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CONTROVERSY last time set the stage for a sequel. / Photo: SUMIO YAMADA

Dawson -300; Hopkins +250

Over 10.5 -320; under 10.5 +255

After the disputed ending to their first fight, Saturday's rematch between Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson wasn't exactly made by public demand but nevertheless interest has grown. I get the sense that people are looking forward to the HBO-televised fight more than perhaps they thought they would — I know that is the case with me.

Hopkins, the betting underdog but still formidable at 47, is defending the WBC light-heavyweight title that was briefly in Dawson's possession, until the original TKO win was changed to a no decision. Hopkins says that Dawson threw him down in the Los Angeles fight that ended in such a disappointing fashion, Dawson says he was just shouldering Hopkins off him in a protective move.

SERGIO MARTINEZ vs MATTHEW MACKLIN

MARTINEZ; MACKLIN: World's best middleweight meets gritty underdog. / Photo: SUMIO YAMADA

Martinez -900; Macklin +450

Over 9.5 -120; under 9.5 -120

The odds were against Matthew Macklin when he fought Felix Sturm in Germany last June and the odds are much wider tonight when he steps into the ring to meet the world’s best middleweight, Sergio Martinez at Madison Square Garden’s theatre, with HBO televising in the U.S. and Sky Sports in the U.K.

Martinez, who defends his WBC Diamond belt, looks unbeatable at 160 pounds. If Macklin can pull off the shocking upset it would rank with the all-time great performances by a British boxer.

JUANMA, SALIDO: AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

LOPEZ, SALIDO: Lightning doesn't always strike twice. / Photo: SUMIO YAMADA

Lopez -140; Salido +120

Over 10.5 +140; under 10.5 -165

In theory, a boxer who stops his opponent should be able to win the rematch, perhaps more quickly, but ring history shows this simply isn’t so. Many times, the boxer who lost the first time gets his payback in the encore.

Puerto Rico’s Juan Manuel Lopez will be seeking to turn the tables on Mexican veteran Orlando Salido in their eagerly awaited return bout on Saturday night, and the oddsmakers say he will get his revenge.

WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO vs JEAN-MARC MORMECK

WILL Klitschko fight like the bigger man on Saturday? / Photo: SUMIO YAMADA

Klitschko -4500; Mormeck +2000

Over 6.5 +100; under 6.5 -120

Wladimir Klitschko is in one of those no-win situations when he defends his heavyweight titles against Jean-Marc Mormeck in Germany on Saturday night (TV coverage on EPIX in the U.S. and Sky Sports in the U.K.)

As his trainer Emanuel Steward points out, if Klitschko wins quickly, people will say he merely did what he should have done; if it turns into a drawn-out and difficult fight, he can stand by for a torrent of criticism.

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FLOYD MAYWEATHER Jr. vs MIGUEL COTTO

Mayweather -700; Cotto +400

Over 11.5 -160; under 11.5 +140

While Floyd Mayweather Jr won’t be facing Manny Pacquiao any time soon, the two welterweight superstars have interesting tests scheduled in Las Vegas, with Pacquiao meeting undefeated Timothy Bradley on June 9 while Mayweather moves up to light-middleweight to challenge Miguel Cotto for the WBA “super” world title tonight.

On paper, tonight’s HBO PPV view fight from the MGM Grand is intriguing. Cotto has lost only twice, he is the naturally bigger man defending a legitimate championship, and he looked rejuvenated in his last fight when outclassing Antonio Margarito to exact revenge for the brutal beatdown inflicted by the Mexican fighter in 2008.

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Reports

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BRANDON RIOS W12 (split) RICHARD ABRIL

We seem to be getting more controversial decisions than at any time in boxing history. At one time, hotly disputed verdicts seemed somewhat rare, although we did have them. Now, as I have often noted, you have to hold your breath every time a fight goes to the scorecards.

On Saturday night, for instance, it seemed that Richard Abril had done enough to get the decision over Brandon Rios in their lightweight fight on HBO, but Rios escaped with a split decision.

ARTHUR ABRAHAM W12 PIOTR WILCZEWSKI

I’ve been busy working on previews for the Fightwriter subscribers and writing for Boxing Monthly, but I’m dropping in to give some thoughts on the past couple of weeks’ fights.

It surprised me that some people thought Arthur Abraham had a close call against Piotr Wilczewski in Germany. I agreed with the judges that Abraham won this fight going away on points.

JAMES KIRKLAND DQ end of 10 CARLOS MOLINA

Referee Jon Schorle’s decision to disqualify Carlos Molina robbed boxing fans of the chance to see a dramatic, cliffhanger finish in the fight with James Kirkland. It has to be one of the most controversial endings in recent years, perhaps of all time.

The way MC Michael Buffer announced the verdict, the referee had no choice but to disqualify Molina when Molina’s cornerman entered the ring. Yet this was clearly an unfortunate error by the cornerman and there was no malicious intent.

SERGIO MARTINEZ TKO end of 11 MATTHEW MACKLIN

Matthew Macklin’s courage and commitment predictably wasn’t enough to overcome the remarkable skills of Sergio Martinez but the St. Patrick’s Day middleweight fight provided lively entertainment for HBO viewers in the States and Sky Sports’ subscribers in the U.K.

It was only in the late rounds that Martinez started to outclass Macklin. By the ninth Macklin’s hopes of victory were fast receding but it looked as if he might at least have the satisfaction of completing the 12 rounds. In the 10^th, though, Martinez was really blasting the British challenger (with Irish ancestral roots), and two knockdowns in the 11^th ended a gritty challenge.