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Welterweight: 2014, Jul 21-27

Posted in Rankings, Welterweight with tags , , , , , , , on December 25, 2014 by danboxing
Nothing to report at you from last week, again.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (221-253-253)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- W* (MD12) vs. #4 Marcos Maidana
Next Fight: 9/13/2014- vs. #1 Marcos Maidana
Mayweather will give Maidama a well-deserved rematch on September 13.
1) Marcos Maidana (12-59-59)
Last Fight:5/3/2014- L* (MD12) vs. Champ Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Next Fight: 9/13/2014- vs. Champ Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
See Mayweather’s notes, above.
2) Manny Pacquiao (12-294-294)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- UD12 #1 Timothy Bradley
Next Fight: 11/22/2014- vs. JWW #? Chris Algieri (UNR)
Pacquiao-Algieri is set for Macau on November 22.  As a PPV.  Yeah, I know…
3) Juan Manuel Marquez (12-141-141)
Last Fight: 5/17/2014- UD12 #? JWW Mike Alvarado
Next Fight: Unknown
Pacquiao-Marquez 5 is obviously not in the cards for November, but rumors persist of its likelihood for 2015.
4) Timothy Bradley (12-41-111)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- L (UD12) vs. #3 Manny Pacquiao
Next Fight: Unknown
Bradley says he intends to return in December after rehabbing a bad calf.  There is a lot of talk of him fighting Cotto, but I find it hard to take that seriously.
5) Keith Thurman (32-32-72)
Last Fight: 4/26/2014- RTD3 Julio Diaz (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Thurman has expressed interest in Tim Bradley, a politically difficult proposition, though some believe the departure of Richard Schaeffer from Golden Boy might make it more realistic.
6) Shawn Porter (32-33-33)
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- KO4 #14 Paulie Malignaggi
Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #7 Kell Brook
Porter-Brook is now made for August 16 in New York.
7) Kell Brook (5-169-169)
Last Fight:3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR) (at JMW)
Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #6 Shawn Porter
See Porter’s notes, above.
8) Devon Alexander (5-126-126)
Last Fight: 6/21/2014- W* (UD10) vs. #12 Jesus Soto Karass (at 149)
Next Fight: Unknown
Alexander wants to fight Keith Thurman, and is rumored as a possible December opponent for Khan.
9) Jesus Soto Karass (5-5-78)
Last Fight: 6/21/2014- L* (UD10) vs. #9 Devon Alexander (at 149)
Next Fight: Unknown
Soto Karass once again proved much better than the “gatekeeper” moniker he’s gotten from underinformed fans and media, giving Alexander all he could handle and giving himself an argument that he deserved the decision.
10) Randall Bailey (35-35-35)
Last Fight: 11/23/2013- W (DQ8) vs. Humberto Toledo (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Bailey’s scheduled fight with prospect Freddy Lawson fell through apparently at or near the last minute, but I can’t find a peep about when or why online- at least not yet.
11) Josesito Lopez (35-109)
Last Fight: 4/24/2014- TKO5 Aron Martinez (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/6/2014- Unknown Opponent
Lopez will share a card with Berto, Matthysse, and Broner on September 6.  No opponent yet, but Lopez had previously said he expected a big fight in September.
12) Robert Guerrero (5-104)
Last Fight: 6/21/2014- W*(UD12) vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Crossfit may have gotten Guerrero in better shape, but it sure didn’t help his gameplan.  He abandoned all skill advantages and barely squeaked by with a toss-up decision over a borderline top 50 fighter.  Adrien Broner wants to fight him, and there is some indication he may be a candidate to fight Khan in December.
13) Andre Berto (32-87)
Last Fight: 7/27/2013- L (TKO12) vs. #11 Jesus Soto Karass
Next Fight: 9/6/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent 
Initially expected to return in July, Berto is now expected back on September 6.
14) Amir Khan (12-12)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- UD12 #17 Luis Collazo
Next Fight: Unknown
Having lost out on potential fights with Mayweather and Pacquiao back to back, Khan is now looking at a December date with either Alexander or Guerrero.
15) Paulie Malignaggi (12-33) 
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- L (KO4) vs. #6 Shawn Porter
Next Fight: Unknown
Malignaggi confirms he’s considering retirement.
16) Chris van Heerden (12-110)
Last Fight: 4/16/2014- W (SD10) vs. Ray Narh (UNR)
Next Fight: 7/25/2014- vs. Cecil McCalla (UNR)
Van Heerden will finally get on US TV, taking on undefeated prospect Cecil McCalla on ShoBox July 25.
17) Luis Carlos Abregu (12-65)
Last Fight: 4/4/2014- TKO8 Jean Carlos Prada (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Abregu offered Brandon Rios a fight, but Rios turned it down.  He is also interested in Thurman.
18) Jan Zaveck (25-241)
Last Fight: 10/19/2013- UD8 Sebastien Allais (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/12/2014- vs. Ahmed El Mousaoui (UNR)
Zaveck will fight one-loss fringe prospect Ahmed El Mousaoui for a European Union title on September 12 in Germany.
19) Leonard Bundu (19-21)
Last Fight: 12/14/2013- TKO12 Lee Purdy (UNR)
Next Fight: 8/1/2014- vs. Frankie Gavin (UNR)
Bundu will fight unbeaten Brit Frankie Gavin in Wolverhampton, England on August 1 for Bundu’s European belt.

20) Yoshihiro Kamegai (5-5)
Last Fight: 6/21/2014- L* (UD12) vs. #7 Robert Guerrero
Next Fight: Unknown
I personally think Kamegai won a toss-up fight with Guerrero, a credential that stands out like a sore thumb on a resume that had him barely ranked in the top 50 by boxrec at the time.

 

The Week Ahead: 
Friday
Jose Lopez vs. Cristian Favela; Los Cabos, Mexico; Cadena 3 (MEX)
Gatekeeper Lopez takes on grizzled low-level veteran journeyman Favela.

 

Roberto Garcia vs. Breidis Prescott; Chicago, Illinois; ESPN2 (US)
Garcia has looked pretty terrible for long stretches of his last two shaky victories, and is looking to conclusively establish himself as a serious force at welterweight.  Prescott, meanwhile, is still a name, but hasn’t beaten a top 50 opponent since his famous first round destruction of Amir Khan in 2008, and is properly classified as a journeyman at this point.

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Welterweight: 2014, Jul 14-20

