Heavyweight: 2012, Mar 5-11
Jean-Marc Mormeck had a shot at the legitimate heavyweight championship of the world, and he totally froze up. He did nothing. CompuBox said he landed 3 punches. I want a recount. I saw zero. That’s over the course of about 3 1/2 rounds. Wladimir Klitschko won that fight sometime well before he stepped in the ring. Mormeck got what must have been a nice payday, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see him retire. It’s obvious his two prior close wins over fringe contenders had him overrated, because he belonged in the same ring with the Champion even less than most of Wlad’s unworthy challengers. On the same card in Dusseldorf, fringe contending undefeated Russian giant Alexander Ustinov stopped journeyman Kertson Manswell late in the 3rd round.
7) Ruslan Chagaev 8) Chris Arreola 9) Kubrat Pulev 10) Tyson Fury
Champ: Wladimir Klitschko (141-354-354)
Last Fight: 3/3/2012- TKO4 #16 Jean-Marc Mormeck
Next Fight: Unknown Date- vs. #10 Tony Thompson
Wlad spoke his mind and said he wants Arreola next, and that he was also interested in Seth Mitchell, David Price, and Tyson Fury. The following day, he told us that he will follow his marching orders from the alphabets and instead fight Tony Thompson in the summer.
1) Vitali Klitschko (178-178-178)
Last Fight: 2/18/2012- UD12 #6 Dereck Chisora
Next Fight: Unknown After expressing interest in a rematch with Chisora (to knock him out), Vitali then revived serious talk of fighting David Haye, in a very short period of time, that fight appeared nearly made, but talks now appear to be falling apart.
2) Alexander Povetkin (28-228-228) Last Fight: 2/25/2012- W*(MD12) vs. CW #5 Marco Huck
Next Fight: Unknown Date- vs. Hasim Rahman (UNR)
Povetkin got the benefit of the doubt in a fight he was dangerously close to losing against big underdog Marco Huck. A rematch is widely desired and eminently deserved, but Povetkin is fighting HASIM RAHMAN next. Shame on the WBA for ordering such a ridiculous mandatory fight for its ridiculous title, and shame on Povetkin for being their pawn.
3) Eddie Chambers (21-153-153) 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 (14-98-98)
Last Fight: 9/10/2011- L (TKO10) vs. #1 Vitali Klitschko
Next Fight: 3/24/2012- vs. Nagy Aguilera (UNR)
Adamek will fight journeyman Nagy Aguilera on NBC Sports’ March 24 card after reconciling with his old promotional outfit, Main Events. 5) Marco Huck (2-2) Last Fight: 2/25/2012- L*(MD12) vs. #2 Alexander Povetkin Next Fight: Unknown Huck shockingly was able to narrowly outfight Povetkin, and gets about half the credit he deserves in my rankings (as opposed to none of it elsewhere). Povetkin is hiding behind his mandatory obligation against total has-been Hasim Rahman to avoid a rematch. 6) Tyson Fury (2-33-33) Last Fight: 11/12/2011- TKO3 Neven Pajkic (UNR)
Next Fight: 4/14/2012- vs. Martin Rogan (UNR)
In lieu of a British title defense against the dangerous David Price, Fury has opted to fight also-ran former British Champion Martin Rogan- who had been reduced to fighting 6-rounders before his current 18-month layoff- instead. 7) Dereck Chisora (2-14-77) Last Fight: 2/18/2012- L(UD12) vs. #1 Vitali Klitschko
Next Fight: Unknown
For the brawl with David Haye, Chisora has been banned indefinitely by the WBC (not that big a deal), but faces a hearing on his license by the British Boxing Board of Control on March 14 (much bigger deal).
8) Robert Helenius (2-49-93)
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.
9) Ruslan Chagaev (2-277-277) 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.
10) Tony Thompson (2-93-93)
Last Fight: 5/27/2011- TKO3 Maurice Harris (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown Date- vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko
Wlad has confirmed that he’ll be fighting Thompson- his IBF mandatory- next.
