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Middleweight: 2012, Aug 27- Sep 2

Posted in Middleweight, Rankings with tags , , , , , , , on November 29, 2012 by danboxing
#10 Sam Soliman turned in a fairly impressive performance in Geelong, Australia on Friday.  He won a solid decision over tough and likely underrated gatekeeper Giovanni Lorenzo, even managing to drop Lorenzo in the 12th round.  If you like to use fighters like Lorenzo as measuring sticks, then Soliman comes out looking like a real winner.  When Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (currently #6) fought Lorenzo last year, the result was a very close decision that (although N’Dam legtimately won it) could have gone the other way without too much stretching, although two of the judges didn’t actually watch the fight.

 

The following night in Tulum, Mexico, undefeated Mexican prospect Gilberto Ramirez dominated Colombian journeyman Richard Gutierrez, winning all rounds on all cards.

 

Soliman remains stuck at #10, as #9 Anthony Mundine has still been tested and succeeded at a higher level than Soliman has in recent years, despite his avenged hiccup against Garth Wood.  No changes to the rankings.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: Sergio Martinez (124-124-124)
Last Fight: 3/17/2012- RTD11 #3 Matthew Macklin
Next Fight: 9/15/2012- vs. #2 Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.
Looks like there’s no hitch to the negotiations for Martinez-Chavez, and it looks like that fight is going forward on 9/15 in Vegas.
1) Daniel Geale (62-167-167)
Last Fight: 3/7/2012- UD12 #11 Osumanu Adama
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #4 Felix Sturm
Geale-Sturm now has a confirmed date of 9/1.
2) Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (11-65-83)
Last Fight: 6/16/2012- TKO7 SMW #10 Andy Lee
Next Fight: 9/15/2012- vs. Champ Sergio Martinez
See Martinez’ notes, above.
3) Grzegorz Proksa (11-72-72)
Last Fight: 7/7/2012- TKO8 Kerry Hope (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #13 Gennady Golovkin
Proksa is officially braver than most of his peers, as he will take on rising knockout sensation Gennady Golovkin, September 1 on HBO.
4) Felix Sturm (11-467-467)
Last Fight: 4/13/2012- RTD9 Sebastian Zbik (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #1 Daniel Geale
See Geale’s notes, above.
5) Matthew Macklin (20-62-153)
Last Fight: 3/17/2012- L(RTD11) vs. Champ Sergio Martinez
Next Fight: 9/15/2012- vs. Joachim Alcine (UNR)
Macklin will fight the resurgent Joachim Alcine on the Martinez-Chavez undercard.
6) Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (30-96-96)
Last Fight: 5/4/2012- UD12 #15 Max Bursak
Next Fight: Unknown
The WBO has ordered a fight between N’Dam and Pirog.
7) Dmitry Pirog (17-109-109)
Last Fight: 5/1/2012- UD12 #20 Nobuhiro Ishida
Next Fight: Unknown
Pirog had a short-lived entry on his calendar to fight Golovkin in August, but withdrew very quickly with a back injury.
8) Martin Murray (17-39-39)
Last Fight: 6/16/2012- UD10 Karim Achour (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Murray is currently entertaining the concept of fights with British Isles rivals Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders.
9) Anthony Mundine (26-30-83)
Last Fight: 7/14/2012- TKO7 Bronco McKart (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Mundine recently split with his long-time manager.  Maybe he’s upset that he had to waste time fighting Bronco McKart.
10) Sam Soliman (26-26-28)
Last Fight: 8/24/2012- UD12 Giovanni Lorenzo (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Soliman is now the mandatory for the Geale-Sturm winner.  If Geale emerges victorious, that would set up a big-money domestic showdown in Australia.
11) Marco Antonio Rubio (25-83)
Last Fight: 6/30/2012- TKO7 Jorge Cota (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
It appears that Rubio will probably be fighting on 9/8 as originally speculated, but his opponent is likely to be Carlos Baldomir instead of Peter Quillin.
12) Osumanu Adama (25-75)
Last Fight: 3/7/2012- L(UD12) vs. #1 Daniel Geale
Next Fight: Unknown
Adama came up short against Geale, but has nothing to be ashamed of.  He frequently took the #1 contender out of his game plan and looked entirely in his league at that lofty level.
13) Gennady Golovkin (14-63)
Last Fight: 5/12/2012- TKO3 Makoto Fuchigami (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #3 Grzegorz Proksa
Golovkin will finally get the test he needs to make his ranking match his hype, when he battles dynamic #3 contender Grzegorz Proksa on HBO September 1.
14) Avtandil Khurtsidze (14-83)
Last Fight: 12/18/2011- W(MD12) vs. Ossie Duran (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
15) Max Bursak (14-83)
Last Fight: 7/21/2012- KO1 Sergei Melis (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Lightning-quick knockout in his recent stay busy fight.  No big deal either way.
16) Demetrius Andrade (14-54)
Last Fight: 5/5/2012- KO1 Rudy Cisneros (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Andrade showed chilling power in destroying easy mark Cisneros.
17) Darren Barker (14-46)
Last Fight: 10/1/2011- L(KO11) vs. Champ Sergio Martinez
Next Fight: Unknown
What a tough year for Barker.  He was scheduled for a tune-up comeback fight after hip surgery on September 8, but had to pull out with an arm tendon injury.  He won’t be able to train for a month at least. 
18) Billi Godoy (14-45)
Last Fight: 7/7/2012- UD12 Jorge Heiland (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Godoy went life and death with solid journeyman Heiland.  He’s going to have to do better than that when he fights legitimate top 50 opposition, or his time in the top 20 will be very short.  Hell of a fight, though.
19) Nobuhiro Ishida (14-26)
Last Fight: 5/1/2012- L(UD12) vs. #8 Dmitry Pirog
Next Fight: Unknown
Barely challenged Pirog at all, but has enough mileage left on the Kirkland upset to remain ranked for the moment.
20) Peter Quillin (14-14)
Last Fight: 6/2/2012- UD10 Winky Wright (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/8/2012- vs. Unknown Opponent
Quillin is set to return on September 8, but no opponent after Rubio was a no-go.

 

The Week Ahead: It’s a big week at 160.  In Oberhausen, Germany on Saturday, #1 Daniel Geale looks to do the nearly impossible and walk away with a win over #4 Felix Sturm in Germany.  If Sturm’s remaining skill doesn’t get you, the judges probably will.

 

Later that night in Verona, New York, #13 Gennady Golovkin finally gets a chance to prove his intimidating skills against top competition when he steps into the ring with #3 Grzegorz Proksa.  Why did Proksa agree to fight such a dangerous contender?  Well, in the eyes of many, he has a lot more to prove than an average #3 contender, as he officially lost (though he was robbed) against unheralded journeyman Kerry Hope earlier this year.  These guys are both excellent punchers with sensational styles.  Don’t miss this one.

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Middleweight: 2012, Aug 20-26

