Don King Tries To Drum Up City’s Support For Silverdome Fight » Chewing on an unlit cigar, an American flag in his hand, boxing showman extraordinaire Don King on Thursday called on leaders of the Detroit Three automakers, Gov. Rick Snyder and Detroit mayor Dave Bing to be at Saturday night’s Super Fight at the Silverdome… MIKE BRUDENELL , www.freep.com

For Timothy Bradley Jr., This Fight Is Worth The Waiting » When the desert winds blow fiercest in the Coachella Valley, most scramble for cover from the blinding sands or torrid heat. • Not Timothy Bradley Jr. The Palm Springs boxer refuses to yield to such discomfort, letting nothing distract him from the work at hand: to train. And if that includes a solitary eight-mile run through conditions that would break almost everyone else, well, that’s what this is all about…  Lance Pugmire, www.latimes.com

Alexander, Bradley Represent New Breed » American boxing superstars are few and far between these days. • Sure there are some. Bernard Hopkins has a mainstream name, but he is 46 and must be close to the end, even though he continually defies Father Time. Shane Mosley, who is 39, is limping toward the finish line of a brilliant career. • Floyd Mayweather Jr. is clearly the biggest name in American boxing, but at 33, he’s not getting any younger. Besides, he rarely fights anymore and faces several serious criminal charges stemming from an alleged domestic incident in September. • So who else is there?… Dan Rafael, sports.espn.go.com

Don King © TIME/LIFE; Bradley/Alexander photo by Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

Nick Diaz, the consensus mixed martial arts #7 welterweight (USA Today/SB Nation) in the world, shocked many on Jan. 25 when trainer Cesar Gracie revealed a boxing match clause in his new contract.

Although Diaz re-signed with California-based organization Strikeforce, the welterweight champion added a clause that will allow him to compete in a boxing match this year.

Diaz, who defends his title this weekend against challenger Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos, is expected to exercise that clause against a recognizable name, potentially earning what he and his trainer feel he deserves.

“In boxing, when you’re a superstar, you get millions of dollars,” Gracie told ESPN.com. “In MMA you’re not making that kind of money.”

“We’re in negotiations right now with [boxing promoter] Don Chargin,” Gracie disclosed, adding that, “It would probably be at super middleweight [168 pounds].”

In a recent conference call for his upcoming title fight, Diaz expressed his displeasure in fight compensation.

“I just want to get paid. [Boxing champion Manny] Pacquiao’s making $40 million…I’m over here driving a Honda because my [car] is breaking down.”

Diaz, who currently sports a record of 23-7 (12 [T]KO’s, 7 Submissions), has already had his name thrown around with potential opponents.

“There have been a few names kicked around. One of them is Fernando Vargas; another is Ricardo Mayorga.”

Vargas, who has been the object of comeback rumors over the past few months, is now 33 and has not been seen in the ring since November 2007, when Mayorga defeated him by majority decision.

Mayorga, whose foray into MMA in May 2010 was subjugated by boxing promoter Don King due to contractual limitations, is a definite possibility. However, the two-time champ is competing on March 12 with WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas. Director of Public Relations for Don King Productions, Alan Hopper appears to be keeping his options open.

“As long as the combatants can adhere the particular rules of the game they are participating in – in this case a boxing match – we’d be perfectly OK with that,” Hopper told ESPN.com.

“Now, obviously, we hope [Mayorga] beats Cotto and will have bigger fish to fry in the boxing world. But you never know, you never know.”

Although the Stockton native, Diaz, is not looking past his title defense this weekend, we as fans can not help but imagine the potential for what could inevitably be the one of the most marquee pugilistic leaps.

— Alex Neely

Illustration by  Chris Williams

Manny Pacquiao Trainer Freddie Roach Preferred Juan Manuel Márquez Over Shane Mosley » There is no shortage of boxers who want to take down the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. • But if Manny Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, had his way, the Filipino superstar would be taking on Mexican Juan Manuel Márquez. Instead, Pacquiao is scheduled to fight against Shane Mosley on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas… Wil Cruz, latino.foxnews.com

Promoters For Alexander-Bradley: Why Not Detroit? » The greater Detroit area, smack in the middle of one of the USA’s most economically depressed regions, is not usually high on the list of destinations for major sporting events these days. • Which is precisely why boxing promoters Gary Shaw and Don King insist that it is the most desirable venue for staging their Jan. 29 “Superfight” — a matchup of undefeated junior welterweight fighters Devon Alexander (21-0, 13 KOs) and Timothy Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs)… Bob Velin, www.usatoday.com

Tim Bradley Won’t Let Flu Slow Him For Devon Alexander » FanHouse spoke to 27-year-old WBO junior welterweight (140 pounds) king Tim Bradley in this Q&A as he prepares for an HBO televised, Jan. 29 clash opposite 23-year-old southpaw WBC titlist Devon Alexander that is slated for the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich. • Nicknamed, “The Desert Storm,” Bradley (26-0, 11 knockouts) told FanHouse that he will not allow a recent bout with the flu interfere with his training for Alexander (21-0, 13 KOs), who is called, “The Great.”… Lem Satterfield, boxing.fanhouse.com