The sale price was not disclosed. But Tim Leiweke, AEG's president and CEO, said it was a hard-cash investment that "was not insignificant."

While Golden Boy plans to promote boxing cards in AEG arenas around the world — and Schaefer spoke of promoting a pay-per-view card that would originate on three continents — Leiweke went to great lengths to point out that Golden Boy won't be exclusive to AEG arenas.

"We're committed as a partner to take the fights to the best locations," Leiweke said.

That means that the planned Sept. 20 rematch between Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will remain at the MGM Grand Garden. Their first fight was at the MGM on May 5, 2007, and was the largest-grossing fight in history.

"We're really excited with the new opportunities this relationship brings to the sport for our fighters," Schaefer said. "With access to the best venues from around the world, this will allow us to showcase the talent we have here at Golden Boy. For the sport of boxing, to be able to bring an 8,000-pound gorilla when it comes to sports and entertainment to the sport of boxing is really a vote of confidence in the sport and in Golden Boy."

Schaefer said the relationship would allow Golden Boy to do such unique things as promote a pay-per-view show that had fights emanating from AEG arenas in Shanghai, London and Los Angeles.

Richard Schaefer, the chief executive officer of Golden Boy Promotions, confirmed the postponement Thursday during a conference call to announce that AEG had acquired a significant stake in Golden Boy.

Schaefer said the situation is unfolding and he doesn't have details on when the fight will be rescheduled. Judah fell in his bathroom and received stitches in his arm.

"I'm going to be working on that this afternoon and tomorrow," Schaefer said.

Schaefer said Judah required 50 stitches in his forearm to close the wound and would be unable to train for four weeks.

Mosley was predictably irritated by the cancellation.

"I made 147 yesterday and I'm really disappointed, although I'm not shocked," Mosley said. "It's typical Zab. The only thing I have to say about it is, next."

He worked 120 world title fights and scored bouts in 10 countries on four continents.

He began working for the Nevada Athletic Commission in 1984, did his first title fight in 1987 and eventually became one of the commission's go-to judges. He worked bouts involving all the major stars of the time, including Bowe, Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya and Sugar Ray Leonard.

He finished his career by scoring the April 19 light heavyweight title fight between Joe Calzaghe and Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas for Calzaghe.

He said he plans to start a business in which he will advise fighters, managers and trainers on what a judge is looking for during a fight

A life-sized statue of the six-division former world champion will be placed at Star Plaza in front of the Staples Center, joining similar works of art honoring former Los Angeles Kings star Wayne Gretzky and Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson.

De La Hoya, who fights Steve Forbes on Saturday at the Home Depot Center in nearby Carson, Calif., was visibly moved by the honor. It was engineered by his close friend, Richard Schaefer, the chief executive officer of his Golden Boy Promotions, and Dan Beckerman, the chief operating officer of AEG, which operates Staples. As he sat on the dais after he learned of the news, De La Hoya seemed stunned and mouthed "Wow!" to himself several times.

"I'm blown away by it," De La Hoya said later, shaking his head. "It's a huge honor. Richard got me on that one. And Dan Beckerman. I had no idea. "I'm going to drive by it every day, just to make sure they don't egg it."

Schaefer said it was a fitting honor for De La Hoya, noting how much he meant to the Los Angeles community. De La Hoya was born in an impoverished part of East Los Anglees, but went on to win a gold medal in the 1992 Olympics and become one of the biggest stars in boxing history.

The move got one of De La Hoya's business partners, ex-light heavyweight and middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins, thinking. Hopkins, who is from Philadelphia, said "I'm going to have to find a way to get me one of these in Philadelphia." Hopkins will have competition in Philadelphia, though. There is already a life-sized statue of a boxer on display in a prominent public place: Rocky Balboa, the fictional fighter played by actor Sylvester Stallone.

While the commission has long conducted post-fight drug testing, the commission earlier this month conducted surprise drug tests on two high-profile boxers and a big-name UFC star.

Boxers Shane Mosley and Zab Judah, who meet in a welterweight bout at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 31, as well as UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn, were randomly tested earlier this month.

"I'm very pleased to tell you that all of their tests came back clean," Kizer said.

Sean Sherk, who fights Penn for the title on May 24 at Mandalay Bay in Vegas, was tested, though he was aware he would be tested. Sherk, who recently came off a lengthy steroid suspension in California, is required to provide a clean test before he can be licensed in Nevada. 

His results have not come back.

Mosley, Judah and Penn passed the random tests for anabolic steroids, diuretics, amphetamines, marijuana, cocaine, opiates and phencyclidine. Mosley gave his sample on April 12, Judah on April 15 and Penn on April 17, Kizer said.

Random drug testing was a recommendation to the commission by the Committee on Boxer Health and Safety, which was created by former Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn after a pair of in-ring deaths in Las Vegas in 2005.