Posted in Rankings, Welterweight with tags , , , , , , , on December 11, 2014 by danboxing
Nothing to report at you from last week.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (220-252-252)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- W* (MD12) vs. #4 Marcos Maidana
Next Fight: 9/13/2014- vs. #1 Marcos Maidana
Mayweather will give Maidama a well-deserved rematch on September 13.
1) Marcos Maidana (11-58-58)
Last Fight:5/3/2014- L* (MD12) vs. Champ Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Next Fight: 9/13/2014- vs. Champ Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
See Mayweather’s notes, above.
2) Manny Pacquiao (11-293-293)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- UD12 #1 Timothy Bradley
Next Fight: 11/23/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent
Pacquiao will be back on November 23 in Macau, with the totally unworthy Chris Algieri now looking like the most likely opponent (for a PPV, mind you).  But Algieri is reportedly getting greedy, and his monetary demands are putting that fight mercifully in jeopardy.
3) Juan Manuel Marquez (11-140-140)
Last Fight: 5/17/2014- UD12 #? JWW Mike Alvarado
Next Fight: Unknown
The otherwise likely scenario of Pacquiao-Marquez V is maybe a little less likely now, with Marquez having asked for $20 million, which was not well-received by the Pacquiao camp.
4) Timothy Bradley (11-40-110)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- L (UD12) vs. #3 Manny Pacquiao
Next Fight: Unknown
Bradley says he intends to return in December after rehabbing a bad calf.  There is a lot of talk of him fighting Cotto, but I find it hard to take that seriously.
5) Keith Thurman (31-31-71)
Last Fight: 4/26/2014- RTD3 Julio Diaz (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
There’s a rumor that has Thurman fighting Maidana on September 13.  He’s also expressed interest in Tim Bradley, a politically difficult proposition, though some believe the departure of Richard Schaeffer from Golden Boy might make it more realistic.
6) Shawn Porter (31-32-32)
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- KO4 #14 Paulie Malignaggi
Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #7 Kell Brook
Porter-Brook is now made for August 16 in New York.
7) Kell Brook (4-168-168)
Last Fight:3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR) (at JMW)
Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #6 Shawn Porter
See Porter’s notes, above.
8) Devon Alexander (4-125-125)
Last Fight: 6/21/2014- W* (UD10) vs. #12 Jesus Soto Karass (at 149)
Next Fight: Unknown
Alexander wants to fight Keith Thurman.
9) Jesus Soto Karass (4-4-77)
Last Fight: 6/21/2014- L* (UD10) vs. #9 Devon Alexander (at 149)
Next Fight: Unknown
Soto Karass once again proved much better than the “gatekeeper” moniker he’s gotten from underinformed fans and media, giving Alexander all he could handle and giving himself an argument that he deserved the decision.
10) Randall Bailey (34-34-34)
Last Fight: 11/23/2013- W (DQ8) vs. Humberto Toledo (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Bailey’s scheduled fight with prospect Freddy Lawson fell through apparently at or near the last minute, but I can’t find a peep about when or why online- at least not yet.
11) Josesito Lopez (34-108)
Last Fight: 4/24/2014- TKO5 Aron Martinez (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/6/2014- Unknown Opponent
Lopez will share a card with Berto, Matthysse, and Broner on September 6.  No opponent yet, but Lopez had previously said he expected a big fight in September.
12) Robert Guerrero (4-103)
Last Fight: 6/21/2014- W*(UD12) vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Crossfit may have gotten Guerrero in better shape, but it sure didn’t help his gameplan.  He abandoned all skill advantages and barely squeaked by with a toss-up decision over a borderline top 50 fighter.  Adrien Broner wants to fight him, and there is some indication he may be a candidate to fight Pacquiao in November.
13) Andre Berto (31-86)
Last Fight: 7/27/2013- L (TKO12) vs. #11 Jesus Soto Karass
Next Fight: 9/6/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent 
Initially expected to return in July, Berto is now expected back on September 6.
14) Amir Khan (11-11)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- UD12 #17 Luis Collazo
Next Fight: Unknown
Khan is angling for a Pacquiao shot in November.
15) Paulie Malignaggi (11-32) 
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- L (KO4) vs. #6 Shawn Porter
Next Fight: Unknown
Malignaggi confirms he’s considering retirement.
16) Chris van Heerden (11-109)
Last Fight: 4/16/2014- W (SD10) vs. Ray Narh (UNR)
Next Fight: 7/25/2014- vs. Cecil McCalla (UNR)
Van Heerden will finally get on US TV, taking on undefeated prospect Cecil McCalla on ShoBox July 25.
17) Luis Carlos Abregu (11-64)
Last Fight: 4/4/2014- TKO8 Jean Carlos Prada (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Abregu offered Brandon Rios a fight, but Rios turned it down.  He is also interested in Thurman, and is reportedly on the list of potential opponents for Pacquiao.  Pac’s team is not interested, and I can see why.  Abregu is hardly a household name outside Argentina, except among hardcore fans.
18) Jan Zaveck (24-240)
Last Fight: 10/19/2013- UD8 Sebastien Allais (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
19) Leonard Bundu (18-20)
Last Fight: 12/14/2013- TKO12 Lee Purdy (UNR)
Next Fight: 8/1/2014- vs. Frankie Gavin (UNR)
Bundu will fight unbeaten Brit Frankie Gavin in Wolverhampton, England on August 1 for Bundu’s European belt.

20) Yoshihiro Kamegai (4-4)
Last Fight: 6/21/2014- L* (UD12) vs. #7 Robert Guerrero
Next Fight: Unknown
I personally think Kamegai won a toss-up fight with Guerrero, a credential that stands out like a sore thumb on a resume that had him barely ranked in the top 50 by boxrec at the time.

 

The Week Ahead: No meaningful welterweight action to report for next week, for a second time in a row.

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Welterweight: 2014, Jul 7-13

Posted in Rankings, Welterweight with tags , , , , , , , on November 22, 2014 by danboxing
Tewa Kiram (aka Teerachai Kratingdaenggym) got an easy win on Friday in his home country of Thailand, stopping low-level Kazakh journeyman Kanat Kartenbayev inside three rounds.

 

Undefeated prospect Jeff Horn scored a unanimous shutout in a 12-round decision over mid-level Brazilian journeyman Fernando Ferreira da Silva on Saturday in Flemington, Australia, capping the victory with a 12th-round knockdown.

 

No changes this week.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (219-251-251)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- W* (MD12) vs. #4 Marcos Maidana
Next Fight: 9/13/2014- vs. #1 Marcos Maidana
Mayweather will give Maidama a well-deserved rematch on September 13.
1) Marcos Maidana (10-57-57)
Last Fight:5/3/2014- L* (MD12) vs. Champ Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Next Fight: Unknown
See Mayweather’s notes, above.
2) Manny Pacquiao (10-292-292)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- UD12 #1 Timothy Bradley
Next Fight: 11/23/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent
Pacquiao will be back on November 23 in Macau, with a 5th Marquez fight being the most likely scenario.  There’s also some talk of matching him with Algieri, but I would hope he wouldn’t sink that low for a pay-per-view, especially…
3) Juan Manuel Marquez (10-139-139)
Last Fight: 5/17/2014- UD12 #? JWW Mike Alvarado
Next Fight: Unknown
The otherwise likely scenario of Pacquiao-Marquez V is maybe a little less likely now, with Marquez having asked for $20 million, which was not well-received by the Pacquiao camp.
4) Timothy Bradley (10-39-109)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- L (UD12) vs. #3 Manny Pacquiao
Next Fight: Unknown
Bradley says he intends to return in October or November, and says he wants Mayweather.  Good luck, especially coming off a loss.  Bradley’s best options for a next fight, practically-speaking, are limited to re-hashes of previous fights like Marquez and Provodnikov, though Bob Arum is currently considering matching him with Cotto.  I would think the logistics of that might be difficult to negotiate, given the weight difference.
5) Keith Thurman (30-30-70)
Last Fight: 4/26/2014- RTD3 Julio Diaz (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
There’s a rumor that has Thurman fighting Maidana on September 13.  He’s also expressed interest in Tim Bradley, a politically difficult proposition, though some believe the departure of Richard Schaeffer from Golden Boy might make it more realistic.
6) Shawn Porter (30-31-31)
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- KO4 #14 Paulie Malignaggi
Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #7 Kell Brook
Porter-Brook is now made for August 16 in New York.
7) Kell Brook (3-167-167)
Last Fight:3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR) (at JMW)
Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #6 Shawn Porter
See Porter’s notes, above.
8) Devon Alexander (3-124-124)
Last Fight: 6/21/2014- W* (UD10) vs. #12 Jesus Soto Karass (at 149)
Next Fight: Unknown
Alexander wants to fight Keith Thurman.
9) Jesus Soto Karass (3-3-76)
Last Fight: 6/21/2014- L* (UD10) vs. #9 Devon Alexander (at 149)
Next Fight: Unknown
Soto Karass once again proved much better than the “gatekeeper” moniker he’s gotten from underinformed fans and media, giving Alexander all he could handle and giving himself an argument that he deserved the decision.
10) Randall Bailey (33-33-33)
Last Fight: 11/23/2013- W (DQ8) vs. Humberto Toledo (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Bailey’s scheduled fight with prospect Freddy Lawson fell through apparently at or near the last minute, but I can’t find a peep about when or why online- at least not yet.
11) Josesito Lopez (33-107)
Last Fight: 4/24/2014- TKO5 Aron Martinez (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Lopez says he expects a big fight in September.
12) Robert Guerrero (3-102)
Last Fight: 6/21/2014- W*(UD12) vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Crossfit may have gotten Guerrero in better shape, but it sure didn’t help his gameplan.  He abandoned all skill advantages and barely squeaked by with a toss-up decision over a borderline top 50 fighter.  Adrien Broner wants to fight him, and there is some indication he may be a candidate to fight Pacquiao in November.
13) Andre Berto (30-85)
Last Fight: 7/27/2013- L (TKO12) vs. #11 Jesus Soto Karass
Next Fight: Unknown 
Initially expected to return in July, Berto is now expected back in September.
14) Amir Khan (10-10)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- UD12 #17 Luis Collazo
Next Fight: Unknown
Khan is angling for a Pacquiao shot in November.
15) Paulie Malignaggi (10-31) 
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- L (KO4) vs. #6 Shawn Porter
Next Fight: Unknown
Malignaggi confirms he’s considering retirement.
16) Chris van Heerden (10-108)
Last Fight: 4/16/2014- W (SD10) vs. Ray Narh (UNR)
Next Fight: 7/25/2014- vs. Cecil McCalla (UNR)
Van Heerden will finally get on US TV, taking on undefeated prospect Cecil McCalla on ShoBox July 25.
17) Luis Carlos Abregu (10-63)
Last Fight: 4/4/2014- TKO8 Jean Carlos Prada (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Abregu offered Brandon Rios a fight, but Rios turned it down.  He is also interested in Thurman, and is reportedly on the list of potential opponents for Pacquiao.  Pac’s team is not interested, and I can see why.  Abregu is hardly a household name outside Argentina, except among hardcore fans.
18) Jan Zaveck (23-239)
Last Fight: 10/19/2013- UD8 Sebastien Allais (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
19) Leonard Bundu (17-19)
Last Fight: 12/14/2013- TKO12 Lee Purdy (UNR)
Next Fight: 8/1/2014- vs. Frankie Gavin (UNR)
Bundu will fight unbeaten Brit Frankie Gavin in Wolverhampton, England on August 1 for Bundu’s European belt.

