The 21-year-old Kameda (16-2-0, 11 KOs) wore down the older Kaovichit, 33, in the latter rounds in a rematch of last October's flyweight title match -- a majority decision in favor of Kaovichit (48-2-1, 20 KOs).

This time around, Kameda took a convincing victory with the judges scoring the bout 116-110, 116-110 and 114-112.

Not only was the former New Zealand Olympic medalist accessible to everyone interested in telling his tumultuous training story prior to last Friday's WBA light heavyweight fight between Beibut Shumenov and incumbent champion Gabriel Campillo...he's been an equally stand-up guy afterward.

For those unaware, Shumenov became Barry's first world championship client with a split 12-round decision over Campillo in the Fox Sports Net-televised main event from Las Vegas, though the verdict has been roundly criticized almost immediately since it was announced.

Mayweather's signing a contract for the fight Wednesday -- the first between the two -- set the wheels in motion to put a messy canceled mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao behind him.

The sticking point that led to the fight being called off was Pacquiao's refusal to adhere to Olympic-style blood testing, something both Mosley and Mayweather have agreed to have in place.

The hyped rematch was originally announced last September but stipulated that Hopkins and Jones win tune-up fights in December. While Hopkins took care of Enrique Ornelas in a unanimous decision, Jones was TKO'd in the first round by IBO cruiserweight champion Danny Green.

Nevertheless, the two agreed to a bout that will likely pale in comparison to their battle on May 5, 1993, when Jones (54-6, 40 KOs) defeated Hopkins (50-5-1, 32 KOs) in a unanimous decision for the middleweight title.

The fight was stopped in the seventh round after Ankota (23-5, 14 KOs) suffered a cut over right eye from an accidental headbutt, giving Arce (53-6-1, 40 KOs) the title.

Arce was winning 60-54, 60-54, 58-56 on the scorecards at the time of the stoppage.

In the 10th round, a hard right to the chin was followed with several shots to Lyell's body and head, prompting the American's corner to throw in the towel and call the fight.

Sylvester (33-3, 16 KOs) successfully defended the belt in his first fight since winning the title in a split decision win against Giovanni Lorenzo on September 19, 2009.

Shumenov (9-1), who lost a 12-round majority decision to Campillo (19-3) in August, won by scores of 117-111 and 115-113 on two of the scorecards, while another judge had it for the Spanish native, 117-111.

Shumenov, who moved to 5-0 in the U.S., overcame a welt under his left eye early in the bout and landed a hard right that opened a bloody cut near Campillo's left eye in the fifth.

But it's already been a tough week.

On Saturday, it was tough leaving my almost two-year-old son at his grandparents' house near Knoxville - for his first overnight stay away from Mom and Dad.

Compared to the average clock-puncher, you're doing pretty well.

You've reached the pinnacle of a difficult profession. You have more money than three generations of grandkids will spend. And you'll more than likely be retired before your life is half complete.

Gamboa knocked out Rogers Mtagwa at 2:35 of the second round to retain his WBA world featherweight title. Gamboa (17-0, 15 KOs) floored Mtagwa (26-14-2) once late in the first round and two more times in the second before referee Steve Smoger counted out the challenger.

Lopez (28-0, 25 KOs) scored a seventh-round TKO to dethrone WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano (37-2-1). Referee Benjy Esteves Jr. called a halt to the bout 44 seconds into the round.

Berto, who represented Haiti at the 2004 Olympics, was due to fight Mosley at the end of this month in a title unification bout at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

"Since the 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday evening, I have been focusing on my family and the Haitian people who are facing an inconceivable battle for survival while still trying to continue to prepare for an opportunity I have dreamt of since childhood," Berto said in a statement. "I lost several family members to the earthquake and after two days without word, was relieved to learn that my sister, Naomi and her daughter, Jessica survived, but were left homeless. I have seen the pain in my parents' eyes as they attempt to understand what has happened to our homeland

A former world champion - generally ineffective and largely inactive since losing his title - plans a return to the ring and is penciled in as the first "name" opponent for a young, undefeated hotshot looking to establish himself in the ex-champ's home division.

