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    • Sergio Martinez and Argentina President Cristina Fernandez (Courtesy Lou DiBella Twitter feed)It's common in the U.S. for the Super Bowl, NBA and World Series champions to show up at the White House to be congratulated by the President.

      Boxing, though, doesn't hold a high enough spot on the pecking order, so champions fighters aren't usually summoned to meet the Commander-in-Chief. Manny Pacquiao, a Filipino congressman as well as a champion fighter, made a trip to see President Obama last year, but he is the distinct rarity of fighters in getting a personal meeting with a head of state.

      Pope John Paul II and Muhammad Ali (AP file photo)Boxers, though, remain major figures in other countries. Middleweight champion Sergio Martinez is a significant figure in his native Argentina and received a call from President Cristina Fernandez congratulating him after his Sept. 15 win in Las Vegas over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

      During that call, Fernandez invited Martinez for a coffee and a chat, according to an Argentinian web site. Martinez made the visit with Fernandez on Tuesday.

      He became the latest boxer to meet a head of state. Brothers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, who combined hold all four heavyweight titles, have met President Clinton when he was in office as well as the heads of state of Russia, Germany, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Chechnya.

      Read More »from Champion Sergio Martinez sits for chat, coffee with Argentinian president after win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
    • Evander Holyfield (R) on his way to stopping Mike Tyson in 1996 (AP)Evander Holyfield has finally decided to give up the ghost of regaining the undisputed heavyweight title and, on his 50th birthday on Friday, will announce his retirement from boxing.

      Holyfield told Sports Illustrated that he still believes he can beat heavyweight champions Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, but said, "I can't make nobody fight."

      Few could fight like Holyfield in his prime. He was a fierce competitor who, despite being naturally smaller than many of his opponents, rarely took a backward step. He retires with a 44-10-2 record, along with a no contest, but that mark is deceiving. He was 8-7-1 with a no contest in his last 16 fights, all of which came when he was 37 or older and far past his prime.

      "The game's been good to me and I hope I've been good to the game. [...] I'm 50 years old (on Friday) and I've pretty much did everything that I wanted to do in boxing."

      In his prime, he was clearly one of the 10 greatest heavyweights ever and one of the most exciting big men to ever enter the ring. He's most known for his 1996 upset of Mike Tyson, but he also scored wins over elite fighters such as Riddick Bowe, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Ray Mercer, Michael Moorer and Michael Dokes.

      Read More »from Ex-heavyweight king Evander Holyfield to officially retire; Hall of Fame countdown begins
    • Brandon Rios (R) lands a right on Mike Alvarado in the seventh round on Saturday. (Chris Farina/Top Rank)Less than 30 seconds into their epic super lightweight bout Saturday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., Brandon Rios had already connected with a crackling double left hook, and Alvarado had returned fire with a blazing right hand.

      Throughout the nearly 20 minutes they pummeled each other, the pace rarely slowed. They each delivered bone-crushing shots in a battle that ended dramatically with Rios swarming Alvarado on the ropes in the seventh round.

      Referee Pat Russell jumped in to save Alvarado from further punishment as he went defenseless along the ropes. When the fight ended, many were saying it was the greatest bout of the 21st century.

      Since the 21st century didn't begin until Jan. 1, 2001, I'll include the Year 2000 as I pick my Baker's dozen of the greatest matches of the 2000s.

      13. Antonio Margarito TKO11 Miguel Cotto, July 26, 2008, Las Vegas: The match was billed as "The Battle," but it was more like a war. The welterweights went at each other in savage fashion from the opening bell. The bout later became infamous when Cotto began to believe that Margarito's hand wraps were loaded, but that has never been proven. It was, however, one of the most entertaining fights ever to watch.

      Read More »from Brandon Rios, Mike Alvarado become legends with one of great bouts of 21st century
    • Amir Khan, younger brother fight off six would-be car thieves

      Amir Khan (R) and his younger brother fought off six men trying to steal his car (AP)Boxer Amir Khan's chin has been called into question lately, but not his fighting spirit. The former world champion proved that, along with his younger brother Haroon, when they fended off six would-be car thieves in Birmingham, England, Monday.

      According to The Sun, a group of six men attempted to strong arm the Khans and steal Amir's Range Rover. The newspaper put the value of the vehicle at more than £100,000.

      Khan has lost back-to-back fights and was knocked out by Danny Garcia in Las Vegas in the fourth round of their July 14 match at Mandalay Bay for the WBA/WBC super lightweight title.

      Khan believed part of his problem in that bout was that his fighting spirit was too great and he wound up fighting Garcia's match.

      Read More »from Amir Khan, younger brother fight off six would-be car thieves
    • Floyd Mayweather (L) owes Manny Pacquiao $113,580.50 in attorney's fees (AP)Everyone, it seems, is desperate to see Manny Pacquiao fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. A bout between them would likely set gate and pay-per-view records.

      They are fighting in a different venue, however, and Pacquiao got a minor win on Monday.

      Pacquiao is suing Mayweather for defamation over claims Mayweather allegedly made accusing him of using performance enhancing drugs.

      Mayweather skipped a deposition last year. He was later seen burning $100 bills in an Atlanta night club at the time he was supposed to be giving his deposition in Las Vegas.

      [Also: Canelo Alvarez hammers Josesito Lopez for fifth-round TKO]

      As a result, federal Judge Larry R. Hicks ordered Mayweather to pay Pacquiao's attorney's fees of $113,518.50, as well as court costs in the amount of $774.10.

      Interestingly, as part of Hicks' decision, he noted that Pacquiao attorneys David Marroso and Harrison Whitman aren't doing pro bono work for the champ.

      According to Hicks' order, Marroso is charging Pacquiao $695 an hour,

      Read More »from Manny Pacquiao scores a victory — sort of — over Floyd Mayweather Jr.

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