After a two and a half year retirement, former three-division champion Erik Morales will continue his comeback in a bout against junior welterweight Marcos Maidana on April 9, Golden Boy promoter Richard Schaefer said.

Following weeks of failed negotiations with other opponents, Morales (51-6, 35 KOs),  whose won three fights in a row since ending his retirement, will now battle Argentinean native Maidana (29-2, 27 KOs).

“I can tell you what Erik Morales said to me, that he feels like this is an early Christmas present,” Schaefer said to ESPN. “It’s really the fight he wants.”

Although Morales appears to be making a giant step up in light welterweight competition, Schaefer assured he will be ready.

“He and his father were begging us for this fight,” Schaefer said. “He did take some time off and there is a history of fighters who took time off and came back and did write another chapter in the career, and not only pick up where they left off but go to bigger heights.”

Maidana, who exploded onto the boxing scene earning 25 knockouts, is now considered one of the top light welterweights in the world.

“Maidana is one of the most credible 140-pounders and an exciting fighter,” Schaefer said. “Most people rank him third in the division [behind Timothy Bradley Jr. and Amir Khan].”

After losing a split decision to Andriy Kotelnik (31-4, 13 KOs) on Feb. 2, Maidana went on a four fight win streak, defeating Victor Ortiz, William Gonzalez, Victor Manuel Cayo and DeMarcus Corley. Most recently, Maidana fell short losing a unanimous decision to Khan, in a dramatic slugfest which earned 2010 “Fight of the Year” by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

The Morales-Maidana bout, which will air live on HBO PPV at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV, is one of four bouts Schaefer said is finalized.

“I got the ‘Fight Freak’ card done,” Schaefer said in reference to the cards appeal towards hardcore boxing fans. “Everything is locked in.”

Featured in the co-main event, former featherweight and junior lightweight titlist Robert Guerrero will meet Australian action star Michael Katisidis.

“It’s one of the most exciting fights one can make in boxing and I’m really looking forward to it,” Schaefer said. “Helluva fight. The winner will come out as a major guy.”

In addition, former WBC and WBA super welterweight champion Winky Wright will return from a two-year hiatus to face Britain’s own Matthew Macklin; while junior middleweight prospect James Kirkland (barring a win in his March 5 bout) will open the pay per view portion against an unnamed opponent.

—Alex Neely

“I’m hot. Somebody is going to have to step up to the plate if they want to eat. All of those guys, they’ve got to call me out now. I’m tired of calling people out.” —Paul Williams

Paul Williams Ready For Anything After Impressive Win Over Winky Wright » The Canadian Press

Oscar De La Hoya To Make A Career Announcement Tomorrow » Tomorrow at noon, Oscar De La Hoya will be at the Nokia Live Plaza in downtown Los Angeles to make a big announcement regarding his career plans. Since his loss to Manny Pacquiao in December, many have been wondering what De La Hoya’s next move will be… Ramon Aranda, www.411mania.com

Ricky Hatton Pays Tribute To Man Who Got Career Back On Track » Three weeks from the latest big night of his career, Ricky Hatton believes that he is entering his greatest period. Few outside Hatton’s team are tipping him to beat Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas on May 2, but belief inside the Hatton camp is strong. A year ago, many were writing off the world No 1 light-welterweight as a man on the slide, but Hatton believes that it is his partnership with Floyd Mayweather Sr, his new trainer, that has breathed new life into his career… Ron Lewis, www.timesonline.co.uk

Top 25 Boxing Nicknames of All Times » The definitive list:

25. Vinny “The Pazmanian Devil” Pazienza

24. “Iron” Mike Tyson

23. Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini

22. Mike “The Body Snatcher” McCallum

21. Andrew “Six Heads” Lewis

Source: directorblue.blogspot.com

Talkin’ Boxing with Larry Holmes » A kinder, gentler all-time great heavyweight champion Larry Holmes discusses a wide range of topics including, what he thinks could restore life in the flagship division, Hatton-Pacquiao, MMA, training with Ali, the Berbick incident, Who is the greatest?, and more… ” Scoop Malinowski, www.boxinginsider.com

Paul Williams Punishes Winky Wright » Punch stats. Total Punches: Williams – 247 of 1,086 (23%); Wright – 116 of 511 (23%). Power Punches: Williams – 177 of 667 (27%); Wright – 76 of 271 (28%). • Ronald ‘Winky’ Wright has long been considered ‘boxing’s most avoided fighter’. That unofficial title has now been officially passed to Paul ‘The Punisher’ Williams. Wright, 37, came back after 21 months of inactivity and displayed the ring generalship, defensive skills and toughness that have always been his trademarks. Unfortunately for Wright, none of that mattered as the 27-year-old Williams was a non-stop punching machine for every minute of every round… Andrew Eisele, boxing.about.com

Williams Vs. Wright: Defensive Prowess Or Offensive Mastery? » Saturday night’s fight between Paul Williams and Winky Wright offers a contrast of styles that looks intriguing. Plus, a heavyweight scrap that’s got excitement written all over it with title fight implications between Chris Arreola and Jameel McCline • July 2007 – that was the last time we saw Winky Wright, a former junior middleweight champ who had just lost a tough decision to Bernard Hopkins – the first decisive one of his career. In the months that followed, many wondered when Winky would fight again, at what weight (he fought Bernard at light heavy) and against whom… Ramon Aranda, www.411mania.com

