After it looked like Manny Pacquiao would be facing Miguel Cotto in a rematch in the summer, Floyd Mayweather’s team stepped in and pulled the okie doke.

Earlier today, the Nevada State Athletic Commission granted Mayweather a one-fight license to fight on May 5th. Mayweather said his opponent would be Miguel Cotto.

Mayweather is schedule to report to jail on June 1, but mentioned in the hearing that he’s been going to counseling and disagrees that he did what he was charged with. He said that the reason he plead guilty was to save his kids from having to stand trial.

Miguel Cotto’s contract with Top Rank has expired, but our own Duan thinks that he’ll be right back with Bob Arum after this fight. Though, if I’m Arum, I probably feel a little bothered by the fact that Cotto pulled out on him to fight his nemesis, rather than fighting Pacquiao in a big money fight. Now, Arum and Pacquiao may have to turn to Tim Bradley as an opponent, which is a tremendously harder sell than Cotto.

We recorded the show very soon after my beloved San Francisco 49ers lost in the NFC Championship Game to the New York Giants so we talk about football for the first few minutes, but quickly thereafter, we segue into talking about the top three fights on the 2nd UFC on Fox show, which is this weekend. We talk about Sonnen vs. Bisping being a true number one contender’s fight, Weidman being thrusted into the spotlight, and the funny circumstances between Rashad Evans and Jon Jones.

We then discuss the 2012 edition of the Royal Rumble which is also this weekend. We talk about the few guys who actually have a chance to win the Rumble and wonder if there’s a secret guy out there who we’re missing. We talk Punk/Johnny Ace and how Dolph Ziggler is kind of just a third wheel in the angle as well as Daniel Bryan and how he’s doing as champion.

Lastly, we talk about the heavily rumored rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto, going through most of the possible guys who Pacquiao could even fight.

Check it out and let us know what you think.

Right click to download or stream below.

One day before the fight, they had footage of Ward feeling out the ring in an empty arena, right out of Rocky.

Ward tells Antonio Tarver that he’s never seen Froch defend himself on the inside. He walks by Froch and gives him a little icy stare while Froch smiles it off. Ward’s wife says that Froch is feeling himself a bit too much.

After the fight, Bernard Hopkins told Ward that his legacy starts from this fight on.

Froch was very earnest in defeat. He told his girlfriend that Ward was just too slick for him. He also said he felt like he didn’t hit him with his left hand at all.

I don’t think anyone really believed that Floyd Mayweather was in the picture for May.

It seems like a ho-hum fight for Pacquiao, but I don’t think it is. I’ve said before that I thought Cotto fought Pacquiao at the wrong time the first time. He was dealing with things inside his camp as well as the aftermath of losing to Antonio Margarito and the thought that Margarito cheated. After getting the Margarito monkey off his back, I think this is the right time for Cotto to be fighting Pacquiao.

Add to that, Pacquiao’s first really average performance since becoming the top fighter (or 2 if you think Mayweather is still the top fighter) in boxing, and you might have something.

Top Rank is going to have to promote this as Miguel Cotto’s time to shine in order for it to really do huge business, but with Pacquiao’s name value alone, it’s going to be a very successful fight.

The problem with the June 9th date is that Mayweather will have already reported to jail by then. In the meantime, the two rumored Mayweather opponents are Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, both good young fighters, but nowhere in Mayweather’s league.

Today, Mayweather posted the following photo to his Twitter page with the words, “I’m ready to put my belt up. What about you Manny Pacquiao? Let’s make history.”

And the Super Six World Boxing Classic finally ended and Andre Ward was declared the winner after defeating Carl Froch in the tournament final.

Jake Emen, managing editor at ProBoxing-Fans.com, Jason Hagholm co-host of FGB Radio, and Big D from Superfriends Universe join Duan and me with picks for the 2011 FGB boxing awards.

