Heavyweight: 2013, Jan 21-27
Undefeated prospect Deontay Wilder knocked down weak journeyman Matthew Greer 3 times in just under a round and a half to win by 2nd round TKO in Villahermosa, Mexico on Saturday.
Champ: Wladimir Klitschko (187-400-400)
Last Fight: 11/10/2012- UD12 Mariusz Wach (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Wlad is strangely ducking Povetkin now, having petitioned for a voluntary defense first on April 6. Odlanier Solis is rumored to be a likely candidate.
1) Vitali Klitschko (224-224-224)
Last Fight: 9/8/2012- TKO4 Manuel Charr (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
With 2013 in full swing, we’re still waiting on Vitali’s decision to fight on or retire.
2) David Haye (28-28-28) 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. 3) Steve Cunningham (5-5-5) Last Fight: 12/22/2012- L (SD12) vs. #3 Tomasz Adamek (Robbery) Next Fight: Unknown Judges don’t like Steve Cunningham, and he’s the visiting fighter even at home. I don’t know why. He makes interesting fights and has been excellent for years. But he was borderline robbed in his first fight with Hernandez, and now blatantly so against Adamek. 4) Alexander Povetkin (28-274-274) Last Fight: 9/29/2012- TKO2 Hasim Rahman (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Wlad appears to be avoiding Povetkin, in something of a role-reversal. Povetkin’s team is fighting it, but Wlad has requested a voluntary defense before having to fight him. 5) Tomasz Adamek (5-144-144)
Last Fight: 12/22/2012- W (SD12)* vs. CW #4 Steve Cunningham (Robbery)
Next Fight: Unknown
As if Adamek needed another reason to lose popularity after being gifted a completely undeserved win and slamming the victim mercilessly and classlessly, he was recently arrested on suspicion of drunk driving after causing a 3-car accident. He’s still got a fight with Pulev looming, and will probably get the benefit of a friendly venue in Poland. 6) Tyson Fury (5-79-79) Last Fight: 12/1/2012- UD12 Kevin Johnson (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Fury’s promoter says that David Price has made a non-serious offer to fight him. In reality, the money probably doesn’t matter. Fury could sit around eating Cheetos indefinitely and still get a big-money Klitschko shot in 2013. The same is not true if he loses to Price. If he loses to Klitschko, he can probably still fight Price later. 7) Eddie Chambers (5-32-32) Last Fight: 6/16/2012- L(UD12) vs. #3 Tomasz Adamek Next Fight: Unknown After announcing that he’s moving down to cruiserweight, Chambers has a suitor at that weight in #1 Denis Lebedev. Lebedev would like to come to New York to fight him in March or before. Chambers has said he wishes to accept the challenge. 8) Kubrat Pulev (5-38-115) Last Fight: 9/29/2012- KO11 Alexander Ustinov (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
With Wlad likely to take care of his WBA mandatory against Povetkin in March, Pulev appears likely to fight for the IBF mandatory position against Adamek around the same time. The fight is rumored for Poland, which Pulev is understandably not thrilled about.
9) Dereck Chisora (5-60-123) Last Fight: 7/14/2012- L(TKO5) vs. David Haye (UNR)
Next Fight: 3/16/2013- vs. Unknown Opponent
Chisora is penciled in for the big Frank Warren event on 3/16 in London. The only obstacles at this point are securing an opponent and getting his license back.
10) Johnathon Banks (5-10-10) Last Fight: 11/17/2012- TKO2 #11 Seth Mitchell Next Fight: 2/16/2013- vs. Seth Mitchell (UNR) Banks doesn’t get to rest on his laurels for too long, as Mitchell has invoked his rematch clause. The second helping will be placed on the table on a February 16 Adrien Broner undercard. 11) Odlanier Solis (5-139)
Last Fight: 5/19/2012- UD12 Konstantin Airich (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown
Solis is a possible next opponent for Wlad if he is able to delay his mandatory with Povetkin.
12) Marco Huck (5-48) 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 probably in March, when Afolabi is likely to get robbed in Germany. 13) Robert Helenius (5-139)
Last Fight: 11/10/2012- W*(UD10) vs. Sherman Williams (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Helenius will reportedly fight Michael Sprott next, but reports that it was done for March 2 have been vehemently denied by Sauerland. 14) Alexander Dimitrenko (1-106) Last Fight: 12/21/2012- UD8 Samir Kurtagic (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Dimitrenko beat the very mediocre Samir Kurtagic, but couldn’t avoid getting dropped late in the contest. 15) Tony Thompson (1-139)
Last Fight: 7/7/2012- L(TKO6) vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko
Next Fight: 2/23/2013- vs. David Price (UNR)
After failing to take the title from Wlad, Thompson will serve as a stepping stone to a top 10 ranking for sensational English giant David Price in a February fight in Liverpool- or at least he will if he plays along with Price’s plan.