All four of the welterweights on the HBO-televised card on Saturday from Boardwalk Hall easily made weight. WBA champion Miguel Cotto looked ripped at 146 ½, while his challenger, Alfonso S. Gomez, was 147.

Cintron, the IBF champion, and Margarito, the only man to have beaten him as a pro, both weighed at 146 ½. Margarito appeared in the best physical condition he's been in in years.

As Cintron and Margarito posed for photographers, Cintron made a point to step closer to Margarito, who stopped him in the fifth round of a WBO title bout in Las Vegas in 2005. As the fighters were broken up, Cintron said something to Margarito and then made the throat slash gesture.

Margarito was laughing and Cintron kissed both of his fists and wagged his right threateningly at Margarito. Margarito turned to the crowd and pretended to be crying, a jab at Cintron, who cried in the ring after losing his crown to Margarito.

"For him doing that, I'm going to make him cry a second time," Margarito said. "It's not like he scared me or anything. He's the one who ought to be scared."

That wasn't always the case, however. And in compiling the Yahoo! Sports' readers' list of the 10 greatest heavyweights ever, it was clear that was the case.

No active fighters made the list and only one, a very near the end Evander Holyfield, came close.

It should come as no surprise that the most well-known fighter ever, Muhammad Ali, was chosen as No. 1 on the list. And there are staples on the list such as long-reigning Joe Louis at No. 3, unbeaten Rocky Marciano at No. 4 and legendary heavyweight Jack Johnson at No. 6.

But there were also plenty of surprises, which is sure to spark debate.

Quite frankly, I was surprised that George Foreman was ranked No. 2 in the poll. I would have included Foreman in my all-time top 10, but nearer to 10 than to 1.

I also think the poll's inclusion of both Lennox Lewis, at No. 7, and Mike Tyson, at No. 9, is sure to spark debate. I wouldn't have included either man on the list if the poll were mine, but there was a very strong amount of support for Lewis as the last great heavyweight.

Lewis retired in 2003.

So take a look at our list — your list — and let us know what you think. What changes would you make to it? Are there any glaring omissions or is there anyone on there that you think has no business in such elite company?

Debate it with the world's largest community of boxing fans by posting your thoughts below.

Taffet said he thinks Pacquiao's appeal is for a variety of reasons. Plus, the exposure he gained by fighting Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera made him well known among the Hispanic fans, who tend to be among the most passionate for boxing.
The result, Taffet said, is a growing pay-per-view juggernaut.

"I think it's a few things," Taffet said of Pacquiao's growing appeal. "Manny's personality is larger than life and his in-ring style is exciting to all boxing fans. Marquez brought with him the sentiment of a nation because of Manny's victories over Morales and Barrera. And because of these factors, the fight appealed to all boxing fans, not just the core fan bases.

"Most importantly, when the big fights take place and when they are as electric as both of the fights between Pacquiao and Marquez, the fighters and the sport both grow in the reverberation of the echo. Having faced three of the greatest fighters in Mexico's storied history, and having shown great heart and great skill, Manny Pacquiao has earned his reputation and status in the sport today. And those Marquez brothers showed us all something special in March."

Arum plans to have Pacquiao move up to fight WBC lightweight champion David Diaz at Mandalay Bay on June 28, provided Pacquiao's injuries sustained in the Marquez fight are healed.

Let us know what you think of a Pacquiao-Diaz fight, whether you'd rather see a third fight between Pacquiao and Marquez or whether you'd rather see Pacquiao fight someone entirely different, such as WBA super featherweight champion Edwin Valero.

Valero, 26, the WBA super featherweight champion, has been under a medical suspension in New York, which declined him a license when it detected a spot on his brain before a 2004 fight. He failed an MRI as a result of head injuries suffered in a 2001 motorcycle accident.

The fighter with 23 knockouts in 23 fights, has been banned from fighting in the United States as a result of the New York medical suspension. But now that Texas has examined his medical records and approved him, it's likely he'll be approved to fight in additional states if he completes a bout in Texas without incident.

Valero is scheduled to defend his belt on June 12 in Japan against Israel Perez. If he's successful, he'll probably fight someone in Texas in September.

"It has been four years since I have boxed in the United States," Valero stated. "I am back!  I will deliver my best performance ever when I fight in Texas."

Let us know your thoughts on Texas' decision. Do you think Valero is foolish for fighting despite the New York State Athletic Commission's concerns? Or do you believe the commission was being overly cautious?

Share your thoughts with the world by leaving your comments below.

Buffer, 63, said Wednesday in an email that he will have surgery on Thursday to remove small tumors in his throat and neck.

"For the first time in over 25 years, I shall be taking some time off from announcing, acting, personal appearances and such for health reasons," Buffer wrote. "Before I say the reason why I want to be very clear that I intend to be returning to work as fit as ever as the prognosis and recovery for my health problem is very good to excellent.

