Middleweight: 2013, Jan 14-20
Nothing of note happened last week (or so far this year) at 160.
Next Fight: 4/27/2013- vs. #9 Martin Murray
Martinez will look to come back strong from knee surgery when he takes on Martin Murray in Argentina on April 27.
1) Daniel Geale (82-187-187) Last Fight: 9/1/2012- W*(SD12) vs. #4 Felix Sturm
Next Fight: 1/30/2013- vs. #11 Anthony Mundine
Geale now has a date and location for the Mundine fight: January 30, in Sidney. 2) Felix Sturm (20-487-487) Last Fight: 9/1/2012- L*(SD12) vs. #1 Daniel Geale
Next Fight: 2/1/2013- vs. #12 Sam Soliman
Sturm will fight Aussie Sam Soliman in Germany in early February. 3) Gennady Golovkin (20-20-83) Last Fight: 9/1/2012- TKO5 #3 Grzegorz Proksa
Next Fight: 1/19/2013- vs. JMW #? Gabriel Rosado Golovkin fights at Madison Square Garden against junior middleweight contender Gabriel Rosado. The fight will be on HBO. 4) Matthew Macklin (18-82-173) Last Fight: 9/15/2012- TKO1 Joachim Alcine (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Andy Lee recently called Macklin out. 5) Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (18-85-103) Last Fight: 9/15/2012- L (UD12) vs. Champ Sergio Martinez
Next Fight: Unknown
Chavez is expecting to return in May, and then- provided both men win their spring fights- rematch Martinez in September. It looks like his next fight will be without trainer Freddie Roach, as he appears set to dump Roach for either Nacho Beristain or Robert Garcia. 6) Peter Quillin (13-13-34) Last Fight: 10/20/2012- UD12 #6 Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam Next Fight: 2/9/2013- vs. Fernando Guerrero (UNR) After originally being rumored to be working on a fight with Jermain Taylor, Quillin will instead be fighting fringe contending one-loss Dominican Fernando Guerrero. It was originally rumored for January 19, but has been set for February 9 now. 7) Dmitry Pirog (37-129-129) Last Fight: 5/1/2012- UD12 #20 Nobuhiro Ishida
Next Fight: 3/2/2013- vs. Unknown Opponent
Pirog will return to the ring- and the US- fighting an opponent to be announced March 3 on HBO. 8) Grzegorz Proksa (20-92-92) Last Fight: 9/1/2012- L(TKO5) vs. #13 Gennady Golovkin
Next Fight: Unknown After a taxing TKO loss to Golovkin (and a fairly busy first 3 quarters of the year), Proksa now says he’ll take a rest until at least January. 9) Martin Murray (20-59-59) Last Fight: 11/24/2012- TKO6 Jorge Navarro (UNR) Next Fight: 4/27/2013- vs. Champ Sergio Martinez Murray will look to prove that he belongs at or above the level he achieved by drawing with Sturm when he fights the Champ in Argentina on April 27. 10) Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (13-116-116) Last Fight: 10/20/2012- L (UD12) vs. #20 Peter Quillin Next Fight: Unknown
As it turns out, N’Dam had a rematch clause in his contract with Quillin, but he also has expressed interest in Golovkin, Geale, Martinez, and Chavez. Quillin has scheduled a fight with Fernando Guerrero, as well. 11) Anthony Mundine (13-103) Last Fight: 7/14/2012- TKO7 Bronco McKart (UNR)
Next Fight: 1/30/2013- vs. #1 Daniel Geale
A big opportunity for Mundine in the rematch of his split decision victory over Geale. 12) Sam Soliman (13-48) Last Fight: 8/24/2012- UD12 Giovanni Lorenzo (UNR) Next Fight: 2/1/2013- vs. #2 Felix Sturm Soliman is fighting Sturm all of a sudden. 13) Marco Antonio Rubio (13-103) Last Fight: 12/22/2012- KO11 Michel Rosales (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Rubio appears to be in line for the Quillin-Guerrero winner. 14) Osumanu Adama (13-95) Last Fight: 3/7/2012- L(UD12) vs. #1 Daniel Geale Next Fight: Unknown Adama’s scheduled return against Derrick Findley was abruptly canceled at the last moment. I don’t know why, nor when he might be back again. 15) Max Bursak (4-103) Last Fight: 7/21/2012- KO1 Sergei Melis (UNR)
Next Fight: 2/2/2013- vs. Julien Marie Sainte (UNR)
Bursak will be fighting for a European title over what should be a pretty easy opponent in Frenchman Julien Marie Sainte- essentially a journeyman. The one bit of intrigue is that the fight is taking place in France. 16) Demetrius Andrade (4-74) Last Fight: 9/20/2012- TKO2 Alexis Hloros (UNR) Next Fight: 1/25/2013- vs. Freddy Hernandez (UNR) No word on why, but junior middleweight gatekeeper Freddy Hernandez is replacing Javier Maciel in the January 25 fight with Andrade. The fight will be on ShoBox. 17) Darren Barker (4-66) Last Fight: 12/8/2012- TKO4 Kerry Hope (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Barker wants Macklin and Murray, although Murray is obviously otherwise occupied for some months to come. 18) Nobuhiro Ishida (4-46) 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. 19) Bryan Vera (4-13) Last Fight: 8/11/2012- W (MD12) vs. Sergio Mora (UNR) Next Fight: 1/25/2013- vs. Sergei Dzinziruk (UNR) Vera will get a big opportunity to establish himself as a contender when he fights once very highly ranked contender Sergei Dzinziruk on Friday Night Fights. 20) Makoto Fuchigami (4-4) Last Fight: 10/12/2012- RTD6 Marlon Alta (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Fuchigami- the Japanese champion- still has yet to conquer any other shores.
Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20) Champ: Sergio Martinez (144-144-144) Last Fight: 9/15/2012- UD12 #4 Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.
Next Fight: 4/27/2013- vs. #9 Martin Murray
Martinez will look to come back strong from knee surgery when he takes on Martin Murray in Argentina on April 27.
1) Daniel Geale (82-187-187) Last Fight: 9/1/2012- W*(SD12) vs. #4 Felix Sturm
Next Fight: 1/30/2013- vs. #11 Anthony Mundine
Geale now has a date and location for the Mundine fight: January 30, in Sidney. 2) Felix Sturm (20-487-487) Last Fight: 9/1/2012- L*(SD12) vs. #1 Daniel Geale
Next Fight: 2/1/2013- vs. #12 Sam Soliman
Sturm will fight Aussie Sam Soliman in Germany in early February. 3) Gennady Golovkin (20-20-83) Last Fight: 9/1/2012- TKO5 #3 Grzegorz Proksa
Next Fight: 1/19/2013- vs. JMW #? Gabriel Rosado Golovkin fights at Madison Square Garden against junior middleweight contender Gabriel Rosado. The fight will be on HBO. 4) Matthew Macklin (18-82-173) Last Fight: 9/15/2012- TKO1 Joachim Alcine (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Andy Lee recently called Macklin out. 5) Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (18-85-103) Last Fight: 9/15/2012- L (UD12) vs. Champ Sergio Martinez
Next Fight: Unknown
Chavez is expecting to return in May, and then- provided both men win their spring fights- rematch Martinez in September. It looks like his next fight will be without trainer Freddie Roach, as he appears set to dump Roach for either Nacho Beristain or Robert Garcia. 6) Peter Quillin (13-13-34) Last Fight: 10/20/2012- UD12 #6 Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam Next Fight: 2/9/2013- vs. Fernando Guerrero (UNR) After originally being rumored to be working on a fight with Jermain Taylor, Quillin will instead be fighting fringe contending one-loss Dominican Fernando Guerrero. It was originally rumored for January 19, but has been set for February 9 now. 7) Dmitry Pirog (37-129-129) Last Fight: 5/1/2012- UD12 #20 Nobuhiro Ishida
Next Fight: 3/2/2013- vs. Unknown Opponent
Pirog will return to the ring- and the US- fighting an opponent to be announced March 3 on HBO. 8) Grzegorz Proksa (20-92-92) Last Fight: 9/1/2012- L(TKO5) vs. #13 Gennady Golovkin
Next Fight: Unknown After a taxing TKO loss to Golovkin (and a fairly busy first 3 quarters of the year), Proksa now says he’ll take a rest until at least January. 9) Martin Murray (20-59-59) Last Fight: 11/24/2012- TKO6 Jorge Navarro (UNR) Next Fight: 4/27/2013- vs. Champ Sergio Martinez Murray will look to prove that he belongs at or above the level he achieved by drawing with Sturm when he fights the Champ in Argentina on April 27. 10) Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (13-116-116) Last Fight: 10/20/2012- L (UD12) vs. #20 Peter Quillin Next Fight: Unknown
As it turns out, N’Dam had a rematch clause in his contract with Quillin, but he also has expressed interest in Golovkin, Geale, Martinez, and Chavez. Quillin has scheduled a fight with Fernando Guerrero, as well. 11) Anthony Mundine (13-103) Last Fight: 7/14/2012- TKO7 Bronco McKart (UNR)
Next Fight: 1/30/2013- vs. #1 Daniel Geale
A big opportunity for Mundine in the rematch of his split decision victory over Geale. 12) Sam Soliman (13-48) Last Fight: 8/24/2012- UD12 Giovanni Lorenzo (UNR) Next Fight: 2/1/2013- vs. #2 Felix Sturm Soliman is fighting Sturm all of a sudden. 13) Marco Antonio Rubio (13-103) Last Fight: 12/22/2012- KO11 Michel Rosales (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Rubio appears to be in line for the Quillin-Guerrero winner. 14) Osumanu Adama (13-95) Last Fight: 3/7/2012- L(UD12) vs. #1 Daniel Geale Next Fight: Unknown Adama’s scheduled return against Derrick Findley was abruptly canceled at the last moment. I don’t know why, nor when he might be back again. 15) Max Bursak (4-103) Last Fight: 7/21/2012- KO1 Sergei Melis (UNR)
