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Super Middleweight: 2013, Aug 26- Sep 1

Posted in Rankings, Super Middleweight with tags Andre Ward, Arthur Abraham, Dimitri Sartison, Francis Cheka, Junior Talipeau, Nikola Sjekloca, Phil Williams, Stanislav Kashtanov on August 30, 2013 by danboxing

#4 Arthur Abraham showed the surest sign yet of his decline Saturday in Schwerin, barely squeaking by against Namibian journeyman Wilbeforce Shihepo. I had the fight for Abraham 115-113 (or 114-113, if you count the very clear knockdown that was ridiculously called a slip by the Luis Pabon clone of a referee). With a good ref, I think fair scores could have ranged between 116-111 either way. Of course Mickey Vann couldn’t be bothered to score it in that range, as he had it 117-111. He also had a ridiculous score in Thompson-Pulev on the undercard. He’s quickly laying claim to being one of the worst judges in the world.

Dimitri Sartison, who would be ranked here if he had made 168 recently, once again fought a couple pounds over the limit, knocking out journeyman Baker Barakat in 2 from Gladbach, Germany the same night.

Aging and overrated one-loss Montenegrin prospect Nikola Sjekloca threw in his own 2nd-round knockout the same night, taking care of low-level Serbian journeyman Misa Nikolic in Budva.

Finally, in Donetsk, Ukraine fringe contending should-be undefeated prospect Stas Kashtanov needed 10 rounds to dispose of lower-mid-level Costa Rican journeyman Jaime Barboza, dropping him twice in the process.

While subjectively I think Abraham has shown himself to be closer to #15 than #4 by the quality of at least his last two performances, he still has objectively a better resume than #5 Brandon Gonzales, and I deal with subjectivity only on the margins. No changes this week.

This is an edit, as I originally thought this was merely a middleweight fight (I discuss the fight in more detail in that update), but Olympic Gold Medalist Ryoto Murata knocked out #14 Junior Middleweight Akio Shibata in his pro debut. He’s not eligible to be ranked at 160 since the fight was contested at 161. It’s kinda sad that a large and growing percentage of the contenders in this very shallow division are really just middleweights that didn’t make weight, but Murata joins those ranks. He checks in between fellow middleweights Andy Lee and Caleb Truax at #16. This forces Truax and everyone ranked below him down a spot, and bounces #20 Dom Mouton from the rankings after 14 weeks.

Dan’s Top 20

Champ: Andre Ward (89-223-223)

Last Fight: 9/8/2012- TKO10 LHW Champ Chad Dawson
Next Fight: Unknown

Ward has fights on the table with Stevenson and Froch. He is trying to separate himself from promoter Dan Goossen, though, which might complicate matters. Goossen has also said Ward wouldn’t take the Froch fight immediately, since he has been laid up with injury for the better part of a year.

1) Carl Froch (66-376-376)
Last Fight: 5/25/2013- UD12 #3 Mikkel Kessler
Next Fight: 11/23/2013- vs. #8 George Groves

Froch-Groves is set for November 23 in Manchester.

2) Robert Stieglitz (23-209-209)

Last Fight: 7/13/2013- TKO10 Yuzo Kiyota (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Arthur Abraham badly wants a trilogy.

3) Mikkel Kessler (37-455-455)

Last Fight: 5/25/2013- L (UD12) vs. #1 Carl Froch
Next Fight: Unknown

Froch is interested in a trilogy on neutral ground, perhaps even more so than a Ward rematch. But it’s not even clear that Kessler will fight again, after saying pre-fight he might retire.

4) Arthur Abraham (15-201-201)
Last Fight: 8/24/2013- UD12 Wilbeforce Shihepo (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown

Abraham is hoping his weak effort against non-entity Shihepo will earn him a mandatory spot for a trilogy with Stieglitz.

5) Brandon Gonzales (9-9-9)

Last Fight: 6/29/2013- D* vs. #5 Thomas Oosthuizen

Next Fight: Unknown

Gonzales at least earned a draw with Oosthuizen despite fading late. I had it a win, and I give him credit for that.

6) Adonis Stevenson (15-90-90)

Last Fight: 6/8/2013- TKO1 LHW#1 Chad Dawson (at LHW)

Next Fight: 9/28/2013- vs. #7 LHW Tavoris Cloud (at LHW)

Stevenson looks like he’ll be fighting Cloud in Montreal in late September. After that, he’ll probably get Tony Bellew before the end of the year when he wins. He’ll probably be removed here in October, since he hasn’t fought at 168 in nearly a year.

7) Thomas Oosthuizen (9-117-165)
Last Fight: 6/29/2013- D* vs. Brandon Gonzales (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown

Oosthuizen laid a complete, fully-formed goose egg in the first half of his fight with deserved underdog Brandon Gonzales, and was extremely lucky to escape with a draw.

8) George Groves (9-37-59)

Last Fight: 5/25/2013- TKO5 Noe Gonzalez (UNR)

Next Fight: 11/23/2013- vs. #1 Carl Froch

Groves and Froch will face off on November 23 in Manchester.

9) Sakio Bika (9-28-334)

Last Fight: 6/22/2013- MD12 Marco Antonio Periban (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Bika seems to consider an Andre Ward rematch his top priority. The two fought a very close fight the first time around. He’s also been called out by Chavez, Rodriguez, Badou Jack, and Anthony Dirrell recently. A guy gets a meaningless alphabet belt, and all of a sudden he goes from one of the most avoided fighters in the sport to a guy everyone wants to fight.

10) James DeGale (9-12-98)

Last Fight: 6/8/2013- RTD4 Stjepan Bozic (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

DeGale badly wants a big-money fight with Froch.

11) Christopher Rebrasse (9-12)

Last Fight: 6/8/2013- Robbery Draw (W) vs. #10 Mouhamed Ali Ndiaye

Next Fight: 10/26/2013- vs. Mouhamed Ali Ndiaye (UNR)

Rebrasse should have no reason to rematch Ndiaye, having beaten him decisively in June, but the judges completely corrupt ripoff has somehow conspired to make Rebrasse waste time and take a risk to confirm a very clear result.