Boxer Of The Year

Jake – Andre Ward

Andre Ward navigated the Super Six and emerged undefeated, with two title belts and the tournament championship. Not only did he beat Carl Froch, Mikkel Kessler and Arthur Abraham, he dominated them all. Ward is the clear choice for Fighter of the Year – his two 2011 performances over Froch and Abraham are enough to justify that – and it’s the culmination of a longer journey which led him from unproven to division kingpin.

Duan – Andre Ward

In a year when a lot of the sport’s big names had bad nights, Ward’s consistency has to be admired. He’s earned the right to be called the best Super Middleweight in the world.

Jason – Andre Ward

Andre Ward won the Super 6 and dominated some of the best fighters boxing has to offer.

Big D – Miguel Cotto

Great year for the Puerto Rican with a win over Ricardo Mayorga and a sweet win over Antonio Margarito. People are talking Pac for 2012 already!? I’d like to see it again!

GG – Andre Ward

The Super Six final against Carl Froch clinched it for Ward. It wasn’t just that he won the tournament. It was the way he won it. He clearly won all of his fights, going through some great boxers along the way.

Fight Of The Year

Jake – Andre Berto vs. Victor Ortiz

There are more than half a dozen fantastic candidates for Fight of the Year, and that’s not always the case in boxing. The one that stood out to me the most was Andre Berto vs. Victor Ortiz. It had it all – they traded knockdowns, and then knocked each other down in the same round, the crowd was off the charts, and the underdog pulled out the win in a fight which saw sustained, hard-hitting action from start to finish. It’s hard to discount fights like Delvin Rodriguez vs. Pawel Wolak I, Alfredo Angulo vs. James Kirkland, Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. vs. Jorge Arce and seemingly scores of others, but Berto-Ortiz wins it for me.

Duan – Erik Morales vs. Marcos Maidana

Morales rolled back the years to add one more classic to his hall of fame worthy career. An amazing slugfest.

Jason – Andre Berto vs Victor Ortiz

It turned out that the winner would fight Mayweather and both laid it on the line.

Big D – Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Manny Pacquiao III

Pac’s greatest rival pushed him to the limit to where many people felt Marquez won the fight. Has this broken the imaginary teflon shield of Pac? Will Pac become Fedor in 2012? We need to see another one!

GG – Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Manny Pacquiao III

Berto/Ortiz was a much more entertaining fight blow-for-blow. But no fight in 2011 had me more locked in than this one. Duan and I re-watched the first two fights and scored them all over again, so by the time the third fight rolled along, it was like I was going to see the second sequel of my favorite movie. While I had Pacquiao eking out a victory, my heart was rooting for Juan Manuel Marquez all night.

Big Things In ’12

Jake – Many

Can I say Mayweather vs. Pacquiao? No? Of course not? Well then, how about Andre Ward vs. Lucian Bute? How about Nonito Donaire continuing to climb to higher weight divisions? Sergio Martinez finally getting another big fight? The endlessly deep class of exciting junior middleweight fighters? There’s a lot to be excited about in boxing right now beyond the two biggest names in the sport. By the end of the year, one of the guys I just mentioned could even be positioning himself to be the pound for pound kingpin depending on how it all shakes out.

Duan – Saul “Canelo” Alvarez

The kid is still only 21 years old and he’s already a major attraction. He’s had few difficulties with the crafty veteran and tough trial horse type opponents they have fitted him with thus far. It’s time for him to step up and be really tested.

Jason – Mayweather vs. Pacquiao

I hope for Pacman vs Mayweather as it’s the fight everyone wants to see but …

Big D – Cotto and Marquez

Miguel Cotto and Juan Manuel Marquez — I’ll be following these guys closely.

GG – Miguel Cotto

It’s weird to list one of the best boxers in the game here, but I feel like Miguel Cotto is reborn. After ripping the monkey off his back by beating up Antonio Margarito, I feel like whatever has been holding him back from pure greatness these past couple years has now disappeared. I would love to see him fight Pacquiao again because I truly believe he can beat him.