20) Yoshihiro Kamegai (3-3)
Last Fight: 6/21/2014- L* (UD12) vs. #7 Robert Guerrero
Next Fight: Unknown
I personally think Kamegai won a toss-up fight with Guerrero, a credential that stands out like a sore thumb on a resume that had him barely ranked in the top 50 by boxrec at the time.

 

The Week Ahead: No meaningful welterweight action to report for next week.

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Welterweight: 2014, Jun 30- Jul 6

Posted in Rankings, Welterweight with tags , , , , , , , on November 20, 2014 by danboxing
Undefeated Quebec prospect Mikael Zewski knocked out Prince Doku, Jr. (a very low-level boxer, not a Star Wars character) in 4 from Omaha, Nebraska on Saturday.  

 

The same card also featured unbeaten Russian Konstantin Ponomarev, who stopped similarly low-level journeyman Joseph De Los Santos late in the first round of what turned out to be a junior middleweight fight.

 

No changes this week.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (218-250-250)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- W* (MD12) vs. #4 Marcos Maidana
Next Fight: 9/13/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent
Mayweather has booked his next fight on September 13.  Let’s hope he gives Maidana a rematch.
1) Marcos Maidana (9-56-56)
Last Fight:5/3/2014- L* (MD12) vs. Champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Next Fight: Unknown
Pacquiao and Thurman have both been discussed as next fights for Maidana, as has a well-deserved Mayweather rematch.
2) Manny Pacquiao (9-291-291)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- UD12 #1 Timothy Bradley
Next Fight: 11/23/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent
Pacquiao will be back on November 23 in Macau, with a 5th Marquez fight being the most likely scenario.  There’s also some talk of matching him with Algieri, but I would hope he wouldn’t sink that low for a pay-per-view, especially…
3) Juan Manuel Marquez (9-138-138)
Last Fight: 5/17/2014- UD12 #? JWW Mike Alvarado
Next Fight: Unknown
The otherwise likely scenario of Pacquiao-Marquez V is maybe a little less likely now, with Marquez having asked for $20 million, which was not well-received by the Pacquiao camp.
4) Timothy Bradley (9-38-108)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- L (UD12) vs. #3 Manny Pacquiao
Next Fight: Unknown
Bradley says he intends to return in October or November, and says he wants Mayweather.  Good luck, especially coming off a loss.  Bradley’s best options for a next fight, practically-speaking, are limited to re-hashes of previous fights like Marquez and Provodnikov, though Bob Arum is currently considering matching him with Cotto.  I would think the logistics of that might be difficult to negotiate, given the weight difference.
5) Keith Thurman (29-29-69)
Last Fight: 4/26/2014- RTD3 Julio Diaz (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
There’s a rumor that has Thurman fighting Maidana on September 13.  He’s also expressed interest in Tim Bradley, a politically difficult proposition, though some believe the departure of Richard Schaeffer from Golden Boy might make it more realistic.
6) Shawn Porter (29-30-30)
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- KO4 #14 Paulie Malignaggi
Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #7 Kell Brook
Porter-Brook is now made for August 16 in New York.
7) Kell Brook (2-166-166)
Last Fight:3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR) (at JMW)
Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #6 Shawn Porter
See Porter’s notes, above.
8) Devon Alexander (2-123-123)
Last Fight: 6/21/2014- W* (UD10) vs. #12 Jesus Soto Karass (at 149)
Next Fight: Unknown
Alexander wants to fight Keith Thurman.
9) Jesus Soto Karass (2-2-75)
Last Fight: 6/21/2014- L* (UD10) vs. #9 Devon Alexander (at 149)
Next Fight: Unknown
Soto Karass once again proved much better than the “gatekeeper” moniker he’s gotten from underinformed fans and media, giving Alexander all he could handle and giving himself an argument that he deserved the decision.
10) Randall Bailey (32-32-32)
Last Fight: 11/23/2013- W (DQ8) vs. Humberto Toledo (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Bailey’s scheduled fight with prospect Freddy Lawson fell through apparently at or near the last minute, but I can’t find a peep about when or why online- at least not yet.
11) Josesito Lopez (32-106)
Last Fight: 4/24/2014- TKO5 Aron Martinez (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Lopez says he expects a big fight in September.
12) Robert Guerrero (2-101)
Last Fight: 6/21/2014- W*(UD12) vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Crossfit may have gotten Guerrero in better shape, but it sure didn’t help his gameplan.  He abandoned all skill advantages and barely squeaked by with a toss-up decision over a borderline top 50 fighter.  Adrien Broner wants to fight him.
13) Andre Berto (29-84)
Last Fight: 7/27/2013- L (TKO12) vs. #11 Jesus Soto Karass
Next Fight: Unknown 
Berto is now recovered from surgery and is training for a July return. 
14) Amir Khan (9-9)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- UD12 #17 Luis Collazo
Next Fight: Unknown
Despite the fairly impressive win over Collazo, Khan has ruled himself out of a possible Mayweather shot in September, due to Ramadan.  But Mayweather sounds extremely interested in the possibility of fighting Khan at Wembley Stadium, perhaps in 2015.  Khan is now angling for a shot at Pacquiao in November.
15) Paulie Malignaggi (9-30) 
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- L (KO4) vs. #6 Shawn Porter
Next Fight: Unknown
Malignaggi confirms he’s considering retirement.
16) Chris van Heerden (9-107)
Last Fight: 4/16/2014- W (SD10) vs. Ray Narh (UNR)
Next Fight: 7/25/2014- vs. Cecil McCalla (UNR)
Van Heerden will finally get on US TV, taking on undefeated prospect Cecil McCalla on ShoBox July 25.
17) Luis Carlos Abregu (9-62)
Last Fight: 4/4/2014- TKO8 Jean Carlos Prada (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Abregu offered Brandon Rios a fight, but Rios turned it down.  He is also interested in Thurman, and is reportedly on the list of potential opponents for Pacquiao.  Pac’s team is not interested, and I can see why.  Abregu is hardly a household name outside Argentina, except among hardcore fans.
18) Jan Zaveck (22-238)
Last Fight: 10/19/2013- UD8 Sebastien Allais (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
19) Leonard Bundu (16-18)
Last Fight: 12/14/2013- TKO12 Lee Purdy (UNR)
Next Fight: 8/1/2014- vs. Frankie Gavin (UNR)
Bundu will fight unbeaten Brit Frankie Gavin in Wolverhampton, England on August 1 for Bundu’s European belt.

20) Yoshihiro Kamegai (2-2)
Last Fight: 6/21/2014- L* (UD12) vs. #7 Robert Guerrero
Next Fight: Unknown
I personally think Kamegai won a toss-up fight with Guerrero, a credential that stands out like a sore thumb on a resume that had him barely ranked in the top 50 by boxrec at the time.

 

The Week Ahead: 
Friday
Teerachai Kratingdaenggym vs. Kanat Kartenbayev; Phichit, Thailand; TV Unknown
T.K.’s real name is Tewa Kiram, and he’s an undefeated Thai prospect with some halfway decent wins on his record.  This won’t be one of them, as Kartenbayev is a low-level journeyman with little or no chance.

 

Saturday
Jeff Horn vs. Fernando Ferreira da Silva; Manukau, New Zealand; Sky Arena (NZ)
Undefeated prospect Horn is only 7-0, but already owns a win over a borderline top 50 gatekeeper in Naoufel Ben Rabeh back in December.  Ferreira da Silva is Brazilian, and the naturally smaller man.  Horn shouldn’t have any problems if he holds to form.