Posted in Middleweight, Rankings with tags , , , , , , , on November 28, 2012 by danboxing
No middleweight fights that we care about happened last week.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: Sergio Martinez (123-123-123)
Last Fight: 3/17/2012- RTD11 #3 Matthew Macklin
Next Fight: 9/15/2012- vs. #2 Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.
Looks like there’s no hitch to the negotiations for Martinez-Chavez, and it looks like that fight is going forward on 9/15 in Vegas.
1) Daniel Geale (61-166-166)
Last Fight: 3/7/2012- UD12 #11 Osumanu Adama
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #4 Felix Sturm
Geale-Sturm now has a confirmed date of 9/1.
2) Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (10-64-82)
Last Fight: 6/16/2012- TKO7 SMW #10 Andy Lee
Next Fight: 9/15/2012- vs. Champ Sergio Martinez
See Martinez’ notes, above.
3) Grzegorz Proksa (10-71-71)
Last Fight: 7/7/2012- TKO8 Kerry Hope (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #13 Gennady Golovkin
Proksa is officially braver than most of his peers, as he will take on rising knockout sensation Gennady Golovkin, September 1 on HBO.
4) Felix Sturm (10-466-466)
Last Fight: 4/13/2012- RTD9 Sebastian Zbik (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #1 Daniel Geale
See Geale’s notes, above.
5) Matthew Macklin (19-61-152)
Last Fight: 3/17/2012- L(RTD11) vs. Champ Sergio Martinez
Next Fight: 9/15/2012- vs. Joachim Alcine (UNR)
Macklin will fight the resurgent Joachim Alcine on the Martinez-Chavez undercard.
6) Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (29-95-95)
Last Fight: 5/4/2012- UD12 #15 Max Bursak
Next Fight: Unknown
The WBO has ordered a fight between N’Dam and Pirog.
7) Dmitry Pirog (16-108-108)
Last Fight: 5/1/2012- UD12 #20 Nobuhiro Ishida
Next Fight: Unknown
Pirog had a short-lived entry on his calendar to fight Golovkin in August, but withdrew very quickly with a back injury.
8) Martin Murray (16-38-38)
Last Fight: 6/16/2012- UD10 Karim Achour (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Murray is currently entertaining the concept of fights with British Isles rivals Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders.
9) Anthony Mundine (25-29-82)
Last Fight: 7/14/2012- TKO7 Bronco McKart (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Mundine recently split with his long-time manager.  Maybe he’s upset that he had to waste time fighting Bronco McKart.
10) Sam Soliman (25-25-27)
Last Fight: 2/19/2012- UD12 #15 Garth Wood
Next Fight: 8/24/2012- vs. Giovanni Lorenzo (UNR)
I don’t know if I missed it or if it really was signed on short notice, but Soliman is fighting Giovanni Lorenzo on Saturday.
11) Marco Antonio Rubio (24-82)
Last Fight: 6/30/2012- TKO7 Jorge Cota (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
It appears that Rubio will probably be fighting on 9/8 as originally speculated, but his opponent is likely to be Carlos Baldomir instead of Peter Quillin as originally speculated.
12) Osumanu Adama (24-74)
Last Fight: 3/7/2012- L(UD12) vs. #1 Daniel Geale
Next Fight: Unknown
Adama came up short against Geale, but has nothing to be ashamed of.  He frequently took the #1 contender out of his game plan and looked entirely in his league at that lofty level.
13) Gennady Golovkin (13-62)
Last Fight: 5/12/2012- TKO3 Makoto Fuchigami (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #3 Grzegorz Proksa
Golovkin will finally get the test he needs to make his ranking match his hype, when he battles dynamic #3 contender Grzegorz Proksa on HBO September 1.
14) Avtandil Khurtsidze (13-82)
Last Fight: 12/18/2011- W(MD12) vs. Ossie Duran (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
15) Max Bursak (13-82)
Last Fight: 7/21/2012- KO1 Sergei Melis (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Lightning-quick knockout in his recent stay busy fight.  No big deal either way.
16) Demetrius Andrade (13-53)
Last Fight: 5/5/2012- KO1 Rudy Cisneros (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Andrade showed chilling power in destroying easy mark Cisneros.
17) Darren Barker (13-45)
Last Fight: 10/1/2011- L(KO11) vs. Champ Sergio Martinez
Next Fight: 9/8/2012- vs. Simone Rotolo (UNR)
Barker will return from hip surgery on September 8 in London against top-level Italian journeyman Simone Rotolo.
18) Billi Godoy (13-44)
Last Fight: 7/7/2012- UD12 Jorge Heiland (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Godoy went life and death with solid journeyman Heiland.  He’s going to have to do better than that when he fights legitimate top 50 opposition, or his time in the top 20 will be very short.  Hell of a fight, though.
19) Nobuhiro Ishida (13-25)
Last Fight: 5/1/2012- L(UD12) vs. #8 Dmitry Pirog
Next Fight: Unknown
Barely challenged Pirog at all, but has enough mileage left on the Kirkland upset to remain ranked for the moment.
20) Peter Quillin (13-13)
Last Fight: 6/2/2012- UD10 Winky Wright (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/8/2012- vs. Unknown Opponent
Quillin is set to return on September 8, but no opponent after Rubio was a no-go.

 

The Week Ahead: Friday in Geelong, Australia, #10 Sam Soliman fights veteran Dominican gatekeeper Giovanni Lorenzo.  Lorenzo is a solid test, having given current #6 Hassan N’Dam all he could handle in a fight last year.

 

In Tulum, Mexico on Saturday, undefeated Mexican prospect Gilberto Ramirez takes on Colombian journeyman Richard Gutierrez.

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Super Middleweight: 2012, Nov 26- Dec 2

Posted in Rankings, Super Middleweight with tags , , , , , , , on November 27, 2012 by danboxing
Andrea Di Luisa may have peaked.  Not long ago, he was a fast-rising prospect and my unofficial #21 fighter at this weight.  But then he was dominated by Mouhamed Ali Ndiaye, and now has been stopped in his own backyard by what must be described as a fringe prospect in Frenchman Christopher Rebrasse.  According to local reports, Di Luisa was up a couple points on the cards when he surrendered following the 7th round.  I have no idea if that scoring was legitimate given the location of the fight and the fact I didn’t personally watch it, but ultimately it doesn’t make much difference.  If Google translate served me well, then I understand from an Italian website that the key damage that caused Di Luisa to submit was a punch to the neck from which he was never able to recover.

 

It appears that Tanzanian gatekeeper Francis Cheka’s scheduled fight with a debuting fighter in Oman was canceled, in case you cared about that one.

 

Does Rebrasse earn a ranking?  No.  He basically moves from the dividing line between fringe prospect and journeyman to being much more comfortably the former.  He’s top 50 easily now, but not really close to top 25.  The debacle that was the year 2011 for him ensures that, as he lost to an untested prospect and drew with a complete bum in the first half of that year.  No changes this week.

 