12) Maxim Vlasov (8-42)

Last Fight: 7/12/2013- UD8 Mark Suarez (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

13) Edwin Rodriguez (8-32)

Last Fight: 7/13/2013- TKO1 #16 LHW Denis Grachev (at LHW)

Next Fight: Unknown

Rodriguez named Bika as someone he’d like to fight next. Both are talented fighters who care little about technique as they wing wild punches. Could be fun if it happens.

14) Ezequiel Maderna (8-35)

Last Fight: 3/30/2013- L* (UD10) vs. #17 Edwin Rodriguez

Next Fight: Unknown

Maderna, despite arguably deserving a win against Rodriguez, did himself few favors in dropping the decision, especially considering how ugly the fight was. I don’t imagine he’ll be getting too many international suitors anytime soon since he seems difficult to look good against.

15) Andy Lee (8-15)

Last Fight: 5/15/2013- TKO1 Darryl Cunningham (UNR)

Next Fight: 9/28/2013- vs. Domenico Spada (UNR) (at MW)

Lee will be in a rare title fight for him, and will thus most likely make the 160 pound limit for his Haye-Fury undercard fight with Domenico Spada- a rarity for him.

16) Ryoto Murata (1-1)

Last Fight: 8/25/2013- TKO2 #14 MW Akio Shibata

Next Fight: Unknown

Murata joins Lee and Truax as Middleweights who can claim a ranking in this very shallow division by beating an opponent a few pounds or less over 160. But he comes with a twist…he’s done so in his very first fight.

17) Caleb Truax (1-10)

Last Fight: 6/21/2013- KO6 #15 Don George

Next Fight: 9/21/2013- vs. Ceresso Fort (UNR) (at MW?)

Truax will see action in Minneapolis on September 21 against fellow Minnesota prospect Ceresso Fort.

18) Hadillah Mohoumadi (1-26)

Last Fight: 6/29/2013- TKO7 #20 CW Pawel Glazewski (at LHW)

Next Fight: Unknown

Mohoumadi cancelled his long-scheduled fight with Giovanni De Carolis in favor of an opportunity with Pawel Glazewki at light heavyweight, it would appear.

19) Glen Johnson (1-17)

Last Fight: 4/19/2013- TKO2 Junior Ramos (UNR) (at CW)

Next Fight: Unknown
Looks like Johnson’s scheduled fight with Isiah Thomas, which would have been on Friday Night Fights, was canceled. I don’t know why.

20) Badou Jack (1-6)

Last Fight: 7/19/2013- UD10 Farah Ennis (UNR)

Next Fight: 9/12/13- vs. Marco Antonio Periban (UNR)

No soft touches for Jack. He will get prospect Marco Antonio Periban- who gave Sakio Bika all he could handle- on the newly rebranded Fox Sports 2 (formerly Fuel TV) a couple days before Mayweather-Canelo.

The Week Ahead: Two notables will be in action on Friday.

In Homebush, Australia, 2-loss Kiwi prospect Junior Talipeau gets what should be an easy assignment against low-level Argentine journeyman Walter Crucce.

Gatekeeper Francis Cheka gets a rare test in his native Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania against Minneapolis gatekeeper Phil Williams, who owns draws with Derrick Findley and Caleb Truax.

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Light Heavyweight: 2013, Aug 26- Sep 1

Posted in Light Heavyweight, Rankings with tags Adonis Stevenson, Andre Ward, Bernard Hopkins, Ismayl Sillakh, Juergen Braehmer, Ryno Liebenberg, Sergey Kovalev, Valery Brudov on August 30, 2013 by danboxing

On what I must say was a pretty mediocre overall Sauerland card in Schwerin, Germany on Saturday, #13 Juergen Braehmer won a very ho-hum decision over borderline top 50 Italian fringe prospect Stefano Abatangelo, winning on points in a fight that he was never really dominating nor in danger of losing.

The same night in Donetsk, Ukraine, one-loss prospect Ismayl Sillakh put a steady beating on low-level Russian journeyman Konstantin Piternov. Piternov had had enough by the bell to start the 7th, and could not continue. But while thoroughly dominating, Sillakh may have been displaying the very flaws that got him knocked out by banger Denis Grachev. From the very first round, Sillakh stood directly in front of Piternov, in range, with his hands low. Piternov, before the fight was beaten out of him, even timed some pretty solid left hooks, though his power was nothing to write home about. Not only that, but Sillakh displayed a very predictable rhythm and punch selection. These two factors, if not corrected, will get him knocked out again the next time he fights a fringe contender that can punch. But for now, he had plenty of handspeed and workrate to overcome those flaws and dominate the lowly journeyman.

I hate to reward the beating of lackluster opponents, but Braehmer’s overall volume of top 50 work obligates me to move him past Cedric Agnew to the #12 spot. No other changes.

Dan’s Top 20 (weeks in current position-weeks in top 10 (if applicable)-weeks in top 20)

Champ: Andre Ward (51-51-51)

Last Fight: 9/8/2012- TKO10 Champ Chad Dawson (at SMW)

Next Fight: Unknown

Ward has offers more or less on the table to fight Froch or Stevenson. He is trying to split with promoter Dan Goossen, though, which could conceivably complicate matters.

1) Adonis Stevenson (12-12-12)

Last Fight: 6/8/2013- TKO1 #1 Chad Dawson

Next Fight: 9/28/2013- vs. #8 Tavoris Cloud

It’s Stevenson-Cloud in September, with the winner to fight Bellew in November.

2) Bernard Hopkins (51-377-377)
Last Fight: 3/9/2012- UD12 #6 Tavoris Cloud
Next Fight: 10/26/2013- vs. Karo Murat (UNR)

Hopkins-Murat has been reset for October 26, with Showtime televising.

