My brother, Reid Duffy, a senior at the University of Michigan, is a big boxing fan.  Here is his preview of some big fights coming up this fall.

Boxing’s upcoming fall season is loaded.  For those who don’t follow the “sweet science,” here is an overview of what should be an incredible few months.

Mayweather vs. Marquez (Sept. 19): Undefeated and self-proclaimed megastar Floyd “Money” Mayweather fights Juan Manuel Marquez, the second ranked pound for pound fighter in the world.  These two are widely regarded as the two smartest fighters in boxing.  Mayweather is virtually unhittable and Marquez is the master of mid-fight adjustments.  The winner might be rewarded with a lucrative bout against Manny Pacquiao, assuming he beats Cotto.

V. Klitschko vs. Arreola (Sept. 26): The ever-boring Klitschko brothers have destroyed the heavyweight division.  Their style is a cure for insomnia.  Only fighting each other would create interest.  Vitali, the more vulnerable of the two bores, will fight undefeated American contender Cristobal “The Nightmare” Arreola in Arreola’s hometown, Los Angeles.  Arreola is a huge underdog, though he is undefeated and has a high knockout percentage (24 knockouts in 27 fights).  If he can shed the love-handles, he may have a chance.

Williams vs. Pavlik (Oct. 3): This may be the best fight of the fall. Paul Williams has been labeled “the most feared man in boxing,” because of his heavy volume of punches (over a hundred per round!) and his ability to fight in multiple weight divisions (from welterweight with ribs showing to light heavyweight).  This match is for the Middleweight title against Youngstown, Ohio’s Kelly Pavlik.  Pavlik has a 34-1 record, with his only loss to legend Bernard Hopkins.

Super Six World Boxing Classic (Oct. 17): Ken Hershman of Showtime Sports created the first well-organized boxing tournament in history. Unlike the bogus heavyweight tournament of the 1980s (devoid of Mike Tyson), the Super Six ensures that fans see the best fight the best. It includes six fighters in the super middleweight division (the best division in boxing) with a combined record of 161-4. The first stage is a round robin, points-based competition, where a fighter can earn two points for a win and a one-point bonus for a knockout. After three fights, the top four point-earners advance into a single elimination tournament with a winner being crowned sometime in early 2011. The tournament will open with Carl Froch defending his belt against Andre Dirrell in England, and Arthur Abraham taking on Jermain Taylor in Germany.

Pacquiao vs. Cotto (Nov. 14): Pacquiao is not only the best fighter in the world, but the most exciting.  He is aiming for a world title in a record-breaking seventh weight division (welterweight).  The PacMan is known for his speed and power, but Cotto may be his toughest challenge yet.  Cotto, 28, is younger, and much bigger.  The question is whether his body shots can neutralize the Ninja’s blinding speed.