Dan’s Top 20
Champ: Andre Ward (50-184-184)
Last Fight: 9/8/2012- TKO10 LHW Champ Chad Dawson
Next Fight: 1/26/2012- vs. #8 Kelly Pavlik
Ward will be fighting Pavlik in LA on January 26.
1) Carl Froch (27-337-337)
Last Fight: 11/17/2012- KO3 LHW #11 Yusaf Mack
Next Fight: Unknown Date- vs. #4 Lucian Bute
Froch destroyed a passive and weak-looking Mack and is now probably all set for his March or April rematch with Bute.
2) Arthur Abraham (14-162-162)
Last Fight: 8/25/2012- UD12 #4 Robert Stieglitz
Next Fight: 12/15/2012- vs. Mehdi Bouadla (UNR)
Abraham will make a fairly weak follow-up to his big win over Stieglitz.  His opponent is Mehdi Bouadla, who made a brave stand against Kessler before getting stopped fairly early in their 2011 fight.  Since then, Bouadla- essentially a journeyman- has been fighting exclusively nobodies, mostly at middleweight.
3) Mikkel Kessler (14-416-416)
Last Fight: 5/19/2012- KO5 Allan Green (UNR)
Next Fight: 12/8/2012- vs. Brian Magee (UNR)
Kessler fights fringe contender Brian Magee in Herning, Denmark on December 8.
4) Lucian Bute (14-346-346)
Last Fight: 11/3/2012- UD12 LHW #16 Denis Grachev (at LHW)
Next Fight: Unknown Date- vs. #1 Carl Froch
Bute struggled a fair amount in his win over Grachev, and now presumably will have to deal with Froch for a second time.
5) Robert Stieglitz (14-170-170)
Last Fight: 8/25/2012- L(UD12) vs. #6 Arthur Abraham
Next Fight: Unknown
Stieglitz was somewhat busted up in the tough Abraham fight, and so I expect him to take a few months off at least.
6) Thomas Oosthuizen (14-78-126)
Last Fight: 11/10/2012- UD12 Fulgencio Zuniga (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Oosthuizen missed weight initially but managed to sweat it off to fight Zuniga.  He has reportedly been working on a potential deal to fight Gennady Golovkin since before that fight.
7) Adonis Stevenson (7-51-51)
Last Fight: 10/12/2012- TKO12 Don George (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Stevenson probably has a shot at Carl Froch due to him at some point, as he is the mandatory challenger for Froch’s belt.  But Froch already has a fight coming up soon with Yusaf Mack, and a contracted fight with Bute likely in March.
8) Kelly Pavlik (7-21-21)
Last Fight: 7/7/2012- UD10 #12 Will Rosinsky
Next Fight: 1/26/2013- vs. Champ Andre Ward
Pavlik will get a shot at Ward sooner than expected: January 26, in LA.
9) Sakio Bika (18-50-295)
Last Fight: 6/2/2012- TKO10 Dyah Davis (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
10) Karoly Balzsay (18-18-32)
Last Fight: 4/21/2012- TKO12 #8 Dimitri Sartison
Next Fight: Unknown
Balzsay pulled out of a scheduled alphabet title defense with fringe contender Brian Magee with a back injury.
11) Andy Lee (21-90)
Last Fight: 6/16/2012- L(TKO7) vs. MW#? Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (at MW)
Next Fight: Unknown
Lee has recently challenged Matthew Macklin to what would likely be a middleweight bout.  No word on whether or not that’s likely to happen.
12) Anthony Dirrell (18-52)
Last Fight: 12/2/2011- TKO4 Renan St. Juste (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
After his motorcycle crash, Anthony Dirrell was said to be out until at least November.  Here we are in late November, and not a peep.  Hopefully he gets back in the ring before his woefully inactive twin brother.  As for his ranking, I will now commit to not remove him until at least June 2, 2013 due to his very serious injury situation.
13) Will Rosinsky (18-24)
Last Fight: 7/7/2012- L(UD10) vs. Kelly Pavlik (UNR)
Next Fight: 12/19/2012- vs. Otis Griffin (UNR)
Rosinsky will fight former fringe contender Otis Griffin- who recently reversed a losing streak with a win over a weaker journeyman- on December 19 in New York.
14) Mouhamed Ali Ndiaye (18-55)
Last Fight: 5/26/2012- RTD9 Jose Maria Guerrero (UNR)
Next Fight: 1/26/2013- vs. #18 James DeGale
Ndiaye’s fight with DeGale is set for late January instead of December 8 as reported earlier.  DeGale will be fighting a likely lesser opponent on December 8, it appears.
15) Dimitri Sartison (18-126)
Last Fight: 4/21/2012- L(TKO12) vs. Karoly Balzsay (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Sartison has been medically cleared following his third knee surgery, and is looking to return in December.
16) Jesus Gonzales (8-73)
Last Fight: 2/18/2012- L(KO1) vs. #9 Adonis Stevenson
Next Fight: 1/19/2012- vs. Albert Onolunose (UNR)
Gonzales’ fight at Desperado’s Nightclub in Calgary has been pushed back for a second time- this time to January 19.  But at least he has an opponent now- Nigerian journeyman Albert Onolunose, who is frankly a level or two better than I was expecting Gonzales to fight in such a small-sounding venue.
17) George Groves (7-20)
Last Fight: 7/28/2012- TKO6 Francisco Sierra (UNR)
Next Fight: 12/15/2012- vs. Glen Johnson (UNR)
Groves’s December 15 opponent turned out to be kind of a surprise: former light heavyweight champion Glen Johnson.  Johnson retired just a few months ago, but evidently isn’t ready to keep them hung up yet.  This could be an interesting crossroads fight.
18) James DeGale (7-59)
Last Fight: 10/13/2012- UD12* Hadillah Mohoumadi (UNR)
Next Fight: 12/8/2012- vs. Unknown Opponent
To clarify- DeGale will still apparently be back on December 8, and his fight with Mouhamed Ali Ndiaye is still on, but the December 8 fight will likely be mostly a stay-busy affair, while the important Ndiaye fight will take place on January 26.
19) Maxim Vlasov (3-3)
Last Fight: 11/5/2012- UD10 Khoren Gevor (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
20) Edwin Rodriguez (3-18)
Last Fight: 9/29/2012- TKO8 Jason Escalera (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
According to Gennady Golovkin’s trainer, Rodriguez turned down a huge offer to fight Golovkin.

 

The Week Ahead: Peter Manfredo Jr. is coming out of a fairly brief retirement, and will fight journeyman Rayco Saunders on Thursday in Lincoln, Rhode Island.  One word of caution- I wouldn’t be the slightest bit surprised if this ends up a light heavyweight fight, since Saunders has never fought below 170 and has been a cruiserweight for the majority of his career.

 

Argentine prospect Pablo Farias visits Mexico City to fight inexperienced Guadalajara journeyman Santiago Ramos on Friday. 

 

And on the Cotto-Trout undercard at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, prospect Danny Jacobs continues his post-cancer comeback against Cleveland journeyman Chris Fitzpatrick.  This fight may happen at 160, but is likely to spill a pound or two over based on recent history.

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Light Heavyweight: 2012, Nov 26- Dec 2

Posted in Light Heavyweight, Rankings with tags , , , , , , , on November 27, 2012 by danboxing
As I reported last week, Tavoris Cloud did indeed pull out of his fight with Karo Murat on about a week’s notice, with no reason given except- apparently- unwillingness.  Shameful.  No changes to the rankings this week.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (weeks in current position-weeks in top 10 (if applicable)-weeks in top 20)
Champ: Andre Ward (12-12-12)
Last Fight: 9/8/2012- TKO10 Champ Chad Dawson (at SMW)
Next Fight: 1/26/2012- vs. SMW #8 Kelly Pavlik (at SMW)
Ward will break tradition by not fighting at home for once, as he travels south to fight Kelly Pavlik in L.A.
1) Chad Dawson (12-339-339)
Last Fight: 9/8/2012- L(TKO10) vs. SMW Champ Andre Ward (at SMW)
Next Fight: 3/23/2013- vs. #3 Jean Pascal
According to Gary Shaw, who promotes Dawson, the Pascal deal is done.
2) Bernard Hopkins (12-338-338)
Last Fight: 4/28/2012- L(MD12) vs. #2 Chad Dawson
Next Fight: 3/9/2012- vs. Unknown Opponent
Hopkins has decided not to hang ’em up just yet, as he says he will fight either Shumenov, Cloud, or- most likely- Cleverly on March 9 in Brooklyn.
3) Jean Pascal (12-180-180)
Last Fight: 5/21/2011- L(UD12) vs. #1 Bernard Hopkins
Next Fight: 12/14/2012- vs. Aleksy Kuziemski
Pascal will come back in December following his long inactivity and hand injury (thus retaining his ranking), with venue and TV problems ensuring that the Cloud fight could not be rescheduled until 2013.  His opponent will be Polish gatekeeper Aleksy Kuziemski.  There is also a deal in principle to fight Dawson in March.
4) Gabriel Campillo (12-127-127)
Last Fight: 2/18/2012- L*(UD12) vs. #3 Tavoris Cloud (Robbery)
Next Fight: 1/19/2013- vs. Sergei Kovalev (UNR)
Campillo will now officially fight hot prospect Sergei Kovalev on January 19, in Bethlehem, PA, on NBC Sports.
5) Tavoris Cloud (12-170-170)
Last Fight: 2/18/2012- UD12* vs. #4 Gabriel Campillo (Robbery)
Next Fight: Unknown
Cloud pulled out of his scheduled fight with Karo Murat for no reason.  Cloud is already one of the more inactive fighters you’ll find, so it’s probably about 50-50 as to whether he’ll be removed in February.  In fairness, Cloud was the victim of Pascal pulling out of their fight, but he hasn’t even given an excuse for the Murat no-go.
6) Cornelius White (12-20-50)
Last Fight: 7/14/2012- UD12 #10 Dmitri Sukhotski
Next Fight: Unknown
White is on a tear.  Is he really top-5 good?  I wouldn’t think so, but he proves me wrong every time I feel I might be overrating him.
7) Nathan Cleverly (12-147-147)
Last Fight: 11/10/2012- TKO8 Shawn Hawk (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Cleverly appears very likely to fight Bernard Hopkins in March.
8) Tony Bellew (20-59-59)
Last Fight: 11/17/2012- UD12 Roberto Feliciano Bolonti (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Bellew wants Chad Dawson, but Dawson is apparently otherwise occupied with Pascal.
9) Karo Murat (12-61-82)
Last Fight: 6/2/2012- TKO7 Sandro Siproshvili (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
No idea what’s next for Murat after Cloud left him at the proverbial altar.
10) Beibut Shumenov (12-123-127)
Last Fight: 6/2/2012- UD12 Enrique Ornelas (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
11) Isaac Chilemba (2-43)
Last Fight: 9/29/2012- UD8 Rayco Saunders (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Chilemba came in a bit heavy, but performed as expected, shutting out journeyman Rayco Saunders.
12) Vyacheslav Uzelkoff (2-43)
Last Fight: 7/21/2012- W(MD12) vs. Mohamed Belkacem (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
13) Andrzej Fonfara (2-20)
Last Fight: 11/16/2012- TKO7 Tommy Karpency (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Fonfara vs. Karpency blah blah blah.  Stay busy fight over.  Moving on.
14) Yusaf Mack (2-127)
Last Fight: 11/17/2012- L(KO3) vs. #1 SMW Carl Froch (at SMW)
Next Fight: Unknown
It’s no shame to lose to Carl Froch, but Mack’s showing was bad enough that you’ve got to wonder if he’s finished.
15) Jürgen Brähmer (12-32)
Last Fight: 4/21/2012- UD10 Vikapita Meroro (UNR)
Next Fight: 2/2/2013- vs. Eduard Gutknecht (UNR)
Braehmer has reportedly rescheduled his fight with Gutknecht for early February.  We’ll see if he follows through this time- always a big “if” with him.
16) Lucian Bute (4-4)
Last Fight: 11/3/2012- UD12 #16 Denis Grachev
Next Fight: Unknown Date- vs. SMW #1 Carl Froch (at SMW)
Bute barely beat Grachev, and even more barely did so at light heavyweight, but I’ve still got to rate him. He’ll now fight a rematch with Froch in March or April.
17) Denis Grachev (4-31)
Last Fight: 11/3/2012- L(UD12) vs. SMW #4 Lucian Bute
Next Fight: Unknown
Grachev put forth a valiant effort against a heavy favorite in Bute, even after presumably draining almost all the way to 168.  As a result, his ranking remains mostly intact.
18) Dmitri Sukhotski (4-109)
Last Fight: 7/14/2012- L(UD12) vs. #16 Cornelius White
Next Fight: 12/8/2012- vs. Mikhail Ryzhonkin (UNR)
Sukhotski will look for an easy tune-up on December 8 when he fights a very weak 2-3 Russian in Russia.
19) Mikkel Kessler (4-28)
Last Fight: 5/19/2012- TKO4 Allan Green (UNR)
Next Fight: 12/8/2012- vs. Brian Magee (UNR) (at SMW)
Kessler will fight Irish fringe contender Brian Magee on December 8 in Denmark.  The fight will be at 168 it would seem.
20) Tony Averlant (4-35)
Last Fight: 11/9/2012- UD6 Lubo Hantak (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
It looks like Averlant’s profile hasn’t benefited much from what should have been a victory over a fringe contender from back in March, as he’s back to fighting awful opponents in 6-rounders.