3) Sergey Kovalev (11-32-32)

Last Fight: 8/17/2013- TKO4 #8 Nathan Cleverly

Next Fight: Unknown

Kovalev’s manager expects his next opponent to be chosen by mid-September. His mandatory is Braehmer, and Fonfara has been rumored, as well.

4) Chad Dawson (11-378-378)

Last Fight: 6/8/2013- L(TKO1) vs. SMW #6 Adonis Stevenson

Next Fight: Unknown

Dawson’s career is suddenly in an all-out tailspin just 2 fights after winning the lineal title from Hopkins.

5) Andrzej Fonfara (2-2-59)

Last Fight: 8/16/2013- KO9 #6 Gabriel Campillo

Next Fight: Unknown

See Kovalev’s notes, above.

6) Tony Bellew (2-98-98)

Last Fight: 5/25/2013- UD12 #7 Isaac Chilemba

Next Fight: 11/30/2013- vs. Unknown Opponent

Bellew is scheduled to fight the Stevenson-Cloud winner on his November 30 birthday.

7) Gabriel Campillo (2-166-166)
Last Fight: 8/16/2013- L (KO9) vs. #14 Andrzej Fonfara
Next Fight: Unknown

Campillo might be on his way to deserved obscurity after being robbed of deserved prominence for so much of his career. He still has plenty of boxing skill, but his will might be fading just a bit.

8) Tavoris Cloud (2-209-209)
Last Fight: 3/9/2013- L (UD12) vs. #2 Bernard Hopkins
Next Fight: 9/28/2013- vs. #1 Adonis Stevenson

See Stevenson’s notes, above.

9) Nathan Cleverly (2-186-186)

Last Fight: 8/17/2013- L (TKO4) vs. #3 Sergey Kovalev
Next Fight: Unknown

Cleverly says he’ll take a vacation after his drubbing at the hands of Kovalev, and is unsure as to whether he’ll keep fighting or not.

10) Isaac Chilemba (2-22-82)

Last Fight: 5/25/2013- L (UD12) vs. #9 Tony Bellew

Next Fight: Unknown

Chilemba may have lost the second fight to Bellew in his opponent’s back yard, but between the two fights, he’s managed to elevate himself somewhat.

11) Cornelius White (2-89)

Last Fight: 6/14/2013- L (TKO3) vs. #5 Sergey Kovalev

Next Fight: Unknown

White was blasted out by Kovalev, but at least he has good company in that regard.

12) Jürgen Brähmer (1-71)

Last Fight: 8/24/2013- UD12 Stefano Abatangelo (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Braehmer is Kovalev’s mandatory, for whatever that’s worth.

13) Cedric Agnew (1-20)

Last Fight: 4/12/2013- UD12 #14 Yusaf Mack

Next Fight: Unknown

Agnew may have caught a fading Yusaf Mack at the right time, but he’s clearly a climber, having now beaten both Mack and Otis Griffin.

14) Edwin Rodriguez (2-7)

Last Fight: 7/13/2013- TKO1 #16 Denis Grachev

Next Fight: Unknown

Rodriguez turned in a career-best performance against Grachev, and thus has earned a ranking in a division he has no intention of continuing in. He wants Ward or Bika next.

15) Lucian Bute (7-43)

Last Fight: 11/3/2012- UD12 #16 Denis Grachev

Next Fight: 12/7/2013- vs. Jean Pascal (UNR)

Bute-Pascal has been rescheduled tentatively for December 7 after Bute suffered a hand injury. They’ve also reserved January 25 as a back-up plan. Either way, it will be in Montreal.

16) Hadillah Mohoumadi (7-9)

Last Fight: 6/29/2013- TKO7 CW #20 Pawel Glazewski

Next Fight: Unknown

Often robbed at 168, Mohoumadi took matters into his hands in his first major outing at 175 by stopping the local favorite.

17) Enzo Maccarinelli (2-2)

Last Fight: 8/17/2013- TKO11 Ovill McKenzie (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Maccarinelli has revitalized his career to an extent with the gutsy McKenzie win.

18) Denis Grachev (2-70)

Last Fight: 7/13/2013- L (TKO1) vs. #13 SMW Edwin Rodriguez

Next Fight: Unknown

19) Dmitry Sukhotsky (2-148)

Last Fight: 6/4/2013- KO3 Mikhail Krinitsin (UNR) (at SMW)

Next Fight: Unknown

Sukhotsky may be sticking around at 168 from now on, but only time will tell. He has until December to schedule a fight at 175 if he wants to keep his ranking.

20) Eleider Alvarez (2-31)

Last Fight: 3/22/2013- TKO3 Nicholson Poulard (UNR)

Next Fight: 9/28/2013- vs. Edison Miranda (UNR)

Alvarez’s 9/28 opponent will be fringe contender Edison Miranda. If nothing else, this will crown an undisputed Champion of Colombia and probably South America.

The Week Ahead: In Kempton Park, South Africa, local undefeated prospect Ryno Liebenberg fights mid-level Argentine journeyman Gabriel Ramirez on Saturday.

Gatekeeper Valery Brudov is also in action, but it’s unclear whether that will be a cruiserweight or light heavyweight fight. I’ll mention it here next week if relevant.

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Cruiserweight: 2013: Aug 26- Sep 1

Posted in Cruiserweight, Rankings with tags Daniel Ammann, Denis Lebedev, Eric Fields, Ilunga Makabu, Marco Huck, Valery Brudov, William Fernando Souza Bezerra, Yoan Pablo Hernandez on August 27, 2013 by danboxing

Both of the fights mentioned in my “The Week Ahead” section last week were cancelled on short notice. No changes this week.