Next Fight: 2/2/2013- vs. Julien Marie Sainte (UNR)
Bursak will be fighting for a European title over what should be a pretty easy opponent in Frenchman Julien Marie Sainte- essentially a journeyman. The one bit of intrigue is that the fight is taking place in France. 16) Demetrius Andrade (4-74) Last Fight: 9/20/2012- TKO2 Alexis Hloros (UNR) Next Fight: 1/25/2013- vs. Freddy Hernandez (UNR) No word on why, but junior middleweight gatekeeper Freddy Hernandez is replacing Javier Maciel in the January 25 fight with Andrade. The fight will be on ShoBox. 17) Darren Barker (4-66) Last Fight: 12/8/2012- TKO4 Kerry Hope (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Barker wants Macklin and Murray, although Murray is obviously otherwise occupied for some months to come. 18) Nobuhiro Ishida (4-46) 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. 19) Bryan Vera (4-13) Last Fight: 8/11/2012- W (MD12) vs. Sergio Mora (UNR) Next Fight: 1/25/2013- vs. Sergei Dzinziruk (UNR) Vera will get a big opportunity to establish himself as a contender when he fights once very highly ranked contender Sergei Dzinziruk on Friday Night Fights. 20) Makoto Fuchigami (4-4) Last Fight: 10/12/2012- RTD6 Marlon Alta (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Fuchigami- the Japanese champion- still has yet to conquer any other shores.
The Week Ahead: Friday: In Junin, Argentina, local junior middleweight gatekeeper Mateo Veron moves up to fight mediocre countryman Abel Adriel.
Saturday: In Uncasville, Connecticut, gatekeeper Elvin Ayala looks to put a damper on former top super middleweight prospect Curtis Stevens’ comeback attempt when the two do battle on NBC Sports Network.
Meanwhile, in New York and on HBO, #3 Gennady Golovkin takes on junior middleweight contender Gabriel Rosado at 160. Both guys can crack (at least at their normal weights), and both love to throw punches with bad intentions. This fight should be fun while it lasts.
Dan's Weekly Boxer Rankings and Blog 
January 29, 2013 at 6:00 pm
What did you think of Vera’s win? Looked to me like his style was perfect for the gradual dismantling of Dzinziruk. He’s been around long enough that I don’t think he’s gonna suddenly start drawing interest from elite middleweights, he’s just not a fully developed fighter but I think with his tenacity and punching power he’ll always be an exciting gatekeeper in the division.
January 29, 2013 at 8:10 pm
I’ve always been higher on Vera than most, I think. And he definitely did what he had to do against Dzinziruk. But in this case my personal belief is that it had more to do with Dzinziruk being finished than with Vera being on point. The Ukrainian’s reflexes looked painfully slow. He stood straight up. His movements were even more stiff and robotic than usual. He was just as bad against Jonathan Gonzales- who has looked so-so against guys that were supposed to be a couple classes below Dzinziruk, but who deserved to beat the Razor 98-92 in my book.
But yeah. Vera’s like the Babe Ruth of clubfighters. He’s fairly crude and doesn’t have flashy skills. But he has above average power, He’s durable. He knows how to work, and knows how to apply pressure. If you’re a pretender, he’ll prove it to you. Anytime he’s in with a guy that I don’t believe is a legitimate top 15 fighter, I’m going to pick him. With back-to-back wins over Mora (though it was close) and Dzinziruk, I think he deserves a shot at some interim or color-coded world title at least.