11) Odlanier Solis (2-93)
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. 12) Seth Mitchell (2-13) Last Fight: 12/10/2011- TKO2 #19 Timur Ibragimov Next Fight: 4/28/2012- vs. Chazz Witherspoon (UNR) I talked to Mitchell while sitting 2 seats down from him at the Alexander-Maidana card, and he says he will fight Chazz Witherspoon next as the televised co-feature to Hopkins-Dawson on April 28. I can’t argue with getting to see Mitchell on a big stage since I believe him to be the next Champ, but I’m a little surprised that HBO would approve a borderline journeyman like Witherspoon. 13) Alexander Dimitrenko (2-60) Last Fight: 9/24/2011- UD12 Michael Sprott (UNR)
Next Fight: 3/31/2012- vs. #19 Kubrat Pulev
Despite promotional issues, Dimitrenko-Pulev appears to be on for March 31 in Kiel, Germany.
14) Chris Arreola (2-155)
Last Fight: 2/18/2012- KO1 Eric Molina (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Arreola and Wlad both want to fight each other, but the IBF has intervened, mandating Wlad-Thompson.
15) Denis Boytsov (2-142)
Last Fight: 1/28/2011- KO4 Darnell Wilson (UNR)
Next Fight: 4/13/2012- vs. Dominick Guinn (UNR)
Boytsov will be fighting Dominick Guinn- a one time contender who is now roughly a high-level journeyman- in Cologne on April 13.
16) Jean Marc Mormeck (2-93) Last Fight: 3/3/2012- L(TKO4) vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko Next Fight: Unknown
Mormeck embarrassed himself as much in the ring against Wlad as Chisora did outside the ring against Vitali. That’s saying something. Don’t be surprised if he retires after his nice (but undeserved) payday.
17) Bermane Stiverne (2-37) 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.
18) Samuel Peter (2-93)
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.
19) Kubrat Pulev (2-69) Last Fight: 1/14/2012- RTD9 Michael Sprott (UNR)
Next Fight: 3/31/2012- vs. #13 Alexander Dimitrenko
See Dimitrenko’s notes, above.
20) Franklin Lawrence (2-41) Last Fight: 10/28/2011- TKO2 Raymond Ochieng (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown
No changes to the rankings. There’s a strong temptation to bump Mormeck down based on his docile disappearing act, but in the final analysis, a 4th round stoppage loss isn’t really out of line with expectations when a fringe contender fights a Champion. The punch output was pathetic, but I don’t count punches for other fights I use in the ratings, and I’m not going to cherry pick this one. Mormeck’s inactivity (he barely got in under the gun of removal from the rankings by signing the fight) is a more likely candidate to cause his demotion, but #17 Bermane Stiverne doesn’t exactly cry out for a boost with his resume or activity, either.
For Comparison, here are the Current Ring Magazine Heavyweight Rankings: Champ: Wladimir Klitschko 1) Vitali Klitschko 2) Alexander Povetkin 3) Tomasz Adamek 4) Alexander Dimitrenko 5) Robert Helenius 6) Denis Boystov
7) Ruslan Chagaev 8) Chris Arreola 9) Kubrat Pulev 10) Tyson Fury
Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in current position-weeks in top 10 (if applicable)-weeks in top 20)
Champ: Wladimir Klitschko (141-354-354)
Last Fight: 3/3/2012- TKO4 #16 Jean-Marc Mormeck
Next Fight: Unknown Date- vs. #10 Tony Thompson
Wlad spoke his mind and said he wants Arreola next, and that he was also interested in Seth Mitchell, David Price, and Tyson Fury. The following day, he told us that he will follow his marching orders from the alphabets and instead fight Tony Thompson in the summer.
1) Vitali Klitschko (178-178-178)
Last Fight: 2/18/2012- UD12 #6 Dereck Chisora
Next Fight: Unknown After expressing interest in a rematch with Chisora (to knock him out), Vitali then revived serious talk of fighting David Haye, in a very short period of time, that fight appeared nearly made, but talks now appear to be falling apart.
2) Alexander Povetkin (28-228-228) Last Fight: 2/25/2012- W*(MD12) vs. CW #5 Marco Huck
Next Fight: Unknown Date- vs. Hasim Rahman (UNR)
Povetkin got the benefit of the doubt in a fight he was dangerously close to losing against big underdog Marco Huck. A rematch is widely desired and eminently deserved, but Povetkin is fighting HASIM RAHMAN next. Shame on the WBA for ordering such a ridiculous mandatory fight for its ridiculous title, and shame on Povetkin for being their pawn.
