"DEAR ABBEY SAYS..." By George J. Elsasser

Dear Abbey says... avoid sharing the proverbial squared circle with a southpaw partner ... especially a quick and slick one with neat moves ... especially when he is also a celebrated puncher ... and one that normally enjoys an additional edge of height and reach ... and is IBF bantam champ Tim Austin.

I mean, the Austin resumé should carry one of them Surgeon General warnings on the label - exception is if you're Rafael Marquez of the fightin' Marquez family; then you surely earn approval under the old time-tested adage of "puncher's chance."

That, my good friends and fight fans, is what we have entering the HBO "After Dark" show of Feb. 15 ... and probably more, with Austin sporting a 25-0 with 21 KOs and Marquez a not too shabby 28-3, 26 KOs.

On that note, feelings here is Abbey baby should stick with penning advice to the lovelorn or something, because we just might have a dandy of a bantam title fight after dark this evening.

My guess the leather flies from start to finis ... whether it be decision or knockout it will be an action-filled affair between a couple of dandies ... and surely worth the peek.