Heavyweight: 2013, May 20-26
2-loss fringe prospect Tor Hamer got back on the right track Wednesday in New York, stopping journeyman Maurenzo Smith midway through the 3rd round to claim a victory in his first fight since quitting on his stool against Vyacheslav Glazkov in December.
Champ: Wladimir Klitschko (204-417-417)
Last Fight: 5/4/2013- TKO6 Francesco Pianeta
Next Fight: 10/5/2013- vs. #4 Alexander Povetkin
After original reports had the fight all but set for August 31- a proposition that always seemed a bit far-fetched- it now appears that Klitschko-Povetkin is essentially done for October 5, though there is a sticking point over what organization will handle the drug testing.
1) Vitali Klitschko (241-241-241)
Last Fight: 9/8/2012- TKO4 Manuel Charr (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
The WBC has officially ordered Vitali-Stiverne, and it sounds like it will happen.
2) Tyson Fury (5-96-96) Last Fight: 4/20/2013- KO7 #3 Steve Cunningham
Next Fight: Unknown
Fury is now suddenly the most proven heavyweight not named Klitschko, and will likely get a chance to add to his resume against Kubrat Pulev next, as an eliminator for Wlad in the IBF. 3) David Haye (5-45-45) Last Fight: 7/14/2012- TKO5 #6 Dereck Chisora Next Fight: 6/29/2013- vs. Manuel Charr (UNR) Haye had some good fighters willing to fight him- including Eddie Chambers and possibly Kubrat Pulev. The disappointment I feel at learning that he will instead fight borderline fringe contender Manuel Charr can not be overstated. 4) Alexander Povetkin (45-291-291) Last Fight: 5/17/2013- TKO3 Andrzej Wawryzk (UNR)
Next Fight: 10/5/2013- vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko
After hanging around the top of the rankings for years on end, Povetkin will finally get and accept a shot at the legitimate title on October 5, apparently pending the two sides agreeing on the terms of drug testing. 5) Steve Cunningham (5-22-22) Last Fight: 4/20/2013- L (KO7) vs. #6 Tyson Fury Next Fight: Unknown Only time will tell where Cunningham goes form here. His hopes for a title shot are dashed at least for awhile. Perhaps a trilogy with Adamek would make sense at this point. 6) Tomasz Adamek (5-161-161)
Last Fight: 12/22/2012- W (SD12)* vs. CW #4 Steve Cunningham (Robbery)
Next Fight: Unknown
Word is that Adamek will likely be fighting still relatively unproven Newark prospect Joe Hanks on June 14 in that town that they both currently call home. 7) Eddie Chambers (22-49-49) Last Fight: 6/16/2012- L(UD12) vs. #3 Tomasz Adamek Next Fight: Unknown Chambers continues to fish for opponents, but nothing solid yet. 8) Kubrat Pulev (22-55-132) Last Fight: 9/29/2012- KO11 Alexander Ustinov (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Pulev and Fury have until May 28 to reach a deal to avoid a purse bid.
9) Dereck Chisora (22-77-140) Last Fight: 4/20/2013- TKO9 Hector Avila (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
It was announced by Chisora’s team that he’d be fighting Deontay Wilder on June 15, but that fight was apparently dead before it was born, with Wilder’s camp concerned about his ability to go to England for the fight due to a pending assault charge. It’s likely that Chisora will still fight on June 15, though. 10) Odlanier Solis (9-9-156)
Last Fight: 3/22/2013- UD12 Leif Larsen (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Solis’ promoter wants to get him back in the ring within 3 months after the Larsen fight. 11) Johnathon Banks (9-27) Last Fight: 11/17/2012- TKO2 #11 Seth Mitchell Next Fight: 6/22/2013- vs. Seth Mitchell (UNR) The Mitchell rematch- postponed due to a broken thumb by Banks- has been reset for the Malignaggi-Broner undercard on June 22. 12) Bermane Stiverne (4-12) Last Fight: 4/27/2013- UD12 #15 Chris Arreola Next Fight: Unknown Stiverne is hoping that Vitali doesn’t retire so that he can try and do the honors himself. At this point he’d be a pretty credible opponent, too. 13) Tony Thompson (4-156) Last Fight: 2/23/2013- TKO2 David Price (UNR) Next Fight: 7/6/2013- vs. David Price (UNR)
After originally saying he’d only fight David Price in a rematch if Price came to the US, Thompson has instead agreed to fight in Price’s Liverpool backyard again. 14) Deontay Wilder (4-4) Last Fight: 4/27/2013- TKO1 Audley Harrison (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Wilder may be fighting in Brooklyn on July 13. 15) Robert Helenius (4-156)
Last Fight: 3/23/2013- W*(UD10) vs. Michael Sprott (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