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Welterweight: 2014, Jun 16-22

Posted in Rankings, Welterweight with tags , , , , , , , on November 9, 2014 by danboxing
No welterweight fights of any consequence to report from last week.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (216-248-248)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- W* (MD12) vs. #4 Marcos Maidana
Next Fight: 9/13/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent
Mayweather has booked his next fight on September 13.  Let’s hope he gives Maidana a rematch.
1) Marcos Maidana (7-54-54)
Last Fight:5/3/2014- L* (MD12) vs. Champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Next Fight: Unknown
There are rumors swirling around two possible fights for Maidana- a Mayweather rematch and a showdown with Keith Thurman.
2) Manny Pacquiao (7-289-289)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- UD12 #1 Timothy Bradley
Next Fight: 11/23/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent
Pacquiao will be back on November 23 in Macau, with a 5th Marquez fight being the most likely scenario.  There’s also some talk of matching him with Algieri, but I would hope he wouldn’t sink that low for a pay-per-view, especially…
3) Juan Manuel Marquez (7-136-136)
Last Fight: 5/17/2014- UD12 #? JWW Mike Alvarado
Next Fight: Unknown
The otherwise likely scenario of Pacquiao-Marquez V is maybe a little less likely now, with Marquez having asked for $20 million, which was not well-received by the Pacquiao camp.
4) Timothy Bradley (7-36-106)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- L (UD12) vs. #3 Manny Pacquiao
Next Fight: Unknown
Bradley says he intends to return in October or November, and says he wants Mayweather.  Good luck, especially coming off a loss.  Bradley’s best options for a next fight, practically-speaking, are limited to re-hashes of previous fights like Marquez and Provodnikov, though Bob Arum is currently considering matching him with Cotto.  I would think the logistics of that might be difficult to negotiate, given the weight difference.
5) Keith Thurman (27-27-67)
Last Fight: 4/26/2014- RTD3 Julio Diaz (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
There’s a rumor that has Thurman fighting Maidana on September 13.  He’s also expressed interest in Tim Bradley, a politically difficult proposition, though some believe the departure of Richard Schaeffer from Golden Boy might make it more realistic.
6) Shawn Porter (27-28-28)
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- KO4 #14 Paulie Malignaggi
Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #8 Kell Brook
Porter-Brook is now made for August 16 in New York.
7) Robert Guerrero (28-82-99)
Last Fight: 5/4/2013- L (UD12) vs. Champ Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Next Fight: 6/21/2014- vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai (UNR)
Guerrero scheduled the Kamegai fight just in time to avoid removal.  It’s not exactly the sexiest possible matchup, though Kamegai does make good fights generally.
8) Kell Brook (28-164-164)
Last Fight:3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR) (at JMW)
Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #6 Shawn Porter
See Porter’s notes, above.
9) Devon Alexander (28-121-121)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- L (UD12) vs. Shawn Porter (UNR)
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #12 Jesus Soto Karass
I should stop trusting news reports.  Alexander-Soto Karass was said to be on a couple different cards, but it’s now definitively settled for June 21.
10) Randall Bailey (30-30-30)
Last Fight: 11/23/2013- W (DQ8) vs. Humberto Toledo (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Bailey’s scheduled fight with prospect Freddy Lawson fell through apparently at or near the last minute, but I can’t find a peep about when or why online- at least not yet.
11) Josesito Lopez (30-104)
Last Fight: 4/24/2014- TKO5 Aron Martinez (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Lopez is back on the right track, looking at least decent against a likely better fighter than Arnaoutis, whom he almost lost to.
12) Jesus Soto Karass (27-73)
Last Fight: 12/14/2013- L (TKO9) vs. #13 Keith Thurman
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #9 Devon Alexander
See Alexander’s notes, above.
13) Andre Berto (27-82)
Last Fight: 7/27/2013- L (TKO12) vs. #11 Jesus Soto Karass
Next Fight: Unknown 
Berto is now recovered from surgery and is training for a July return. 
14) Amir Khan (7-7)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- UD12 #17 Luis Collazo
Next Fight: Unknown
Despite the fairly impressive win over Collazo, Khan has ruled himself out of a possible Mayweather shot in September, due to Ramadan.  But Mayweather sounds extremely interested in the possibility of fighting Khan at Wembley Stadium, perhaps in 2015.
15) Paulie Malignaggi (7-28) 
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- L (KO4) vs. #6 Shawn Porter
Next Fight: Unknown
Malignaggi confirms he’s considering retirement.
16) Chris van Heerden (7-105)
Last Fight: 4/16/2014- W (SD10) vs. Ray Narh (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Van Heerden’s split decision win over Ray Narh doesn’t look very worthy of a top 15 contender on paper, but I unfortunately am unable to find video, and thus can’t opine on what it might mean for his future.
17) Luis Carlos Abregu (7-60)
Last Fight: 4/4/2014- TKO8 Jean Carlos Prada (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Abregu offered Brandon Rios a fight, but Rios turned it down.  He is also interested in Thurman, and is reportedly on the list of potential opponents for Pacquiao.  Pac’s team is not interested, and I can see why.  Abregu is hardly a household name outside Argentina, except among hardcore fans.
18) Jan Zaveck (20-236)
Last Fight: 10/19/2013- UD8 Sebastien Allais (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
19) Leonard Bundu (14-16)
Last Fight: 12/14/2013- TKO12 Lee Purdy (UNR)
Next Fight: 8/1/2014- vs. Frankie Gavin (UNR)
Bundu will fight unbeaten Brit Frankie Gavin in Wolverhampton, England on August 1 for Bundu’s European belt.

20) Luis Collazo (7-20)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- L (UD12) vs. Amir Khan (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
It’s back to the drawing board for Collazo, whose career momentum was abruptly halted by a sharp Khan.

 

The Week Ahead: 
Saturday
#7 Robert Guerrero vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai; Carson, California; Showtime (US)
Guerrero hasn’t seen the ring since dropping a decision to Mayweather for the Championship in May of last year.  He won more rounds in that fight, I thought, than most people gave him credit for.  The California native has been augmenting his regular training with CrossFit, hoping it will improve his overall strength and conditioning.  He shouldn’t need much extra against Kamegai, who is an entertaining Japanese fighter and a one-loss fringe prospect who is on the lower rungs of the top 50.  He has never beaten a top 50 fighter, himself, though, and struggled to a draw in 2012 with a guy that ultimately proved to be just a decent journeyman in Jorge Silva.  He also lost a year ago to a prospect in Johan Perez.  Guerrero ought to be miles and miles above that kind of level, and this is really a bit of a mismatch that probably doesn’t deserve a main event slot.

 

#9 Devon Alexander vs. #12 Jesus Soto Karass; Carson, California; Showtime (US)
This fight is actually contracted at 149, with Soto Karass having requested the catchweight for the non-title fight.  It’s an interesting matchup- probably the highlight of the card despite being the first of three fights on the main Showtime broadcast.  Soto Karass is called a gatekeeper by a lot of fans, but I think that moniker might underestimate the level of competition he’s both beaten and lost to.  Alexander has proven to have world-class ability, most especially when he comfortably outpointed Marcos Maidana.  But he’s also quite inconsistent, and his loss to Shawn Porter was a head-scratcher at the time.  Porter looked to be a far inferior fighter at that moment, as compared to both Alexander and the current version of Soto Karass, though in fairness he looked a lot more formidable during and since that fight.  Still, if Alexander gives a similar performance, he might be in trouble at this level.

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Welterweight: 2014, Jun 9-15

