Which pay-per-view are you going to buy?

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    Miguel CottoAfter a mostly suppressed summer in the pay-per-view world, with the exception of the $100 Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, things are about to heat up in boxing in a memorable way in the next few months – depending on how you look at it – but from an analyst’s perspective, I’m pumped.

    It’s understandable if some people are unable to pay for every pay-per-view. After all, we are in rough economic times, and pay-per-views add up quick.

    Think of it this way: if you paid $100 for May-Pac and are going to put down another $60 for Golovkin-Lemieux, that’s $160.00 on two fights. That isn’t cheap.

    However, boxing fans are known for their incredible loyalty towards their style of fighter. For example, you have the fan that enjoys the style employed by Ruslan Provodnikov, a come-forward, bomb-throwing machine with little defensive awareness.

    Then, you have the fan who is dazzled by the pure a boxer, a Floyd Mayweather, who utilizes his defensive mastery to make opponents miss and run into crisp right hands.

    Of course, you can’t forget about the hybrids. No, not those lame cars that erode and break down, but the fans who enjoy multiple styles of fighting.

    Getting to the point, I will breakdown the four pay-per-view events that will be coming our way in the next three months.

    Shane Mosley vs. Ricardo Mayorga – Sat. Aug 29

    Yes, Mosley, 43, and Mayorga, 41, are likely never going to fight in a legitimate world title fight again, which is what makes this fight pay-per-view worthy to many. Two old guys known for their power putting everything on the line perhaps for the final time. These guys have nothing to lose, which could mean we’re going to see an awesome matchup. Their September 2008 clash saw Mosley pull off a dramatic come from behind victory with a last-second knockout of the Nicaraguan.

    Not only will the pay-per-view feature the men, but also the women. Under the banner of Mosley’s promotional company GoBox Promotions, Mosley is fashioning the first independent pay-per-view event promoted by a big-name boxer, which includes a female title fight, the first-time in over a decade that a female title fight will be on a man’s pay-per-view.

    Maureen Shea (24-2, 12 KO’s), the IFBA World super-bantamweight champion will take on IBF World female super-bantamweight champion Yulihan Alejandra Luna Avila (12-1, 1 KO).

    For $49.95, I think that’s a pretty solid deal. Undefeated Joel Diaz Jr. (19-0, 15 KO’s) will also be on the card.

    Floyd Mayweather vs. Andre Berto – Sat. Sept. 12

    Of course, this fight was bound to be criticized as Berto has lost three of his last six fights, but we also have to keep in mind that Berto is ranked No. 1 in the WBA. I’m not condoning Mayweather’s selection, but it’s not as bad as let’s say Deontay Wilder choosing to fight Johann Duhaupas – someone who isn’t even ranked in the top 10 in the WBC.

    Berto always comes to fight and if this is truly Mayweather’s last fight, I think we’re going to see a vintage performance to cap off a legendary career. Is the fight worth $74.99 in my opinion? No. In fact, I’d cut the price by $20.00.

    In the end, Mayweather’s fans will buy the pay-per-view, whether they be band wagoners, or legitimate admirers of his style. Expect a good pay-per-view showing, nothing close to Mayweather-Pacquiao.

    Gennady Golovkin vs. David Lemieux – Sat. Oct. 17

    What seemed like a huge risk initially, HBO appears to have made the right move. Golovkin-Lemieux set a Madison Square Garden record of over 6,000 pre-sale tickets sold. If you’re looking for a modern-day Hagler v. Hearns, this is the fight you want to see.

    Although both of these guys are known for their thunderous blows, Lemieux is known for having a less than sturdy chin. Despite that, these two combine for an 88 percent knockout percentage out of 69 professional bouts, with Golovkin looking to extend his knockout streak to 21.

    I don’t expect this bout to go past three rounds.

    But wait, there’s more! Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez (43-0, 37 KO’s) will defend his WBC flyweight title against hard-hitting Brian Viloria (36-4, 22 KO’s) on the undercard. All of that for just $49.99? You’ve got to be crazy if you don’t think that’s a great deal.

    Miguel Cotto vs. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez – Sat. Nov 21

    Now we’re talking. If there’s one pay-per-view that you had to choose from out of this list, this is the one that you should get. This fight was supposed to happen this past summer, but negotiations fell through, and Canelo went on to annihilate an Ann Wolfeless James Kirkland in the third round.

    The Mexico vs. Puerto Rico rivalry has been piquant for more than 30 years and it’s provided some of the most exciting fights the sport has ever seen. This one will be no different.

    The rivalry brought us the famous 1981 duel between Wilfredo Gomez and Salvador Sanchez, Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito I and II, and of course no one can forget Sixto Escobar’s ninth-round knockout of Rodolfo Casanova in Montreal in 1934 – Puerto Rico’s first world champion.

    Has Cotto or Canelo ever given an unstimulating performance? No. Add in the rivalry, and we got ourselves a Fight of the Year candidate for sure.

    Which pay-per-view will you buy!? Welcome to America, my friends. The choices are yours.