16) Chris Arreola (1-201)
Last Fight: 2/18/2012- KO1 Eric Molina (UNR)
Next Fight: 3/9/2013- vs. Bermane Stiverne (UNR)
Arreola-Stiverne has been delayed yet again- this time likely owing to Andre Ward’s injury. It will now be March 9 in Costa Mesa, California.
17) Denis Boytsov (1-188)
Last Fight: 4/13/2012- UD10 Dominick Guinn (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Boytsov hopes to return February 9, but will have to get past issues with his cash-strapped promoter in order to make that fight a reality. 18) Jean-Marc Mormeck (1-139) Last Fight: 3/3/2012- L(TKO4) vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko Next Fight: Unknown
Mormeck reports a bad shoulder injury while training for his cruiserweight fight with Wlodarczyk. He will be unable to train for two months- at which point he’ll have been inactive for over a year. Theoretically he could still schedule a heavyweight fight during that period, so he will retain his ranking until March, if only as a formality. 19) Vyacheslav Glazkov (1-5) Last Fight: 12/22/2012- RTD4 Tor Hamer (UNR)
Next Fight: 2/23/2013- vs. Malik Scott (UNR)
Fresh off the Hamer win, Glazkov has an intriguing match with undefeated prospect Malik Scott, a 32 year old who took 3 years off leading up to 2012. 20) Bermane Stiverne (1-1) Last Fight: 4/14/2012- UD8 Willie Herring (UNR) Next Fight: 3/9/2013- vs. #16 Chris Arreola Stiverne’s fight with Arreola is now scheduled for 3/9. I haven’t been counting, but this is at least the 3rd or 4th scheduled date for the fight.
Last week’s #14 Ruslan Chagaev’s best win within the last 5 years (as of last week)- over Matt Skelton- just became more than 5 years old. That leaves his borderline-significant win over Kali Meehan from 2010 as his only arguably significant win in the last 5 years, and prompts his sliding out of the rankings. Everone rated #15 and below last week advances one place, and Bermane Stiverne returns at #20 for the first time since he was forced out on Christmas Eve.
Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in current position-weeks in top 10 (if applicable)-weeks in top 20)
Champ: Wladimir Klitschko (187-400-400)
Last Fight: 11/10/2012- UD12 Mariusz Wach (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Wlad is strangely ducking Povetkin now, having petitioned for a voluntary defense first on April 6. Odlanier Solis is rumored to be a likely candidate.
1) Vitali Klitschko (224-224-224)
Last Fight: 9/8/2012- TKO4 Manuel Charr (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
With 2013 in full swing, we’re still waiting on Vitali’s decision to fight on or retire.
2) David Haye (28-28-28) 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. 3) Steve Cunningham (5-5-5) Last Fight: 12/22/2012- L (SD12) vs. #3 Tomasz Adamek (Robbery) Next Fight: Unknown Judges don’t like Steve Cunningham, and he’s the visiting fighter even at home. I don’t know why. He makes interesting fights and has been excellent for years. But he was borderline robbed in his first fight with Hernandez, and now blatantly so against Adamek. 4) Alexander Povetkin (28-274-274) Last Fight: 9/29/2012- TKO2 Hasim Rahman (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Wlad appears to be avoiding Povetkin, in something of a role-reversal. Povetkin’s team is fighting it, but Wlad has requested a voluntary defense before having to fight him. 5) Tomasz Adamek (5-144-144)
Last Fight: 12/22/2012- W (SD12)* vs. CW #4 Steve Cunningham (Robbery)
Next Fight: Unknown
As if Adamek needed another reason to lose popularity after being gifted a completely undeserved win and slamming the victim mercilessly and classlessly, he was recently arrested on suspicion of drunk driving after causing a 3-car accident. He’s still got a fight with Pulev looming, and will probably get the benefit of a friendly venue in Poland. 6) Tyson Fury (5-79-79) Last Fight: 12/1/2012- UD12 Kevin Johnson (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Fury’s promoter says that David Price has made a non-serious offer to fight him. In reality, the money probably doesn’t matter. Fury could sit around eating Cheetos indefinitely and still get a big-money Klitschko shot in 2013. The same is not true if he loses to Price. If he loses to Klitschko, he can probably still fight Price later. 7) Eddie Chambers (5-32-32) Last Fight: 6/16/2012- L(UD12) vs. #3 Tomasz Adamek Next Fight: Unknown After announcing that he’s moving down to cruiserweight, Chambers has a suitor at that weight in #1 Denis Lebedev. Lebedev would like to come to New York to fight him in March or before. Chambers has said he wishes to accept the challenge. 8) Kubrat Pulev (5-38-115) Last Fight: 9/29/2012- KO11 Alexander Ustinov (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
With Wlad likely to take care of his WBA mandatory against Povetkin in March, Pulev appears likely to fight for the IBF mandatory position against Adamek around the same time. The fight is rumored for Poland, which Pulev is understandably not thrilled about.
9) Dereck Chisora (5-60-123) Last Fight: 7/14/2012- L(TKO5) vs. David Haye (UNR)
Next Fight: 3/16/2013- vs. Unknown Opponent
Chisora is penciled in for the big Frank Warren event on 3/16 in London. The only obstacles at this point are securing an opponent and getting his license back.
