By GEORGE MAHL – Sports Editor

I usually don’t write about national events, but it has been a slow week. So, I have decided to go “national” today. If you are a casual sports fan or even a hardcore fan like myself and are willing to spend $50, get a group of friends together and order the Oscar Delahoya -Bernard Hopkins doubleheader tonight on pay-per-view.

It is a meaningful card.

Victories by each man sets up a mega-fight in September between the two. Most boxing experts are already calling a potential Delahoya-Hopkins fight “the 21st century’s version of Ray Leonard versus Marvin Hagler”. Delahoya being Leonard and Hopkins being Hagler. Known as the executioner, Hopkins has amassed an amazing 17 consecutive title defenses. Delahoya, one of the most popular boxers to come along in years, is risking much in fighting Hopkins.

Oh by the way, their opponents tonight, German Felix Sturm for Delahoya and Robert Allen for Hopkins, can change all of that with one punch at beautiful MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas. The card is being dubbed “Collision Course”. I find that very appropriate because victories will lead to a collision on September 18.

I met Bernard Hopkins in May 2002 at a boxing convention in New Orleans. I have to see that he is a reporters dream and nightmare at the same time. He talks so much, which is good, but he will wear out your writing hand or make you run out of tape for on your recorder, which can be a nightmare. I asked him only three or four questions and we ended up talking for about 45 minutes. To me, it seemed like an hour an 45 minutes.

Delahoya, on the other hand, always goes out of is way to do interviews with various media. He knows what it takes to get his message across and how important it is to promote an upcoming fight. Delahoya has charm, wit, good looks and can fight a little bit. Hopkins, almost totally opposite, spend 10 years in prison, comes from the streets of south Philly and learned how to do things the old fashioned way.

Hopkins, who will make $3 million tonight, had one of the best quotes I have heard from any athlete at any level.

“I went from the jailhouse to the penthouse,” he said with a big smile on his face about three years ago. To say the least, Hopkins is quotable.

It should be an exciting night.

And if you are wondering if Don King is promoting the card, the answer is no. The card is being promoted by Top Rank, Inc, a rival of King.

I am not working for Top Rank, nor do I care too. I am just giving someone an alternative to choose when it comes to sports entertainment.

Who knows, it might actually be worth it.