"So, Champ," you begin, "tell me about the last four years. In your view, what's changed? "How did it get from world champion to steppingstone in such a short time?" You sit back, notebook at the ready, and wait for a reply that seems sure to contain equal parts frustration, motivation and redemption while serving as catalyst for an insightful and interesting interview.

Uchiyama (14-0, 11 KOs) knocked Salgado down in the final round and the Mexican was able to get to his feet before referee Raul Caiz stopped the bout with 12 seconds remaining.

Salgado (21-1-1) had claimed the title last October with a first-round TKO of previous champion Jorge Linares.

The fight was stopped at 1:48 to give Stieglitz (37-2, 23 KOs) the victory in his first defense. Stieglitz defeated Karoly Balzsay by TKO last August to take the belt.

Acosta (23-4, 7 KOs) was a late replacement for Edison Miranda, who withdrew because of illness.

"Sure, we know Fitz likes Floyd Mayweather Jr. And sure, we realize he's a champion of the IBO and its computerized ratings system. But gosh darnit, we can't go on for another minute if we don't find out what were his picks as the best moments of the year gone by." Rest assured, huddled masses... I hear your calls.

Enjoy the initial offering of... FitzHitz and Misses -- 2009.

Michael Koncz, Pacquiao's U.S. business advisor, commented on Pacquiao's Web site that "the whole blood testing issue that Mayweather wants from Manny is just a facade to get Mayweather out of this fight." The bout was set for March 13 in Las Vegas and was likely to be the richest in boxing history.

Earlier, Pacquiao filed a defamation lawsuit against Mayweather and several members of Golden Boy Promotions in a Las Vegas federal court. That was in response to Mayweather's promoter releasing a statement regarding Pacquiao's refusal to undergo Olympic-style blood testing prior to their proposed bout.

I have mine.

And as anyone who's consistently read my stuff can tell you, I'm a Floyd Mayweather Jr. guy.

Coming off a 2008 that yielded a first career loss and an unwanted trip to the back of the title-shot line, the Philadelphia-based heavyweight decided 2009 would be his career's make or break year.

"I decided that if I wanted to get a real shot at anything, I had to sell out completely and be willing to do whatever it takes, giving up three or four or five years of my life now so that I won't have any regrets in my 80s," he said.

Valero (26-0, 26 KOs) was making the first defense of his title and is an ex-WBA champion at 130 pounds (2006-08).

Velazquez (51-14-2) was in his first title bout.

The bout, staged in Pavlik's (36-1, 32 KOs) hometown, was stopped at the 1:44 mark of the round when Espino (20-3-1) was no longer able to continue.

Pavlik scored a pair of knockdowns in round four and referee Steve Smoger called a halt to the action in the next round.

And high school, even with an occasionally difficult pop quiz, yielded honor- roll grades.

But late January in Las Vegas represents a little something different for Andre Berto.

Bradley (25-0) used a solid right hand to the top of the head to floor Peterson (27-1) in the third round and ended up winning by scores of 120-107, 119-108 and 118-110.

A native of nearby Palm Springs, Bradley was sharp throughout his second title defense. He held the WBC version of the belt in 2008-09.

The champion was the aggressor throughout the fight, although he couldn't seem to land his power punches squarely on the elusive Johnson (22-1-1, 9 KOs). Klitschko (39-2, 37 KOs) continued to take the match to the challenger in the late rounds and in the end the scores were 120-108, 120-108 and 119-109 all in the favor of the champ.

The 30-year-old American Johnson put up a good fight against the champion, becoming only the second opponent to go the 12-round distance with the 38- year-old Klitschko.

Pascal (25-1) took two scorecards by a 117-11 margin while the other read 118-110 in his second title defense.

The 27-year-old Pascal, who improved to 20-0 in Montreal, won the belt against Diaconu (26-2) back in June via unanimous decision and stopped Silvio Branco in the 10th round in late September.

Come Friday morning, the multi-division veteran was supposed to be in the final stages of preparation for a perceived comeback bout with rugged gatekeeper and reality TV alumnus Grady Brewer.

But now, rather than fleeting hours on the road at the fight venue in Puerto Rico, Wright is back home in Florida and again pondering the next step in a successful last run at big-stage relevance.