Heavyweight: 2012, Feb 13-19
Undefeated Cuban Luis Ortiz won on Saturday, but it was in the way that no man wants to ever win. He was a victim of a 7th-round intentional low blow from Epifanio Mendoza, prompting referee Frank Santore, Jr. to disqualify the Colombian journeyman.
8) Ruslan Chagaev 9) Chris Arreola 10) Kubrat Pulev
Champ: Wladimir Klitschko (138-351-351)
Last Fight: 7/2/2011- UD12 #2 David Haye
Next Fight: 3/3/2011- vs. #15 Jean Marc Mormeck
Wlad has rescheduled with Mormeck after reportedly offering the March 3 date to Tyson Fury (who said he’s not ready), Alexander Povetkin (ditto) and Robert Helenius (wants the fight later in the year).
1) Vitali Klitschko (175-175-175)
Last Fight: 9/10/2011- TKO10 #6 Tomasz Adamek
Next Fight: 2/18/2011- vs. #6 Dereck Chisora
After flirting with Haye and Dimitrenko, Vitali announced a fight with the man of the hour- recently robbed Dereck Chisora. Word is he’ll fight David Haye in a stadium in the summer and then likely retire.
2) Alexander Povetkin (25-225-225) Last Fight: 12/3/2011- KO8 #20 Cedric Boswell
Next Fight: 2/25/2011- vs. CW #5 Marco Huck
Povetkin and Huck have now signed to fight in late February in Stuttgart. 3) Eddie Chambers (18-150-150) Last Fight: 2/11/2011- UD12 Derric Rossy (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Chambers has now been inactive for a year due largely to minor injuries. He has confirmed that he is now clear to train again, so I will give him just one more month to sign another fight before he is removed.
4) Tomasz Adamek (11-95-95)
Last Fight: 9/10/2011- L (TKO10) vs. #1 Vitali Klitschko
Next Fight: Unknown
Adamek will reportedly fight a tune-up in March, and then will likely fight on HBO, which wants him to fight Arreola in a rematch. He has also stated recently that he wants David Haye. 5) Tyson Fury (11-30-30) Last Fight: 11/12/2011- TKO3 Neven Pajkic (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Fury has chosen to vacate his British title rather than face the dangerous and up-and-coming David Price. 6) Dereck Chisora (11-11-74) Last Fight: 12/3/2011- L*(SD12) vs. #4 Robert Helenius (Robbery)
Next Fight: 2/18/2012- vs. #1 Vitali Klitschko
Despite being robbed, Chisora will get a chance to capitalize on his winning performance against Helenius by fighting #1 contender Vitali Klitschkho in February.
7) Robert Helenius (11-46-90)
Last Fight: 12/3/2011- W*(SD12) vs. #18 Dereck Chisora (Robbery)
Next Fight: Unknown
In addition to his injured hand suffered in the Chisora bout, Helenius says he was fighting with an injured shoulder. Now comes the news that he will require surgery for that injury, and will be out until at least the fall. His doctors say there is a chance it will never heal well enough for boxing.
8) Ruslan Chagaev (11-274-274) Last Fight: 1/28/2011- UD8 Kertson Manswell (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Chagaev wants to fight every 3 months and hopes for another title shot by the end of 2012.
9) Tony Thompson (11-90-90)
Last Fight: 5/27/2011- TKO3 Maurice Harris (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Thompson has been elevated to a spot as the IBF’s mandatory contender without the need for an eliminator against Chambers, who withdrew with a back injury. This most likely means he won’t be fighting Chambers as originally planned.
10) Odlanier Solis (11-61-90)
Last Fight: 3/19/2011- L (TKO1) vs. #1 Vitali Klitschko Next Fight: 4/14/2012- vs. Unknown Opponent
Solis is said to be returning on the Rios-Gamboa undercard on April 14 in Vegas. This isn’t the first rumored return date for the badly injured Solis, though, so we’ll have to watch the situation. 11) Seth Mitchell (10-10) Last Fight: 12/10/2011- TKO2 #19 Timur Ibragimov Next Fight: Unknown Mitchell is now back in the gym in preparation for a possible March return. 12) Alexander Dimitrenko (10-57) Last Fight: 9/24/2011- UD12 Michael Sprott (UNR)
Next Fight: 3/31/2012- vs. #18 Kubrat Pulev
Dimitrenko has cancelled his contract with Universum and is now likely on the shelf until its expiration in September as a result.
13) Chris Arreola (10-152)
Last Fight: 11/5/2011- TKO3 Raphael Butler (UNR)
Next Fight: 2/18/2012- vs. Eric Molina (UNR)
Arreola’s showcase fight with Eric Molina will be televised as the final bout of ShoExtreme’s undercard broadcast on Saturday.
