Heavyweight: 2012, Oct 29- Nov 4
Franklin Lawrence’s scheduled fight with veteran journeyman Dominick Guinn from this weekend was cancelled on just a couple days’ notice for no apparent reason, and thus I am left without a significant fight to report. No changes this week.
Champ: Wladimir Klitschko (175-388-388)
Last Fight: 7/7/2012- TKO6 #11 Tony Thompson
Next Fight: 11/10/2012- vs. Mariusz Wach (UNR)
Wlad will fight on after losing his Hall of Fame trainer, Emmanuel Steward, who passed away during surgery just a couple weeks before the fight. This could obviously impact his focus and preparation, but luckily he’s fighting the most inexperienced opponent he’s seen since 2005.
1) Vitali Klitschko (212-212-212)
Last Fight: 9/8/2012- TKO4 Manuel Charr (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
With the early indications being that Vitali’s silly sparring match with Charr being his last fight, there is now plenty of buzz that he might fight Haye in March of next year. His upcoming election for the Kiev mayoral race is an obvious potential factor.
2) David Haye (16-16-16) Last Fight: 7/14/2012- TKO5 #6 Dereck Chisora Next Fight: Unknown Haye has indicated that a fight with Vitali may be the only fight that would lure him away from re-retiring. He may get his wish, as there is now talk of a March 2013 matchup. 3) Tomasz Adamek (16-132-132)
Last Fight: 9/8/2012- TKO5 Travis Walker (UNR)
Next Fight: 12/22/2012- vs. CW #4 Steve Cunningham
Originally scheduled to fight Odlanier Solis, Adamek will instead fight a rematch of his classic cruiserweight title fight of 4 years ago when he fights Steve Cunningham in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, after Solis pulled out. 4) Alexander Povetkin (16-262-262) Last Fight: 9/29/2012- TKO2 Hasim Rahman (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Povetkin and his team have named Wlad, Fury, and Adamek as options for fights in the near future. Any of those would be great, unlike many of his recent choices. Some sources claim Wlad must fight him by February 27, but there is some dispute as to that date.
5) Marco Huck (16-36-36) Last Fight: 5/5/2012- Draw (MD12) vs. CW #7 Ola Afolabi (at CW) Next Fight: 11/3/2012- vs. CW #10 Firat Arslan (at CW) Huck just signed for an alphabet defense against Arslan, kind of out of nowhere. 6) Tyson Fury (16-67-67) Last Fight: 7/7/2012- TKO5 Vinny Maddalone (UNR)
Next Fight: 12/1/2012- vs. Unknown Opponent
Frustrated so far in his quest to find a quality opponent for December 1, Fury has now made a large offer to Denis Boytsov. Boytsov is reportedly considering the offer, but wants to confirm that the winner would get a Klitschko shot before he accepts. 7) Eddie Chambers (20-20-20) Last Fight: 6/16/2012- L(UD12) vs. #3 Tomasz Adamek Next Fight: Unknown Tyson Fury said he offered Chambers a fight on December 1. I’m not sure if Chambers is healthy again, or if he’s not and that’s part of the reason he said no. 8) Kubrat Pulev (5-26-103) Last Fight: 9/29/2012- KO11 Alexander Ustinov (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Pulev may be in for a fight with the Adamek-Cunningham winner, or may go straight to a shot at Wlad in early 2013.
9) Dereck Chisora (5-48-111) Last Fight: 7/14/2012- L(TKO5) vs. David Haye (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
The Haye loss will be a huge setback for the already underrated Chisora. Many will forget that he did clearly beat Helenius.
10) Robert Helenius (5-83-127)
Last Fight: 12/3/2011- W*(SD12) vs. #18 Dereck Chisora (Robbery)
Next Fight: 11/10/2012- vs. Sherman Williams (UNR)
Helenius’ opponent is now confirmed- journeyman Sherman Williams, who is best known for giving a very old Evander Holyfield problems a couple years ago before the fight ended early in a no-contest.
11) Odlanier Solis (16-127)
Last Fight: 5/19/2012- UD12 Konstantin Airich (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown
Solis pulled out of his December 22 fight with Adamek, apparently due to severe differences with his Turkish promoter Ahmet Oner, from whom he is apparently trying to separate himself. Solis’ scheduling has been notoriously unreliable under Oner ever since he injured his knee against Vitali Klitschko.
12) Seth Mitchell (16-47) Last Fight: 4/28/2012- TKO3 Chazz Witherspoon (UNR) Next Fight: 11/17/2012- vs. Johnathon Banks (UNR) Not sure why, but Mitchell’s return has been moved back about 6 weeks to November 17. 13) Ruslan Chagaev (16-311) Last Fight: 9/1/2012- TKO7 Werner Kreiskott (UNR)
Next Fight: 12/1/2012- vs. Mike Perez (UNR)
Chagaev has signed on for a really nice crossroads fight with fast-rising undefeated Cuban Mike Perez.