Moment Of The Year

Jake – The moment of the year in the sport has to be Floyd Mayweather’s “two-piece” knockout of Victor Ortiz, and the crazy aftermath which ensued between Mayweather and Larry Merchant in the ring. Nothing produced more buzz and water cooler chat for the sport than that scene. Whatever you think of it all – I think the KO was legit and legal, and Ortiz shares the blame; and I think that Merchant had it coming after being drunk on the air for a decade – it was the single most memorable moment of the year.

Duan – Even with the deck stacked, Juan Manuel Marquez showed that he is still every bit Pacquiao’s equal inside the ropes. Perhaps the most remarkable performance of the great man’s career.

Jason – Mayweather vs Merchent was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen from both a journalistic point of view and a fighter’s point of view. It really overshadowed the entire Mayweather/Ortiz fight.

Big D – Bernard Hopkin’s shoulder injury — two words: ouch again.

GG – Watching Juan Manuel Marquez masterfully box his way to near victory left me feeling uplifted and also conflicted because while I wanted him to win, I still had Pacquiao winning the fight. It was a performance that I’ll remember for a long time.

We’ll be back soon with our MMA awards for 2011.

In the semi-finals, Ward defeated Abraham while Froch beat Glen Johnson, who was a replacement. The finals was supposed to happen in October, but was postponed until tonight because of a cut to Ward’s eye.

If Ward does pull out a decision in a close fight, I’d love to see them fight in Froch’s home town in an immediate rematch. Give Kessler to Lucian Bute.

Carl Froch vs. Andre Ward

R1
They are going to be able to fight on the inside. Ward landed a nice left hook out of the break. Froch looks a little slow early on. Both were able to land their jabs a couple of times. Ward is slightly more elusive so far and is landing after Froch misses with short lefts and jabs.

R2
Ward is gaining confidence with his left hand. He landed a nice left hook and them immediately a jab, jab, left hook combination. Ward’s not even really using his right hand. Froch is throwing shots inside and to the body, which don’t look fantastic, but will probably do more damage later on in the fight. Ward hit him with a big left hook that looked like it may have been the back of the head. I have Ward up 2-0 on my card.

R3
This was the best round so far and really close. Ward probably edges him again, but Froch is landing to the body and he’s hooking back. Ward’s left hook is still his best shot, but Froch is throwing back off the hook. Business is about to pick up.

R4
Lots of inside fighting in the round and Froch is looking tired. The ref is letting them rough house a bit, though it’s not bad. Ward had his elbows up a few times. Ward ended the round strong. Froch needs a second wind or he may go down.

R5
Ward had his hand on Froch’s chin and then pushed it and hit Froch with a hook. The problem here is that Froch can’t land from the outside and when he goes inside, he pays for it. Froch needs to figure out how to fight from the outside in order to have a chance. Ward is pushing him around. Ward with a short left hook to end the round that looked like it caught Froch’s attention. I have Ward up 5-0.

R6
Froch is a tough man. He took some brutal left hands and is being outclassed, but he’s still on his feet. Ward is just too quick for him and is landing that left hook at will.

R7
Both guys pretty much took a break for the round. Froch should’ve won this round, but he looks tired. Though they weren’t hard punches, Ward outlanded him nearly 3-1. I don’t have Froch winning a round yet.

R8
Ward is allowing the pace to slow down, rather than going for the kill. Froch looks arm weary. Ward landed a huge right hand. Froch missed a right hand and looked so exhausted that he threw a backhanded slap too. He also threw a right hand after the bell.

R9
I know the stats may say differently, but I think Froch won this round. For whatever reason, Ward is fighting left-handed, and Froch was able to hit him more often. Ward looked confused fighting left-handed. He needs to switch back.

R10
Another pretty lackadaisical round in which Ward won it closely. Froch started out well, but faded in the end. Ward continues to dominate.

R11
I think I may give Froch that round as well. Right now, I have it 9-2. Ward was sloppy and did a lot of running.

R12
I’m not sure if Froch hit him in the round. Froch was throwing huge right hands, but didn’t land any of them. Ward landed the best punch in the round, which was a big left hook. I have it 10-2 for Ward.

Winner: Andre Ward

115-113, 115-113, and 118-10