Dan’s Top 20 (weeks in current position-weeks in top 10 (if applicable)-weeks in top 20)

Champ: None

1) Denis Lebedev (5-186-186)

Last Fight: 5/17/2013- L (TKO11) vs. Guillermo Jones (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Lebedev was winning the fight on points against Jones when his eye ballooned and he faded to a stoppage. Who’s to say that he wouldn’t have won if Jones had been weakened by making weight the right way (or by not using whatever PEDs he may have been masking with the substance)? Lebedev is accorded the benefit of the doubt, and will be treated like the fight never happened.

2) Yoan Pablo Hernandez (50-166-166)

Last Fight: 9/15/2012- W*(UD12) vs. #20 Troy Ross

Next Fight: Unknown

Finally some Hernandez news: his hand has been slow to heal, but he’s ready to train again. He’s looking at a likely October fight with Alekseev.

3) Troy Ross (50-50-82)

Last Fight: 9/15/2012- L*(UD12) vs. #1 Yoan Pablo Hernandez

Next Fight: Unknown

Quote from Ross’s Twitter: “If the right opportunity arises I will fight again.” That sounds more like a semi-retired fighter than the guy that just outfought the division’s #1 contender. Here’s hoping he starts hunting for good fights like a starving mountain man any second now.

4) Marco Huck (5-351-351)

Last Fight: 6/8/2013- W (MD12) vs. #5 Ola Afolabi

Next Fight: 9/14/2013- vs. #6 Firat Arslan

Huck will make a mandatory defense in a rematch against Firat Arslan on September 14.

5) Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (5-427-427)

Last Fight: 6/21/2013- TKO8 Rakhim Chakhkiev (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown
Wlodarczyk indicated interest in moving up to fight Adamek, but Adamek isn’t for it, and Albert Sosnowski has been discussed instead. Meanwhile, his mandatory is Giacobbe Fragomeni, who would have little chance after struggling to practical stalemates with 46-47 year old Silvio Branco.

6) Firat Arslan (5-68-111)

Last Fight: 4/27/2013- UD10 Varol Vekiloglu (UNR)

Next Fight: 9/14/2013- vs. #4 Marco Huck

See Huck’s notes, above.

7) Thabiso Mchunu (4-4-42)

Last Fight: 8/3/2013- UD10 Eddie Chambers (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Mchunu intends to be back by the end of the year, and says he’ll take on anyone in the division. I don’t blame him. I’d pick him to beat anyone.

8) Ola Afolabi (4-233-233)

Last Fight: 6/8/2013- L (MD12) vs. #8 Marco Huck

Next Fight: Unknown

Afolabi is rumored for the next Monaco Million Dollar Super 4 tournament, along with BJ Flores, Ilunga Makabu, and Australian prospect Brad Pitt.

9) Danny Green (4-42-195)

Last Fight: 11/21/2012- UD12 Shane Cameron (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Green is leaning toward retirement at last check.

10) B.J. Flores (4-13-166)

Last Fight: 10/6/2012- TKO2 David McNemar (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Flores has been released from his contract with Don King, and is now rumored for an upcoming Million Dollar tournament in Monaco on November 2, with the other participants rumored to be Ilunga Makabu, Brad Pitt, and Ola Afolabi.

11) Giacobbe Fragomeni (4-250)

Last Fight: 7/27/2013- UD8 Toni Visic (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Fragomeni snuck in a strictly stay-busy fight with Toni Visic on about 1 day’s notice as far as I can tell.

12) Silvio Branco (4-76)

Last Fight: 7/6/2013- W (TD10) vs. Juho Haapoja (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Branco continues to chug along at 47 years young. He’s like a lower-level Hopkins.

13) Alexander Alekseev (4-137)

Last Fight: 2/22/2013- UD12* Garrett Wilson (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Alekseev is very likely for a shot at Yoan Pablo Hernandez in October.

14) Mateusz Masternak (4-74)

Last Fight: 4/13/2013- TKO9 Sean Corbin (UNR)

Next Fight: 10/5/2013- vs. #18 Grigory Drozd

The Masternak-Drozd fight on October 5 no longer appears on Boxrec’s schedule. That’s usually an ominous sign. Still, I have seen no report of it falling through, so I’ll continue to list it until I actually hear otherwise.

15) Francisco Palacios (4-126)

Last Fight: 9/22/2012- L(U12) vs. #7 Krzysztof Wlodarczyk

Next Fight: Unknown

Palacios very likely will not fight until after his contract with Don King expires in September.

16) Ilunga Makabu (4-7)

Last Fight: 7/13/2013- W (MD12) vs. #17 Dmytro Kucher

Next Fight: 8/31/2013- vs. Eric Fields (UNR)

Makabu takes on borderline top-30 Oklahoma one-loss prospect Eric Fields in South Africa on August 31. He’s also rumored for a Monaco 4-man tournament in the fall along with Flores, Afolabi, and Australian Brad Pitt.

17) Enad Licina (5-166)

Last Fight: 7/27/2013- UD6 Marko Rupcic (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Licina has been fighting nobodies slightly over the heavyweight limit since November. He’ll be removed in November for inactivity at cruiserweight if he doesn’t schedule something at 200 by then, or in January if he does that but doesn’t get a significant win, since his last one will be 5 years old then.

18) Grigory Drozd (5-42)

Last Fight: 12/17/2012- UD12 Jean-Marc Monrose (UNR)

Next Fight: 10/5/2013- vs. #14 Mateusz Masternak

See Masternak’s notes, above.

19) Dmytro Kucher (5-61)

Last Fight: 7/13/2013- L (MD12) vs. Ilunga Makabu (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Kucher is practically back to square one after falling short against Makabu.

20) Krzysztof Glowacki (5-5)

Last Fight: 4/20/2013- UD8 Taylor Mabika (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

THE WEEK AHEAD: Friday: In Newcastle, Australia, gatekeeper Daniel Ammann stays busy against the awful Peter Brennan in both men’s home state of New South Wales.