 

The Week Ahead: Tuesday in Sao Paolo, undefeated Brazilian prospect Jackson Junior takes on sturdy Argentine journeyman Jose Clavero.

 

Friday in Mansfield, Australia, Australia-based Kenyan gatekeeper Kariz Kariuki battles 22 year-old Australian journeyman Mark Flanagan.

 

Later that night in Sunrise, Florida, one-loss Cuban prospect Umberto Savigne fights quality journeyman Dhafir Smith.  Despite a very mediocre record, Smith can clearly be dangerous.  He effectively put Jeff Lacy’s career out of its misery with a December 2010 decision, and also held now highly-ranked Cornelius White to a split decision in a 2011 6-rounder.
 

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Cruiserweight: 2012, Nov 26- Dec 2

Posted in Cruiserweight, Rankings with tags , , , , , , , on November 27, 2012 by danboxing
#10 Danny Green of Perth, Australia took care of Kiwi fringe contender Shane Cameron on Wednesday by unanimous decision.  The fight took place at a “Dannyweight” catchweight of 195, and it is at least possible that this had a substantial effect on Cameron’s effort, since Cameron is a large cruiserweight who has typically fought in the 220s and 230s in his career until recently.  I found no evidence of controversy in the decision from reports and message boards and heard it was a boring fight, so I didn’t actually watch it.

 

Green’s solid win still can’t get him past #9 Lateef Kayode, whose draw with #3 Antonio Tarver is vastly better than anything Green’s done at this weight.  Therefore, no changes to the rankings.

 

Dan’s Top 20
Champ: None
1) Denis Lebedev (11-147-147)
Last Fight: 4/4/2012- KO2 Shawn Cox (UNR)
Next Fight: 12/17/2012- vs. Santander Silgado (UNR)
Lebedev has made a decision for his next opponent: Colombian undefeated prospect Santander Silgado.  Silgado figures to be little more than a stay-busy fight for the division’s #1 contender, but it could have been a lot worse.  In addition to a very credible fight with Kayode, a useless fight with journeyman Andres Taylor had also been discussed.
2) Yoan Pablo Hernandez (11-127-127)
Last Fight: 9/15/2012- W*(UD12) vs. #20 Troy Ross
Next Fight: Unknown
Hernandez officially got the win over Ross, and I’m not quite willing to call it a robbery, but it’s pretty close to one.  I think you’d be pushing the limits of reason to give the fight to Hernandez, and I think that even if you managed to do so in terms of rounds won, you’d have to admit that Ross got the better of the fight overall.  Even Hernandez promoter Sauerland admits that Hernandez didn’t deserve a win, and believes a rematch is warranted.
3) Troy Ross (11-11-43)
Last Fight: 9/15/2012- L*(UD12) vs. #1 Yoan Pablo Hernandez
Next Fight: Unknown
Ross deserved to beat Hernandez.  That’s all I’ve got to say (except the more detailed statement I made above).
4) Steve Cunningham (11-441-441)
Last Fight: 9/8/2012- UD10 Jason Gavern (UNR) (at HW)
Next Fight: 12/22/2012- vs. HW #3 Tomasz Adamek (at HW)
With Odlanier Solis’ withdrawal, Cunningham has a chance to avenge his 2008 loss to Tomasz Adamek just before Christmas, at heavyweight.  He’ll retain his ranking here until the anniversary of his February 4 cruiserweight fight, or until he schedules a heavyweight fight for a date after that.
5) Ola Afolabi (4-194-194)
Last Fight: 5/5/2012- Draw* (MD12) vs. #4 Marco Huck
Next Fight: Unknown
Afolabi is now training for a December return (with no opponent announced), and then no doubt plans to get robbed in March when he fights Marco Huck for a third time, in Germany.
6) Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (4-388-388)
Last Fight: 9/22/2012- UD12 #13 Francisco Palacios
Next Fight: 12/22/2012- vs. HW #18 Jean-Marc Mormeck
Wlodarczyk confirmed the 12/22 fight with Mormeck.
7) Firat Arslan (4-29-72)
Last Fight: 11/3/2012- L*(UD12) vs. #5 Marco Huck (Robbery)
Next Fight: Unknown
Arslan is a modern marvel, fairly conclusively defeating Marco Huck at age 42.  Period.
8) Marco Huck (4-312-312)
Last Fight: 11/3/2012- W*(UD12) vs. #10 Firat Arslan (Robbery)
Next Fight: Unknown
Huck will apparently be fighting a 3rd fight with Afolabi in March.  The fight will sadly take place in Germany, nearly ensuring a robbery.
9) Lateef Kayode (4-26-106)
Last Fight: 6/2/2012- Draw (SD12) vs. ‘Roided up #3 Antonio Tarver
Next Fight: Unknown
After he turned down a fight with Lebedev over insufficient prep time, Kayode is once again indicating that his next fight might be at heavyweight.
10) Danny Green (3-3-156)
Last Fight: 11/21/2012- UD12 Shane Cameron (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
As has been the case after every fight since he had very serious surgery a year or so ago, there is speculation that Green may retire following his win over Shane Cameron.  Green himself remains non-comittal.
11) B.J. Flores (3-127)
Last Fight: 10/6/2012- TKO2 David McNemar (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Flores’ level of opposition lately is consistent with that of a protected undefeated prospect rather than a veteran contender trying to get back on top.  He’s completely treading water at this point in his career.
12) Giacobbe Fragomeni (3-211)
Last Fight: 3/17/2012- Draw (MD12) vs. Silvio Branco (UNR)
Next Fight: 12/15/2012- vs. #13 Silvio Branco
Just when I thought both quatrogenarians might call it a career, we’ll see a rematch of Fragomeni-Branco real soon.
13) Silvio Branco (3-37)
Last Fight: 3/17/2012- Draw (MD12) vs. #10 Giacobbe Fragomeni
Next Fight: 12/15/2012- vs. #12 Giacobbe Fragomeni
A rematch is on tap for Branco and relative spring chicken Fragomeni.  Combined age of the two fighters: 89.
14) Mateusz Masternak (3-35)
Last Fight: 9/15/2012- TKO8 David Quinonero (UNR)
Next Fight: 12/15/2012- vs. Juho Haapoja (UNR)
Masternak will fight for a vacant and highly questionable European belt against Finnish gatekeeper Juho Haapoja in mid-December.
15) Francisco Palacios (3-87)
Last Fight: 9/22/2012- L(UD12) vs. #7 Krzysztof Wlodarczyk
Next Fight: Unknown
Very little of note left on his resume after his should-be win over Wlodarczyk was neutralized by a close but clear loss to same, and with his win over Louis Azille over 5 years old now.
16) Alexander Alekseev (3-98)
Last Fight: 5/11/2012- Draw*(MD12) vs. #19 Firat Arslan (robbery- should have been L)
Next Fight: Unknown
The EBU just yanked Alekseev’s European title due to a possibly faked injury.  This is the same title that the judges should have yanked already when he clearly lost to Arslan.
17) Thabiso Mchunu (3-3)
Last Fight: 11/10/2012- TKO5 #20 Danie Venter
Next Fight: Unknown
Mchunu is probably ready to take the Chilemba/Oosthuizen journey out of South Africa and into the international scene after conquering the local scene in the form of Venter.  He may have some unfinished business with Zack Mwekassa first, however.
18) Dmitro Kucher (5-22)
Last Fight: 10/27/2012- KO2 Steve Herelius (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Kucher took out one-time contender Steve Herelius in spectacular fashion, making him definitively one to watch.
19) Enad Licina (5-127)
Last Fight: 11/10/2012- TKO2 Koeksal Orduhan
Next Fight: Unknown
Really, Enad?  He just fought the most obviously terrible opponent I think I’ve ever had to write about on here.  The record of said fighter?  0-15.  No joke.
20) Grigory Drozd (3-3)
Last Fight: 6/20/2012- TKO1 Fabio Garrido (UNR)
Next Fight: 12/17/2012- vs. Jean-Marc Monrose (UNR)
Drozd now has an opponent for 12/17: French journeyman Jean-Marc Monrose.  They will do battle on the Lebedev-Silgado undercard.

