Dan's Weekly Boxer Rankings and Blog

Welcome to my first fresh set of divisional rankings in over 2 years!  I had to lay low on expansion until I caught the other divisions (especially 154) up to the present.  First of all, I need to admit that I’m not truly an expert on this division yet.  Unlike the other divisions I’ve been ranking for the past 2 or 3 years, I don’t always go way out of my way to see all the potentially relevant fights.  I still have always watched and scored all the ones that have been carried on US TV, but up to this point I haven’t looked for every fight I can find in Argentina or England or what have you the way I have for the heavier divisions.  So if you see me rank a guy somewhere you don’t agree with, and you’re thinking I maybe gave that guy too much credit for winning a fight the he deserved to lose or not enough credit for being robbed, PLEASE comment and tell me so.  I don’t have time to watch every significant fight in the division for the last 5 years to make sure the results were legit, so I would appreciate the help of my readers in picking and choosing when it comes to fights I haven’t seen.  I WILL change the rankings based on past fights where appropriate.

 

I actually figured these up mostly prior to the weekend of Malignaggi-Broner, so officially last week will start the counting of weeks ranked and such, even though I didn’t publish them separately.  But here they are, for reference (with number of weeks in current position, top 10, and top 20 estimated):

 

Champ: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (164-196-196)

1) Juan Manuel Marquez (84-84-84)

2) Manny Pacquiao (84-237-237)

3) Shane Mosley (5-5-5)

4) Devon Alexander (2-69-69)

5) Marcos Maidana (2-2-2)

6) Robert Guerrero (5-30-47)

7) Andre Berto (5-30-30)

8) Kell Brook (5-112-112)

9) Randall Bailey (5-54-54)

10) Josesito Lopez (2-52-52)

11) Victor Ortiz (2-114)

12) Jesus Soto Karass (5-21)

13) Chris Van Heerden (5-53)

14) Luis Carlos Abregu (5-8)

15) Alfonso Gomez (5-47)

16) Keith Thurman (5-15)

17) Jan Zaveck (5-184)

18) Selcuk Aydin (5-218)

19) Timothy Bradley (5-54)

20) Ruslan Provodnikov (5-14)

 

So with that being the basis, we get to last week’s results.  In Catamarca, Argentina, fringe contender Sebastian Lujan picked up the interim national title with a unanimous decision over mediocre journeyman Victor Velazcuez.

 

Naturally in the biggest fight of the weekend, #1 Lightweight Adrien Broner moved up to take on beltholding fringe contender Paulie Malignaggi in Brooklyn.  Why did I not have Malignaggi ranked going into the fight, you ask?  Simple.  He got dominated by Pablo Cesar Cano.  The mere fact that the judges would have you fine people believe otherwise does not alter that fact.  Malignaggi did have a nice victory over Senchenko before that, but having not won a fight worth winning since 2009, Senchenko was a bit overrated, too.  In all honesty, and with popular perception aside, fringe contender might be on the generous side to describe Paulie in terms of his record at 147.  If my rankings had extended, I would have had him at #26 last week.

 

As for the fight itself, Paulie did well early and won 3 of the first 4 rounds as Broner kind of just laid back for the most part.  Unfortunately, Paulie may or may not have won any more rounds thereafter.  He slapped with almost everything he threw, and Broner was the only one landing with any real authority.  I gave Malignaggi the 12th, but that was it.  116-112 Broner was my score.  Broner did so little work in some of the rounds I gave him that I wouldn’t have argued much with a draw, or with a 117-111 Broner card.  But I will argue with Tom Miller, who at 115-113 Malignaggi gave Paulie every benefit of the doubt, plus a clear Broner round.  Glenn Feldman had it 115-113 in favor of Broner, while Tom Schreck had it 117-111 for Broner.  The post-fight drama, if you are into such things, should be sought elsewhere, since I want no part of it. 

 

You may be surprised to learn that even with the win, Broner fails to earn a ranking.  I know he’s got a belt at 147 now, but there are 21 active welterweights by my estimation that have proven more than him.  The reasonably close nature of the fight against a guy who can’t punch doesn’t help much, either. 

 

But we do get a minor rankings shake-up in the first actually-published iteration, as last week’s #11 Victor Ortiz is removed, having not seen the inside of a ring since having his jaw broken by Josesito Lopez a year ago.  Claiming the #20 vacancy is Sierra Leone’s own Leonard Bundu, an impressive undefeated prospect.

 

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

Champ: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (165-197-197)

Last Fight: 5/4/2013- UD12 #6 Robert Guerrero

Next Fight: 9/14/2013- vs. #2 JMW Saul Alvarez (at JMW)

Shane Mosley was the legit champ after beating Margarito, and thus Mayweather has been the legit champ since beating him in 2010.

1) Juan Manuel Marquez (85-85-85)

Last Fight: 12/8/2012- KO6 #2 Manny Pacquiao

Next Fight: 10/12/2013- vs. #18 Timothy Bradley

With Mayweather apparently wanting to stay busy, a hard-earned rematch with the Champ might not be out of the question over the next year or two.  For now, it’s all about Tim Bradley.