Posted in Rankings, Welterweight with tags , , , , , , , on November 5, 2014 by danboxing
#10 Randall Bailey’s fight with Freddy Lawson apparently did not happen, and the internet is devoid of news as to why.  No changes.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (215-247-247)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- W* (MD12) vs. #4 Marcos Maidana
Next Fight: 9/13/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent
Mayweather has booked his next fight on September 13.  Let’s hope he gives Maidana a rematch.
1) Marcos Maidana (6-53-53)
Last Fight:5/3/2014- L* (MD12) vs. Champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Next Fight: Unknown
There are rumors swirling around two possible fights for Maidana- a Mayweather rematch and a showdown with Keith Thurman.
2) Manny Pacquiao (6-288-288)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- UD12 #1 Timothy Bradley
Next Fight: 11/23/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent
Pacquiao will be back on November 23 in Macau, with a 5th Marquez fight being the most likely scenario.
3) Juan Manuel Marquez (6-135-135)
Last Fight: 5/17/2014- UD12 #? JWW Mike Alvarado
Next Fight: Unknown
See Pacquiao’s notes, above.
4) Timothy Bradley (6-35-105)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- L (UD12) vs. #3 Manny Pacquiao
Next Fight: Unknown
Bradley says he intends to return in October or November, and says he wants Mayweather.  Good luck, especially coming off a loss.  Bradley’s best options for a next fight, practically-speaking, are limited to re-hashes of previous fights like Marquez and Provodnikov, though Bob Arum is currently considering matching him with Cotto.  I would think the logistics of that might be difficult to negotiate, given the weight difference.
5) Keith Thurman (26-26-66)
Last Fight: 4/26/2014- RTD3 Julio Diaz (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
There’s a rumor that has Thurman fighting Maidana on September 13.  He’s also expressed interest in Tim Bradley, a politically difficult proposition, though some believe the departure of Richard Schaeffer from Golden Boy might make it more realistic.
6) Shawn Porter (26-27-27)
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- KO4 #14 Paulie Malignaggi
Next Fight: 8/9/2014- vs. #8 Kell Brook
Porter-Brook is now made for August 9 in New York.
7) Robert Guerrero (27-81-98)
Last Fight: 5/4/2013- L (UD12) vs. Champ Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Next Fight: 6/21/2014- vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai (UNR)
Guerrero scheduled the Kamegai fight just in time to avoid removal.  It’s not exactly the sexiest possible matchup, though Kamegai does make good fights generally.
8) Kell Brook (27-163-163)
Last Fight:3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR) (at JMW)
Next Fight: 8/9/2014- vs. #6 Shawn Porter
See Porter’s notes, above.
9) Devon Alexander (27-120-120)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- L (UD12) vs. Shawn Porter (UNR)
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #12 Jesus Soto Karass
Boxingscene now reports that Alexander-Soto Karass is done, but not for June 21 as originally reported, but rather on the Canelo-Lara undercard on July 12.
10) Randall Bailey (29-29-29)
Last Fight: 11/23/2013- W (DQ8) vs. Humberto Toledo (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Bailey’s scheduled fight with prospect Freddy Lawson fell through apparently at or near the last minute, but I can’t find a peep about when or why online- at least not yet.
11) Josesito Lopez (29-103)
Last Fight: 4/24/2014- TKO5 Aron Martinez (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Lopez is back on the right track, looking at least decent against a likely better fighter than Arnaoutis, whom he almost lost to.
12) Jesus Soto Karass (26-72)
Last Fight: 12/14/2013- L (TKO9) vs. #13 Keith Thurman
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #9 Devon Alexander
See Alexander’s notes, above.
13) Andre Berto (26-81)
Last Fight: 7/27/2013- L (TKO12) vs. #11 Jesus Soto Karass
Next Fight: Unknown 
Berto is now recovered from surgery and is training for a July return. 
14) Amir Khan (6-6)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- UD12 #17 Luis Collazo
Next Fight: Unknown
Despite the fairly impressive win over Collazo, Khan has ruled himself out of a possible Mayweather shot in September, due to Ramadan.  But Mayweather sounds extremely interested in the possibility of fighting Khan at Wembley Stadium, perhaps in 2015.
15) Paulie Malignaggi (6-27) 
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- L (KO4) vs. #6 Shawn Porter
Next Fight: Unknown
Malignaggi confirms he’s considering retirement.
16) Chris van Heerden (6-104)
Last Fight: 4/16/2014- W (SD10) vs. Ray Narh (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Van Heerden’s split decision win over Ray Narh doesn’t look very worthy of a top 15 contender on paper, but I unfortunately am unable to find video, and thus can’t opine on what it might mean for his future.
17) Luis Carlos Abregu (6-59)
Last Fight: 4/4/2014- TKO8 Jean Carlos Prada (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Abregu offered Brandon Rios a fight, but Rios turned it down.  He is also interested in Thurman, and is reportedly on the list of potential opponents for Pacquiao.  Pac’s team is not interested, and I can see why.  Abregu is hardly a household name outside Argentina, except among hardcore fans.
18) Jan Zaveck (19-235)
Last Fight: 10/19/2013- UD8 Sebastien Allais (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
There are rumors that Zaveck may soon be positioned for a minor (IBO) title fight.
19) Leonard Bundu (13-15)
Last Fight: 12/14/2013- TKO12 Lee Purdy (UNR)
Next Fight: 8/1/2014- vs. Frankie Gavin (UNR)
Bundu will fight unbeaten Brit Frankie Gavin in Wolverhampton, England on August 1 for Bundu’s European belt.

20) Luis Collazo (6-19)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- L (UD12) vs. Amir Khan (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
It’s back to the drawing board for Collazo, whose career momentum was abruptly halted by a sharp Khan.

 

The Week Ahead: No action to report.

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Welterweight: 2014, Jun 2-8

Posted in Rankings, Welterweight with tags , , , , , , , on October 29, 2014 by danboxing
Nothing worth reporting at 147 last week.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (214-246-246)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- W* (MD12) vs. #4 Marcos Maidana
Next Fight: 9/13/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent
Mayweather has booked his next fight on September 13.  Let’s hope he gives Maidana a rematch.
1) Marcos Maidana (5-52-52)
Last Fight:5/3/2014- L* (MD12) vs. Champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Next Fight: Unknown
There are rumors swirling around two possible fights for Maidana- a Mayweather rematch and a showdown with Keith Thurman.
2) Manny Pacquiao (5-287-287)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- UD12 #1 Timothy Bradley
Next Fight: 11/23/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent
Pacquiao will be back on November 23 in Macau, with a 5th Marquez fight being the most likely scenario.
3) Juan Manuel Marquez (5-134-134)
Last Fight: 5/17/2014- UD12 #? JWW Mike Alvarado
Next Fight: Unknown
See Pacquiao’s notes, above.
4) Timothy Bradley (5-34-104)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- L (UD12) vs. #3 Manny Pacquiao
Next Fight: Unknown
Bradley says he intends to return in October or November, and says he wants Mayweather.  Good luck, especially coming off a loss.  Bradley’s best options for a next fight, practically-speaking, are limited to re-hashes of previous fights like Marquez and Provodnikov.
5) Keith Thurman (25-25-65)
Last Fight: 4/26/2014- RTD3 Julio Diaz (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
There’s a rumor that has Thurman fighting Maidana on September 13.  He’s also expressed interest in Tim Bradley, a politically difficult proposition, though some believe the departure of Richard Schaeffer from Golden Boy might make it more realistic.
6) Shawn Porter (25-26-26)
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- KO4 #14 Paulie Malignaggi
Next Fight: Unknown
Thurman wants him and Golden Boy is making noise about him fighting Mayweather, but it’s hard to imagine Porter being able to put off his mandatory with Brook any longer.  That fight is being worked on for August, it’s said.
7) Robert Guerrero (26-80-97)
Last Fight: 5/4/2013- L (UD12) vs. Champ Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Next Fight: 6/21/2014- vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai (UNR)
Guerrero scheduled the Kamegai fight just in time to avoid removal.  It’s not exactly the sexiest possible matchup, though Kamegai does make good fights generally.
8) Kell Brook (26-162-162)
Last Fight:3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR) (at JMW)
Next Fight: Unknown
See Porter’s notes, above.
9) Devon Alexander (26-119-119)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- L (UD12) vs. Shawn Porter (UNR)
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #12 Jesus Soto Karass
Boxingscene now reports that Alexander-Soto Karass is done, but not for June 21 as originally reported, but rather on the Canelo-Lara undercard on July 12.
10) Randall Bailey (28-28-28)
Last Fight: 11/23/2013- W (DQ8) vs. Humberto Toledo (UNR)
Next Fight: 6/7/2014- vs. Freddy Lawson (UNR)
Bailey wants Thurman, but it sounds like he’s settling for undefeated but fairly untested Ghanaian prospect Freddy Lawson in Minnesota.
11) Josesito Lopez (28-102)
Last Fight: 4/24/2014- TKO5 Aron Martinez (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Lopez is back on the right track, looking at least decent against a likely better fighter than Arnaoutis, whom he almost lost to.
12) Jesus Soto Karass (25-71)
Last Fight: 12/14/2013- L (TKO9) vs. #13 Keith Thurman
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #9 Devon Alexander
See Alexander’s notes, above.
13) Andre Berto (25-80)
Last Fight: 7/27/2013- L (TKO12) vs. #11 Jesus Soto Karass
Next Fight: Unknown 
Berto is now recovered from surgery and is training for a July return. 
14) Amir Khan (5-5)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- UD12 #17 Luis Collazo
Next Fight: Unknown
Despite the fairly impressive win over Collazo, Khan has ruled himself out of a possible Mayweather shot in September, due to Ramadan.  He posits Shawn Porter, Keith Thurman, and Robert Guerrero as possible opponents, and has indicated interest in fighting in Dubai.
15) Paulie Malignaggi (5-26) 
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- L (KO4) vs. #6 Shawn Porter
Next Fight: Unknown
Malignaggi confirms he’s considering retirement.
16) Chris van Heerden (5-103)
Last Fight: 4/16/2014- W (SD10) vs. Ray Narh (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Van Heerden’s split decision win over Ray Narh doesn’t look very worthy of a top 15 contender on paper, but I unfortunately am unable to find video, and thus can’t opine on what it might mean for his future.
17) Luis Carlos Abregu (5-58)
Last Fight: 4/4/2014- TKO8 Jean Carlos Prada (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Abregu offered Brandon Rios a fight, but Rios turned it down.  He is also interested in Thurman.
18) Jan Zaveck (18-234)
Last Fight: 10/19/2013- UD8 Sebastien Allais (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
There are rumors that Zaveck may soon be positioned for a minor (IBO) title fight.
19) Leonard Bundu (12-14)
Last Fight: 12/14/2013- TKO12 Lee Purdy (UNR)
Next Fight: 8/1/2014- vs. Frankie Gavin (UNR)
Bundu will fight unbeaten Brit Frankie Gavin in Wolverhampton, England on August 1 for Bundu’s European belt.

20) Luis Collazo (5-18)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- L (UD12) vs. Amir Khan (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
It’s back to the drawing board for Collazo, whose career momentum was abruptly halted by a sharp Khan.