 

THE WEEK AHEAD: No major fights at Cruiser this week.

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Heavyweight: 2012, Nov 26- Dec 2

Posted in Heavyweight, Rankings with tags , , , , , , , on November 26, 2012 by danboxing
No heavyweight fights of note to report on from last week.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in current position-weeks in top 10 (if applicable)-weeks in top 20)
Champ: Wladimir Klitschko (179-392-392)
Last Fight: 11/10/2012- UD12 Mariusz Wach (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Tyson Fury says that Wlad has agreed to fight him probably in mid-2013.  Fury’s impression is that Wlad will likely fight Povetkin first in March.  The latter is consistent with previous reports that Wlad’s March opponent prospects included Povetkin and Boytsov.  No statement either way from the Klitschko camp yet.
1) Vitali Klitschko (216-216-216)
Last Fight: 9/8/2012- TKO4 Manuel Charr (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Vitali says he’ll decide whether to retire or fight on by December 17.
2) David Haye (20-20-20)
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 (20-136-136)
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 (20-266-266)
Last Fight: 9/29/2012- TKO2 Hasim Rahman (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
There are currently rumors floating around to the effect that Povetkin has emerged as the frontrunner for the March shot at Wlad.
5) Tyson Fury (4-71-71)
Last Fight: 7/7/2012- TKO5 Vinny Maddalone (UNR)
Next Fight: 12/1/2012- vs. Kevin Johnson (UNR)
Fury says that Wlad has orally agreed to fight him, likely in mid-2013.  But Fury has to get by Kevin Johnson first.
6) Eddie Chambers (4-24-24)
Last Fight: 6/16/2012- L(UD12) vs. #3 Tomasz Adamek
Next Fight: Unknown
Chambers has announced he’ll be moving down to cruiserweight.  He’ll stay rated here for the time being, until he’s been inactive at heavyweight for a year or schedules a cruiserweight fight for after that time.
7) Kubrat Pulev (4-30-107)
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.
8) Dereck Chisora (4-52-115)
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.
9) Johnathon Banks (2-2-2)

Last Fight: 11/17/2012- TKO2 #11 Seth Mitchell
Next Fight: Unknown
Seth Mitchell apparently plans to exercise a rematch clause for a return bout with Banks.  If the rematch is called off by Mitchell or is anything but immediate, Banks is interested in Adamek, Povetkin, as well as the Arreola-Stiverne winner.  
10) Odlanier Solis (2-4-131)
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.
11) Marco Huck (2-40)
Last Fight: 11/3/2012- W*(UD12) vs. CW #10 Firat Arslan (Robbery)
Next Fight: Unknown
Huck will be fighting a trilogy with Afolabi, with the last fight being in March, when Afolabi is likely to get robbed in Germany.
12) Robert Helenius (3-131)
Last Fight: 11/10/2012- W*(UD10) vs. Sherman Williams (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Barely squeaked by after a comatose performance against journeyman Williams.  The judges had it pretty wide, but make no mistake- it was a 1 or 2 point either way kind of fight.
13) Ruslan Chagaev (20-315)
Last Fight: 9/1/2012- TKO7 Werner Kreiskott (UNR)
Next Fight: 12/1/2012- vs. Yakup Saglam (UNR)
Unfortunately the really interesting crossroads fight between Chagaev and undefeated Cuban prospect Mike Perez was canceled when Perez came down with a shoulder injury a week before the fight.  Chagaev will now fight Turkish fringe prospect Yakup Saglam in what figures to be a much easier fight.
14) Alexander Dimitrenko (20-98)
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 (20-131)
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 (20-193)
Last Fight: 2/18/2012- KO1 Eric Molina (UNR)
Next Fight: 1/26/2013- vs. #19 Bermane Stiverne
As I long expected, Don King wasn’t able to finalize the fight in Venezuela.  Dan Goossen will now stage the fight as the co-feature to Ward-Pavlik in L.A., January 26.
17) Denis Boytsov (20-180)
Last Fight: 4/13/2012- UD10 Dominick Guinn (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Boytsov very well may remain a candidate to fight Wlad in March, but it now appears that Povetkin may have the inside track.  It’s not out of the question, as far as I know, that he might fight Fury- who is also in line for a fight with Wlad later in the year.  The two had briefly been scheduled to do just that, but Boytsov got cold feet.
18) Jean-Marc Mormeck (20-131)
Last Fight: 3/3/2012- L(TKO4) vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko
Next Fight: 12/22/2012- vs. CW #6 Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (at CW)
Wlodarczyk has now confirmed that he will indeed be fighting Mormeck in December.
19) Bermane Stiverne (20-75)
Last Fight: 4/14/2012- UD8 Willie Herring (UNR)
Next Fight: 1/26/2013- vs. #16 Chris Arreola
See Arreola’s notes above.
20) Edmund Gerber (20-30)
Last Fight: 11/3/2012- UD8 Darnell Wilson (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Had little problem with fat little journeyman Darnell Wilson, except a big scare in the closing seconds of round 1.

