Middleweight: 2013, Jul 15-21
#12 Junior Middleweight Lukas Konecny won a average-to-solid 12-round decision over mid-level Tunisian journeyman Moez Fhima in Dresden on Saturday in his second consecutive fight at middleweight.
Next Fight: Unknown Martinez is now making noise to the effect that he intends to fight Gennady Golovkin in 2014. 1) Martin Murray (12-85-85) Last Fight: 4/27/2013- L* (UD12) vs. Champ Sergio Martinez (Robbery- D at worst) Next Fight: Unknown Murray looks like a good bet to fight Golovkin on November 2, in what would be the best matchup at 160 of 2013. 2) Gennady Golovkin (3-46-109) Last Fight: 6/29/2013- KO3 #5 Matthew Macklin
Next Fight: Unknown See Murray’s notes above. 3) Daniel Geale (3-213-213) Last Fight: 1/30/2013- UD12 #11 Anthony Mundine
Next Fight: 8/17/2013- vs. #15 Darren Barker
Geale will get back to action on August 17, making his US debut in just his 3rd fight outside Australia when he takes on Darren Barker at the Turning Stone in New York state. 4) Felix Sturm (3-513-513) Last Fight: 7/6/2013- TKO4 Predrag Radosevic (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Sturm wants to fight Geale by the end of the year if the Australian gets by Barker. 5) Matthew Macklin (12-108-199) Last Fight: 6/29/2013- L (KO3) vs. #4 Gennady Golovkin
Next Fight: Unknown
Macklin has now suffered his 2nd knockout loss at the top level, but still has plenty of cred against anyone not in the top 5. 6) Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (12-111-129) Last Fight: 9/15/2012- L (UD12) vs. Champ Sergio Martinez
Next Fight: 9/7/2013- vs. #18 Bryan Vera (at SMW)
Bob Arum confirms Chavez-Vera, but on a new date of September 7, at Staples Center. Apparently it will be at a contract weight “a few pounds” over the middleweight limit. This is potentially problematic for Chavez’s continued ranking here. 7) Peter Quillin (12-39-60) Last Fight: 4/27/2013- TKO7 Fernando Guerrero (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Golden Boy intends to put Quillin on an October card in Brooklyn. There are signs that his opponent might be Danny Jacobs. If so, that’s a ridiculous match-up. Jacobs has fought only ham-and-eggers since being knocked out by Pirog in 2010 and winning a fight with cancer. A fight with Golovkin has been discussed, but that is complicated by the opposing network loyalties of the two fighters. 8) Dmitry Pirog (12-155-155) Last Fight: 5/1/2012- UD12 #20 Nobuhiro Ishida
Next Fight: Unknown
A recent interview with Pirog seemed to reveal underlying doubts as to his ability to return in August as planned and/or hoped for, but he says that return is still possible. He says he won’t know until he puts a “heavy load” (ie fight camp) on his back if it will respond adequately or not. If we don’t have positive news, at least, by the end of August, I’ll remove him, as it’s really been too long to keep hoping for a return. 9) Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (3-20-142) Last Fight: 10/20/2012- L (UD12) vs. #20 Peter Quillin Next Fight: Unknown 10) Sergio Mora (3-3-3) Last Fight: 6/28/2013- UD10 #9 Grzegorz Proksa Next Fight: Unknown Mora is hoping for a shot at Golovkin off the Proksa win. 11) Marco Antonio Rubio (18-129) Last Fight: 3/23/2013- UD12 Marcus Upshaw (UNR) Next Fight: 7/27/2013- vs. Dionisio Miranda (UNR) Rubio will stay busy against Colombian journeyman Dionisio Miranda on July 27. 12) Anthony Mundine (18-129) Last Fight: 1/30/2013- L (UD12) vs. #1 Daniel Geale
Next Fight: Unknown
There is serious discussion of a fight with Shane Mosley in Australia, likely in October. 13) Osumanu Adama (18-121) Last Fight: 3/16/2012- W(SD10) vs. Grady Brewer (UNR) Next Fight: 7/26/2013- vs. Elco Garcia (UNR) Adama is back in action 7/26 against Mexican journeyman Elco Garcia. 14) Akio Shibata (11-11) Last Fight: W (TD9) vs. #18 Makoto Fuchigami Next Fight: 8/25/2013- vs. Ryota Murata (UNR) This is a bit stunning. After proving himself the best Asian middleweight against Fuchigami, Shibata will follow up with a high-risk, no reward fight against Ryota Murata, a fighter making his pro debut, but an Olympic Gold Medalist, as well. 15) Darren Barker (11-92) Last Fight: 3/9/2013- RTD4 Simone Rotolo (UNR) Next Fight: 8/17/2013- vs. #3 Daniel Geale Barker will get his second big opportunity to rise to the top, as he takes on #2 Daniel Geale in New York state August 17. 