In Villa Anastacio, Brazil, fringe contending undefeated prospect William Fernando Souza Bezerra will at least theoretically be fighting Ricardo Augusto Souza, who boxrec lists as a top 50 fighter. I can almost guarantee, however, that the results of the fight will not be available anywhere online until about a week after it supposedly happened. This always happens with Souza Bezerra’s fights, and it only feeds the growing perception that his record is fabricated. I have looked hard for evidence of Souza Bezerra’s being a legitimate fighter, and have found one very poor-quality photograph in an online newspaper and one ringside handy-cam video of one of his fights against a nobody, and that video is frankly less convincing than a WWE match. He knocked his opponent out at something like the 3:15 mark of round 1, with a punch that didn’t didn’t look all that devastating. The ref also didn’t appear real, as he began counting, at 1, about 5 seconds after the knockdown occurred. So even though his official record puts him in serious consideration for a top 20 spot, I will not rank him until it appears at least 50-50 that he’s actually fighting his fights, and doing so on the level.

Saturday: In Kempton Park, South Africa, #16 Ilunga Makabu faces probably the 2nd-toughest test of his career in one-loss Oklahoma prospect Eric Fields. Fields’ only loss was over 5 years ago to Ola Afolabi, but he has been borderline irrelevant of late, having not fought anyone even near the top 50 in over 2 years.

The same night in Krasnogorsk, Russia, gatekeeper Valery Brudov will be in action against low-level journeyman Jevgenijs Andrejevs. This fight may be at 175, though, since Brudov has been edging down in weight for some time. I’ll only discuss it here next week if it was indeed above 175.

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Heavyweight: 2013, Aug 26- Sep 1

Posted in Heavyweight, Rankings with tags Amir Mansour, Christian Hammer, Fabio Moli, Kubrat Pulev, Michael Sprott, Tony Thompson, Vitali Klitschko, Wladimir Klitschko on August 26, 2013 by danboxing

Christian Hammer- whose assumed name is right up there with Charles “The Hammer of God” Martel in terms of pure crusaderesque imagery- finally lived up to that name on Friday in his native Galati, Romania by knocking out a top 50 fighter, ending the night of Norwegian prospect/gatekeeper Leif Larsen in round 7. Hammer had previously fallen short against Taras Bidenko and Mariusz Wach, both in 2010.

Later that night in Dover, Delaware, undefeated 41 year-old prospect Amir Mansour won what went down on paper, at least, as a fairly dominant decision over gatekeeper Maurice Harris. Judge Joseph Pasquale dissented a bit, scoring it 116-112 compared to the wide scores of Mark D’Attilio (120-108) and Brian Costello (119-109). With no video to review, I have to take it as a pretty dominant win given the majority of scores.

But in by far the biggest fight of the week, #8 Kubrat Pulev edged out #11 Tony Thompson in a workmanlike decision win. I had it 115-113 Pulev, though I thought there were enough close rounds that it could have gone either way by a round or two. The judges, given that it was a Sauerland event, were predictably biased. Polish judge Pawel Kardyni had it a respectable 116-112 for Pulev, but the US’s Don Trella went too far at 117-111, and Mickey Vann of England, as he often is, was way off at 118-110.

Pulev just barely creeps past Chisora to the #7 spot. It’s a tough call. Chisora has by far the best result of the two, with his domination of Robert Helenius. But he does have losses to Vitali, Haye, and Tyson Fury, meaning he has a potentially lower upside, while Pulev also has a ton of decent wins over gatekeepers, with Chisora lacking that level of depth. Thompson stands pat at #11, since the fight really just confirmed that both guys were ranked about right relative to one another. Mansour’s win gets him within shouting distance of the top 20, but he’s about 2 spots shy in my book. Hammer, dragged down a bit by his past struggles, parks within the top 35, but has some work to do to get any higher than that.

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in current position-weeks in top 10 (if applicable)-weeks in top 20)

Champ: Wladimir Klitschko (218-431-431)

Last Fight: 5/4/2013- TKO6 Francesco Pianeta

Next Fight: 10/5/2013- vs. #4 Alexander Povetkin

Klitschko-Povetkin is now officially signed for 10/5 in Moscow.

1) Vitali Klitschko (255-255-255)

Last Fight: 9/8/2012- TKO4 Manuel Charr (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Vitali is struggling with a hand injury according to the WBC. But it’s already been nearly a year, and he’s made no attempt to get a fight done. I’ll keep him ranked based on the logical possibility that he may still schedule a fight before the 2nd week of September. Most likely, though, he’ll be removed at that time.

2) Tyson Fury (19-110-110)

Last Fight: 4/20/2013- KO7 #3 Steve Cunningham

Next Fight: 9/28/2013- vs. #3 David Haye

Fury-Haye is a done deal for September 28 in Manchester.

3) David Haye (19-59-59)

Last Fight: 7/14/2012- TKO5 #6 Dereck Chisora

Next Fight: 9/28/2013- vs. #2 Tyson Fury

See Fury’s notes, above.

4) Alexander Povetkin (59-305-305)

Last Fight: 5/17/2013- TKO3 Andrzej Wawryzk (UNR)

Next Fight: 10/5/2013- vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko

See Wlad’s notes, above.

5) Steve Cunningham (19-36-36)

Last Fight: 4/20/2013- L (KO7) vs. #6 Tyson Fury

Next Fight: Unknown

Cunningham is now sparring with the man that knocked him out in April- Tyson Fury.

6) Tomasz Adamek (19-175-175)

Last Fight: 8/3/2013- UD10 Dominick Guinn (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

A collision between two of Main Events’ blue chip heavyweights is being discussed for November, as they’re looking to match Adamek with Bryant Jennings.

7) Kubrat Pulev (1-69-146)

Last Fight: 8/24/2013- UD12 #11 Tony Thompson

Next Fight: Unknown

Pulev will now be at least one of Wlad’s mandatories after beating Thompson.

