:anime: Ouran, Geass Overtake Otakon 2007!

The two biggest properties not to be announced at last month's Anime Expo (or at all, for a while) finally got picked up over the weekend. FUNimation, just two days off from obtaining the license, announced their acquisition of Ouran High School Host Club, ending the endless upon endless speculation of whether the company would be the one to get it or not. The day after, Bandai Ent. made known its own licensing of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, ending the bottomless amount of fearful speculation over whether they or Bandai Visual USA would get it. Both shows have been among the most popular and honored in recent years, so count on them ranking high in the sales department come DVD release time. Additionally, both have two very respected dub houses involved in the English production (FUNi's own in-house studio and ZRO Limit) and Code Geass already has a TV deal secured (Ouran will surely have one in the future). Bandai Ent. also announced the acclaimed, yet lesser known TV series Toward the Terra...

In smaller news, Wendee Lee will be providing the singing in the adored concert episode of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Aya Hirano's performance has always been well-acknowledged, so it will be interesting to hear how her own vocals will do (IMO, she has the potential to sound really good). Also, the revisionist version of the controversial final episode of Gundam SEED Destiny, FINAL PLUS, will be released on its own disc (methinks, it won't make the show any better).

For a full listing of acquisitions, click here.

:boxing: The Match of the Masters:: Hopkins vs. Wright

In the world of boxing, the meeting of the minds of master fighters can be a rare occurrence, indeed. This isn't about a matchup between two top prospects (last weekend's Margarito-Williams), or one between a pair of action figures (the now dually-retired Gatti-Ward. It is not even one concerning merely the biggest names in the sport (Mayweather-De La Hoya). Saturday night will be a night when two of today's greatest practitioners and students of the ring square off in bout to decide who has truly mastered its game and craft.

:boxing: Welterweight Marathon-- 2 KOs and a UD!

The Night of the Welterweights proved to be major one, as Kermit Cintron kicked things off with a devastating one and a quarter round performance, crushing Walter Matthysse with a sick combination. Afterwards in Atlantic City, Arturo Gatti appeared to have been put down for good by Alfonso Gomez, who outgamed and outgunned him for much of the fight. Gatti's dulled reflexes and dependence on boxing (rather than his trademark brawling) made it a rather easy affair for Gomez, in spite of running low on gas in the end (his own admission). After the brutal knockout and fight stoppage by the state's sporting official, he announced his retirement.

The main event also appeared to signal the end of Antonio Margarito's aspirations, as Paul Williams hustled his way to win his WBO championship via unaminous decision. The now-former champ seem too sluggish and slow to providing enough counterpunches, while Williams racked up over 1200 thrown punches over the course of the fight. In spite of having the higher connect percentage and a stronger presence in the latter rounds, Margarito did not do enough to warrant the victory. He been more active in the final round, he would have escaped with a draw and the belt.

But where does this lead the division? Williams could possibly see a date with Miguel Cotto, who would have had Margarito had he been the winner. Cintron himself has seemingly made a full turnaround, as he has jumped ahead of the man who derailed his rise a scant few years ago. And while Gomez is a relative non-factor and Matthysse has to build his way up again, Margarito showed enough in the latter rounds that he can still be a threat to the others--though that "fearful" luster has been officially tarnished.

:boxing: Welterweight Marathon--Thrice the Action!

This past month and the current one has been a near constant showcase of major bouts across the boxing landscape. This weekend, right in the middle of it, plays host to three bouts at the welterweight class, each highlighted by its own individual appeal. Arturo Gatti fights Contender alum Alfonso Gomez in a battle that will surely enthrall brawl fans; Antonio Margarito goes up against undefeated Paul Williams in a highly-awaited showdown that could decide Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s next fight options (or not, knowing him...); and former contender (and Margarito victim) Kermit Cintron battles his way back up the latter against Walter Matthysse.

With so many potentially appetizing fights, who'll be crown the best of the bunch?

Gatti-Gomez could be a barnburner, but if Gatti is still shot, look for Gomez to notch a big upset in NJ. Prediction: Gomez, KO-Rd. 9 (Gatti, like Castillo, is too war-worn now to be much of a threat--especially against a hungry, antsy foe)

Margarito-Williams will most likely be the fight of the night. The latter didn't look to hot in his last bout, and if he has nothing for Williams tonight, he can kiss those PBF fight dreams good bye. Prediction: Margarito, Majority Decision (If he is all that he is made out to be, he will drive himself to deliver a first loss for the dangerous Williams)

Cintron-Matthysse is a bit of a toss-up for me as I don't recall having seen the latter fight. Cintron has looked good as of late (though a bit shaky and rough at times), so it remains to be seen how well he does in this bout. Prediction: Due to my lack of information on Matthysse, I don't think I can properly give a good guesstimate on this bout. However, I'll say this much--if Cintron doesn't win, he'll be in a worse spot than a losing Margarito (well, he could always go into MMA, as he was once challenged to after being spurned to defend the sport of boxing)