14) Denis Boytsov (10-139)
Last Fight: 1/28/2011- KO4 Darnell Wilson (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
After brushing aside a relatively weak opponent in Wilson, Boytsov may have an opportunity against Kubrat Pulev for a European title, should Dimitrenko bow out of that fight as many expect.
15) Jean Marc Mormeck (10-90) Last Fight: 12/2/2010- SD12 #19 Timur Ibragimov Next Fight: 3/3/2012- vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko
See Klitschko’s comments, above.
16) Bermane Stiverne (10-34) Last Fight: 6/25/2011- TKO10 #20 Ray Austin Next Fight: Unknown Despite a still-thin resume, Stiverne has somehow been maneuvered into the position of being Vitali Klitschko’s WBC mandatory challenger. That fight may never happen, though, as there is talk that Vitali might fight Chisora, Haye, and then retire.
17) Samuel Peter (10-90)
Last Fight: 4/2/2011- L(KO9) vs. #16 Robert Helenius
Next Fight: Unknown
It appeared that Peter would be fighting Vyacheslav Glazkov, but apparently it was never a done deal.
18) Kubrat Pulev (10-66) Last Fight: 1/14/2012- RTD9 Michael Sprott (UNR)
Next Fight: 3/31/2012- vs. #12 Alexander Dimitrenko
See Dimitrenko’s notes, above.
19) Franklin Lawrence (10-38) Last Fight: 10/28/2011- TKO2 Raymond Ochieng (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown 20) Cedric Boswell (18-18) Last Fight: 12/3/2011- L(KO8) vs. #2 Alexander Povetkin Next Fight: Unknown Boswell was the most comatose participant in a comatose fight with Alexander Povetkin prior to being rendered semi-conscious by Povetkin in the 8th. In this case, semi-conscious is a downgrade from comatose…don’t ask how that works.
For Comparison, here are the Current Ring Magazine Heavyweight Rankings: Champ: Wladimir Klitschko 1) Vitali Klitschko 2) Alexander Povetkin 3) Tomasz Adamek 4) Eddie Chambers 5) Alexander Dimitrenko 6) Robert Helenius 7) Denis Boystov
8) Ruslan Chagaev 9) Chris Arreola 10) Kubrat Pulev
Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in current position-weeks in top 10 (if applicable)-weeks in top 20)
Champ: Wladimir Klitschko (138-351-351)
Last Fight: 7/2/2011- UD12 #2 David Haye
Next Fight: 3/3/2011- vs. #15 Jean Marc Mormeck
Wlad has rescheduled with Mormeck after reportedly offering the March 3 date to Tyson Fury (who said he’s not ready), Alexander Povetkin (ditto) and Robert Helenius (wants the fight later in the year).
1) Vitali Klitschko (175-175-175)
Last Fight: 9/10/2011- TKO10 #6 Tomasz Adamek
Next Fight: 2/18/2011- vs. #6 Dereck Chisora
After flirting with Haye and Dimitrenko, Vitali announced a fight with the man of the hour- recently robbed Dereck Chisora. Word is he’ll fight David Haye in a stadium in the summer and then likely retire.
2) Alexander Povetkin (25-225-225) Last Fight: 12/3/2011- KO8 #20 Cedric Boswell
Next Fight: 2/25/2011- vs. CW #5 Marco Huck
Povetkin and Huck have now signed to fight in late February in Stuttgart. 3) Eddie Chambers (18-150-150) Last Fight: 2/11/2011- UD12 Derric Rossy (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Chambers has now been inactive for a year due largely to minor injuries. He has confirmed that he is now clear to train again, so I will give him just one more month to sign another fight before he is removed.
4) Tomasz Adamek (11-95-95)
Last Fight: 9/10/2011- L (TKO10) vs. #1 Vitali Klitschko
Next Fight: Unknown
Adamek will reportedly fight a tune-up in March, and then will likely fight on HBO, which wants him to fight Arreola in a rematch. He has also stated recently that he wants David Haye. 5) Tyson Fury (11-30-30) Last Fight: 11/12/2011- TKO3 Neven Pajkic (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Fury has chosen to vacate his British title rather than face the dangerous and up-and-coming David Price. 6) Dereck Chisora (11-11-74) Last Fight: 12/3/2011- L*(SD12) vs. #4 Robert Helenius (Robbery)
Next Fight: 2/18/2012- vs. #1 Vitali Klitschko
Despite being robbed, Chisora will get a chance to capitalize on his winning performance against Helenius by fighting #1 contender Vitali Klitschkho in February.