16) Max Bursak (11-129) Last Fight: 7/13/2013- UD12 Prince Arron (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Bursak had a decent night in his first European title defense against Arron. 17) Demetrius Andrade (11-100) Last Fight: 1/25/2013- UD10 Freddy Hernandez (UNR) (at JMW) Next Fight: Unknown Gatekeeper and (technically) titlist Zaurbek Baysangurov hurt his back and had to withdraw from the “title defense” against Andrade. It looks like Andrade might fight for the vacant or interim version against Vanes Martirosyan, all of this being at 154, and likely on the Pacquiao-Rios undercard. 18) Bryan Vera (11-39) Last Fight: 3/29/2013- TKO7* Donatas Bondorovas (UNR) Next Fight: 9/7/2013- vs. #6 Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. Vera’s fight with Chavez has been delayed to September 7. 19) Grzegorz Proksa (3-118) Last Fight: 6/28/2013- L (UD10) vs. Sergio Mora (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown Proksa is an enigma. He looked like the next big thing against Sylvester, but did practically nothing against Mora. 20) Nobuhiro Ishida (3-72) Last Fight: 3/30/2013- L (KO3) vs. #3 Gennady Golovkin Next Fight: 8/4/2013- vs. Elly Pangaribuan (UNR) Ishida said before the Golovkin fight that he would retire if the lost. Having not heard post-fight confirmation, I decided to leave him ranked until I found out he was indeed finished. Turns out I made the right decision, as Ishida is already scheduled to be back in the ring on August 4 in Osaka, against Indonesian novice Elly Pangaribuan.
#16 Max Bursak also saw action on Saturday, easily outpointing a tough, very big-looking, but relatively limited Prince Arron in Monaco. Arron was once the British champ and a top 10 contender at 154, but has fallen off drastically since losing in dominant decision to unheralded prospect Brian Rose in 2011.
No changes this week.
Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20) Champ: Sergio Martinez (170-170-170) Last Fight: 4/27/2013- UD12* #9 Martin Murray (Robbery- draw at best)
Next Fight: Unknown Martinez is now making noise to the effect that he intends to fight Gennady Golovkin in 2014. 1) Martin Murray (12-85-85) Last Fight: 4/27/2013- L* (UD12) vs. Champ Sergio Martinez (Robbery- D at worst) Next Fight: Unknown Murray looks like a good bet to fight Golovkin on November 2, in what would be the best matchup at 160 of 2013. 2) Gennady Golovkin (3-46-109) Last Fight: 6/29/2013- KO3 #5 Matthew Macklin
Next Fight: Unknown See Murray’s notes above. 3) Daniel Geale (3-213-213) Last Fight: 1/30/2013- UD12 #11 Anthony Mundine
Next Fight: 8/17/2013- vs. #15 Darren Barker
Geale will get back to action on August 17, making his US debut in just his 3rd fight outside Australia when he takes on Darren Barker at the Turning Stone in New York state. 4) Felix Sturm (3-513-513) Last Fight: 7/6/2013- TKO4 Predrag Radosevic (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Sturm wants to fight Geale by the end of the year if the Australian gets by Barker. 5) Matthew Macklin (12-108-199) Last Fight: 6/29/2013- L (KO3) vs. #4 Gennady Golovkin
Next Fight: Unknown
Macklin has now suffered his 2nd knockout loss at the top level, but still has plenty of cred against anyone not in the top 5. 6) Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (12-111-129) Last Fight: 9/15/2012- L (UD12) vs. Champ Sergio Martinez
Next Fight: 9/7/2013- vs. #18 Bryan Vera (at SMW)
Bob Arum confirms Chavez-Vera, but on a new date of September 7, at Staples Center. Apparently it will be at a contract weight “a few pounds” over the middleweight limit. This is potentially problematic for Chavez’s continued ranking here. 7) Peter Quillin (12-39-60) Last Fight: 4/27/2013- TKO7 Fernando Guerrero (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Golden Boy intends to put Quillin on an October card in Brooklyn. There are signs that his opponent might be Danny Jacobs. If so, that’s a ridiculous match-up. Jacobs has fought only ham-and-eggers since being knocked out by Pirog in 2010 and winning a fight with cancer. A fight with Golovkin has been discussed, but that is complicated by the opposing network loyalties of the two fighters. 8) Dmitry Pirog (12-155-155) Last Fight: 5/1/2012- UD12 #20 Nobuhiro Ishida