If Helenius’ team was accurate on the severity of his hand injury, it should be healed by about now, although there were immediate rumors that the injury was more serious. 16) Alexander Dimitrenko (4-123) Last Fight: 3/9/2013- UD8 Ivica Perkovic (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Dimitrenko’s future is in doubt after he struggled mightily to survive a heavy knockdown and outpoint typically inept journeyman Ivica Perkovic. 17) Vyacheslav Glazkov (12-22) Last Fight: 2/23/2013- Draw* (SD10) vs. Malik Scott (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Glazkov got the benefit of the doubt in every close round from two of the judges against Scott. It was just about as close to a robbery as you can get without me calling it that. 18) Malik Scott (12-13) Last Fight: 2/23/2013- Draw* (SD10) vs. #19 Vyacheslav Glazkov Next Fight: Unknown Scott is waiting for his next fight after spending several weeks sparring Povetkin and Lebedev in Moscow. 19) Denis Boytsov (4-205)
Last Fight: 2/15/2013- UD8 Samir Kurtagic (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Boytsov’s 2nd best win- over Robert Hawkins- is now over 5 years old, and he has slipped a few spots as a result. He’s getting closer to obscurity with each passing month. 20) Franklin Lawrence (12-12) Last Fight: 1/25/2013- Mark Brown (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Lawrence reportedly pulled out of a planned (and very good) crossroads fight with prospect Bryant Jennings.
In the week’s biggest fight at the weight, #4 Alexander Povetkin put a beating on weak-chinned Polish stringbean Andrzej Wawrzyk in Moscow, knocking the technically undefeated prospect down 3 times in as many rounds, before referee Russell Mora had seen enough and called a stop to it. Wawrzyk arguably deserved a loss two fights ago against journeyman Denis Bakhtov, so I’m not even sure he’s a clear top 50 fighter.
No changes.
Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in current position-weeks in top 10 (if applicable)-weeks in top 20)
Champ: Wladimir Klitschko (204-417-417)
Last Fight: 5/4/2013- TKO6 Francesco Pianeta
Next Fight: 10/5/2013- vs. #4 Alexander Povetkin
After original reports had the fight all but set for August 31- a proposition that always seemed a bit far-fetched- it now appears that Klitschko-Povetkin is essentially done for October 5, though there is a sticking point over what organization will handle the drug testing.
1) Vitali Klitschko (241-241-241)
Last Fight: 9/8/2012- TKO4 Manuel Charr (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
The WBC has officially ordered Vitali-Stiverne, and it sounds like it will happen.
2) Tyson Fury (5-96-96) Last Fight: 4/20/2013- KO7 #3 Steve Cunningham
Next Fight: Unknown
Fury is now suddenly the most proven heavyweight not named Klitschko, and will likely get a chance to add to his resume against Kubrat Pulev next, as an eliminator for Wlad in the IBF. 3) David Haye (5-45-45) Last Fight: 7/14/2012- TKO5 #6 Dereck Chisora Next Fight: 6/29/2013- vs. Manuel Charr (UNR) Haye had some good fighters willing to fight him- including Eddie Chambers and possibly Kubrat Pulev. The disappointment I feel at learning that he will instead fight borderline fringe contender Manuel Charr can not be overstated. 4) Alexander Povetkin (45-291-291) Last Fight: 5/17/2013- TKO3 Andrzej Wawryzk (UNR)
Next Fight: 10/5/2013- vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko
After hanging around the top of the rankings for years on end, Povetkin will finally get and accept a shot at the legitimate title on October 5, apparently pending the two sides agreeing on the terms of drug testing. 5) Steve Cunningham (5-22-22) Last Fight: 4/20/2013- L (KO7) vs. #6 Tyson Fury Next Fight: Unknown Only time will tell where Cunningham goes form here. His hopes for a title shot are dashed at least for awhile. Perhaps a trilogy with Adamek would make sense at this point. 6) Tomasz Adamek (5-161-161)
Last Fight: 12/22/2012- W (SD12)* vs. CW #4 Steve Cunningham (Robbery)
Next Fight: Unknown
Word is that Adamek will likely be fighting still relatively unproven Newark prospect Joe Hanks on June 14 in that town that they both currently call home. 7) Eddie Chambers (22-49-49) Last Fight: 6/16/2012- L(UD12) vs. #3 Tomasz Adamek Next Fight: Unknown Chambers continues to fish for opponents, but nothing solid yet. 8) Kubrat Pulev (22-55-132) Last Fight: 9/29/2012- KO11 Alexander Ustinov (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Pulev and Fury have until May 28 to reach a deal to avoid a purse bid.
