO vs. FEDOR/ARLOVSKI

If we aren’t heading to cover the cards ourselves, we’ll usually have a BoxingScene party at a condominium of choice. This weekend poses an interesting debacle. Do we gather around the HBO broadcast of Margarito-Mosley or pony up the $50 for Fedor-Arlovski Affliction card?

We love MMA, but we’re taking Mosley-Margarito. With a big UFC card next weekend, we’ll save our PPV dollar. Plus, we think Mosley-Margarito is going to be an entertaining clash.

On a side note, no one is more excited about this weekend than Oscar and Richard Schaefer. With their hands in both events, they’ll make money one way or another.

Only in boxing…and now MMA.