2) Manny Pacquiao (85-238-238)

Last Fight: 12/8/2012- L (KO6) vs. #1 Juan Manuel Marquez

Next Fight: 11/23/2013- vs. #? JWW Brandon Rios (UNR)

Pac Man needs to prove he can still get it done when he tries to rebound from a devastating knockout against former top lightweight Brandon Rios in China.

3) Shane Mosley (6-6-6)

Last Fight: 5/18/2013- UD12 Pablo Cesar Cano (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Does his ranking seem a bit high?  Well- he was the division’s champion in 2010, and has only lost to the very cream of the crop since.  His resume still stacks up with anyone that hasn’t personally beaten him, despite the fact that he very well may be back on PEDs, and lays eggs when he’s not.  That’s my personal opinion only, of course.  It sounds like he’ll be fighting Victor Ortiz around the end of the summer.

4) Devon Alexander (2-70-70)

Last Fight: 5/18/2013- RTD7 Lee Purdy (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

It looks likely that Alexander will fight Khan on December 7, but no contract yet.

5) Marcos Maidana (3-3-3)

Last Fight: 6/8/2013- TKO6 #4 Josesito Lopez

Next Fight: Unknown

Maidana is the subject of speculation regarding a possible fight with Adrien Broner.

6) Robert Guerrero (6-31-48)

Last Fight: 5/4/2013- L (UD12) vs. Champ Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

Next Fight: Unknown

Guerrero and Shane Mosley currently appear to be the top candidates for a fall fight with Victor Ortiz.

7) Andre Berto (6-31-31)

Last Fight: 11/24/2012- L (UD12) vs. #13? Robert Guerrero

Next Fight: 7/27/2013- vs. #11 Jesus Soto Karass

Berto will look to get back on track against tough measuring stick Jesus Soto Karass.

8) Kell Brook (6-113-113)

Last Fight: 10/20/2012- TKO3 Hector Saldivia (UNR)

Next Fight: 7/13/2013- vs. Carson Jones (UNR)

Brook is top of the class among guys that haven’t actually beaten a top 10 contender at any point yet.

9) Randall Bailey (6-55-55)

Last Fight: 10/20/2012- L (UD12) vs. #? Devon Alexander

Next Fight: Unknown

I haven’t heard any buzz about an upcoming Bailey fight since he was comfortably outpointed by Alexander in October.

10) Josesito Lopez (3-53-53)

Last Fight: 6/8/2013- L (TKO6) vs. #11 Marcos Maidana

Next Fight: Unknown

Lopez has had a tough diet to chew on since moving up from 140.

11) Jesus Soto Karass (1-22)

Last Fight: 2/26/2013- MD10 #5 Selcuk Aydin (at 149)

Next Fight: 7/27/2013- vs. #7 Andre Berto

Soto Karass will (and practically does) fight anyone and everyone.  Next up: Andre Berto.

12) Chris van Heerden (1-54)

Last Fight: 3/2/2012- UD12 Matthew Hatton (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Van Heerden is expected to fight Ashley Theophane in either New York or the UK later this summer.

13) Luis Carlos Abregu (1-9)

Last Fight: 4/27/2013- UD10 Antonin Decarie (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Abregu is currently in business to bust prospects.  And business is good.

14) Alfonso Gomez (1-48)

Last Fight: 7/28/2012- L* (UD10) vs. Shawn Porter (UNR) (Robbery)

Next Fight: Unknown

It seems Gomez is having trouble getting work after getting heisted against Porter.

15) Keith Thurman (1-16)

Last Fight: 3/9/2013- UD12 #? Jan Zaveck

Next Fight: 7/27/2013- vs. Diego Chaves (UNR)

Thurman is now ranked in two divisions.

16) Jan Zaveck (1-185)

Last Fight: 3/9/2013- L (UD12) vs. #15 JMW Keith Thurman

Next Fight: Unknown

17) Selcuk Aydin (1-219)

Last Fight: 3/22/2013- UD10 Giuseppe Lauri (UNR) (at JWW)

Next Fight: 7/27/2013- vs. Aaron Herrera (UNR) (at JWW)

Aydin appears to be looking for a new lease on his career at 140. 

18) Timothy Bradley (1-55)

Last Fight: 3/16/2013- W* (UD12) vs. Ruslan Provodnikov (UNR) (should be draw)

Next Fight: 10/12/2013- vs. #1 Juan Manuel Marquez

Bradley will look for redemption after very nearly losing to an inconsistent prospect.  It’ll be a tall order.

19) Ruslan Provodnikov (1-15)

Last Fight: 3/16/2013- L* (UD12) vs. #11? Timothy Bradley (should be draw)

Next Fight: Unknown

Nothing solid, but there is some talk of an all-action encounter with Mike Alvarado.

20) Leonard Bundu (1-1)

Last Fight: 4/6/2013- KO11 Rafal Jackiewicz (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

 

The Week Ahead: It’s a battle of undefeated prospects in Liverpool on Friday, as Birmingham’s Frankie Gavin collides with Manchester native Denton Vassell.  Gavin has fewer fights, but is more tested, and will be the favorite.

This entry was posted on July 1, 2013 at 6:28 am and is filed under Rankings, Welterweight with tags Adrien Broner, Denton Vassell, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Frankie Gavin, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny Pacquiao, Paulie Malignaggi, Sebastian Lujan. 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.