8) Dereck Chisora (1-91-154)

Last Fight: 7/20/2013- KO6* #17 Malik Scott

Next Fight: 9/21/2013- vs. Unknown Opponent

Pulev has dropped the EBU belt and will thus not be fighting Chisora anytime soon. Chisora will now likely fight Denis Boytsov for the belt, though it’s not clear if there’s any chance of that happening on September 21 or not.

9) Odlanier Solis (12-23-170)

Last Fight: 7/27/2013- TKO7 Yakup Saglam (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Solis is now pushing for what would be a very intriguing fight with Deontay Wilder.

10) Bermane Stiverne (10-10-26)

Last Fight: 4/27/2013- UD12 #15 Chris Arreola

Next Fight: Unknown

Stiverne was the victim of another delayed purse bid, as Vitali asked for and was granted another extension from the scheduled 7/22 date.

11) Tony Thompson (10-170)

Last Fight: 8/24/2013- L (UD12) vs. #8 Kubrat Pulev

Next Fight: Unknown

Thompson may have come up a bit short against Pulev, but he proved that even at 41, he’s still a challenge for obviously top-10 opposition.

12) Seth Mitchell (10-12)

Last Fight: 6/22/2013- UD12 #10 Johnathon Banks

Next Fight: 9/7/2013- vs. Chris Arreola (UNR)

The Mitchell-Arreola fight has been moved back to Saturday the 7th instead of Friday the 6th.

13) Deontay Wilder (12-18)

Last Fight: 8/9/2013- KO1 Sergei Liakhovich (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Wilder would like to fight the winner of the fight between Arreola and his friend and stablemate Seth Mitchell. He’s also been challenged by the Odlanier Solis camp, and says he wants the Klitschkos before they retire.

14) Robert Helenius (12-170)

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 long healed by now, although there were immediate rumors that the injury was more serious.

15) Alexander Dimitrenko (12-137)

Last Fight: 3/9/2013- UD8 Ivica Perkovic (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Dimitrenko turned down a Pulev rematch.

16) Vyacheslav Glazkov (12-36)

Last Fight: 8/3/2013- TKO2 Byron Polley (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Glazkov’s gift of a draw to Scott seems to have hurt his standing a bit, as his follow-up was so weak it didn’t even make TV on his promoter’s show. He’s currently sparring with Klitschko to prepare the Champ for the Povetkin fight.

17) Malik Scott (12-27)

Last Fight: 7/20/2013- L (KO6*) vs. #8 Dereck Chisora

Next Fight: Unknown

Scott was up at 9.5 and ready to go, but Phil Edwards called the fight off in an unfortunate SNAFU. That being said, Chisora was coming on and I already had him ahead. Scott probably would have gone on to lose anyway.

18) Johnathon Banks (10-41)

Last Fight: 6/22/2013- L (UD12) vs. #20 Seth Mitchell

Next Fight: Unknown

Banks apparently dinged his hands up pretty good in the Mitchell fight- an alternate explanation for those who, like me, thought his inexplicable failure to follow up on his early success was a bit suspicious. He’s been doing physical therapy, and is about ready to get back in the ring. He’d like a rematch with Mitchell, but unfortunately a trilogy probably isn’t of much benefit to the fragile young contender at this point.

19) Denis Boytsov (10-219)

Last Fight: 6/15/2013- KO3 Alexander Nesterenko (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Boytsov is likely to fight Dereck Chisora for the EBU belt. Perhaps on September 21, or perhaps at a later date.

20) Franklin Lawrence (10-26)

Last Fight: 1/25/2013- Mark Brown (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

THE WEEK AHEAD: Friday in Remedios de Escalada, Argentina, inactive 44 year-old gatekeeper Fabio Moli battles aging one-loss prospect Matias Vidondo for the Argentine title. Both men are coming off wins of Emilio Zarate in their previous fight.

The next night, Turkish-German undefeated prospect Erkan Teper will take by far his toughest test against fringe contender Michael Sprott in Basel, Switzerland.

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Welterweight: 2013, Aug 19-25

Posted in Rankings, Welterweight with tags Devon Alexander, Ed Paredes, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny Pacquiao, Marcos Maidana, Shane Mosley, Vyacheslav Senchenko on August 26, 2013 by danboxing

No fights to report in the division from last week, again.

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

Champ: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (173-205-205)

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 (93-93-93)

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 (93-246-246)

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 (14-14-14)

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

Next Fight: Unknown Date- vs. #12 MW Anthony Mundine (at JMW)

The word from Mundine is that Mosley has signed the contract and the fight is good to go at 154, but no word on the date yet.

4) Devon Alexander (10-78-78)

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 (11-11-11)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Golden Boy is reportedly working on a November 9 fight with Broner. Reportedly it might be a Showtime Pay-per-View. Broner is nowhere near a PPV attraction for me, so I’m definitely not sure about buying this one, if true, as much as I like Maidana.

6) Jesus Soto Karass (4-4-30)

Last Fight: 7/27/2013- TKO12 #7 Andre Berto

Next Fight: Unknown

Soto Karass obviously had a little help from Berto’s bad shoulder, but he was ahead in the fight even before the injury.

7) Robert Guerrero (4-39-56)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Guerrero might be on a collision-course with fast-rising prospect Keith Thurman for November 2.

8) Kell Brook (14-121-121)

Last Fight: 7/13/2013- TKO8 Carson Jones (UNR) (at JMW)

Next Fight: 10/26/2013- vs. Vyacheslav Senchenko (UNR)

Brook fights Senchenko in late October. He’s better make 147 for the non-title fight if he wants to maintain his ranking here.

9) Randall Bailey (14-63-63)

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 (11-61-61)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Lopez suffered an injury, and will no longer be fighting on September 6.

11) Andre Berto (4-39)
Last Fight: 7/27/2013- L (TKO12) vs. #11 Jesus Soto Karass

Next Fight: Unknown

Berto’s shoulder surgery will keep him out until sometime in 2014.

