Larry Merchant joined HBO Sports in 1978 as an expert analyst (Courtesy HBO)For 35 years as a ringside analyst for HBO Sports, Larry Merchant was the conscience of boxing, saying the things that needed to be said but that no one else would or could. His journalistic instincts led to a slew of honors, including induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009.

Merchant will end his amazing run as a ringside analyst for HBO on Saturday when he calls the Nonito Donaire-Jorge Arce super bantamweight title fight from the Toyota Center in Houston.

Merchant was fearless and spoke out against the many ills of boxing. For years, Mike Tyson refused to speak with him and last year, Floyd Mayweather Jr. railed upon him. That led the spunky Merchant to respond, "If I were 50 years younger, I would kick your ass."

He said he'll serve as a "senior kibitzer who will parachute in from time to time." But Merchant is not ready to retire and will look to continue to work.

"I'm not the retiring kind," Merchant said. "I look forward to my next act. I've had a few

Floyd Mayweather Jr. (R) celebrates a win over Shane Mosley with his father, Floyd Sr. (Getty Images)Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., have had a rocky relationship for more than 10 years. Junior booted Senior from his gym last year in an angry display prior to a fight with Victor Ortiz that was a big part of the HBO "24/7" series that was documenting that fight.

As Mayweather stormed out of the room after making his father leave, he shouted, "And [expletive], I'm not no junior."

Roger Mayweather (Getty Images)But on Wednesday, Mayweather gave an interview to Ben Thompson at Fight Hype in which he said he is considering using his father as his trainer rather than his Uncle Roger. Roger Mayweather, a two-time world champion, has been Mayweather's primary trainer for most of his professional career.

"At this particular time, I'm thinking about working back with my father."

Mayweather Jr., the top-rated fighter in the world by Yahoo! Sports, has been fiercely loyal to his uncle. But he told Thompson that Roger Mayweather is "not healthy" and not eating well.

He acknowledged the issues with his

Michael Koncz (grey suit) grabs photographer Al Bello's shirt as Buboy Fernandez kicks at him (Chris Cozzone)

Seconds after Manny Pacquiao was knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden, two key members of his team allegedly assaulted Getty Images photographer Al Bello because they were angry that Bello was shooting pictures of the fallen fighter.

Bello said Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz and assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez were punching and kicking at Bello as he was trying to photograph Pacquiao, who was face first down on the mat.

Bello jumped off the apron in an effort to avoid confrontation with the men.

"Had I not gotten off the ring, I have no doubt the two of them would have beaten the [expletive] out of me and I might have been seriously hurt," Bello told Yahoo! Sports.
All photos courtesy of Chris Cozzone

Even after Bello jumped off the apron, an enraged Fernandez went through the ropes after him in an effort to get at him. Fernandez had been on the ground crying when he became aware that Bello was shooting photos of the knocked out Pacquiao.

Koncz did not return a phone call seeking