 

THE WEEK AHEAD: England’s two rising heavyweights- who also happen to be bitter rivals- are both in action this weekend.  Knockout sensation David Price fights quality journeyman Matt Skelton in Price’s native Liverpool on Friday, while on Saturday, #5 Tyson Fury takes on American Kevin Johnson, who is either a prospect or a gatekeeper depending on how you view his record.  Johnson was briefly in the top 20 after stopping Alex Leapai in April, but squandered that success in the British Prizefighter International Heavyweights tournament, when he lost to Tor Hamer and should have lost to Albert Sosnowski in the finals and semis, respectively.  In fairness, those were merely 3-round fights and were his second and third fights of the night, so I hesitate to draw Earth-shattering conclusions from those results.

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Middleweight: 2012, Aug 13-19

Posted in Middleweight, Rankings with tags , , , , , , , on November 26, 2012 by danboxing
Bryan Vera and Sergio Mora had unfinished business to tend to after their very close-fought and slightly controversial split decision in favor of Vera from early 2011.  Not even the Olympics could prevent the grudge match from going down.  Fortunately, the result was an all-action fight.  Unfortunately, the winner was once again less than totally clear.  It was a great contrast of styles, matching Mora’s sharpshooting and craft against Vera’s tank-like aggression and mauling tenacity.  The sharper, more eye-catching work was typically coming from Mora, but he only fought in spots.  The impression was that Mora was backed up to the ropes, often practically in the fetal position ducking below his waist and sometimes through the ropes to draw a respite from referee Mark Calo-oy, for about 75 percent of nearly every round.  But Vera lacked precision, and after often making him miss or land largely glancing blows, Mora would often spring a trap on him with a big uppercut or other hard shot.  These were apparently vicious punches, but the thick-necked, iron chinned Vera never wavered, and never took a backward step all fight long. 

 

The fight was very close and was fought at a very high level by each fighter in his own way.  But Mora made a fatal miscalculation.  Somehow he seemed to believe that he could throw what seemed like 1/5 the number of punches that Vera was throwing, while either running or hanging on the ropes, and win a decision in Vera’s hometown.  I had the fight 115-113 Vera, and my belief is that, if anything, it may have been a round wider than that.  Vera was gracious in victory, saying that Mora fought a great fight and that he believes it was a draw that he won because it was in his house.  Mora, by contrast, complained bitterly about the politics of boxing and showed very little class, demonstrating why even most fans that aren’t turned off by his spoiling style don’t necessarily like him very much.  I have no problem with fighters complaining about robberies, but in this case it seemed to me that Mora was fighting to make the fight close enough to complain about the decision, while Vera was fighting to win.  I understand his frustration to some extent, as judges Ruben Carrion at 118-110 and Rafael Ramos at 117-111 had the fight a bit too wide, but on the other hand Wilfredo Esperon at 114-114 gave him too much credit.  Something tells me he would have been exactly as bitter if the cards had been 115-113 Vera. 

 

Vera just barely fails to enter the rankings for now.  In particular, his loss to a then-unproven Max Bursak 2 years ago holds him back when compared to Peter Quillin.   Quillin may not have quite beaten an opponent on Mora’s exact level just yet at this weight, but Craig McEwan wasn’t far off.  Kid Chocolate also beat McEwan more impressively than Vera beat Mora, and doesn’t have any losses to mitigate his rise.  No changes to the rankings this week.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: Sergio Martinez (122-122-122)
Last Fight: 3/17/2012- RTD11 #3 Matthew Macklin
Next Fight: 9/15/2012- vs. #2 Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.
Looks like there’s no hitch to the negotiations for Martinez-Chavez, and it looks like that fight is going forward on 9/15 in Vegas.
1) Daniel Geale (60-165-165)
Last Fight: 3/7/2012- UD12 #11 Osumanu Adama
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #4 Felix Sturm
Geale-Sturm now has a confirmed date of 9/1.
2) Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (9-63-81)
Last Fight: 6/16/2012- TKO7 SMW #10 Andy Lee
Next Fight: 9/15/2012- vs. Champ Sergio Martinez
See Martinez’ notes, above.
3) Grzegorz Proksa (9-70-70)
Last Fight: 7/7/2012- TKO8 Kerry Hope (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #13 Gennady Golovkin
Proksa is officially braver than most of his peers, as he will take on rising knockout sensation Gennady Golovkin, September 1 on HBO.
4) Felix Sturm (9-465-465)
Last Fight: 4/13/2012- RTD9 Sebastian Zbik (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #1 Daniel Geale
See Geale’s notes, above.
5) Matthew Macklin (18-60-151)
Last Fight: 3/17/2012- L(RTD11) vs. Champ Sergio Martinez
Next Fight: 9/15/2012- vs. Joachim Alcine (UNR)
Macklin will fight the resurgent Joachim Alcine on the Martinez-Chavez undercard.
6) Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (28-94-94)
Last Fight: 5/4/2012- UD12 #15 Max Bursak
Next Fight: Unknown
The WBO has ordered a fight between N’Dam and Pirog.
7) Dmitry Pirog (15-107-107)
Last Fight: 5/1/2012- UD12 #20 Nobuhiro Ishida
Next Fight: Unknown
Pirog had a short-lived entry on his calendar to fight Golovkin in August, but withdrew very quickly with a back injury.
8) Martin Murray (15-37-37)
Last Fight: 6/16/2012- UD10 Karim Achour (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Murray is currently entertaining the concept of fights with British Isles rivals Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders.
9) Anthony Mundine (24-28-81)
Last Fight: 7/14/2012- TKO7 Bronco McKart (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Mundine recently split with his long-time manager.  Maybe he’s upset that he had to waste time fighting Bronco McKart.
10) Sam Soliman (24-24-26)
Last Fight: 2/19/2012- UD12 #15 Garth Wood
Next Fight: Unknown
11) Marco Antonio Rubio (23-81)
Last Fight: 6/30/2012- TKO7 Jorge Cota (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Rubio is evidently being considered to fight Quillin on 9/8.
12) Osumanu Adama (23-73)
Last Fight: 3/7/2012- L(UD12) vs. #1 Daniel Geale
Next Fight: Unknown
Adama came up short against Geale, but has nothing to be ashamed of.  He frequently took the #1 contender out of his game plan and looked entirely in his league at that lofty level.
13) Gennady Golovkin (12-61)
Last Fight: 5/12/2012- TKO3 Makoto Fuchigami (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #3 Grzegorz Proksa
Golovkin will finally get the test he needs to make his ranking match his hype, when he battles dynamic #3 contender Grzegorz Proksa on HBO September 1.
14) Avtandil Khurtsidze (12-81)
Last Fight: 12/18/2011- W(MD12) vs. Ossie Duran (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
15) Max Bursak (12-81)
Last Fight: 7/21/2012- KO1 Sergei Melis (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Lightning-quick knockout in his recent stay busy fight.  No big deal either way.
16) Demetrius Andrade (12-52)
Last Fight: 5/5/2012- KO1 Rudy Cisneros (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Andrade showed chilling power in destroying easy mark Cisneros.
17) Darren Barker (12-44)
Last Fight: 10/1/2011- L(KO11) vs. Champ Sergio Martinez
Next Fight: 9/8/2012- vs. Simone Rotolo (UNR)
Barker will return from hip surgery on September 8 in London against top-level Italian journeyman Simone Rotolo.
18) Billi Godoy (12-43)
Last Fight: 7/7/2012- UD12 Jorge Heiland (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Godoy went life and death with solid journeyman Heiland.  He’s going to have to do better than that when he fights legitimate top 50 opposition, or his time in the top 20 will be very short.  Hell of a fight, though.
19) Nobuhiro Ishida (12-24)
Last Fight: 5/1/2012- L(UD12) vs. #8 Dmitry Pirog
Next Fight: Unknown
Barely challenged Pirog at all, but has enough mileage left on the Kirkland upset to remain ranked for the moment.
20) Peter Quillin (12-12)
Last Fight: 6/2/2012- UD10 Winky Wright (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/8/2012- vs. #11 Marco Antonio Rubio
Quillin is set to return on September 8, and might be fighting Rubio.

