Maskaev also showed how excited he is to hold the WBC title: "I am honored to have this title. The same title other great fighters like Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, and Evander Holyfield held.” I'm sure the WBC is glad to have you as a champion, too.

Finally, on the news front, Teddy Atlas announced that HBO is considering a Jermain Taylor vs. Kasim Ouma middleweight championship match. Also on that night, but from a different venue, HBO will show Ricky Hatton vs. Juan Urango for the IBF light welterweight title. Now, let's move on to the boxing part of the telecast. After all, it's called "Friday Night Fights,” not "Friday Night News.”

The Denzel Washington managed fighter Damian Wills (21-0, 15 KO's) had his toughest challenge to date when he took on big Cisse Salif (18-7-2, 17 KO's). In the pre-fight lead up Wills said, "I'm sort of glad there aren't anymore American champions because it means there is an opening for me.” Wills seems to have a little work to do, but he had quite a few openings tonight against Salif.

Wills came out quickly, trying to win his 11th fight by first round KO, but Salif stood toe to toe with him. After the initial fireworks to start the show, both fighters sort of cooled off.

The rest of the seven rounds were filled with a lot of clinches. When they weren't clinching, Wills would land straight right hands and occasionally go to the body. 

Salif occasionally threw some hard shots to try and counter Wills, but for the most part he seemed content on getting through the 24 minutes. 

In the sixth round two-time Academy Award winner Washington sat in for some color commentary. In between cheering for his fighter, Washington mentioned how both he and Wills didn't have very much experience before they both started their respected career. Wills is indeed learning on the job and tonight was a solid victory over a more experienced guy with a hard punch. The final scores in the last fight of the evening were 78-73 and 77-74 twice.

Hector Alatorre (13-0, 5 KO's), an undefeated 24 year old, took on Carlos Arnoldo Cisneros (7-14-1 4 KO's) in the swing bout before the main event. Alatorre won by the narrowest of ways, a split decision. Alatorre took a round off and in a four round fight that's a big chunk. I scored the fight even.

Enrique Ornelas (25-2, 15 KO's) needed less than a round to beat late replacement Raul Munoz (18-9-1 14 KO's). Munoz, sporting a pretty heavy gut, was almost immediately hurt by a body shot. Munoz took a knee, and got back up at around the count of five. This would happen again only about a minute later. After getting up for the second time, Ornelas was on him right away. It was apparent Munoz had very little to offer this night and the ref knew it, stepping in at 2:31 of the first frame.

It's not often a four round under card fight steals the show, but this fight sure came close. Joaquin Marquez (2-0-1, 2 KO's) just got released from prison last spring after serving seven years. His opponent, Roderick Grajeda (6-4-1, 3 KO's) was homeless as little as six months ago. Boxing probably seems pretty easy for both of them.

Marquez was a promising amateur, winning most of his 75 fights, including a victory over Andre Ward. It would be his last fight before going to prison.

Marquez came out blazing in this junior middleweight affair, throwing nearly a punch a second for the first minute of the fight. Marquez was probably thinking he could catch Grajeda early, being that he had only taken the fight two days ago. Grajeda weathered that storm and by the end of the round, he scored with some big uppercuts. 

Marquez would also come out fast in the second round, but Grajeda soon took over by keeping Marquez on the ropes. 

The fight would go towards Grajeda's favor the second half of the fight as Marquez slowed down. Slowed down is a relative term, though, because both fighters threw over 100 punches for the fight. What was happening was that Marquez's pop on his punches was declining, as Grajeda's grew stronger. 

Referee Jack Weiss had very little to do this fight, as there were hardly any clinches in the crowd-pleasing fight. One of the judges gave the fight to Marquez, while the other two scored it even. I also scored the fight even. I think the fans would agree that a rematch on a future episode of ESPN boxing would be a welcome addition to any card.