14) Alexander Dimitrenko (16-94) Last Fight: 5/5/2012- L(KO11) vs. #17 Kubrat Pulev
Next Fight: Unknown
Despite showing the heart of a quitter and the consistency of a random number generator against Pulev, Dimitrenko hangs on to a solid ranking because the other guys in his tier haven’t been winning meaningful fights lately.
15) Tony Thompson (16-127)
Last Fight: 7/7/2012- L(TKO6) vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko
Next Fight: Unknown
In case any of you thought the first fight was a fluke, now you know for sure: Thompson really isn’t as good as Wlad Klitschko.
16) Chris Arreola (16-189)
Last Fight: 2/18/2012- KO1 Eric Molina (UNR)
Next Fight: 12/15/2012- vs. #19 Bermane Stiverne
Arreola will officially step back up in competition on December 15, when he fights Stiverne. This should still be considered tentative, though, since no venue has been named. It’s also not entirely clear that Arreola- who has stated his disgust with the fight’s promoter Don King in the past- has agreed to the terms.
17) Denis Boytsov (16-176)
Last Fight: 4/13/2012- UD10 Dominick Guinn (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Boytsov is currently considering a healthy offer to fight Tyson Fury on December 1 in Belfast. 18) Jean-Marc Mormeck (16-127) Last Fight: 3/3/2012- L(TKO4) vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko Next Fight: Unknown
There are rumors of Mormeck dropping down to fight Wlodarczyk, but Wlodarczyk’s team is dismissing them. 19) Bermane Stiverne (16-71) Last Fight: 4/14/2012- UD8 Willie Herring (UNR)
Next Fight: 12/15/2012- vs. #16 Chris Arreola
See Arreola’s notes above. 20) Edmund Gerber (16-26) Last Fight: 9/15/2012- TKO4* Michael Sprott (UNR) (terrible stoppage) Next Fight: 11/3/2012- vs. Darnell Wilson (UNR) Gerber has signed for a late-notice fight with Darnell Wilson for the Huck-Arslan undercard this weekend.
Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in current position-weeks in top 10 (if applicable)-weeks in top 20)
Champ: Wladimir Klitschko (175-388-388)
Last Fight: 7/7/2012- TKO6 #11 Tony Thompson
Next Fight: 11/10/2012- vs. Mariusz Wach (UNR)
Wlad will fight on after losing his Hall of Fame trainer, Emmanuel Steward, who passed away during surgery just a couple weeks before the fight. This could obviously impact his focus and preparation, but luckily he’s fighting the most inexperienced opponent he’s seen since 2005.
1) Vitali Klitschko (212-212-212)
Last Fight: 9/8/2012- TKO4 Manuel Charr (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
With the early indications being that Vitali’s silly sparring match with Charr being his last fight, there is now plenty of buzz that he might fight Haye in March of next year. His upcoming election for the Kiev mayoral race is an obvious potential factor.
2) David Haye (16-16-16) Last Fight: 7/14/2012- TKO5 #6 Dereck Chisora Next Fight: Unknown Haye has indicated that a fight with Vitali may be the only fight that would lure him away from re-retiring. He may get his wish, as there is now talk of a March 2013 matchup. 3) Tomasz Adamek (16-132-132)
Last Fight: 9/8/2012- TKO5 Travis Walker (UNR)
Next Fight: 12/22/2012- vs. CW #4 Steve Cunningham
Originally scheduled to fight Odlanier Solis, Adamek will instead fight a rematch of his classic cruiserweight title fight of 4 years ago when he fights Steve Cunningham in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, after Solis pulled out. 4) Alexander Povetkin (16-262-262) Last Fight: 9/29/2012- TKO2 Hasim Rahman (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Povetkin and his team have named Wlad, Fury, and Adamek as options for fights in the near future. Any of those would be great, unlike many of his recent choices. Some sources claim Wlad must fight him by February 27, but there is some dispute as to that date.
5) Marco Huck (16-36-36) Last Fight: 5/5/2012- Draw (MD12) vs. CW #7 Ola Afolabi (at CW) Next Fight: 11/3/2012- vs. CW #10 Firat Arslan (at CW) Huck just signed for an alphabet defense against Arslan, kind of out of nowhere. 6) Tyson Fury (16-67-67) Last Fight: 7/7/2012- TKO5 Vinny Maddalone (UNR)
Next Fight: 12/1/2012- vs. Unknown Opponent
Frustrated so far in his quest to find a quality opponent for December 1, Fury has now made a large offer to Denis Boytsov. Boytsov is reportedly considering the offer, but wants to confirm that the winner would get a Klitschko shot before he accepts. 7) Eddie Chambers (20-20-20) Last Fight: 6/16/2012- L(UD12) vs. #3 Tomasz Adamek Next Fight: Unknown Tyson Fury said he offered Chambers a fight on December 1. I’m not sure if Chambers is healthy again, or if he’s not and that’s part of the reason he said no. 8) Kubrat Pulev (5-26-103) Last Fight: 9/29/2012- KO11 Alexander Ustinov (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Pulev may be in for a fight with the Adamek-Cunningham winner, or may go straight to a shot at Wlad in early 2013.