 

The Week Ahead: 
Saturday
#10 Randall Bailey vs. Freddy Lawson; St. Paul, Minnesota; Off TV
Bailey fights undefeated but unproven Ghanaian Freddy Lawson on Saturday, in a fight that could scarcely be more under the radar, decent though it is.  

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Welterweight: 2014, May 26- Jun 1

Posted in Rankings, Welterweight with tags , , , , , , , on October 22, 2014 by danboxing
Thursday in Pointe Claire, Quebec, fringe contender Jo Jo Dan got a picturesque but easy win over Polish journeyman Lukasz Janik, in a fight that was contracted at 150.  Dan mainly worked off the jab while dominating from the outside with a high workrate.  At the same time, he didn’t let himself get too jab-heavy, mixing it up well with a diverse arsenal of effective punches.  In the 4th round, when it became apparent from body language that Janik was close to succumbing to an accumulation of shots, Dan started concentrating more on power, and began leading and doubling up with his southpaw right hook, which he used to no mean effect.  In the 5th he got a used-up Janik pinned in the corner and went to work, landing dozens of unanswered shots that caused referee Steve St. Germain to reasonably stop the fight.  Janik was basically on the level of a decent sparring partner, but never really made Dan remotely uncomfortable.

 

On Saturday’s Stevenson-Fonfara undercard in Montreal, another Quebec favorite, prospect Kevin Bizier, also fought at a junior middleweight contract weight, this one at 152 against lower-mid-level Argentine journeyman Carlos Herrera.  In the first round, Bizier allowed himself to be circled consistently by Herrera, who looked to dance and jab from the outside, but still managed to be first and land all of the telling blows.  He began to make the ring a little smaller for Herrera in the 2nd, though I still wouldn’t say he cut the ring off, exactly.  Regardless, he continued to land heavy shots, including a flush uppercut that rocked Herrera about midway through the round.  From there, Bizier’s finishing skills proved formidable, as he quickly scored a knockdown.  After the count he jumped all over Herrera on the ropes, blistering him with a sustained flurry that prompted the Argentine to crouch down on the canvas.  After St. Germain, who apparently had a busy week, reached the count of 8, Herrera’s corner hopped onto the ring apron and waved the towel, yielding a 2nd round TKO win for Bizier.  He’s still got a lot to work on, but the talent is definitely there.

 

No changes this week, since both guys were in light, and technically not even at 147.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (213-245-245)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- W* (MD12) vs. #4 Marcos Maidana
Next Fight: 9/13/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent
Mayweather has booked his next fight on September 13.  Let’s hope he gives Maidana a rematch.
1) Marcos Maidana (4-51-51)
Last Fight:5/3/2014- L* (MD12) vs. Champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Next Fight: Unknown
There are rumors swirling around two possible fights for Maidana- a Mayweather rematch and a showdown with Keith Thurman.
2) Manny Pacquiao (4-286-286)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- UD12 #1 Timothy Bradley
Next Fight: Unknown
Pacquiao signed a 2-year extension with Top Rank, limiting his fight options and potentially killing any forlorn hope fans might still have of a Mayweather fight.
3) Juan Manuel Marquez (4-133-133)
Last Fight: 5/17/2014- UD12 #? JWW Mike Alvarado
Next Fight: Unknown
Marquez still has plenty in the tank, it would appear, as he fairly comfortably handled a young hungry contender in Alvarado.  He’s not ruling out another Pacquiao fight, it seems.
4) Timothy Bradley (4-33-103)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- L (UD12) vs. #3 Manny Pacquiao
Next Fight: Unknown
Bradley says he intends to return in October or November, and says he wants Mayweather.  Good luck, especially coming off a loss.  Bradley’s best options for a next fight, practically-speaking, are limited to re-hashes of previous fights like Marquez and Provodnikov.
5) Keith Thurman (24-24-64)
Last Fight: 4/26/2014- RTD3 Julio Diaz (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
There’s a rumor that has Thurman fighting Maidana on September 13.  He’s also expressed interest in Tim Bradley, a politically difficult proposition.
6) Shawn Porter (24-25-25)
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- KO4 #14 Paulie Malignaggi
Next Fight: Unknown
Thurman wants him and Golden Boy is making noise about him fighting Mayweather, but it’s hard to imagine Porter being able to put off his mandatory with Brook any longer.  That fight is being worked on for July, it’s said.
7) Robert Guerrero (25-79-96)
Last Fight: 5/4/2013- L (UD12) vs. Champ Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Next Fight: 6/21/2014- vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai (UNR)
Guerrero scheduled the Kamegai fight just in time to avoid removal.  It’s not exactly the sexiest possible matchup, though Kamegai does make good fights generally.
8) Kell Brook (25-161-161)
Last Fight:3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR) (at JMW)
Next Fight: Unknown
See Porter’s notes, above.
9) Devon Alexander (25-118-118)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- L (UD12) vs. Shawn Porter (UNR)
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #12 Jesus Soto Karass
Boxingscene now reports that Alexander-Soto Karass is done, but not for June 21 as originally reported, but rather on the Canelo-Lara undercard on July 12.
10) Randall Bailey (27-27-27)
Last Fight: 11/23/2013- W (DQ8) vs. Humberto Toledo (UNR)
Next Fight: 6/7/2014- vs. Freddy Lawson (UNR)
Bailey wants Thurman, but it sounds like he’s settling for undefeated but fairly untested Ghanaian prospect Freddy Lawson in Minnesota.
11) Josesito Lopez (27-101)
Last Fight: 4/24/2014- TKO5 Aron Martinez (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Lopez is back on the right track, looking at least decent against a likely better fighter than Arnaoutis, whom he almost lost to.
12) Jesus Soto Karass (24-70)
Last Fight: 12/14/2013- L (TKO9) vs. #13 Keith Thurman
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #9 Devon Alexander
See Alexander’s notes, above.
13) Andre Berto (24-79)
Last Fight: 7/27/2013- L (TKO12) vs. #11 Jesus Soto Karass
Next Fight: Unknown 
Berto is now recovered from surgery and is training for a July return. 
14) Amir Khan (4-4)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- UD12 #17 Luis Collazo
Next Fight: Unknown
Despite the fairly impressive win over Collazo, Khan has ruled himself out of a possible Mayweather shot in September, due to Ramadan.  He posits Shawn Porter, Keith Thurman, and Robert Guerrero as possible opponents, and has indicated interest in fighting in Dubai.
15) Paulie Malignaggi (4-25) 
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- L (KO4) vs. #6 Shawn Porter
Next Fight: Unknown
Malignaggi confirms he’s considering retirement.
16) Chris van Heerden (4-102)
Last Fight: 4/16/2014- W (SD10) vs. Ray Narh (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Van Heerden’s split decision win over Ray Narh doesn’t look very worthy of a top 15 contender on paper, but I unfortunately am unable to find video, and thus can’t opine on what it might mean for his future.
17) Luis Carlos Abregu (4-57)
Last Fight: 4/4/2014- TKO8 Jean Carlos Prada (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Abregu offered Brandon Rios a fight, but Rios turned it down.  He is also interested in Thurman.
18) Jan Zaveck (17-233)
Last Fight: 10/19/2013- UD8 Sebastien Allais (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
There are rumors that Zaveck may soon be positioned for a minor (IBO) title fight.
19) Leonard Bundu (11-13)
Last Fight: 12/14/2013- TKO12 Lee Purdy (UNR)
Next Fight: 8/1/2014- vs. Frankie Gavin (UNR)
Bundu will fight unbeaten Brit Frankie Gavin in Wolverhampton, England on August 1 for Bundu’s European belt.

20) Luis Collazo (4-17)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- L (UD12) vs. Amir Khan (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
It’s back to the drawing board for Collazo, whose career momentum was abruptly halted by a sharp Khan.

 

The Week Ahead: Nothing big this week.  Borderline gatekeeper Aslanbek Kozaev is in action against a journeyman, but that fight is only arguably significant since Kozaev is only arguably top 50.  It’s only going to be seriously significant if he loses anyway, so I’ll skip it for the sake of efficiency unless that happens.

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Welterweight: 2014, May 12-18

Posted in Rankings, Welterweight with tags , , , , , , , on October 14, 2014 by danboxing
In the week’s only half-serious welterweight action on Friday, fringe contender Ray Robinson beat up low-level journeyman George Sosa for the better part of 4 rounds, before referee Vic de Wysocki stepped in to stop it.  No video of the fight is known to exist, so that’s all I can report.