12) Keith Thurman (4-24)

Last Fight: 7/27/2013- KO10 Diego Chaves (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

See Guerrero’s notes, above.

13) Chris van Heerden (4-62)

Last Fight: 3/2/2013- UD12 Matthew Hatton (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Van Heerden recently moved his home base to Southern California from his native South Africa in search of better sparring and bigger fights. He is likley to work with Brandon Rios in the coming months, and hopes to make his US debut in October.

14) Luis Carlos Abregu (4-17)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Apparently the reports that Abregu would be opening up the Chavez-Vera broadcast on September 7 were incorrect. Instead, Abregu will likely fight either Brad Solomon or Wale Omotoso on one of 3 possible Saturdays in October.

15) Jan Zaveck (4-193)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

16) Selcuk Aydin (4-227)

Last Fight: 7/27/2013- KO8 Aaron Herrera (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

17) Timothy Bradley (4-63)

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.

18) Ruslan Provodnikov (4-23)

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

Next Fight: 10/19/2013- vs. JWW#? Mike Alvarado (at JWW)

Alvarado-Provodnikov is done for 10/19 in Denver, at 140, with HBO to televise.

19) Leonard Bundu (4-9)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

20) Jessie Vargas (4-4)

Last Fight: 3/16/2013- UD10 Wale Omotoso (UNR)

Next Fight: 10/12/2013- vs. Unknown Opponent

Vargas will look to follow up on his career-best win against Omotoso with an appearance against a TBA opponent on the Marquez-Bradley undercard.

The Week Ahead: Friday in Verona, New York, American gatekeeper Ed Paredes meets Mexican journeyman Noe Bolanos in a 10-rounder. Unfortunately, this continues a stretch of now 8 consecutive mediocre or worse opponents that Paredes has fought since edging Antonio Pitalua in 2010.

The following evening in Donetsk, Ukraine, local gatekeeper Vyacheslav Senchenko will look to gear up for his upcoming battle with Kell Brook when he takes on Argentine journeyman Carlos Jerez.

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Junior Middleweight: 2013, Aug 19-25

Posted in Junior Middleweight, Rankings with tags Austin Trout, Carlos Molina, Erislandy Lara, Ishe Smith, Miguel Cotto, Sasha Yengoyan, Saul Alvarez, Tadashi Yuba on August 26, 2013 by danboxing

Japanese gatekeeper Tadashi Yuba made short work of journeyman Yosuke Kirima, knocking his countryman out with about half a minute left in the first round. No changes this week.

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

Champ: None

1) Carlos Molina (29-111-126)

Last Fight: 2/1/2013- UD12 #11 Cory Spinks

Next Fight: 9/14/2013- vs. #5 Ishe Smith

September 14 looks like junior middleweight D-Day. #1 vs. #5 (as of this writing), and it’s probably not even the most important fight in the division on that card.

2) Saul Alvarez (29-129-144)

Last Fight: 4/20/2013- W* (UD12) vs. #3 Austin Trout

Next Fight: 9/14/2013- vs. WW Champ Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

Floyd-Canelo on September 14 appeared to be made way back in February, but then appeared to be a distant memory for months. Now it’s back on, for the exact same date. The only difference is that Floyd got dropped for inactivity because the fight wasn’t signed when his 1-year anniversary at 154 came around. There will be a 152-pound catchweight.

3) Austin Trout (26-64-133)

Last Fight: 4/20/2013- L* (UD12) vs. #2 Saul Alvarez

Next Fight: Unknown

Trout wants a rematch of his very dubious loss to Alvarez. He certainly deserves it. He’ll have to wait until 2014 at the earliest, though, as Canelo is fighting Mayweather. Rumors of Lara-Trout on the Mayweather-Canelo undercard appear to be false according to Leonard Ellerbe.

4) Erislandy Lara (26-111-133)

Last Fight: 6/8/2013- TKO10 #8 Alfredo Angulo

Next Fight: Unknown

See Trout’s notes, above.

5) Ishe Smith (26-26-26)

Last Fight: 2/23/2013- W (MD12) vs. #3 Cornelius Bundrage

Next Fight: 9/14/2013- vs. #1 Carlos Molina

See Molina’s notes, above.

6) Miguel Cotto (16-168-168)

Last Fight: 12/1/2012- L (UD12) vs. #8 Austin Trout

Next Fight: 10/5/2013- vs. #11 Delvin Rodriguez

After a proposed fight with Bundrage was scrapped by the networks, and a brief flirtation with Carlos Molina, Cotto will now be fighting Delvin Rodriguez on HBO on October 5.

7) Cornelius Bundrage (16-159-159)

Last Fight: 2/23/2013- L (MD12) vs. Ishe Smith (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

8) Alfredo Angulo (16-204-204)

Last Fight: 6/8/2013- L (TKO10) vs. #4 Erislandy Lara

Next Fight: Unknown

Angulo has shared the good news that there are no broken bones in his face after the devastating Lara combination that forced him to submit. On one hand, it demystifies Angulo’s warrior image, but it does give him a better outlook for his career going forward, as well.

9) Gabriel Rosado (16-22-133)

Last Fight: 5/4/2013- NC vs. J’Leon Love (UNR) (at MW)

Next Fight: Unknown

With his already-questionable loss to Love overturned due to a positive drug test, Rosado now wants Cotto, Lara, or Trout. Love wants a rematch after his suspension is over. While Cotto is otherwise occupied, the last three seem to be realistic possibilities.

10) Sergey Rabchenko (16-16-62)

Last Fight: 7/16/2013- TKO3 Gari Abajian (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

After two other mandatories failed to answer the bell for a shot at Rabchenko’s European title, Cedric Vitu is now the guy, with purse bids scheduled for August 20. This will give the Belorussian an opportunity to answer some questions, as he barely squeaked by Vitu in 2012.

