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Gennady Golovkin took a while to get the stoppage, but he made it 19 in a row against a very tough Martin Murray. Gennady Golovkin stayed undefeated and ran his stoppage victory streak to 19 fights tonight in Monte Carlo, putting away an inc...

Arthur Abraham and Paul Smith put on a performance that left their first fight in the dust, going toe-to-toe for 12 rounds in Berlin, with Abraham winning a well-earned decision victory.

Whatever fans expected from the rematch between Arthur Abraham and Paul Smith, the two fighters delivered one of the best fights of 2015 so far. They battled as if vying to overshadow their tepid first fight, with Smith boxing in uncharacteristically sharp fashion, and Abraham playing the part of the heavy-handed veteran that he is.

Smith (35-4, 20 KO) poured on the volume early, but Abraham's trademark high guard proved a tough obstacle to get past. Abraham (41-4, 28 KO) played a smart game for an older veteran, conserving his energy in most rounds only to seal the deal with an explosive flurry of right hands whenever Smith let his back touch the ropes. Sometimes it was enough, but at others Smith showed enough heart and tenacity to steal the rounds, such as when he hurt Abraham with a liver shot in the fourth frame and spent a full minute having his way with the defensive German bruiser.  Nonetheless, Abraham's power and veteran wiles proved too much for Smith, who faded somewhat down the stretch.

Abraham retains his WBO super middleweight title.

Arthur Abraham defeats Paul Smith by Unanimous Decision (116-112, 117-111x2).

Bad Left Hook had it 116-114 for Abraham.

Heavyweight David Price scored an important win over Irineu Beato Costa Junior on the undercard, separating himself further from a pair of devastating knockout losses suffered at the hands of Tony Thompson in 2013. Price (19-2, 16 KO) put a beating on his foe, dropping Costa Junior three times in the sixth round before the Brazilian's corner was forced to throw in the towel to save their fighter. Still, Price doesn't seem to have mentally recovered from those two losses, and it's starting to look like he never will--a fact that didn't stop him from calling for a fight with Tyson Fury after the win. Fury fights Christian Hammer next Saturday, February 28th.

David Price defeats Irineu Beato Costa Junior by TKO (corner stoppage), Round 6.

Other Undercard Results:

(175 lbs) Mirco Ricci defeats Enrico Koelling by Unanimous Decision (116-112 x 2, 117-112).

(126 lbs) Josh Warrington defeats Edwin Tellez by TKO (referee stoppage), Round 5.

(200 lbs) Noel Gevor defeats Alejandro Emilio Valori by Unanimous Decision (78-74 x 3).

Floyd Mayweather is the favorite, but not by huge odds for his May 2 clash with Manny Pacquiao.

To the surprise of nobody, Floyd Mayweather has been installed as the early betting favorite for his May 2 fight with Manny Pacquiao, an event that could bring in record amounts of money for Las Vegas' sportsbooks, casinos, and, well, pretty much everything in the city.

Mayweather (47-0, 26 KO) has of course never lost as a professional, while Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KO) has suffered a few defeats. But Pacquiao has lost just twice in the last decade, and one of those -- his 2012 decision defeat against Tim Bradley -- is considered a clear robbery. His knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez later that year, however, was not just legitimate, but definitive.

Mayweather, who turns 38 in three days, is favored at -275 at online book Bovada, with Pacquiao, 36, listed at +215. The Westgate Las Vegas Superbook has Mayweather at -265 and Pacquiao at +225.

(ESPN Stats and Info)

Lines are made with the intention of the books making the most possible money, of course, but these odds are also pretty much what I'd assume the public perception to be right now. Yes, Mayweather is the favorite, but not overwhelmingly so, and Pacquiao does have a serious chance to win this fight.

Whoopsie daisy!

Floyd Mayweather is finally going to fight Manny Pacquiao on May 2. This is the biggest boxing story in many, many years. It's a fight that the public at large -- boxing fans, boxing diehards, casual fans, even non-fans -- have been yearning to see since 2009.

Mayweather and Pacquiao. Finally signed. Finally going to happen.

And Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times is one of the finest boxing journalists in the game. That's why it sucks so much that his paper printed a photo of Timothy Bradley instead of Mayweather in a story about Les Moonves of CBS bringing the fight from fantasy to reality.

Mistakes happen all the time, be it on blogs or other online outlets, or in print media. But you really hate to see it happen on this level of story, and this obvious. This isn't a typo, it's the complete wrong person. A real boner, as they say.

If you'd like to read Pugmire's article on Les Moonves helping to make this deal happen -- and you should -- visit the LA Times web site.