"Tomorrow I will have surgery to remove some small tumors in my throat and neck. This will be done by one of the best surgeons in the world at one of the finest facilities in America and, as stated above, I have the highest expectations for a positive result. So, for the next couple of months I'll get to sit back and watch MLB, NBA and NCAA playoffs, Stanley Cup games and some great fights while you all work your butts off! Maybe this is working out better than I thought."

Leave your thoughts about "The Rumble Man" below and talk about some of your favorite Buffer moments.

Were it not for referee Joe Cortez's call to allow Juan Manuel Marquez to continue after being knocked down for the third time in the first round of his May 8, 2004, bout in Las Vegas with Manny Pacquiao, boxing fans would have been deprived of two epic encounters.

The first fight between the men wound up in a draw after Marquez arose and battled his way back into the fight. Saturday's bout at the Mandalay Bay Events Center may have surpassed it and became frontrunner for Fight of the Year.

But had the veteran Cortez opted to stop the bout, as many referees would have, once Marquez went down for the third time in the first round, few would recall the first bout as a significant event. And without that, there would have been no rematch.

So boxing fans who have thrilled at the spectacular brawls that Marquez and Pacquiao put on have, at least in part, Cortez to thank for it.

The fight on Saturday was a closely contested affair and opinion was all over the map.

Two judges, Tom Miller (114-113) and Duane Ford (115-112), scored it for Pacquiao. Jerry Roth scored it 115-112 for Marquez.

Media covering the fight slightly favored Marquez. Here is what several prominent boxing writers and broadcasters scored the fight:

Carlos Arias, Orange County Register: 114-113 Pacquiao.

Greg Beacham, The Associated Press: 114-113 Marquez

Steve Carp, Las Vegas Review-Journal: 114-113 Marquez

Steve Cofield, Lotus Broadcasting Las Vegas: 114-113 Pacquiao

Dave Cokin, Lotus Broadcasting Las Vegas: 115-112 Pacquiao

Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times: 115-113 Pacquiao

Norm Fraunheim, Arizona Republic: 114-113 Marquez

Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports: 115-112 Marquez

Michael Katz, BoxingScene.com: 115-113 Marquez

Steve Kim, MaxBoxing.com: 115-112 Pacquiao

Harold Lederman, HBO: 115-112 Pacquiao

Rich Marotta, Top Rank TV: Marquez 114-113

Robert Morales, Los Angeles Daily News: 114-113 Pacquiao

Kieran Mulvaney, Reuters: 114-113 Marquez

Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times: 114-113 Pacquiao

Dan Rafael, ESPN.com: 114-113 Marquez

How did you score the fight?

Arum held the top spot until Saturday at Mandalay Bay, when it went by acclamation to Nacho Beristain, the no-class trainer of Juan Manuel Marquez.

For the second time in three weeks, Beristain's fighter lost a close decision in a bitterly contested bout. Marquez lost his WBC super featherweight title to Manny Pacquiao on a split decision Saturday before 11,061 at Mandalay Bay.

Two weeks earlier, Rafael Marquez lost a decision in Carson, Calif., to Israel Vazquez in another close fight.

Beristain said he wanted to protest that call and two decisions by referee Pat Russell. On Saturday, Beristain called the judging "a disgrace" and said it was harming boxing.

That prompted Arum, who was once so irate at an Oscar De La Hoya loss to Shane Mosley in 2003 that he demanded a federal investigation and also announced his retirement from boxing, to shout Beristain down.

"Stop with that bull (expletive) because you're (expletive) up the sport," Arum shouted. "There's nothing wrong with boxing. The judges aren't (expletive) up the sport. You are with those kinds of comments.

"One judge had it for Marquez. One had it the other way for Pacquiao. And another judge had it close for Pacquiao, one point. The media was all over the place, some for one guy and some for the other. Grow up and be a man and accept the judges' decision. I know now how stupid I looked all those times when I complained about the decision when I listen to you."

Jaime Quintana, Marquez' close friend and co-promoter, said he could understand those who agreed with Arum and saw Beristain's comments as harmful to the sport.

"Of course it was close," Quintana said. "We worked our butts off for three months. We can say it was a close fight, but we have the right to think we won the fight. And we have the right to say something happened with the decision."

But Quintana wouldn't concede that Beristain's words were more harmful to boxing's image than the judges' scoring.

"We just believe that, because we keep losing these decisions," Quintana said. "This has happened repeatedly. You have to understand, there are things going on around the WBC. They don't like the Marquez brothers. They don't like Ignacio Beristain. Whenever they see Ignacio Beristain or one of the Marquez brothers, they try to do something."

Pressed for evidence, Quintana admitted he had none.

Arum shrugged his shoulders later.

"Don't ruin a great night with that," Arum said. "Talk about the fight. Make the case for your guy. It was a great night for boxing. What a fight. Talk about that. Don't try to create something where nothing exists."

Let us know your thoughts. Comment below and let us know who you thought deserved to win and whether your agree with Arum or Beristain.