10) Johnathon Banks (5-10-10) Last Fight: 11/17/2012- TKO2 #11 Seth Mitchell Next Fight: 2/16/2013- vs. Seth Mitchell (UNR) Banks doesn’t get to rest on his laurels for too long, as Mitchell has invoked his rematch clause. The second helping will be placed on the table on a February 16 Adrien Broner undercard. 11) Odlanier Solis (5-139)
Last Fight: 5/19/2012- UD12 Konstantin Airich (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown
Solis is a possible next opponent for Wlad if he is able to delay his mandatory with Povetkin.
12) Marco Huck (5-48) 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 probably in March, when Afolabi is likely to get robbed in Germany. 13) Robert Helenius (5-139)
Last Fight: 11/10/2012- W*(UD10) vs. Sherman Williams (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Helenius will reportedly fight Michael Sprott next, but reports that it was done for March 2 have been vehemently denied by Sauerland. 14) Alexander Dimitrenko (1-106) Last Fight: 12/21/2012- UD8 Samir Kurtagic (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Dimitrenko beat the very mediocre Samir Kurtagic, but couldn’t avoid getting dropped late in the contest. 15) Tony Thompson (1-139)
Last Fight: 7/7/2012- L(TKO6) vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko
Next Fight: 2/23/2013- vs. David Price (UNR)
After failing to take the title from Wlad, Thompson will serve as a stepping stone to a top 10 ranking for sensational English giant David Price in a February fight in Liverpool- or at least he will if he plays along with Price’s plan.
16) Chris Arreola (1-201)
Last Fight: 2/18/2012- KO1 Eric Molina (UNR)
Next Fight: 3/9/2013- vs. Bermane Stiverne (UNR)
Arreola-Stiverne has been delayed yet again- this time likely owing to Andre Ward’s injury. It will now be March 9 in Costa Mesa, California.
17) Denis Boytsov (1-188)
Last Fight: 4/13/2012- UD10 Dominick Guinn (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Boytsov hopes to return February 9, but will have to get past issues with his cash-strapped promoter in order to make that fight a reality. 18) Jean-Marc Mormeck (1-139) Last Fight: 3/3/2012- L(TKO4) vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko Next Fight: Unknown
Mormeck reports a bad shoulder injury while training for his cruiserweight fight with Wlodarczyk. He will be unable to train for two months- at which point he’ll have been inactive for over a year. Theoretically he could still schedule a heavyweight fight during that period, so he will retain his ranking until March, if only as a formality. 19) Vyacheslav Glazkov (1-5) Last Fight: 12/22/2012- RTD4 Tor Hamer (UNR)
Next Fight: 2/23/2013- vs. Malik Scott (UNR)
Fresh off the Hamer win, Glazkov has an intriguing match with undefeated prospect Malik Scott, a 32 year old who took 3 years off leading up to 2012. 20) Bermane Stiverne (1-1) Last Fight: 4/14/2012- UD8 Willie Herring (UNR) Next Fight: 3/9/2013- vs. #16 Chris Arreola Stiverne’s fight with Arreola is now scheduled for 3/9. I haven’t been counting, but this is at least the 3rd or 4th scheduled date for the fight.
THE WEEK AHEAD: Two notable heavyweights will see action on a single card in Dover, Delaware on Saturday. Fringe contender Franklin Lawrence continues his unfortunate recent pattern by fighting a very weak journeyman named Mark Brown. Also, undefeated 40-year-old Amir Mansour draws a perhaps slightly better journeyman in Dominique Alexander.
Dan's Weekly Boxer Rankings and Blog 
January 29, 2013 at 5:55 pm
I’m excited to see how Arreola looks at the weigh-in against Stiverne, I think his weight is the most important factor in his future with all his talent and punching power. I have to ask, though, your profile says you used to be a more casual fan and now have HBO/Showtime, but where do you even see fighters like Vyacheslav Glazkov, Denis Boytsov, or Kubrat Pulev?
January 29, 2013 at 7:57 pm
I’ve always sort of suspected that Arreola might be better at the heavier weight. I think he loses a bit of power and a fair amount of punch resistance when he’s in the 230s. For instance, I’m not sure the version of him that only gradually got worn down by Vitali would have gotten badly buzzed by Joey Abell. Arreola seems to have freakishly decent endurance even when badly out of shape, too. But I’ve never claimed to be a scout or trainer, so I could easily be terribly wrong.
Well, Glazkov has been on NBC Sports recently. But for European fighters in general, there’s a really good website where you can download almost any fight that’s on TV nearly anywhere in the world. Or if that doesn’t work, I resort to YouTube or Dailymotion. I don’t know if the website I referenced earlier wants to be completely on the radar, so I’ll e-mail it to you. Anyone else that wants it, just say so. I catch Argentine fights on there a lot, too- as well as Quebec cards.