Next Fight: Unknown
A recent interview with Pirog seemed to reveal underlying doubts as to his ability to return in August as planned and/or hoped for, but he says that return is still possible. He says he won’t know until he puts a “heavy load” (ie fight camp) on his back if it will respond adequately or not. If we don’t have positive news, at least, by the end of August, I’ll remove him, as it’s really been too long to keep hoping for a return. 9) Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (3-20-142) Last Fight: 10/20/2012- L (UD12) vs. #20 Peter Quillin Next Fight: Unknown 10) Sergio Mora (3-3-3) Last Fight: 6/28/2013- UD10 #9 Grzegorz Proksa Next Fight: Unknown Mora is hoping for a shot at Golovkin off the Proksa win. 11) Marco Antonio Rubio (18-129) Last Fight: 3/23/2013- UD12 Marcus Upshaw (UNR) Next Fight: 7/27/2013- vs. Dionisio Miranda (UNR) Rubio will stay busy against Colombian journeyman Dionisio Miranda on July 27. 12) Anthony Mundine (18-129) Last Fight: 1/30/2013- L (UD12) vs. #1 Daniel Geale
Next Fight: Unknown
There is serious discussion of a fight with Shane Mosley in Australia, likely in October. 13) Osumanu Adama (18-121) Last Fight: 3/16/2012- W(SD10) vs. Grady Brewer (UNR) Next Fight: 7/26/2013- vs. Elco Garcia (UNR) Adama is back in action 7/26 against Mexican journeyman Elco Garcia. 14) Akio Shibata (11-11) Last Fight: W (TD9) vs. #18 Makoto Fuchigami Next Fight: 8/25/2013- vs. Ryota Murata (UNR) This is a bit stunning. After proving himself the best Asian middleweight against Fuchigami, Shibata will follow up with a high-risk, no reward fight against Ryota Murata, a fighter making his pro debut, but an Olympic Gold Medalist, as well. 15) Darren Barker (11-92) Last Fight: 3/9/2013- RTD4 Simone Rotolo (UNR) Next Fight: 8/17/2013- vs. #3 Daniel Geale Barker will get his second big opportunity to rise to the top, as he takes on #2 Daniel Geale in New York state August 17. 16) Max Bursak (11-129) Last Fight: 7/13/2013- UD12 Prince Arron (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Bursak had a decent night in his first European title defense against Arron. 17) Demetrius Andrade (11-100) Last Fight: 1/25/2013- UD10 Freddy Hernandez (UNR) (at JMW) Next Fight: Unknown Gatekeeper and (technically) titlist Zaurbek Baysangurov hurt his back and had to withdraw from the “title defense” against Andrade. It looks like Andrade might fight for the vacant or interim version against Vanes Martirosyan, all of this being at 154, and likely on the Pacquiao-Rios undercard. 18) Bryan Vera (11-39) Last Fight: 3/29/2013- TKO7* Donatas Bondorovas (UNR) Next Fight: 9/7/2013- vs. #6 Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. Vera’s fight with Chavez has been delayed to September 7. 19) Grzegorz Proksa (3-118) Last Fight: 6/28/2013- L (UD10) vs. Sergio Mora (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown Proksa is an enigma. He looked like the next big thing against Sylvester, but did practically nothing against Mora. 20) Nobuhiro Ishida (3-72) Last Fight: 3/30/2013- L (KO3) vs. #3 Gennady Golovkin Next Fight: 8/4/2013- vs. Elly Pangaribuan (UNR) Ishida said before the Golovkin fight that he would retire if the lost. Having not heard post-fight confirmation, I decided to leave him ranked until I found out he was indeed finished. Turns out I made the right decision, as Ishida is already scheduled to be back in the ring on August 4 in Osaka, against Indonesian novice Elly Pangaribuan.
The Week Ahead: Friday in Neuquen, Argentina, prospect Billi Godoy and high-level journeyman Mateo Veron do battle. Godoy always seems to fight to the level of his opposition and produce close entertaining fights, and I have little doubt this will fit that mold.
The Chisora-Scott undercard in London features a couple worthwhile middleweight fights. Recently ousted #20 contender Dmitry Chudinov looks to keep his unbeaten record intact against mid-range Gambian journeyman Patrick Mendy.
The more competitive of the two features England’s Billy Joe Saunders against fellow undefeated prospect Gary O’Sullivan of Ireland in a very interesting rivalry scrap.
Dan's Weekly Boxer Rankings and Blog 
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