Junior Middleweight: 2012, Feb 27- Mar 4
Last week’s #19 Deandre Latimore survived a scare against unproven Colombian journeyman Milton Nunez. Latimore went down twice in the last two rounds, both times in the waning seconds. Referee Joe Cortez may have saved Latimore by knocking him down himself late in round 9. Nunez caught Latimore running around with his hands down and proceeded to pummel him in the corner and on the ropes for several seconds. Latimore wrapped one hand around Nunez’s shoulder and back, and for some reason Cortez decided that would be a good time to break the fighters, even though 3 of the 4 hands involved were still free. When he pushed the two fighters apart, Latimore slumped to the canvas, and Cortez began a count. By the time the count ended, the round was essentially over and Latimore had essentially weathered the storm. It appeared to me that Latimore was too hurt to hold effectively, and Cortez helped him out. Latimore was just one or two solid punches away from being stopped, and something tells me Nunez would have landed that punch or two had he been given a chance.
2) Cornelius Bundrage (37-82-82) Last Fight: 6/25/2011- UD12 #11 Sechew Powell Next Fight: Unknown K9 is interested in Kirkland and Sergio Martinez. 3) James Kirkland (17-17-17) Last Fight: 11/5/2011- TKO6 #4 Alfredo Angulo Next Fight: 3/24/2012- vs. #6 Carlos Molina Kirkland-Molina has a new date of March 24, in Houston. 4) Miguel Cotto (13-91-91) Last Fight: 12/3/2011- RTD10 #20 Antonio Margarito Next Fight: 5/5/2012- vs. WW #1 Floyd Mayweather, Jr. After being heavily rumored for a unnecessary rematch with Pacquiao, Cotto has gone the other way, fighting Floyd at 154 instead. 5) Erislandy Lara (13-34-56) Last Fight: 7/9/2011- L*(MD12) vs. #6 Paul Williams Next Fight: Unknown The Hearns fight may be rescheduled for April 14. 6) Carlos Molina (34-34-49) Last Fight: 7/9/2011- UD10 #7 Kermit Cintron Next Fight: 3/24/2012- vs. #3 James Kirkland See Kirkland’s notes, above. 7) Paul Williams (2-2-56) Last Fight: 2/18/2012- UD12 #17 MW Nobuhiro Ishida Next Fight: Unknown After Williams beat Ishida, he said he does not want a Lara rematch, but instead wants one with Sergio. 8) Alfredo Angulo (2-127-127) Last Fight: 11/5/2011- L (TKO6) vs. James Kirkland (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Angulo had no shortage of guts, but appeared a bit physically overmatched against a beastly incarnation of Kirkland. 9) Ryan Rhodes (2-123-123) Last Fight: 11/26/2011- W (PTS8) vs. Sergei Khomitski (UNR) (at MW) Next Fight: 3/24/2012- vs. Sergei Rabchenk0 (UNR) Rhodes will fight undefeated Belorussian prospect Sergei Rabchenko on March 24 in Sheffield, England for a European title. 10) Gabriel Rosado (2-6-56) Last Fight: 1/21/2012- TKO5 Jesus Soto Karass (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Rosado looks like a really strong contender after demolishing a game and durable Soto Karass. 11) Cory Spinks (2-5) Last Fight: 1/28/2012- UD12 #11 Sechew Powell Next Fight: Unknown I cannot confirm that the close unanimous decision verdict over Powell was accurate due to lack of video. So whether for skill or lack of sunlight, Spinks is very much back in the mix. 12) Austin Trout (2-56) Last Fight: 11/11/2011- TKO6 Frank LoPorto (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Trout wants Cotto, Rodriguez, Mundine, and Kirkland, and also has apparently mutual interest in fighting Lara. 13) Delvin Rodriguez (2-33) Last Fight: 12/3/2011- UD10* #9 Pawel Wolak Next Fight: Unknown Rodriguez has confirmed that he’ll be staying at 154. 14) Brian Rose (12-13) Last Fight: 12/3/2011- W (SD12) vs. #8 Prince Arron Next Fight: 3/31/2012- vs. Max Maxwell (UNR) Rose’s first defense of his British title will come in his hometown of Blackpool against Max Maxwell. Maxwell is a very mediocre journeyman who just so happens to be the only man to ever beat Rose. 15) Vanes Martirosyan (12-39) Last Fight: 2/4/2012- TKO3 Troy Lowry (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown We get it, Vanes! You’re better than a bunch of random journeymen. How about a test? 16) Yuri Foreman (12-126) Last Fight: 3/12/2011- L (RTD6) vs. Pawel Wolak (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Foreman’s career currently hangs in the balance, and he reportedly is not sure whether or not to continue fighting. 17) Lukas Konecny (12-29) Last Fight: 5/27/2011- UD12 Hussein Bayram (UNR) Next Fight: 3/10/2012- vs. Zaurbek Baysangurov (UNR) Konecny had agreed to fight Baysangurov in February, but it now looks like it might be moved to 3/10 in Kiev. 18) Sechew Powell (5-102) Last Fight: 1/28/2012- L(UD12) vs. Cory Spinks (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown 19) Antonio Margarito (1-16) Last Fight: 12/3/2011- L (RTD10) vs. #5 Miguel Cotto Next Fight: Unknown There is talk floating that Margarito might move up to fight Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. in June, but the WBC has gone on record saying they would reject that fight for Chavez’ belt. 20) Prince Arron (1-1) Last Fight: 12/3/2011- L (SD12) vs. Brian Rose (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown When we last saw Arron in the rankings, it appeared that he was going to fight an 8 rounder on February 24. That didn’t happen. No word on his next move.