 

No changes this week.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (211-243-243)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- W* (MD12) vs. #4 Marcos Maidana
Next Fight: Unknown
Mayweather certainly deserved a loss against Maidana in what was clearly his toughest night since the first Castillo fight.  There’s already serious talk of a rematch.
1) Marcos Maidana (2-49-49)
Last Fight:5/3/2014- L* (MD12) vs. Champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Next Fight: Unknown
See Mayweather’s notes, above.
2) Manny Pacquiao (2-284-284)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- UD12 #1 Timothy Bradley
Next Fight: Unknown
Pacquiao is reportedly working on a 5-fight extension with the rotting corpse of Top Rank.
3) Juan Manuel Marquez (2-131-131)
Last Fight: 10/12/2013- L (SD12) vs. #17 Timothy Bradley
Next Fight: 5/17/2014- vs. #? JWW Mike Alvarado
Marquez takes on Alvarado near L.A. on May 17.
4) Timothy Bradley (2-31-101)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- L (UD12) vs. #3 Manny Pacquiao
Next Fight: Unknown
Bradley’s best options for a next fight, practically-speaking, are limited to re-hashes of previous fights like Marquez and Provodnikov.
5) Keith Thurman (22-22-62)
Last Fight: 4/26/2014- RTD3 Julio Diaz (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Thurman might get a Mayweather shot next, if there’s no Mayweather-Maidana II on the horizon.
6) Shawn Porter (22-23-23)
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- KO4 #14 Paulie Malignaggi
Next Fight: Unknown
Thurman wants him and Golden Boy is making noise about him fighting Mayweather, but it’s hard to imagine Porter being able to put off his mandatory with Brook any longer.  That fight is being worked on for July, it’s said.
7) Robert Guerrero (23-77-94)
Last Fight: 5/4/2013- L (UD12) vs. Champ Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Next Fight: 6/21/2014- vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai (UNR)
Guerrero scheduled the Kamegai fight just in time to avoid removal.  It’s not exactly the sexiest possible matchup, though Kamegai does make good fights generally.
8) Kell Brook (23-159-159)
Last Fight:3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR) (at JMW)
Next Fight: Unknown
See Porter’s notes, above.
9) Devon Alexander (23-116-116)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- L (UD12) vs. Shawn Porter (UNR)
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #12 Jesus Soto Karass
Boxingscene now reports that Alexander-Soto Karass is done, but not for June 21 as originally reported, but rather on the Canelo-Lara undercard on July 12.
10) Randall Bailey (25-25-25)
Last Fight: 11/23/2013- W (DQ8) vs. Humberto Toledo (UNR)
Next Fight: 6/7/2014- vs. Freddy Lawson (UNR)
Bailey wants Thurman, but it sounds like he’s settling for undefeated but fairly untested Ghanaian prospect Freddy Lawson in Minnesota.
11) Josesito Lopez (25-99)
Last Fight: 4/24/2014- TKO5 Aron Martinez (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Lopez is back on the right track, looking at least decent against a likely better fighter than Arnaoutis, whom he almost lost to.
12) Jesus Soto Karass (22-68)
Last Fight: 12/14/2013- L (TKO9) vs. #13 Keith Thurman
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #9 Devon Alexander
See Alexander’s notes, above.
13) Andre Berto (22-77)
Last Fight: 7/27/2013- L (TKO12) vs. #11 Jesus Soto Karass
Next Fight: Unknown 
Berto is now recovered from surgery and is training for a July return. 
14) Amir Khan (2-2)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- UD12 #17 Luis Collazo
Next Fight: Unknown
Despite the fairly impressive win over Collazo, Khan has ruled himself out of a possible Mayweather shot in September, due to Ramadan.  He posits Shawn Porter and Robert Guerrero as possible opponents.
15) Paulie Malignaggi (2-23) 
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- L (KO4) vs. #6 Shawn Porter
Next Fight: Unknown
Malignaggi confirms he’s considering retirement.
16) Chris van Heerden (2-100)
Last Fight: 4/16/2014- W (SD10) vs. Ray Narh (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Van Heerden’s split decision win over Ray Narh doesn’t look very worthy of a top 15 contender on paper, but I unfortunately am unable to find video, and thus can’t opine on what it might mean for his future.
17) Luis Carlos Abregu (2-55)
Last Fight: 4/4/2014- TKO8 Jean Carlos Prada (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Abregu is interested in fighting Brandon Rios in the US.
18) Jan Zaveck (15-231)
Last Fight: 10/19/2013- UD8 Sebastien Allais (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
There are rumors that Zaveck may soon be positioned for a minor (IBO) title fight.
19) Leonard Bundu (9-11)
Last Fight: 12/14/2013- TKO12 Lee Purdy (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Bundu’s fight with Gianluca Branco, scheduled for April 12, is now off due to a training injury to Branco.  Bundu’s camp is now targeting May as his next appearance, and Frankie Gavin has been installed as his new mandatory.

20) Luis Collazo (2-15)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- L (UD12) vs. Amir Khan (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
It’s back to the drawing board for Collazo, whose career momentum was abruptly halted by a sharp Khan.

 

The Week Ahead:
Friday
Bethuel Ushona vs. Ebenezer Lantei Lamptey; Oshikoto, Namibia; TV Unknown
Ushona- roughly a fringe contender since his big win over Kaizer Mabuza last year-  is up against, it would appear, one of those Ghanaians with the fairly impressive but ultimately hollow records that you sometimes see getting cut through like wet paper against a really good international prospect.  Lamptey is even less foreboding than some others, since he has already lost a couple times, once to local competition.  Ushona should have a pretty easy night.

 

Saturday
#3 Juan Manuel Marquez vs. #? JWW Mike Alvarado; Inglewood, California; HBO (US)
What more can be said about Marquez?  He’s dueled with the current Champ and lost, and dueled with fellow pound for pound claimant Pacquiao 4 times, winning between one and four of those meetings, depending whom you ask.  Alvarado has both failed and succeeded on a slightly lower level- chiefly with his own rival, Brandon Rios.  Still, he would figure to be the much younger and fresher guy, and so this one might be tough to pick.

 

Brad Solomon vs. Arman Ovsepyan; Inglewood, California; Off TV
Solomon is a fine undefeated prospect who has so far done a criminally bad job of following up on his huge 2011 triumph over Demetrius Hopkins, having not fought another top 50 fighter since.  This will be no exception, as Ovsepyan, an Armenian who lives in Russia, is a low-level journeyman and poses no threat, nor any reward.

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Welterweight: 2014, May 5-11

Posted in Rankings, Welterweight with tags , , , , , , , on October 9, 2014 by danboxing
#4 Marcos Maidana came out and mugged Floyd Mayweather on Saturday, and got about as close to being flat-out robbed as you can get without me calling it that.  What it was was a bad decision.  Floyd received his usual awed deference from the media, which tended to characterize the fight as a close one, but most agreed with the just plain ignorant position that Floyd won.  Look.  Maidana won the first 6 rounds.  Not the majority of them.  All of them.  1, 3, and 5 were so self-evident that if I need to convince you of that, I simply have no prayer to do so.  2, 4, and 6 were basically toss-ups, but with the punches essentially even, you’ve got to move on to the secondary criteria like effective aggressiveness and ring generalship.  This, I think, is where the ignorant media exposes its ignorance.  Obviously effective aggressiveness goes to Maidana, who was on top of Mayweather and looking to impose his will, while Mayweather’s dearest hope during this time was to try and keep Maidana out of his face.  

 

Scoring flaw #1 on the part of boxing hipsters: assuming that Maidana’s aggressiveness is not effective.  After all, it’s not like he’s landing all of his punches, right?  Come on.  Look.  Maidana was the aggressor, setting effectiveness aside for a moment, beyond all doubt.  Was he effective?  Sure.  Not that Floyd’s defense didn’t limit that aggressiveness somewhat, but you don’t have to be 100% effective 100% of the time to get credit in that category.  Too many fans and media dismiss effective aggressiveness as not applicable in Mayweather fights because of the shoulder roll.  You can be as slick as you want, but if the other guy is coming forward and initiating exchanges, he’s going to win this category.  The only question is how big a factor it becomes.  Let’s say it’s minimal for the sake of argument, even though I think it’s huge.  

 

Now to ring generalship.  Boxing hipsters think they know what this means.  Something along the lines of “using the entire ring” or simply moving can get a fighter the nod among these folks.  Running, then, is unjustly rewarded.  I’m not even accusing Floyd of running in this case necessarily.  I’m simply trying to challenge the all-too-common assumption that he wins ring generalship in a landslide at all times, and practically by default.  Look.  A shoulder roll is not ring generalship.  Backing up per se is far from being ring generalship.  Backing up CAN be part of this category, but only to the extent that, for example, you use it as a tactic to keep an opponent off balance to then spring your own offense off movement, or simply walk the opponent into punches.  My favorite example of the latter is Juan Manuel Marquez against Manny Pacquiao in their third meeting, but he got less than absolute zero credit for that from the awful judges.  By contrast, Mayweather gets the credit merely for being on the back foot.  I’ll never understand why, nor agree to it being justified.  Ask yourself this: if two armies are inflicting equal casualties on one another, but one is moving forward while the other falls back, whose general will tend to receive the most praise?  To me, the single best type of ring generalship is cutting off the ring, and keeping your opponent on or near the ropes.  This, I would wager, is not remotely on most fans’ radar when talking about ring generalship.  Put simply, the judging criteria are not properly or logically understood by very many people- even perhaps most judges- and it makes those with less admirable styles more successful against all reason.  Mayweather is not an undefeated fighter.  He just has the official record of one.  

