By: Mike Sloan: Tonight marks the return to action of Wladimir Klitschko, one-half of the best heavyweight tandem on the planet and one of the best big men of the past decade. Every time the hulking Ukrainian fights, it’s a massive deal, particularly across Europe and this time around shouldn’t be any different. But unlike brother Vitali who dispatched the massively overmatched Dereck Chisora, Wladimir actually could wind up the loser.

By Mikko Salo: The last of the three top-notch heavyweight weekends is here, with the two previous ones providing us with the kind of action the fans want to see from this improving marquee division of boxing. The two spirited contests with all-out attitude have not let us down.

By Mikko Salo: The first of the three consecutive star-studded heavyweight weekends included some unexpectedly bizarre pre-fight antics, an unexpectedly competitive Championship Fight and an unexpectedly violent post-fight press conference.

By Jerry Glick: Many boxers have a story to tell. Some have had the opportunity to tell their story on the big screen including Rocky Graziano, Joe Louis, Jake LaMotta, and more recently, Micky Ward.

By: Mike Sloan: Tonight marks the return to action of Vitali Klitschko, one-half of the best heavyweight tandem on the planet and one of the best big men of the past decade. Every time the hulking Ukrainian fights, it’s a massive deal, particularly across Europe and this time around shouldn’t be any different.

By Mikko Salo: This does not happen often. The top three fighters of boxing`s marquee division engaging in combat during a stretch of three consecutive weekends. Even if the match-ups leave something to be desired, the boxing fans should embrace the heavyweight festivities about to take place.

By Ty and Jace McTier: I look down at my wrist and see that I am wearing a wristband that says “Angelo Dundee Family.” A smile beam across my face as I remember back to when I first met this gentle giant of the sport of boxing.

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.

By Peter Lerner: In the first part of our look back at South African boxing in 2011, Pete Moscardi told us about his choices for Fighter of the Year, Fight of the Year and Fighter Who Most Deserves a Break. In this concluding part he looks at prospects and disappointments, improved fighters and foreign fighters, and the general situation in the country.

By Andrew Wake: The hardest sport is full of the kindest people. It’s almost a paradox but those who are involved in the pain game are often the softest and caring most caring individuals around once they step out of the ring.

By Peter Lerner: Secondsout has spoken to various boxing experts around the world about the year in boxing in their country. In this first part we have taken a look at South Africa. One of boxing’s strongest nations, South Africa finished the year with three world champions and a whole host of fighters knocking on the door of world class.

By Derek Bonnett: As we encounter another new year, the landscape of the boxing scene continues to evolve. With old champions acting out the final stages of their careers and new ones emerging to fill the void, boxing maintains a state of homeostasis and keeps fight fans intrigued even amid the dubious officiating and cries of scandal.

By Andrew Wake: The venue is packed to the rafters and the crowd roars its appreciation as two men slug it out in the centre of the ring. Right hooks crash into jaw bones and uppercuts send the blood flying from an already dripping nose and when it’s over one man has hand raised while the other stands forlorn.

By Tom Gray: “My Dad noticed changes with my balance and speech," remembered Norris. "I just felt different and knew something was wrong. I pushed through and tried to hide it because I’m a warrior – that’s what I do.”

By Tom Gray: Terry Norris is arguably the greatest 154lb fighter in boxing history. The Texas native, known as “Terrible”,compiled an astonishing amateur record of 291-4 before embarking on a rollercoaster professional career, which saw him capture four junior middleweight world titles, and pound for pound recognition.

By Tom Gray: Darren Barker wants to secure a world title fight in 2012 and fulfill his childhood ambition. With that being said the current domestic scene conjures up memories of a previous era that is sorely missed and that fact is not lost on the popular London middleweight.

By Tom Gray: Darren Barker’s drive to become world champion has only intensified since his 11th round knockout defeat at the hands of Sergio Martinez in October. The affable boxer puncher fought courageously against the pound for pound star but the experience and natural talent of ‘Maravilla’ was ultimately decisive.

By Derek Bonnett: As another fruitful year of professional fisticuffs wraps up, SecondsOut will honor boxing’s greatest practitioners and non-participants with such accolades as Fighter of the Year, Fight of the Year, Trainer of the Year, Service to Boxing, etc. However, among the 170 ranked SecondsOut fighters and beyond, a multitude of fighters go unrecognized for their less obvious contributions to the sport.

