'Legends of the Fall': 2008 fall schedule closes with Oscar, Pacquiao, Jones, and more!

September 30, 1:03 AMBoxing ExaminerVivek Wallace

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The 2008 calendar year is set to close out with a bang as the biggest names in the sport come together to give fight fans a true finale.

Literally every big name in the sport is set to see action and there will be no holes barred as titles, careers and reputations all stand on the line.

The fall festival officially kicks off on the afternoon of Saturday, October 11th, in Germany when Samuel 'Nigerian Nightmare' Peter (30-1, 23 KO's) takes on the returning Ukraninan great, Vitaly Klitschko (35-2, 34 KO's).

Televised later that evening, the spotlight goes down a few weight divisions, but up a few notches as light heavyweight Antonio 'Magic Man' Tarver (27-4, 19 KO's) takes on young gun Chad Dawson (26-0, 17 KO's).

A week later, kicking off the Halloween season, fight fans get to witness a live tale of "The Ghost and the Executioner" as Bernard 'Executioner' Hopkins (48-5, 32 KO's) takes on the sports latest KO artist, Youngstown, Ohio native Kelly 'Ghost' Pavlik (34-0, 30 KO's).

In November fight fans get a chance to witness some of the best talent from across the pond right here in their own backyard. Taking place at the Mecca, (New York City's Madison Square Garden), England's undefeated legend Joe Calzaghe (45-0, 32 KO's) takes on the once invincible Roy Jones Jr. (52-4, 38 KO's).

Two weeks later, the invasion of the U.K. continues when the 'Manchester Madman' Ricky Hatton (44-1, 31KO's) squares off against Brooklynite Paul Malignaggi (25-1, 5 KO's).

Closing the year out with a bang is a fight that appears on pace to be the largest revenue receiving fight in the history of the sport, as Filipino Manny 'Pacman' Pacquaio (47-3, 35 KO's) moves up nearly three weight classes and nearly 20 pounds from his normal fighting weight to face the 'Goldenboy' Oscar De La Hoya (39-5, 30 KO's).

The landscape of the sport is clearly hitting it's highest peak at the right time and it's a beautiful thing. 

Don't blink! Any of these fights could be over as quickly as they started.

I'm a die-hard Miami Dol-fan, but if I had to choose one statement to close this piece out with it would be the famous quote from Terrell Owens of the Dallas Cowboys:

"GET YOUR POPCORN READY!"