 

But let’s say you disagree with me about rounds 2, 4, and/or 6, and had Maidana only up by a round or two, or even had it scored a draw after 6.  Maidana didn’t fade nearly as badly as Showtime might have you believe.  He won round 8 easily, and pretty clearly won 12, as well.  I also gave him round 11 for some of the same reasons detailed above.  This wasn’t even that close a fight in my opinion.  Maidana 117-111.  Technically there were enough close rounds to where I’m not 100% furious with you if you had it as far in the other direction as 115-113 Mayweather, but I think you would need to seriously examine your judging criteria and personal biases if you came to something like that.  Much like Canelo’s near-robbery win over Austin Trout, this one was a competitive fight with a lot of close rounds, but for stylistic reasons, those close rounds pretty clearly all should have gone in just one direction, and that direction is to Marcos Maidana.  I only regret that I hadn’t felt more strongly about those close rounds at the time they were happening so that I could give Maidana the Welterweight Championship recognition that is rightfully his.  Unfortunately, since I’m not one to second guess myself in order to second guess others, I will have to give minimal deference to the official result, which means essentially I’ll treat it like a draw, with the barest of edges to Mayweather, who therefore can’t help but retain his Championship.  Maidana, however, is now in the position that Martin Murray found himself in after a somewhat similar raw deal against Sergio Martinez last year- that of a #1 contender who can rightly feel like he beat the Champion.

 

In another nice matchup on the undercard, Amir Khan finally managed to shine, really for the first time since moving up to welterweight.  #17 Luis Collazo, who had to be seen as having a fighting chance coming in based on his dismantling of Victor Ortiz, was largely outclassed against the Manchester star.  Collazo had moments on a sporadic basis, but had a fair amount of trouble getting off his punches.  Part of the reason for this was strategically brilliant clinching on the part of Khan who, even against a mediocre puncher like Collazo, has to be careful to keep his chin well protected.  Neutralizing Collazo’s offense thusly, he was able to, at his pace, flash the handspeed and combination punching that made him a huge international star in the first place.  My score was 116-107, which reflected 3 Khan knockdowns, as well as a point deduction against each fighter in the 8th- one on Collazo for a low blow, and one (perhaps overdue) on Khan for excessive holding.  Judges Jerry Roth (117-106) and especially Cathy Leonard and Adelaide Byrd (119-104) had the fight too wide, with the ladies having it shamefully so.

 

Maidana, as alluded to above, takes over the #1 spot, while Mayweather maintains a hold on the Championship that looks more tenuous than ever before.  Khan, despite appearing to be right in the thick of contention at the top of the division now, objectively is not able to rise past #14, since Collazo was only #17 after beating a diminished Ortiz.  This, of course, is partly due to the fact that his lengthy resume at 140 is no good to him here, as well.  Collazo just does manage to hang onto a ranking in this very stacked division, at #20.  Khan’s arrival forces Jo Jo Dan out after a run of 7 weeks consecutively.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (210-242-242)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- W* (MD12) vs. #4 Marcos Maidana
Next Fight: Unknown
Mayweather certainly deserved a loss against Maidana in what was clearly his toughest night since the first Castillo fight.  There’s already serious talk of a rematch.
1) Marcos Maidana (1-48-48)
Last Fight:5/3/2014- L* (MD12) vs. Champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Next Fight: Unknown
See Mayweather’s notes, above.
2) Manny Pacquiao (1-283-283)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- UD12 #1 Timothy Bradley
Next Fight: Unknown
Pacquiao is reportedly working on a 5-fight extension with the rotting corpse of Top Rank.
3) Juan Manuel Marquez (1-130-130)
Last Fight: 10/12/2013- L (SD12) vs. #17 Timothy Bradley
Next Fight: 5/17/2014- vs. #? JWW Mike Alvarado
Marquez takes on Alvarado near L.A. on May 17.
4) Timothy Bradley (1-30-100)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- L (UD12) vs. #3 Manny Pacquiao
Next Fight: Unknown
Bradley’s best options for a next fight, practically-speaking, are limited to re-hashes of previous fights like Marquez and Provodnikov.
5) Keith Thurman (21-21-61)
Last Fight: 4/26/2014- RTD3 Julio Diaz (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Thurman might get a Mayweather shot next, if there’s no Mayweather-Maidana II on the horizon.
6) Shawn Porter (21-22-22)
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- KO4 #14 Paulie Malignaggi
Next Fight: Unknown
Thurman wants him and Golden Boy is making noise about him fighting Mayweather, but it’s hard to imagine Porter being able to put off his mandatory with Brook any longer.
7) Robert Guerrero (22-76-93)
Last Fight: 5/4/2013- L (UD12) vs. Champ Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Next Fight: 6/21/2014- vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai (UNR)
Guerrero scheduled the Kamegai fight just in time to avoid removal.  It’s not exactly the sexiest possible matchup, though Kamegai does make good fights generally.
8) Kell Brook (22-158-158)
Last Fight:3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR) (at JMW)
Next Fight: Unknown
See Porter’s notes, above.
9) Devon Alexander (22-115-115)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- L (UD12) vs. Shawn Porter (UNR)
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #12 Jesus Soto Karass
Boxingscene now reports that Alexander-Soto Karass is done, but not for June 21 as originally reported, but rather on the Canelo-Lara undercard on July 12.
10) Randall Bailey (24-24-24)
Last Fight: 11/23/2013- W (DQ8) vs. Humberto Toledo (UNR)
Next Fight: 6/7/2014- vs. Freddy Lawson (UNR)
Bailey wants Thurman, but it sounds like he’s settling for undefeated but fairly untested Ghanaian prospect Freddy Lawson in Minnesota.
11) Josesito Lopez (24-98)
Last Fight: 4/24/2014- TKO5 Aron Martinez (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Lopez is back on the right track, looking at least decent against a likely better fighter than Arnaoutis, whom he almost lost to.
12) Jesus Soto Karass (21-67)
Last Fight: 12/14/2013- L (TKO9) vs. #13 Keith Thurman
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #9 Devon Alexander
See Alexander’s notes, above.
13) Andre Berto (21-76)
Last Fight: 7/27/2013- L (TKO12) vs. #11 Jesus Soto Karass
Next Fight: Unknown 
Berto is now recovered from surgery and is training for a July return.  Alexander wants him.
14) Amir Khan (1-1)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- UD12 #17 Luis Collazo
Next Fight: Unknown
Despite the fairly impressive win over Collazo, Khan has ruled himself out of a possible Mayweather shot in September, due to Ramadan.
15) Paulie Malignaggi (1-22) 
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- L (KO4) vs. #6 Shawn Porter
Next Fight: Unknown
Malignaggi confirms he’s considering retirement.
16) Chris van Heerden (1-99)
Last Fight: 4/16/2014- W (SD10) vs. Ray Narh (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Van Heerden’s split decision win over Ray Narh doesn’t look very worthy of a top 15 contender on paper, but I unfortunately am unable to find video, and thus can’t opine on what it might mean for his future.
17) Luis Carlos Abregu (1-54)
Last Fight: 4/4/2014- TKO8 Jean Carlos Prada (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Abregu is interested in fighting Brandon Rios in the US.
18) Jan Zaveck (14-230)
Last Fight: 10/19/2013- UD8 Sebastien Allais (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
There are rumors that Zaveck may soon be positioned for a minor (IBO) title fight.
19) Leonard Bundu (8-10)
Last Fight: 12/14/2013- TKO12 Lee Purdy (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Bundu’s fight with Gianluca Branco, scheduled for April 12, is now off due to a training injury to Branco.  Bundu’s camp is now targeting May as his next appearance, and Frankie Gavin has been installed as his new mandatory.

20) Luis Collazo (1-14)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- L (UD12) vs. Amir Khan (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
It’s back to the drawing board for Collazo, whose career momentum was abruptly halted by a sharp Khan.

 

The Week Ahead:
Friday
Ray Robinson vs. George Sosa; Dover, Delaware; Off TV
Philadelphia’s Robinson will stay busy, while still effectively getting a breather in this one.  New Jersey native Sosa is nothing more than a run-of-the-mill journeyman, who has only twice beaten fighters with winning records (the two of which totaled only 7 wins).  Robinson, by sharp contrast, comes off back-to-back wins over top 50 fighters in Ray Narh and Aslanbek Kozaev.  

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