Taylor Hoping For Another Breakthrough » LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — For a few years, Jermain Taylor had Arkansas buzzing about boxing. After beating Bernard Hopkins in 2005 for the middleweight title, Taylor’s home state greeted him with the type of adulation often reserved for its college football and basketball teams. • Now, Taylor’s no longer a champion, and it’s been a while since his hometown of Little Rock had a chance to celebrate one of his big victories. The 30-year-old hopes to change that when he fights Britain’s Carl Froch on April 25 in Mashantucket, Conn., for Froch’s WBC super middleweight belt… Noah Trister, AP Sports Writer, www.usatoday.com

Top St. Louis Boxers Headline Don King Card April 24 » ST. LOUIS—The three best boxers in St. Louis will be showcased on the same Don King-promoted fight card at Scottrade Center on Friday, April 24. • The main event will feature the long-awaited hometown showdown for the vacant International Boxing Federation junior middleweight championship between former four-time world champion Cory “The Next Generation” Spinks (36-5, 11 KOs) taking on IBF No. 6-ranked contender Deandre “The Bull” Latimore (19-1, 16 KOs). The co-feature showcases the Gateway City’s fastest-rising star, undefeated World Boxing Council No. 1-ranked super lightweight Devon Alexander “The Great” (17-0, 10 KOs) meeting an opponent to be announced… Source: www.boxinginsider.com

(Photo: Williams/Wright by Gene Blevins- Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions.)

Report: Cotto, Uncle/Trainer Get Into Nasty Brawl » The simmering feud between WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto and his trainer and uncle, Evangelista, boiled over Wednesday when the two got into a fistfight at a Caguas, Puerto Rico, gym where Cotto trains, according to a newspaper report. • Primera Hora, a Spanish language newspaper, reported that Miguel and Evangelista got into a verbal dispute not long after Miguel arrived at the gym around 3:15 p.m. local time. Miguel Cotto fired his uncle and Evangelista responded with a punch to his nephew’s face… Kevin Iole, yahoo.com

Willams And Wright Like Kobe Beef Surrounded By Twinkies » Paul Williams and Ronald “Winky” Wright made their Las Vegas arrival this afternoon for a Saturday middleweight clash.  The match-up is a fight fan’s fight, but I doubt they will be hanging from the rafters for two premiere, but largely unheralded boxers. • Fight photographer Tom Hogan released the above photo to medial outlets, but I wonder who these individuals surrounding Wright might be?… Ricardo Lois, www.examiner.com 

Is McCline Too Much For Arreola? » Heavyweight contender Chris Arreola is slated to take a big step up in class when he squares off against perennial contender Jameel ‘Big Time’ McCline. The bout is slated to take place Saturday night in Vegas on the undercard of the highly anticipated middleweight showdown between Winky Wright and Paul Williams. For Arreola, the fight with McCline is supposed to represent the next step towards an inevitable battle with one of the Klitschko brothers. If all goes according to plan, Arreola will get a title shot sometime this year. Unfortunately for Arreola, McCline might have something to say about that… Geoffrey Ciani, www.eastsideboxing.com

(Photo: Winky Wright by Hogan Photos)

Winky Wright, Paul Williams Set To Battle In Vegas Saturday » Maybe it isn’t so hard to believe that a top-tier boxer could stay out of the ring for nearly two years and hardly be missed. Chalk that up to the state of the game. • Winky Wright, who once occupied a spot on the mythical top-10 pound-for-pound list, hasn’t fought in 21 months, and there was no hue and cry for him to return to the ring. Certainly not the kind of calls (muted as they are) for the return of Floyd Mayweather Jr… Tim Smith, www.nydailynews.com

Arreola Is Properly Motivated For The “Big Time” Challenge » Last November I went up to Chris Arreola’s training camp in Big Bear California while he was training for his fight with Travis Walker and the Nightmare wasn’t as motivated as he should have been and commented, “Travis Walker doesn’t motivate me.  I wanted to fight a big name, I’m tired of fighting prospects,” and the lack of drive was evident. • Yes Chris was in camp and had cut out all the alcohol and was going to the gym in the afternoons, but the day that I went to the gym, his regimen definitely lacked intensity… Brent Matteo Alderson, www.boxingscene.com

Bradley’s Move Was Hailed As Brilliant: Not So, Says Kimball » Since boxing is a sport that trades on its legends, we’re generally not disposed toward debunking myths, particularly those that support an otherwise plausibly good storyline, but since this one appears to be taking on a life of its own it might be a good idea to nip it in the bud, lest it spawn an entire generation of puglists suddenly disposed to crawling around on their knees for all the wrong reasons.  • In the first round of last Saturday night’s 140-pound unification fight in Montreal, Kendall Holt unleashed a left hook that looked capable of taking Timothy Bradley’s head off. Bradley went down like he’d been popped with one of those stun-bolt guns they use in slaughterhouses, but then, amazingly, bounced right back to his feet… George Kimball, www.thesweetscience.com

Paul Williams And Winky Wright Set To Take Out Their Frustrations » What happens when you have two boxers who no one wants to fight? Simple, have those boxers fight each other. That’s what’s going to happen on April 11 on HBO when Paul Williams (36-1, 27 KOs) takes on Ronald “Winky” Wright (51-4-1, 25 KOs) at the Mandalay Bay. • Talk about two underappreciated fighters. Wright hasn’t fought since suffering a unanimous decision loss to Hopkins in July of 2007, while Williams hasn’t had a big name opponent since beating Antonio Margarito in 2007….MARCUS HENRY, newsday.com

Shout-out to my partner Chris Isenberg at AIR who produced this clip for Everlast. Pac Man vs. The Punisher…no way! —LC