Floyd Mayweather Jr. was able to get the start of his jail term pushed back so he can fight on May 5 and now he's calling out Manny Pacquiao. So we're finally going to see the super fight that every boxing fan has been waiting years to see, right? Not so fast.

When Pacquaio was steamrolling Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto, it looked like Mayweather was ducking Pacquiao with his requests for Olympic-style drug testing. Now that Pacquiao has looked increasingly vulnerable while winning his last four fights by decision, Mayweather suddenly wants the fight. Pretty Boy turning 35 in February and facing jail time (87 days) are also undoubtedly factors in his apparent willingness to finally risk his undefeated record in order to secure the biggest payday in boxing history.

Unfortunately, now it looks like Pacquiao (or at least his promoter Bob Arum) is the one responsible for avoiding the fight. Over the past few days, Arum has offered a series of excuses for why the fight can't happen in May:

* Pacquiao's cuts from his November 12 bout with Juan Manuel Marquez will not be healed in time. Not buying it.

* Fight fans want to see a fourth fight between Pacquaio and Marquez. No they don't, not compared to Pacquiao vs. Mayweather.

* Let's wait until Las Vegas finishes building a 45,000 seat boxing arena so everyone can make even more money. Somewhat plausible.

What do you think? Will Manny and Floyd finally get it on this year? Or maybe next year? Or will we never see the two best pound-for-pound fighters of this generation face each other in the ring? Vote in our poll.

2011 was another up-and-down year for the sport of boxing with a number of memorable bouts, a heavy dose of controversy and - once again - no super fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.. With the year almost over and no big fights remaining on the schedule, it's time to start handing out annual awards.

For each category, we'll offer a group of finalists. First up is 2011 Fighter of the Year, and the finalists are:

Jorge Arce (3-0, 3 KOs)
Lucian Bute (3-0, 2 KOs)
Miguel Cotto (2-0, 2 KOs)
Nonito Donaire (2-0, 1 KO)
Hernan Marquez (3-0, 3 KOs)
Manny Pacquiao (2-0)
Brandon Rios (3-0, 3 KOs)
Orlando Salido (3-0, 3 KOs)
Brian Viloria (2-0, 1 KO)
Andre Ward (2-0)

Honorable mention goes to Bernard Hopkins for his age-defying decision win over Jean Pascal in May. Hopkins was left off the list because, in his only other bout of the year, he looked like he was going to be in for a long night against Chad Dawson before the bout ended in controversy.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. still has a perfect 42-0 record in the ring but he's suffered his first serious defeat in a courtroom after getting away with numerous slaps on the wrist for all of his previous legal troubles. Mayweather has been sentenced to 90 days in Nevada's Clark County Jail on misdemeanor domestic violence and harassment charges. He is to report on January 6 at 10:45am to begin serving his sentence. The wrist slap portion of his sentence will also require Mayeather to attend a 12-month domestic violence program, pay $2,500 in fines and perform 100 hours of community service.

The full sentence was actually for six months, but three months were suspended (and he received credit for three days already served). As expected, Mayweather's attorney asked for a home detention program and - surprisingly, and to her credit - Judge Melissa Saragosa denied the request, saying "No matter who you are, you have consequences to your actions when they escalate to this level of violence".

Even if Mayweather is released after just 45 days for good behavior, he would still have just over two months to prepare for a tentatively scheduled May 5 bout against the always tough TBA. If anyone could prevent a prison stint from being a distraction in his fight preparation, it's Mayweather. Nevertheless, expect that date to get pushed back to at least June or July.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is taking a plea deal in Las Vegas to avoid trial on assorted allegations (felony grand larceny, coercion and robbery, plus misdemeanor domestic battery and harassment) that could have resulted in up to 34 years in prison if convicted on all charges. By pleading plead guilty to misdemeanor battery domestic violence and harassment charges, Mayweather will instead be fined $3,000 and face between two days and 18 months in county jail. Expect no real jail time whatsoever.

Mayweather, who was acquitted in October of other misdemeanor harassment charges, will continue to avoid punishment for his actions as long as he can afford the best lawyers money can buy.