By Matthew Hurley: In the aftermath of Manny Pacquiao’s brutal knockout loss to arch rival Juan Manuel Marquez there were many who began calling for the Pac Man to hang up his gloves. But Pacquiao never had any intention of walking away from a sport he loves and a profession that brings him millions of dollars. Is he damaged goods after that loss? Only getting back in the ring will answer that question.

By Matthew Hurley: There was a moment early on in the super bantamweight tussle between Nonito Donaire and Guillermo Rigondeaux where Nonito’s face betrayed the worry that was beginning to plague his mind. Any excuses for his inability to catch and kill his elusive prey would have to wait until the final bell – unless he could catch lightening in a bottle.

By Matthew Hurley: As Timothy Bradley awaited the judge’s decision after his gut-wrenching battle with Ruslan Provodnikov, conflicting emotions must have been running through his admittedly cluttered mind. As honest a fighter as there is in boxing, Bradley has suffered for respect and his dignity for the past year.

By Matthew Hurley: On June 9, 2012 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas Timothy Bradley struck gold, or fool’s gold, when he was awarded a dubious decision victory over WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao. It was the kind of outcome that makes boxing fans roll their eyes in dismay.

By Matthew Hurley: With veteran trainer Freddie Roach experiencing his worst year in the corner and Fernando Beltrain concentrating primarily on one fighter, Juan Manuel Marquez, it was time for a member of the new guard to step out of the shadows and lay claim as the trainer to watch. Robert Garcia made himself known in 2011 and now, after a stellar 2012, he is SecondsOut Trainer of the Year.

By Matthew Hurley: As the most important fight of his career fast approaches, Juan Manuel Marquez is champing at the bit to get at Manny Pacquiao. Convinced that the only way he will finally put his controversial rivalry with the Filipino icon to rest is by knockout, ’Dinamita’ has been concentrating almost exclusively on the strength and power of his upper body.

By Matthew Hurley; He was blessed with smooth boxing skills and crunching power in both hands. But his inner demons led him down a self-destructive path that robbed him of his career, his family and his sense of self-worth.

By Matthew Hurley: When the announcement came that Manny Pacquiao will square off against Juan Manuel Marquez for a fourth time there was certainly a sense of been there, done that. Despite the skill level, excitement and controversy the first three bouts provided you almost get the feeling that these two evenly matched fighters are tired of seeing the other in the opposite corner.

By Matthew Hurley: For a man who defeated the great Sugar Ray Robinson twice for the middleweight crown, Paul Pender is sometimes forgotten in the pantheon of exceptional 160-pound fighters. A solid, rugged boxer who rose to the top near the end of his career, Pender sadly remains in a sort of fistic limbo outside of his hometown of Brookline, Massachusetts.

By Matthew Hurley: There is nothing quite like a gifted young fighter connecting on a visceral level with his hometown. Hero worship is prevalent in every sport but boxing is such a personal and emotionally draining experience for fighter and fan that once a connection is made it just grows tighter and tighter as the fighter’s career moves on.