9) Dereck Chisora (5-48-111) Last Fight: 7/14/2012- L(TKO5) vs. David Haye (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
The Haye loss will be a huge setback for the already underrated Chisora. Many will forget that he did clearly beat Helenius.
10) Robert Helenius (5-83-127)
Last Fight: 12/3/2011- W*(SD12) vs. #18 Dereck Chisora (Robbery)
Next Fight: 11/10/2012- vs. Sherman Williams (UNR)
Helenius’ opponent is now confirmed- journeyman Sherman Williams, who is best known for giving a very old Evander Holyfield problems a couple years ago before the fight ended early in a no-contest.
11) Odlanier Solis (16-127)
Last Fight: 5/19/2012- UD12 Konstantin Airich (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown
Solis pulled out of his December 22 fight with Adamek, apparently due to severe differences with his Turkish promoter Ahmet Oner, from whom he is apparently trying to separate himself. Solis’ scheduling has been notoriously unreliable under Oner ever since he injured his knee against Vitali Klitschko.
12) Seth Mitchell (16-47) Last Fight: 4/28/2012- TKO3 Chazz Witherspoon (UNR) Next Fight: 11/17/2012- vs. Johnathon Banks (UNR) Not sure why, but Mitchell’s return has been moved back about 6 weeks to November 17. 13) Ruslan Chagaev (16-311) Last Fight: 9/1/2012- TKO7 Werner Kreiskott (UNR)
Next Fight: 12/1/2012- vs. Mike Perez (UNR)
Chagaev has signed on for a really nice crossroads fight with fast-rising undefeated Cuban Mike Perez.
14) Alexander Dimitrenko (16-94) Last Fight: 5/5/2012- L(KO11) vs. #17 Kubrat Pulev
Next Fight: Unknown
Despite showing the heart of a quitter and the consistency of a random number generator against Pulev, Dimitrenko hangs on to a solid ranking because the other guys in his tier haven’t been winning meaningful fights lately.
15) Tony Thompson (16-127)
Last Fight: 7/7/2012- L(TKO6) vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko
Next Fight: Unknown
In case any of you thought the first fight was a fluke, now you know for sure: Thompson really isn’t as good as Wlad Klitschko.
16) Chris Arreola (16-189)
Last Fight: 2/18/2012- KO1 Eric Molina (UNR)
Next Fight: 12/15/2012- vs. #19 Bermane Stiverne
Arreola will officially step back up in competition on December 15, when he fights Stiverne. This should still be considered tentative, though, since no venue has been named. It’s also not entirely clear that Arreola- who has stated his disgust with the fight’s promoter Don King in the past- has agreed to the terms.
17) Denis Boytsov (16-176)
Last Fight: 4/13/2012- UD10 Dominick Guinn (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Boytsov is currently considering a healthy offer to fight Tyson Fury on December 1 in Belfast. 18) Jean-Marc Mormeck (16-127) Last Fight: 3/3/2012- L(TKO4) vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko Next Fight: Unknown
There are rumors of Mormeck dropping down to fight Wlodarczyk, but Wlodarczyk’s team is dismissing them. 19) Bermane Stiverne (16-71) Last Fight: 4/14/2012- UD8 Willie Herring (UNR)
Next Fight: 12/15/2012- vs. #16 Chris Arreola
See Arreola’s notes above. 20) Edmund Gerber (16-26) Last Fight: 9/15/2012- TKO4* Michael Sprott (UNR) (terrible stoppage) Next Fight: 11/3/2012- vs. Darnell Wilson (UNR) Gerber has signed for a late-notice fight with Darnell Wilson for the Huck-Arslan undercard this weekend.
THE WEEK AHEAD: #20 Edmund Gerber returns from his controversial TKO win over Michael Sprott on Saturday when he fights dangerous journeyman Darnell Wilson on the Huck-Arslan undercard. Wilson was a real force in the cruiserweight division 5 or 6 years ago, but has been losing more often than not since then. He did spring an upset on then-top 10 ranked Juan Carlos Gomez in 2011, but Gomez was fighting with a pretty debilitating pre-existing injury, and stopped Wilson on cuts in the rematch.
Speaking of Huck, his fight with Arlsan is at Cruiser, so I’ll talk about that fight exclusively in the cruiserweight update.
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