9) Dereck Chisora (22-77-140) Last Fight: 4/20/2013- TKO9 Hector Avila (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
It was announced by Chisora’s team that he’d be fighting Deontay Wilder on June 15, but that fight was apparently dead before it was born, with Wilder’s camp concerned about his ability to go to England for the fight due to a pending assault charge. It’s likely that Chisora will still fight on June 15, though. 10) Odlanier Solis (9-9-156)
Last Fight: 3/22/2013- UD12 Leif Larsen (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Solis’ promoter wants to get him back in the ring within 3 months after the Larsen fight. 11) Johnathon Banks (9-27) Last Fight: 11/17/2012- TKO2 #11 Seth Mitchell Next Fight: 6/22/2013- vs. Seth Mitchell (UNR) The Mitchell rematch- postponed due to a broken thumb by Banks- has been reset for the Malignaggi-Broner undercard on June 22. 12) Bermane Stiverne (4-12) Last Fight: 4/27/2013- UD12 #15 Chris Arreola Next Fight: Unknown Stiverne is hoping that Vitali doesn’t retire so that he can try and do the honors himself. At this point he’d be a pretty credible opponent, too. 13) Tony Thompson (4-156) Last Fight: 2/23/2013- TKO2 David Price (UNR) Next Fight: 7/6/2013- vs. David Price (UNR)
After originally saying he’d only fight David Price in a rematch if Price came to the US, Thompson has instead agreed to fight in Price’s Liverpool backyard again. 14) Deontay Wilder (4-4) Last Fight: 4/27/2013- TKO1 Audley Harrison (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Wilder may be fighting in Brooklyn on July 13. 15) Robert Helenius (4-156)
Last Fight: 3/23/2013- W*(UD10) vs. Michael Sprott (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
If Helenius’ team was accurate on the severity of his hand injury, it should be healed by about now, although there were immediate rumors that the injury was more serious. 16) Alexander Dimitrenko (4-123) Last Fight: 3/9/2013- UD8 Ivica Perkovic (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Dimitrenko’s future is in doubt after he struggled mightily to survive a heavy knockdown and outpoint typically inept journeyman Ivica Perkovic. 17) Vyacheslav Glazkov (12-22) Last Fight: 2/23/2013- Draw* (SD10) vs. Malik Scott (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Glazkov got the benefit of the doubt in every close round from two of the judges against Scott. It was just about as close to a robbery as you can get without me calling it that. 18) Malik Scott (12-13) Last Fight: 2/23/2013- Draw* (SD10) vs. #19 Vyacheslav Glazkov Next Fight: Unknown Scott is waiting for his next fight after spending several weeks sparring Povetkin and Lebedev in Moscow. 19) Denis Boytsov (4-205)
Last Fight: 2/15/2013- UD8 Samir Kurtagic (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Boytsov’s 2nd best win- over Robert Hawkins- is now over 5 years old, and he has slipped a few spots as a result. He’s getting closer to obscurity with each passing month. 20) Franklin Lawrence (12-12) Last Fight: 1/25/2013- Mark Brown (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Lawrence reportedly pulled out of a planned (and very good) crossroads fight with prospect Bryant Jennings.
THE WEEK AHEAD: One-loss Cameroonian prospect Carlos Takam fights in his adopted hometown of Noisy-le-Grand, France against 6’7″ gatekeeper Michael Grant, who hasn’t fought since his November 2011 win over Frans Botha. The winner will probably gain some degree of prominence in the division, somewhere along the lines of a fringe contender.
Dan's Weekly Boxer Rankings and Blog 
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