7) Robert Helenius (11-46-90)
Last Fight: 12/3/2011- W*(SD12) vs. #18 Dereck Chisora (Robbery)
Next Fight: Unknown
In addition to his injured hand suffered in the Chisora bout, Helenius says he was fighting with an injured shoulder. Now comes the news that he will require surgery for that injury, and will be out until at least the fall. His doctors say there is a chance it will never heal well enough for boxing.
8) Ruslan Chagaev (11-274-274) Last Fight: 1/28/2011- UD8 Kertson Manswell (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Chagaev wants to fight every 3 months and hopes for another title shot by the end of 2012.
9) Tony Thompson (11-90-90)
Last Fight: 5/27/2011- TKO3 Maurice Harris (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Thompson has been elevated to a spot as the IBF’s mandatory contender without the need for an eliminator against Chambers, who withdrew with a back injury. This most likely means he won’t be fighting Chambers as originally planned.
10) Odlanier Solis (11-61-90)
Last Fight: 3/19/2011- L (TKO1) vs. #1 Vitali Klitschko Next Fight: 4/14/2012- vs. Unknown Opponent
Solis is said to be returning on the Rios-Gamboa undercard on April 14 in Vegas. This isn’t the first rumored return date for the badly injured Solis, though, so we’ll have to watch the situation. 11) Seth Mitchell (10-10) Last Fight: 12/10/2011- TKO2 #19 Timur Ibragimov Next Fight: Unknown Mitchell is now back in the gym in preparation for a possible March return. 12) Alexander Dimitrenko (10-57) Last Fight: 9/24/2011- UD12 Michael Sprott (UNR)
Next Fight: 3/31/2012- vs. #18 Kubrat Pulev
Dimitrenko has cancelled his contract with Universum and is now likely on the shelf until its expiration in September as a result.
13) Chris Arreola (10-152)
Last Fight: 11/5/2011- TKO3 Raphael Butler (UNR)
Next Fight: 2/18/2012- vs. Eric Molina (UNR)
Arreola’s showcase fight with Eric Molina will be televised as the final bout of ShoExtreme’s undercard broadcast on Saturday.
14) Denis Boytsov (10-139)
Last Fight: 1/28/2011- KO4 Darnell Wilson (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
After brushing aside a relatively weak opponent in Wilson, Boytsov may have an opportunity against Kubrat Pulev for a European title, should Dimitrenko bow out of that fight as many expect.
15) Jean Marc Mormeck (10-90) Last Fight: 12/2/2010- SD12 #19 Timur Ibragimov Next Fight: 3/3/2012- vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko
See Klitschko’s comments, above.
16) Bermane Stiverne (10-34) Last Fight: 6/25/2011- TKO10 #20 Ray Austin Next Fight: Unknown Despite a still-thin resume, Stiverne has somehow been maneuvered into the position of being Vitali Klitschko’s WBC mandatory challenger. That fight may never happen, though, as there is talk that Vitali might fight Chisora, Haye, and then retire.
17) Samuel Peter (10-90)
Last Fight: 4/2/2011- L(KO9) vs. #16 Robert Helenius
Next Fight: Unknown
It appeared that Peter would be fighting Vyacheslav Glazkov, but apparently it was never a done deal.
18) Kubrat Pulev (10-66) Last Fight: 1/14/2012- RTD9 Michael Sprott (UNR)
Next Fight: 3/31/2012- vs. #12 Alexander Dimitrenko
See Dimitrenko’s notes, above.
19) Franklin Lawrence (10-38) Last Fight: 10/28/2011- TKO2 Raymond Ochieng (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown 20) Cedric Boswell (18-18) Last Fight: 12/3/2011- L(KO8) vs. #2 Alexander Povetkin Next Fight: Unknown Boswell was the most comatose participant in a comatose fight with Alexander Povetkin prior to being rendered semi-conscious by Povetkin in the 8th. In this case, semi-conscious is a downgrade from comatose…don’t ask how that works.
THE WEEK AHEAD: Three fights of note are on tap for this Saturday. In Munich, #1 Vitali Klitschko takes on #6 Dereck Chisora, while Americans Johnathon Banks of Detroit and Nicolai Firtha of Akron engage in a tilt overseas. Banks is a former cruiserweight contender and middling heavyweight prosect whose only career loss was to then-Champion Tomasz Adamek in 2009. Firtha is a journeyman who gave an injured Alexander Povetkin some minor difficulty and badly hurt Tyson Fury a few months back before getting blasted to a TKO loss himself a round later. The Klitschko fight will be available on EPIX in the USA.
#13 Chris Arreola gets a minor showcase on the Showtime Extreme-televised undercard against Texas journeyman Eric Molina- essentially a no hoper unless perhaps Arreola’s hand problems resurface.
Dan's Weekly Boxer Rankings and Blog 
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