3) Eddie Chambers (21-153-153) 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 (14-98-98)
Last Fight: 9/10/2011- L (TKO10) vs. #1 Vitali Klitschko
Next Fight: 3/24/2012- vs. Nagy Aguilera (UNR)
Adamek will fight journeyman Nagy Aguilera on NBC Sports’ March 24 card after reconciling with his old promotional outfit, Main Events. 5) Marco Huck (2-2) Last Fight: 2/25/2012- L*(MD12) vs. #2 Alexander Povetkin Next Fight: Unknown Huck shockingly was able to narrowly outfight Povetkin, and gets about half the credit he deserves in my rankings (as opposed to none of it elsewhere). Povetkin is hiding behind his mandatory obligation against total has-been Hasim Rahman to avoid a rematch. 6) Tyson Fury (2-33-33) Last Fight: 11/12/2011- TKO3 Neven Pajkic (UNR)
Next Fight: 4/14/2012- vs. Martin Rogan (UNR)
In lieu of a British title defense against the dangerous David Price, Fury has opted to fight also-ran former British Champion Martin Rogan- who had been reduced to fighting 6-rounders before his current 18-month layoff- instead. 7) Dereck Chisora (2-14-77) Last Fight: 2/18/2012- L(UD12) vs. #1 Vitali Klitschko
Next Fight: Unknown
For the brawl with David Haye, Chisora has been banned indefinitely by the WBC (not that big a deal), but faces a hearing on his license by the British Boxing Board of Control on March 14 (much bigger deal).
8) Robert Helenius (2-49-93)
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.
9) Ruslan Chagaev (2-277-277) 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.
10) Tony Thompson (2-93-93)
Last Fight: 5/27/2011- TKO3 Maurice Harris (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown Date- vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko
Wlad has confirmed that he’ll be fighting Thompson- his IBF mandatory- next.
11) Odlanier Solis (2-93)
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. 12) Seth Mitchell (2-13) Last Fight: 12/10/2011- TKO2 #19 Timur Ibragimov Next Fight: 4/28/2012- vs. Chazz Witherspoon (UNR) I talked to Mitchell while sitting 2 seats down from him at the Alexander-Maidana card, and he says he will fight Chazz Witherspoon next as the televised co-feature to Hopkins-Dawson on April 28. I can’t argue with getting to see Mitchell on a big stage since I believe him to be the next Champ, but I’m a little surprised that HBO would approve a borderline journeyman like Witherspoon. 13) Alexander Dimitrenko (2-60) Last Fight: 9/24/2011- UD12 Michael Sprott (UNR)
Next Fight: 3/31/2012- vs. #19 Kubrat Pulev
Despite promotional issues, Dimitrenko-Pulev appears to be on for March 31 in Kiel, Germany.
14) Chris Arreola (2-155)
Last Fight: 2/18/2012- KO1 Eric Molina (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Arreola and Wlad both want to fight each other, but the IBF has intervened, mandating Wlad-Thompson.
15) Denis Boytsov (2-142)
Last Fight: 1/28/2011- KO4 Darnell Wilson (UNR)
Next Fight: 4/13/2012- vs. Dominick Guinn (UNR)
Boytsov will be fighting Dominick Guinn- a one time contender who is now roughly a high-level journeyman- in Cologne on April 13.
16) Jean Marc Mormeck (2-93) Last Fight: 3/3/2012- L(TKO4) vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko Next Fight: Unknown
Mormeck embarrassed himself as much in the ring against Wlad as Chisora did outside the ring against Vitali. That’s saying something. Don’t be surprised if he retires after his nice (but undeserved) payday.
17) Bermane Stiverne (2-37) 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.
18) Samuel Peter (2-93)
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.
19) Kubrat Pulev (2-69) Last Fight: 1/14/2012- RTD9 Michael Sprott (UNR)
Next Fight: 3/31/2012- vs. #13 Alexander Dimitrenko
See Dimitrenko’s notes, above.
20) Franklin Lawrence (2-41) Last Fight: 10/28/2011- TKO2 Raymond Ochieng (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown
THE WEEK AHEAD: The calendar reveals two fights of note on Friday. Internationalism is the theme as Czech fringe contender Ondrej Pala fights journeyman Konstantin Airich of Germany by way of Kazakhstan in Turkey. That same evening, gatekeeper Jason Estrada takes on low-level journeyman Dominique Alexander in Providence, Rhode Island.
Dan's Weekly Boxer Rankings and Blog 
Leave a Reply