However, aside from the substantial boost a win would have given Nunez’s otherwise unimpressive career, the point may be moot. Latimore came in at 156, having not made 154 since July of 2010. He’s therefore removed for inactivity at this weight, even after getting an extra 6 months (or 7, counting the extra time he got for signing the fight) for coming close in April. Margarito advances to take his place at #19, and Prince Arron returns at #20 for the first time since January 29.
Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20) Champ: None 1) Saul Alvarez (37-52-67) Last Fight: 11/26/2011- TKO5 Kermit Cintron (UNR) Next Fight: 5/5/2012- vs. Shane Mosley (UNR) Canelo will look to retire an over the hill Shane Mosley on the Mayweather-Cotto undercard on May 5, with the winner reportedly to get a shot at the main event’s winner.
2) Cornelius Bundrage (37-82-82) Last Fight: 6/25/2011- UD12 #11 Sechew Powell Next Fight: Unknown K9 is interested in Kirkland and Sergio Martinez. 3) James Kirkland (17-17-17) Last Fight: 11/5/2011- TKO6 #4 Alfredo Angulo Next Fight: 3/24/2012- vs. #6 Carlos Molina Kirkland-Molina has a new date of March 24, in Houston. 4) Miguel Cotto (13-91-91) Last Fight: 12/3/2011- RTD10 #20 Antonio Margarito Next Fight: 5/5/2012- vs. WW #1 Floyd Mayweather, Jr. After being heavily rumored for a unnecessary rematch with Pacquiao, Cotto has gone the other way, fighting Floyd at 154 instead. 5) Erislandy Lara (13-34-56) Last Fight: 7/9/2011- L*(MD12) vs. #6 Paul Williams Next Fight: Unknown The Hearns fight may be rescheduled for April 14. 6) Carlos Molina (34-34-49) Last Fight: 7/9/2011- UD10 #7 Kermit Cintron Next Fight: 3/24/2012- vs. #3 James Kirkland See Kirkland’s notes, above. 7) Paul Williams (2-2-56) Last Fight: 2/18/2012- UD12 #17 MW Nobuhiro Ishida Next Fight: Unknown After Williams beat Ishida, he said he does not want a Lara rematch, but instead wants one with Sergio. 8) Alfredo Angulo (2-127-127) Last Fight: 11/5/2011- L (TKO6) vs. James Kirkland (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Angulo had no shortage of guts, but appeared a bit physically overmatched against a beastly incarnation of Kirkland. 9) Ryan Rhodes (2-123-123) Last Fight: 11/26/2011- W (PTS8) vs. Sergei Khomitski (UNR) (at MW) Next Fight: 3/24/2012- vs. Sergei Rabchenk0 (UNR) Rhodes will fight undefeated Belorussian prospect Sergei Rabchenko on March 24 in Sheffield, England for a European title. 10) Gabriel Rosado (2-6-56) Last Fight: 1/21/2012- TKO5 Jesus Soto Karass (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Rosado looks like a really strong contender after demolishing a game and durable Soto Karass. 11) Cory Spinks (2-5) Last Fight: 1/28/2012- UD12 #11 Sechew Powell Next Fight: Unknown I cannot confirm that the close unanimous decision verdict over Powell was accurate due to lack of video. So whether for skill or lack of sunlight, Spinks is very much back in the mix. 12) Austin Trout (2-56) Last Fight: 11/11/2011- TKO6 Frank LoPorto (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Trout wants Cotto, Rodriguez, Mundine, and Kirkland, and also has apparently mutual interest in fighting Lara. 13) Delvin Rodriguez (2-33) Last Fight: 12/3/2011- UD10* #9 Pawel Wolak Next Fight: Unknown Rodriguez has confirmed that he’ll be staying at 154. 14) Brian Rose (12-13) Last Fight: 12/3/2011- W (SD12) vs. #8 Prince Arron Next Fight: 3/31/2012- vs. Max Maxwell (UNR) Rose’s first defense of his British title will come in his hometown of Blackpool against Max Maxwell. Maxwell is a very mediocre journeyman who just so happens to be the only man to ever beat Rose. 15) Vanes Martirosyan (12-39) Last Fight: 2/4/2012- TKO3 Troy Lowry (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown We get it, Vanes! You’re better than a bunch of random journeymen. How about a test? 16) Yuri Foreman (12-126) Last Fight: 3/12/2011- L (RTD6) vs. Pawel Wolak (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Foreman’s career currently hangs in the balance, and he reportedly is not sure whether or not to continue fighting. 17) Lukas Konecny (12-29) Last Fight: 5/27/2011- UD12 Hussein Bayram (UNR) Next Fight: 3/10/2012- vs. Zaurbek Baysangurov (UNR) Konecny had agreed to fight Baysangurov in February, but it now looks like it might be moved to 3/10 in Kiev. 18) Sechew Powell (5-102) Last Fight: 1/28/2012- L(UD12) vs. Cory Spinks (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown 19) Antonio Margarito (1-16) Last Fight: 12/3/2011- L (RTD10) vs. #5 Miguel Cotto Next Fight: Unknown There is talk floating that Margarito might move up to fight Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. in June, but the WBC has gone on record saying they would reject that fight for Chavez’ belt. 20) Prince Arron (1-1) Last Fight: 12/3/2011- L (SD12) vs. Brian Rose (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown When we last saw Arron in the rankings, it appeared that he was going to fight an 8 rounder on February 24. That didn’t happen. No word on his next move.
The Week Ahead: In Veronica, Argentina on Saturday, we find a good high stakes matchup between two gatekeeper type domestic rivals as Alejandro Falliga clashes with Mateo Veron. The winner moves toward top 25 status internationally, while the loser is reduced to a journeyman.
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