 

The Week Ahead: No action this week.

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Middleweight: 2012, Aug 6-12

Posted in Middleweight, Rankings with tags , , , , , , , on November 24, 2012 by danboxing
No middleweight pro boxing of note, with the Olympics taking center stage.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: Sergio Martinez (121-121-121)
Last Fight: 3/17/2012- RTD11 #3 Matthew Macklin
Next Fight: 9/15/2012- vs. #2 Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.
Looks like there’s no hitch to the negotiations for Martinez-Chavez, and it looks like that fight is going forward on 9/15 in Vegas.
1) Daniel Geale (59-164-164)
Last Fight: 3/7/2012- UD12 #11 Osumanu Adama
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #4 Felix Sturm
Geale-Sturm now has a confirmed date of 9/1.
2) Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (8-62-80)
Last Fight: 6/16/2012- TKO7 SMW #10 Andy Lee
Next Fight: 9/15/2012- vs. Champ Sergio Martinez
See Martinez’ notes, above.
3) Grzegorz Proksa (8-69-69)
Last Fight: 7/7/2012- TKO8 Kerry Hope (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #13 Gennady Golovkin
Proksa is officially braver than most of his peers, as he will take on rising knockout sensation Gennady Golovkin, September 1 on HBO.
4) Felix Sturm (8-464-464)
Last Fight: 4/13/2012- RTD9 Sebastian Zbik (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #1 Daniel Geale
See Geale’s notes, above.
5) Matthew Macklin (17-59-150)
Last Fight: 3/17/2012- L(RTD11) vs. Champ Sergio Martinez
Next Fight: 9/15/2012- vs. Joachim Alcine (UNR)
Macklin will fight the resurgent Joachim Alcine on the Martinez-Chavez undercard.
6) Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (27-93-93)
Last Fight: 5/4/2012- UD12 #15 Max Bursak
Next Fight: Unknown
The WBO has ordered a fight between N’Dam and Pirog.
7) Dmitry Pirog (14-106-106)
Last Fight: 5/1/2012- UD12 #20 Nobuhiro Ishida
Next Fight: Unknown
Pirog had a short-lived entry on his calendar to fight Golovkin in August, but withdrew very quickly with a back injury.
8) Martin Murray (14-36-36)
Last Fight: 6/16/2012- UD10 Karim Achour (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Murray is currently entertaining the concept of fights with British Isles rivals Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders.
9) Anthony Mundine (23-27-80)
Last Fight: 7/14/2012- TKO7 Bronco McKart (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Mundine recently split with his long-time manager.  Maybe he’s upset that he had to waste time fighting Bronco McKart.
10) Sam Soliman (23-23-25)
Last Fight: 2/19/2012- UD12 #15 Garth Wood
Next Fight: Unknown
11) Marco Antonio Rubio (22-80)
Last Fight: 6/30/2012- TKO7 Jorge Cota (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Rubio is evidently being considered to fight Quillin on 9/8.
12) Osumanu Adama (22-72)
Last Fight: 3/7/2012- L(UD12) vs. #1 Daniel Geale
Next Fight: Unknown
Adama came up short against Geale, but has nothing to be ashamed of.  He frequently took the #1 contender out of his game plan and looked entirely in his league at that lofty level.
13) Gennady Golovkin (11-60)
Last Fight: 5/12/2012- TKO3 Makoto Fuchigami (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #3 Grzegorz Proksa
Golovkin will finally get the test he needs to make his ranking match his hype, when he battles dynamic #3 contender Grzegorz Proksa on HBO September 1.
14) Avtandil Khurtsidze (11-80)
Last Fight: 12/18/2011- W(MD12) vs. Ossie Duran (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
15) Max Bursak (11-80)
Last Fight: 7/21/2012- KO1 Sergei Melis (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Lightning-quick knockout in his recent stay busy fight.  No big deal either way.
16) Demetrius Andrade (11-51)
Last Fight: 5/5/2012- KO1 Rudy Cisneros (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Andrade showed chilling power in destroying easy mark Cisneros.
17) Darren Barker (11-43)
Last Fight: 10/1/2011- L(KO11) vs. Champ Sergio Martinez
Next Fight: 9/8/2012- vs. Simone Rotolo (UNR)
Barker will return from hip surgery on September 8 in London against top-level Italian journeyman Simone Rotolo.
18) Billi Godoy (11-42)
Last Fight: 7/7/2012- UD12 Jorge Heiland (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Godoy went life and death with solid journeyman Heiland.  He’s going to have to do better than that when he fights legitimate top 50 opposition, or his time in the top 20 will be very short.  Hell of a fight, though.
19) Nobuhiro Ishida (11-23)
Last Fight: 5/1/2012- L(UD12) vs. #8 Dmitry Pirog
Next Fight: Unknown
Barely challenged Pirog at all, but has enough mileage left on the Kirkland upset to remain ranked for the moment.
20) Peter Quillin (11-11)
Last Fight: 6/2/2012- UD10 Winky Wright (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/8/2012- vs. #11 Marco Antonio Rubio
Quillin is set to return on September 8, and might be fighting Rubio.

 

The Week Ahead: Despite the Olympics, one significant fight managed to find its way onto the schedule: the Bryan Vera – Sergio Mora rematch, which takes place Saturday in San Antonio.  With both guys being essentially fringe contenders at this weight, the winner is likely to earn a ranking.  I assume they’ll make 160 since the fight is for a minor title.

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Middleweight: 2012, Jul 30- Aug 5

