Junior Middleweight: 2012, Mar 19-25
American expat fringe contender Charlie Ota stopped low-level journeyman Gundrick King at MSG on Saturday, knocking King down in the 6th and 7th, and ending with a four-punch combo later in that round. It was the first career fight for native New Yorker Ota (whose real name is Charles Bellamy) outside Japan.
2) Cornelius Bundrage (40-85-85) Last Fight: 6/25/2011- UD12 #11 Sechew Powell Next Fight: Unknown K9 is interested in Kirkland and Sergio Martinez. 3) James Kirkland (20-20-20) 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 (16-94-94) 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 (16-37-59) Last Fight: 7/9/2011- L*(MD12) vs. #6 Paul Williams Next Fight: 4/20/2012- vs. Ronald Hearns (UNR) The Hearns fight has been rescehduled for April 20. 6) Carlos Molina (37-37-52) 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 (5-5-59) 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 (5-130-130) 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 (5-126-126) Last Fight: 11/26/2011- W (PTS8) vs. Sergei Khomitski (UNR) (at MW) Next Fight: Unknown Rhodes pulled out of his fight with Rabchenko, citing a back injury. 10) Gabriel Rosado (5-9-59) Last Fight: 1/21/2012- TKO5 Jesus Soto Karass (UNR) Next Fight: 6/1/2013- vs. Joel Julio (UNR) Rosado will again fight on NBC Sports Network, fighting fringe contender Joel Julio in Bethlehem, PA. 11) Cory Spinks (5-8) 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 (5-59) 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. A purse bid has been scheduled on 3/29 for the Mundine fight. 13) Delvin Rodriguez (5-36) 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 (15-16) 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 (15-42) 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) Lukas Konecny (1-32) Last Fight: 5/27/2011- UD12 Hussein Bayram (UNR) Next Fight: 4/5/2012- vs. Salim Larbi (UNR) After Baysangurov withdrew with injury, Konecny will go home to the Czech Republic to fight French journeyman Salim Larbi for what is incredibly an interim alphabet title. 17) Sechew Powell (1-105) Last Fight: 1/28/2012- L(UD12) vs. Cory Spinks (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown 18) Antonio Margarito (1-19) 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. 19) Prince Arron (1-4) 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. 20) Anthony Mundine (1-1) Last Fight: 10/19/2011- UD12* Rigoberto Alvarez (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown A purse bid for a proposed fight with Austin Trout is scheduled for 3/29.
The British title eliminator between Sam Webb and Matthew Hall did not come off as scheduled, but will likely take place on a new date.
Last week’s #16 Yuri Foreman is removed, as he hasn’t fought or scheduled a fight in over a year. Everyone ranked #17-20 last week moves up, and Anthony Mundine enters the rankings for (I believe) the first time since I began rating this division, at #20.
Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20) Champ: None 1) Saul Alvarez (40-55-70) 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. He’s already planning his return for September, too.
2) Cornelius Bundrage (40-85-85) Last Fight: 6/25/2011- UD12 #11 Sechew Powell Next Fight: Unknown K9 is interested in Kirkland and Sergio Martinez. 3) James Kirkland (20-20-20) 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 (16-94-94) 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 (16-37-59) Last Fight: 7/9/2011- L*(MD12) vs. #6 Paul Williams Next Fight: 4/20/2012- vs. Ronald Hearns (UNR) The Hearns fight has been rescehduled for April 20. 6) Carlos Molina (37-37-52) 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 (5-5-59) 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 (5-130-130) 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 (5-126-126) Last Fight: 11/26/2011- W (PTS8) vs. Sergei Khomitski (UNR) (at MW) Next Fight: Unknown Rhodes pulled out of his fight with Rabchenko, citing a back injury. 10) Gabriel Rosado (5-9-59) Last Fight: 1/21/2012- TKO5 Jesus Soto Karass (UNR) Next Fight: 6/1/2013- vs. Joel Julio (UNR) Rosado will again fight on NBC Sports Network, fighting fringe contender Joel Julio in Bethlehem, PA. 11) Cory Spinks (5-8) 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 (5-59) 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. A purse bid has been scheduled on 3/29 for the Mundine fight. 13) Delvin Rodriguez (5-36) 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 (15-16) 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 (15-42) 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) Lukas Konecny (1-32) Last Fight: 5/27/2011- UD12 Hussein Bayram (UNR) Next Fight: 4/5/2012- vs. Salim Larbi (UNR) After Baysangurov withdrew with injury, Konecny will go home to the Czech Republic to fight French journeyman Salim Larbi for what is incredibly an interim alphabet title. 17) Sechew Powell (1-105) Last Fight: 1/28/2012- L(UD12) vs. Cory Spinks (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown 18) Antonio Margarito (1-19) 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. 19) Prince Arron (1-4) 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. 20) Anthony Mundine (1-1) Last Fight: 10/19/2011- UD12* Rigoberto Alvarez (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown A purse bid for a proposed fight with Austin Trout is scheduled for 3/29.
The Week Ahead: Friday: Gatekeepers Antwone Smith and Roberto Garcia square off in Pharr, Texas on Friday Night Fights.
Saturday: In Houston, Texas on HBO, a huge fight will go down between #3 James Kirkland and #6 Carlos Molina. The fight may be determined by which Kirkland shows up. The version that showed up for the Angulo fight under current trainer Ann Wolfe may be too strong for a supremely crafty but smaller and less physical Molina. If the passive, mentally weak one that was stopped by Ishida turns up (or anything close to that), he’s got no chance.
In other Saturday action, Belorussian undefeated prospect Sergei Rabchenko fights low-level German journeyman Ronny Gabel in Sheffield, England. The fight was originally going to pit Rabchenko against Ryan Rhodes, who withdrew due to injury.
Finally, gatekeepers Grady Brewer of Oklahoma and Frank Haroche Horta of France square off in Macon, Georgia.
Dan's Weekly Boxer Rankings and Blog 
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