Junior Middleweight: 2012, Apr 30- May 6

2-loss Argentine prospect Javier Maciel- who impressed a bit in losing a closer-than-expected fight with Dmitry Pirog- knocked out Carlos Vilches, a post-prime former junior welterweight contender, in only 50 seconds in Caseros, Argentina.

In London, England, Manchester journeyman Matthew Hall was blatantly robbed against London native Sam Webb, and nobody raised much of a stink over it. The flamboyantly biased commentary no doubt assisted in the crime. Hall came forward like a tank, pinning Webb on the ropes several times per round. He pounded the body relentlessly, and landed his share of short power shots to the head as well. He didn’t take a backward step the whole fight, and controlled the ring (with an iron fist) about 90% of the time. Save for that 10%, Webb either ran like the slowest Kenyan you’ve ever seen or layed on the ropes taking shots. When he punched, it was usually sloppy and off the back foot. He came on a little stronger late, but there’s still no way he came anywhere close to winning the fight. I had it 117-111, and the 3 rounds I gave Webb were the closest 3 rounds of the fight. There was a 4th round that I gave Hall fairly clear, but mainly because of effective aggression and ring generalship. I thought the punching was even in that round. So even giving more benefit of the doubt than I typically would, 116-112 Hall at a bare minimum. Dave Parris had it 117-112. My guess is he saw it like I did, but couldn’t pull the trigger on perhaps that last round I mentioned (the 3rd). The other judges were just awful. Perhaps they were hired to judge Dancing with the Stars and switched assignments at the last minute. Because dancing was the only thing Webb did better than Hall. Not really even a close fight. Webb’s ill-gotten gain is a British title shot against Brian Rose.

No changes to the rankings.

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)

Champ: None

1) Carlos Molina (6-43-58)

Last Fight: 3/23/2012- L*(DQ10) vs. #3 James Kirkland (Robbery)

Next Fight: Unknown

Molina has said he’ll appeal his DQ against Kirkland. I wish him luck, but of course he doesn’t have to appeal to me. He’s #1.

2) Saul Alvarez (6-61-76)

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.

3) Cornelius Bundrage (6-91-91)

Last Fight: 6/25/2011- UD12 #11 Sechew Powell

Next Fight: Unknown

K9 is interested in Kirkland and Sergio Martinez.

4) Miguel Cotto (22-100-100)

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 (22-43-65)

Last Fight: 4/20/2012- TKO1 Ronald Hearns (UNR) (at MW)

Next Fight: Unknown

The WBC has ordered an eliminator between Lara and Vanes for a shot at Canelo.

6) James Kirkland (6-26-26)

Last Fight: 3/24/2012- W*(DQ10) vs. #6 Carlos Molina (Robbery)

Next Fight: Unknown

Even after his unimpressive performance against Molina (or perhaps in part because of it), Lara still wants to fight him.

7) Paul Williams (11-11-65)

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 (11-136-136)

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 (11-132-132)

Last Fight: 11/26/2011- W (PTS8) vs. Sergei Khomitski (UNR) (at MW)

Next Fight: 6/16/2012- vs. Sergei Rabchenko (UNR)

After suffering a back injury, Rhodes has rescheduled his fight with Rabchenko for June 16 in Manchester.

10) Gabriel Rosado (11-15-65)

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 (11-14)

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 (11-65)

Last Fight: 11/11/2011- TKO6 Frank LoPorto (UNR)

Next Fight: 6/2/2012- vs. #13 Delvin Rodriguez

Trout-Rodriguez is now official for June 2 on Showtime.

13) Delvin Rodriguez (11-42)

Last Fight: 12/3/2011- UD10* #9 Pawel Wolak

Next Fight: 6/2/2012- vs. #12 Austin Trout

See Trout’s notes, above.

14) Brian Rose (21-22)

Last Fight: 3/31/2012- UD12 Max Maxwell (UNR)

Next Fight: 6/2/2012- vs. Kris Carslaw (UNR)

In fairness, the British light middleweight scene is extremely thin compared to other divisions, but I can’t say that Rose’s title reign is off to a great start. He’s defending his title against a second consecutive journeyman that could be called mid-level at best.

15) Vanes Martirosyan (21-48)

Last Fight: 2/4/2012- TKO3 Troy Lowry (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

After being passed over for a JCC shot, an eliminator for a shot at Canelo has been ordered by the WBC, with the prospective opponent being Erislandy Lara.

16) Lukas Konecny (7-38)

Last Fight: 4/5/2012- TKO7 Salim Larbi (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

17) Sechew Powell (7-111)

Last Fight: 1/28/2012- L(UD12) vs. Cory Spinks (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

18) Antonio Margarito (7-25)

Last Fight: 12/3/2011- L (RTD10) vs. #5 Miguel Cotto

Next Fight: 5/26/2012- vs. Abel Perry (UNR)

Margarito will take a soft touch in an attempt to bounce back, taking lower mid-level journeyman Abel Perry on May 26.

19) Prince Arron (7-10)

Last Fight: 12/3/2011- L (SD12) vs. Brian Rose (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Arron has a new trainer and says he’s moving up to middleweight.

20) Anthony Mundine (7-7)

Last Fight: 10/19/2011- UD12* Rigoberto Alvarez (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

The much larger Danny Green is gunning for a rematch.

The Week Ahead: This week features one junior middleweight-heavy pay-per-view card in Vegas on Saturday. In the main event, top Welterweight Floyd Mayweather looks to begin a conquest of 154 when he takes one of the more dangerous fights of his career against #4 Miguel Cotto.

In the co-feature, #2 Saul Alvarez will try to be impressive and hopefully retire the heavily faded former Champion Shane Mosley.

And leading off the live broadcast, fringe contender Deandre Latimore- ranked #19 here as recently as February 26, but who was removed for failing to make 154 for 18 months- takes on top level journeyman Carlos Quintana.

This entry was posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:21 pm and is filed under Junior Middleweight, Rankings with tags Deandre Latimore, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Javier Maciel, Matthew Hall, Miguel Cotto, Sam Webb, Saul Alvarez, Shane Mosley. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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