By Danny Winterbottom: The super six boxing classic, Showtime’s unique tournament involving six of the world’s best at 168lbs reaches its conclusion on December 17 when British warrior Carl “The Cobra” Froch and American former Olympic gold medallist Andre Ward meet in a mouth watering clash to determine the No.1 in boxings second youngest division.

By Danny Winterbottom: No matter whether you are a diehard connoisseur of boxing’s dark arts or a casual observer, every fight fan gets a thrill from two warriors laying everything on the line in three minutes of brutal mayhem.

By Clive Bernath: As Amir Khan celebrates his 25th birthday today with close family and friends he will no doubt be aware that he is just one fight away from realising his dream of becoming a genuine world class operator with ppv box office appeal.

By Gerry Hand: In his fourth professional fight Paschal Collins out-pointed a Mexican called Jorge VERA, eight fights down the line he out boxed Jack Duckworth.

By Jason Pribila: On Saturday Night the eyes of the boxing world were once again focused on Madison Square Garden in New York City where 21,239 mostly Puerto Rican fans filled the building to capacity to cheer on their own Miguel Cotto’ as he attempted to enact revenge on the first man to defeat him. Cotto would have to overcome the cloud of suspicion, controversy, and personal loss in order to focus on the task at hand, which was to leave the ring with his hand raised in victory.

By Mikko Salo: On Saturday night in Helsinki, fight fans were treated to the most entertaining heavyweight fight of the year between two young and hungry pugilists who are sure to make an increasing amount of noise in the division in the coming years. Dereck Chisora in dropping a controversial split decision against Robert Helenius redeemed himself after the lackluster 18 pounds heavier showing against Tyson Fury.

By Derek Bonnett: It’s December and 2011 is rapidly coming to a close. If the Mayan calendar holds true, there are precious few months left for mankind and there are going to be legions of professional prizefighters whose dreams of world title contention will remain unfulfilled as the world comes crashing down in 2012.

By John Wharton: many people will agree, a nickname is easy to come by but difficult to shrug off...just ask ‘Skidmark Mooney’ from my junior school days. In sport, however, a nickname can encapsulate just who you are and what you do, and one sport in which it is seemingly essential to have one is boxing.

By Clive Bernath; The New York State Athletic Commission finally granted Antonio Margarito a boxing licence to fight Miguel Cotto at Madison Square Garden on December 3.

Jerry Glick reporting: He played Sonny Liston opposite Will Smith in “Ali” on the big screen; he was in "Public Enemies" starring with Johnny Depp; he was in "State Property 2" with Damon Dash; he has appeared on television on Saturday Night Live; he did "Sons of Anarchy." He has played Othello, The Moor of Venice, and he has written for HBO and Bert Sugar’s “Fight Game.” Michael Bentt, former WBO Heavyweight Champion, has added to his boxing prowess by becoming a man of the arts.

By Dave McKee: When the opening bell tolled, bringing the eyes of boxing fans and casual observers alike to focus on the fabled squared circle on November 12, 2012, something profound transpired. Thirty-six-plus-twelve minutes of deep significance passed, and few who watched took notice.

By Matthew Hurley: Well, there’s nothing quite like a bit of controversy to get boxing fans all in a lather. The rubber match between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, two fighters so evenly matched we all should have known going in that it would be another hotly contested bout, once again fought on nearly even terms and left their respective admirers in defensive mode.

By Mikko Salo: Good news: In December we will have a two-weekend stretch, where one of The Undisputed Heavyweight Champions and two of The Ring Top 5 heavyweight contenders are stepping in the squared circle. Then the bad news: None of them is facing another Ring Top 10 opponent.

By John Lumpkin: Watching Max Kellerman’s Face Off promo featuring Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito made it clear that Cotto sincerely believes that Margarito cheated in their first bout.

By Mike Sloan: For a fight as close as they come, one that easily could have gone to either man, the official result of Manny Pacquiao’s majority decision win over rival Juan Manuel Marquez has raised quite an uproar. Some 24 hours after the Filipino superstar’s hand was raised in victory, there remains some incendiary embers underneath the ashes of the immediate fallout from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

By John Lumpkin: Manny Pacquiao has looked like an amalgamation of Bruce Lee and Roberto Duran in recent years, but last night, Juan Manuel Marquez made him look, dare we say, almost ordinary.

