If you haven’t heard about Floyd Mayweather’s racist rant about Manny Pacquiao, check out Dan Rafael’s story.

I refuse to watch the actual video because I don’t feel like seeing arrogance and ignorance on display. I don’t mind seeing either separately, but put it together, and I’d rather do something else.

But what this episode really speaks to Floyd Mayweather’s is social ignorance. Floyd Mayweather feels that he’s been attacked and now he attacks back, in the way he knows best.

One of the great things about Mayweather is his natural ability to instigate. Just look at his work in HBO’s inaugural 24/7 series with Oscar De La Hoya. That fight was going to be successful without Mayweather’s work, but he probably took that fight from successful, to out of this world successful. It’s still the single most purchased PPV event of all time.

Mayweather’s arrogance seems natural. He has the record and championships to back it up. But when he crossed racial boundaries in an ignorant way, something seemed off. There’s no need to condemn Manny Pacquiao in order to make himself look better. The fact that people are in both fighters’ corners is what makes this fight compelling. If Manny Pacquiao is at his greatest, and Floyd Mayweather is at his greatest, this fight will make both men more money than if the public feels less compelled to see them.
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In this episode, we take a look back at Ward vs. Green, and then say goodbye for now to Mikkel Kessler. It’s Fight Camp 360; you already know it’s going to be good.

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HBO are pushing Yuriorkis Gamboa hard a head of his headlining bout with Orlando Salido on the September 11th edition of Boxing After Dark.

Gamboa 18-0 (15 KOs) is one of the most exciting guys in the sport right now. If you haven’t been following his career up to this point, I definitely recommend you catch this show.

Dan Rafael is reporting that Juan Manuel Marquez will stay at lightweight and defend his title against number 1 contender Michael Katsidis.

Marquez will stay at 135 pounds for a possible fall fight with Michael Katsidis rather than move up to junior welterweight to attempt to become the first Mexican to win titles in four weight classes, Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com on Wednesday after meeting with Marquez in Mexico City.

This is the right move for Marquez at this stage in his career. He showed against Juan Diaz that he still has a lot to offer at 135, but I think he’s probably reached his limit. I imagine Junior welterweight is just beyond him at this point, and a fight with the bigger, younger, and faster Amir Khan would probably be ill advised for the 37 year old.
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WBC super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler has been forced to vacate his title and withdraw from the Super Six after doctors have ruled him out of competition for the next 9 months. It is understood that Kessler has been suffering with a severe eye injury for some time, and at this point has no choice but to sit out the rest of the tournament and let it heal. The Dane was scheduled to fight Allan Green in his final group stage match on September 25th. The announcement was made this morning at a press conference in Denmark.
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Hennessy sports have issued a press release announcing that two of their best up and coming fighters – John O’Donnell (24) and Tyson Fury (22)- are set to make their American television debuts on the September 10th edition of ShoBox: The New Generation.

LONDON (Aug 23rd, 2010) On Friday 10th September, York Hall, Bethnal Green will host an exciting night of international boxing when former unbeaten Commonwealth champion John O’Donnell (Shepherd’s Bush / Galway) makes his U.S. “ShoBox: The New Generation” debut and takes on his toughest opponent in the ring to date over 12 rounds, New Jersey’s (USA) 1996 Olympic bronze medallist Terrence “Heat” Cauthen.
The current English Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (Manchester/Galway) will also make his ShoBox debut as the co-feature against an international opponent over 10 rounds. (Details on Tyson’s opponent will be announced shortly)
The O’Donnell and Fury bouts will be televised in America on SHOWTIME at 11p.m. ET/PT (same day delay). The event will also be shown in Canada on the Super Channel Network and the UK Broadcaster will be announced soon.

O’Donnell is a light welter with a 23-1 record. Fury is a huge heavyweight, who is undefeated in eleven outings as a pro. Both are British based fighters of Irish descent.

This is a really positive move. The British domestic scene is producing a constant stream of good fighters. It’s great to see these guys getting a head start when it comes to being introduced to the American audience.

Most of the top British stars like Hatton, Khan, Froch, and Haye only started to get US TV exposure after they were already world champions. Having a few televised showcases before they get to that level will go a long way in terms of creating a buzz about them, so that when the big fights do come, people are ready for them.

Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come and Showtime will continue to get behind these guys.