Posted in Middleweight, Rankings with tags , , , , , , , on November 24, 2012 by danboxing
Australian gatkeeper Les Sherrington stepped into the ring with Yori Boy Campas- a nearly 41 year old former contender who can boast 100 wins- in Broadbeach, Australia on Saturday, and stepped out with a fairly solid margin on the cards after 12 rounds.  No changes to the rankings.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: Sergio Martinez (120-120-120)
Last Fight: 3/17/2012- RTD11 #3 Matthew Macklin
Next Fight: 9/15/2012- vs. #2 Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.
Looks like there’s no hitch to the negotiations for Martinez-Chavez, and it looks like that fight is going forward on 9/15 in Vegas.
1) Daniel Geale (58-163-163)
Last Fight: 3/7/2012- UD12 #11 Osumanu Adama
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #4 Felix Sturm
Geale-Sturm now has a confirmed date of 9/1.
2) Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (7-61-79)
Last Fight: 6/16/2012- TKO7 SMW #10 Andy Lee
Next Fight: 9/15/2012- vs. Champ Sergio Martinez
See Martinez’ notes, above.
3) Grzegorz Proksa (7-68-68)
Last Fight: 7/7/2012- TKO8 Kerry Hope (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #13 Gennady Golovkin
Proksa is officially braver than most of his peers, as he will take on rising knockout sensation Gennady Golovkin, September 1 on HBO.
4) Felix Sturm (7-463-463)
Last Fight: 4/13/2012- RTD9 Sebastian Zbik (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #1 Daniel Geale
See Geale’s notes, above.
5) Matthew Macklin (16-58-149)
Last Fight: 3/17/2012- L(RTD11) vs. Champ Sergio Martinez
Next Fight: 9/15/2012- vs. Joachim Alcine (UNR)
Macklin will fight the resurgent Joachim Alcine on the Martinez-Chavez undercard.
6) Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (26-92-92)
Last Fight: 5/4/2012- UD12 #15 Max Bursak
Next Fight: Unknown
The WBO has ordered a fight between N’Dam and Pirog.
7) Dmitry Pirog (13-105-105)
Last Fight: 5/1/2012- UD12 #20 Nobuhiro Ishida
Next Fight: Unknown
Pirog had a short-lived entry on his calendar to fight Golovkin in August, but withdrew very quickly with a back injury.
8) Martin Murray (13-35-35)
Last Fight: 6/16/2012- UD10 Karim Achour (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Murray is currently entertaining the concept of fights with British Isles rivals Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders.
9) Anthony Mundine (22-26-79)
Last Fight: 7/14/2012- TKO7 Bronco McKart (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Mundine recently split with his long-time manager.  Maybe he’s upset that he had to waste time fighting Bronco McKart.
10) Sam Soliman (22-22-24)
Last Fight: 2/19/2012- UD12 #15 Garth Wood
Next Fight: Unknown
11) Marco Antonio Rubio (21-79)
Last Fight: 6/30/2012- TKO7 Jorge Cota (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Rubio is evidently being considered to fight Quillin on 9/8.
12) Osumanu Adama (21-71)
Last Fight: 3/7/2012- L(UD12) vs. #1 Daniel Geale
Next Fight: Unknown
Adama came up short against Geale, but has nothing to be ashamed of.  He frequently took the #1 contender out of his game plan and looked entirely in his league at that lofty level.
13) Gennady Golovkin (10-59)
Last Fight: 5/12/2012- TKO3 Makoto Fuchigami (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #3 Grzegorz Proksa
Golovkin will finally get the test he needs to make his ranking match his hype, when he battles dynamic #3 contender Grzegorz Proksa on HBO September 1.
14) Avtandil Khurtsidze (10-79)
Last Fight: 12/18/2011- W(MD12) vs. Ossie Duran (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
15) Max Bursak (10-79)
Last Fight: 7/21/2012- KO1 Sergei Melis (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Lightning-quick knockout in his recent stay busy fight.  No big deal either way.
16) Demetrius Andrade (10-50)
Last Fight: 5/5/2012- KO1 Rudy Cisneros (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Andrade showed chilling power in destroying easy mark Cisneros.
17) Darren Barker (10-42)
Last Fight: 10/1/2011- L(KO11) vs. Champ Sergio Martinez
Next Fight: 9/8/2012- vs. Unknown Opponent
Barker will return from hip surgery on September 8 in London.  No opponent yet.
18) Billi Godoy (10-41)
Last Fight: 7/7/2012- UD12 Jorge Heiland (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Godoy went life and death with solid journeyman Heiland.  He’s going to have to do better than that when he fights legitimate top 50 opposition, or his time in the top 20 will be very short.  Hell of a fight, though.
19) Nobuhiro Ishida (10-22)
Last Fight: 5/1/2012- L(UD12) vs. #8 Dmitry Pirog
Next Fight: Unknown
Barely challenged Pirog at all, but has enough mileage left on the Kirkland upset to remain ranked for the moment.
20) Peter Quillin (10-10)
Last Fight: 6/2/2012- UD10 Winky Wright (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/8/2012- vs. #11 Marco Antonio Rubio
Quillin is set to return on September 8, and might be fighting Rubio.

 

The Week Ahead: The Olympics have ensured a very slow week in pro boxing in general, and 160 is no exception.

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Middleweight: 2012, Jul 23-29

Posted in Middleweight, Rankings with tags , , , , , , , on November 22, 2012 by danboxing
#15 Max Bursak dispatched Estonian journeyman Sergei Melis via KO in just 40 seconds on Saturday.  Gatekeeper Elvin Ayala needed considerably longer to dispatch his journeyman opponent, John Mackey.  Mackey hung around until being stopped in the 9th of a sceduled 10.  No changes to the rankings.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: Sergio Martinez (119-119-119)
Last Fight: 3/17/2012- RTD11 #3 Matthew Macklin
Next Fight: 9/15/2012- vs. #2 Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.
Looks like there’s no hitch to the negotiations for Martinez-Chavez, and it looks like that fight is going forward on 9/15 in Vegas.
1) Daniel Geale (57-162-162)
Last Fight: 3/7/2012- UD12 #11 Osumanu Adama
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #4 Felix Sturm
Geale-Sturm now has a confirmed date of 9/1.
2) Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (6-60-78)
Last Fight: 6/16/2012- TKO7 SMW #10 Andy Lee
Next Fight: 9/15/2012- vs. Champ Sergio Martinez
See Martinez’ notes, above.
3) Grzegorz Proksa (6-67-67)
Last Fight: 7/7/2012- TKO8 Kerry Hope (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #13 Gennady Golovkin
Proksa is officially braver than most of his peers, as he will take on rising knockout sensation Gennady Golovkin, September 1 on HBO.
4) Felix Sturm (6-462-462)
Last Fight: 4/13/2012- RTD9 Sebastian Zbik (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #1 Daniel Geale
See Geale’s notes, above.
5) Matthew Macklin (15-57-148)
Last Fight: 3/17/2012- L(RTD11) vs. Champ Sergio Martinez
Next Fight: 9/15/2012- vs. Joachim Alcine (UNR)
Macklin will fight the resurgent Joachim Alcine on the Martinez-Chavez undercard.
6) Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (25-91-91)
Last Fight: 5/4/2012- UD12 #15 Max Bursak
Next Fight: Unknown
The WBO has ordered a fight between N’Dam and Pirog.
7) Dmitry Pirog (12-104-104)
Last Fight: 5/1/2012- UD12 #20 Nobuhiro Ishida
Next Fight: Unknown
Pirog had a short-lived entry on his calendar to fight Golovkin in August, but withdrew very quickly with a back injury.
8) Martin Murray (12-34-34)
Last Fight: 6/16/2012- UD10 Karim Achour (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
9) Anthony Mundine (21-25-78)
Last Fight: 7/14/2012- TKO7 Bronco McKart (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Mundine recently split with his long-time manager.  Maybe he’s upset that he had to waste time fighting Bronco McKart.
10) Sam Soliman (21-21-23)
Last Fight: 2/19/2012- UD12 #15 Garth Wood
Next Fight: Unknown
11) Marco Antonio Rubio (20-78)
Last Fight: 6/30/2012- TKO7 Jorge Cota (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Rubio is evidently being considered to fight Quillin on 9/8.
12) Osumanu Adama (20-70)
Last Fight: 3/7/2012- L(UD12) vs. #1 Daniel Geale
Next Fight: Unknown
Adama came up short against Geale, but has nothing to be ashamed of.  He frequently took the #1 contender out of his game plan and looked entirely in his league at that lofty level.
13) Gennady Golovkin (9-58)
Last Fight: 5/12/2012- TKO3 Makoto Fuchigami (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/1/2012- vs. #3 Grzegorz Proksa
Golovkin will finally get the test he needs to make his ranking match his hype, when he battles dynamic #3 contender Grzegorz Proksa on HBO September 1.
14) Avtandil Khurtsidze (9-78)
Last Fight: 12/18/2011- W(MD12) vs. Ossie Duran (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
15) Max Bursak (9-78)
Last Fight: 7/21/2012- KO1 Sergei Melis (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Lightning-quick knockout in his recent stay busy fight.  No big deal either way.
16) Demetrius Andrade (9-49)
Last Fight: 5/5/2012- KO1 Rudy Cisneros (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Andrade showed chilling power in destroying easy mark Cisneros.
17) Darren Barker (9-41)
Last Fight: 10/1/2011- L(KO11) vs. Champ Sergio Martinez
Next Fight: 9/8/2012- vs. Unknown Opponent
Barker will return from hip surgery on September 8 in London.  No opponent yet.
18) Billi Godoy (9-40)
Last Fight: 7/7/2012- UD12 Jorge Heiland (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Godoy went life and death with solid journeyman Heiland.  He’s going to have to do better than that when he fights legitimate top 50 opposition, or his time in the top 20 will be very short.  Hell of a fight, though.
19) Nobuhiro Ishida (9-21)
Last Fight: 5/1/2012- L(UD12) vs. #8 Dmitry Pirog
Next Fight: Unknown
Barely challenged Pirog at all, but has enough mileage left on the Kirkland upset to remain ranked for the moment.
20) Peter Quillin (9-9)
Last Fight: 6/2/2012- UD10 Winky Wright (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/8/2012- vs. #11 Marco Antonio Rubio
Quillin is set to return on September 8, and might be fighting Rubio.

 

The Week Ahead: Australian gatekeeper Les Sherrington fights Yori Boy Campas- a 41 year old Mexican former contender with 100 wins, but who is apparently on his way out and currently is reduced to journeyman status- in Broadbeach, Australia. 

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