By Clive Bernath; Over the last three years Manny Pacquiao has firmly established himself as the world’s No.1 pound for pound boxer. Ironically, it was not until after he squeezed a 12 round split decision win over Juan Manuel Marquez in their March, 2008 rematch that ‘Pac Man’ first seriously appeared on the radar of the casual boxing fan.

By Roman Kolaczek: Boxing has been a mainstream sport for over a century. Many generations have had great heavyweight champions, many of them household names all over the world.

By Clive Bernath: Boxing legend Joe Frazier, famous for taking part in some of the greatest heavyweight title fights in the history of the sport, has lost his final battle with liver Cancer at the age of 67.

By Derek Bonnett: It’s been since August that I last poked my nose into the business of bogus world title challengers and I regret to say it’s not because they haven’t been happening. No, the flow of manipulated match-ups runs strong.

By Danny Winterbotom: Throughout the annals of boxing history there have been many an exponent of the left hook. From the brutally beautiful explosiveness of ‘Smokin Joe Frazier’s numbing left to the exquisite timing of Sugar Ray Robinson. Combined with speed and accuracy a left hook can produce a key knockdown or fight ending knockout, a boxers best friend.

By Dave McKee: Riddick Bowe, the former lineal world heavyweight champion who publicly deposited his WBC strap into a garbage bin rather than face challenger Lennox Lewis, has announced that he intends to lay waste to the heavyweight division.

By Matthew Hurley: There is a moment in every great athlete’s career that can be pointed to and qualified as the apex of his collective achievement. Disagreement amongst fans as to just what that particular moment was is usually born out of an almost fanatical love for the athlete in question. Debate in the world of sports has always been passionate, over-the-top and endless.

Dear Champ, What you should understand before you read any part of this missive is that boxing fans want to love you. We respect your unmatched ring intelligence. We are amazed at your twelve year domination of the middleweight division. You arrive every day, everywhere, in top physical shape.

By Jason Pribila: “Believe it or Not” boxing fans have paid over $120.00 in the last 28 days to see two main events that have once again left them apologizing for the sport they are no doubt getting tired of defending. On Saturday night they paid out $50 for 46 year-old Bernard Hopkins’ defense of his light heavyweight championship against Chad Dawson.

By Ryan Waugh: last week the official announcement arrived that David Haye will not be renewing his boxing licence and retiring from the ring on his 31st birthday as promised.

By Danny Winterbottom: The total domination of one boxer over his opponent can be an absorbing spectacle to watch as he exerts his mastery of the noble art on his hapless foe. However, in boxing one punch can change everything.

By Dave McKee: In the wake of his brutal November 13, 1982 war with WBA world lightweight champion Ray “Boom-Boom” Mancini, South Korean contender Deuk-Koo Kim lay dead in a hospital, having succumbed to complications arising from a blood clot on his brain. For Mancini, years of guilt and recriminations from a somewhat hypocritical public lay ahead. Everyone knew boxing was dangerous.

By Jason Pribila: I arrived home from Atlantic City at 7:00 am on Sunday morning. I decided that a power nap at a rest stop on the AC Expressway would serve me well. The HBO televised fights lasted a total of 20.5 rounds of a scheduled 22 and pushed my departure time from Boardwalk Hall back to 12:30 am.

By Matthew Hurley: His extraordinary professional career has stretched on for twenty-three years, and although there have been losses, both controversial and spot on, along with some uneven, tentative performances bordering on the tedious, he continues to persevere.

By Jason Pribila: On Saturday night Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez returns to the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, the building where he celebrated his three biggest nights as a professional boxer. First his stock rose as he came up a point short in a fight of the year candidate. Next he started fast and finished strong en route to winning the lineal middleweight championship. And finally he ended a fight with a single punch that earned him “Knockout” and “Fighter of the Year” honors in 2010.

By Jason Pribila: On Saturday Night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Golden Boy Promotions presented “Star Power” Mayweather vs Ortiz. The dust settled, and once again the sport of boxing was left to defend itself as a relevant player on the sports landscape.