11) Delvin Rodriguez (16-110)

Last Fight: 5/24/2013- TKO8 Freddy Hernandez (UNR)

Next Fight: 10/5/2013- vs. #6 Miguel Cotto

See Cotto’s notes, above.

12) Lukas Konecny (16-106)

Last Fight: 7/13/2013- UD12 Moez Fhima (UNR) (at MW)

Next Fight: Unknown

Konecny took care of business against Fhima at 160. We’ll have to see whether he stays at that weight or not. My guess would be yes, since he’s fighting for minor titles up there at this point.

13) Keith Thurman (16-39)

Last Fight: 7/27/2013- KO10 Diego Chaves (UNR) (at WW)

Next Fight: Unknown

Golden Boy is trying to make a fight between Thurman and Robert Guerrero at 147.

14) Vanes Martirosyan (16-116)

Last Fight: 6/15/2013- TKO2 Ryan Davis (UNR) (at MW)

Next Fight: Unknown Date- vs. #17 MW Demetrius Andrade

With JCC’s cut postponing the 9/7 card on which Andrade-Vanes was supposed to go down, the fight will get a new date. It reportedly will no longer be the same date as the JCC fight.

15) Yuri Foreman (16-30)

Last Fight: 7/24/2013- UD8 Jamaal Davis (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Foreman is very slowly stepping up his level of opposition as his comeback gradually picks up steam.

16) Willie Nelson (12-25)

Last Fight: 6/29/2013- UD10 Luciano Cuello (UNR)

Next Fight: 9/28/2013- vs. Dante Moore (UNR)

When it comes to Nelson’s September 28 opponent, a Cleveland hometown and one-loss record is about all they have in common. Moore has lost to and drawn with absolute scrubs, and shouldn’t be much of a challenge for Nelson despite a decent-looking 8-1 record.

17) Brian Rose (12-22)

Last Fight: 6/29/2013- W (PTS10) vs. Alexey Ribchev (UNR) (at MW)

Next Fight: 10/26/2013- vs. Unknown Opponent

Rose will be back on the Brook-Senchenko undercard in Sheffield.

18) Jermell Charlo (11-11)

Last Fight: 6/8/2013- UD12 Demetrius Hopkins (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Charlo didn’t exactly build his fan base with the Hopkins snoozer, but he satisfied the “win today, look good tomorrow” equation, and earned a ranking for his trouble.

19) Guido Pitto (11-17)

Last Fight: 4/27/2013- W* (SD12) vs. Jack Culcay (UNR)

Next Fight: 9/14/2013- vs. Jack Culcay (UNR)

A Culcay-Pitto rematch is on tap for September 14, as if I needed more fights to write about in this division for that night.

20) Kell Brook (6-6)

Last Fight: 7/13/2013- TKO8 Carson Jones (UNR)

Next Fight: 10/26/2013- vs. Vyacheslav Senchenko (UNR) (at WW?)

Brook gets Senchenko in late October in Sheffield. Since it’s a non-title fight, there’s always the chance it could creep up over 147 and thus affect his ranking here.

The Week Ahead: Friday in Oostende, Belgium, local one-loss prospect Sasha Yengoyan will fight low-level Bulgarian journeyman Stiliyan Kostov

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Middleweight: 2013, Aug 19-25

Posted in Middleweight, Rankings with tags Akio Shibata, Daniel Geale, Danny Jacobs, Darren Barker, Dmitry Chudinov, Gilberto Ramirez, Giovanni Lorenzo, Sergio Sanders on August 26, 2013 by danboxing

In what must be viewed as an upset from Atlantic City, #3 Daniel Geale was defeated in a legitimately razor-thin fight on HBO. Geale, who lacks real power but usually makes up for it with volume, was a bit more cautious than normal, perhaps because Barker seemed to have a pretty fair amount of steam behind his punches to an extent that guys like Sebastian Sylvester and Anthony Mundine may not have. Maybe even more than Sturm, with whom Geale also had a toss-up kind of fight. I had it 114-113 for Barker, with the Englishman winning 7 rounds to overcome a devastatingly placed body shot that produced a knockdown and almost a knockout in the 6th. Half the fight was composed of toss-up rounds, but in my estimation, Barker swept the first 5, came back strong in the 7th, and managed to nick the 10th to seal the victory.

In much less significant action, gatekeeper Sergio Sanders knocked out low-level countryman Abel Adriel in 7 from Malvinas, Argentina.

Barker revitalizes his injury-plagued career with by far its best win. He rockets to #3, replacing Geale at that position. Geale slumps two spots, displaced by Barker and also swapping positions with Sturm, over whom he holds an indecisive win. Macklin is displaced one spot by Barker, as well.

Having re-scheduled his 165 pound catchweight fight with Vera for after the 1-year anniversary of his last middleweight fight, Julio Cesar Chavez (#6 last week) is removed. Brought into equilibrium by Barker and Chavez, everyone ranked #7-14 last week stays put. #s 16-20 each move up, and the vacancy at #20 is filled by Billi Godoy, who had been bumped out of that spot on August 5.

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

Champ: Sergio Martinez (175-175-175)

Last Fight: 4/27/2013- UD12* #9 Martin Murray (Robbery- draw at best)

Next Fight: Unknown

Martinez should be back in March or April of 2014. Golovkin has been mentioned, but that would be a bit too much for his first fight back, I would think.

1) Martin Murray (17-90-90)

Last Fight: 4/27/2013- L* (UD12) vs. Champ Sergio Martinez (Robbery- D at worst)

Next Fight: Unknown

With the Golovkin talks having amounted to nothing, Murray is looking for what should be a make-able showdown with Darren Barker.

2) Gennady Golovkin (8-51-114)

Last Fight: 6/29/2013- KO3 #5 Matthew Macklin

Next Fight: 11/2/2013- vs. #19 Curtis Stevens

Apparently 2 gatekeeper-level knockouts, a gift decision over a journeyman, and a ton of undeserved hype will get you a shot at getting demolished by Golovkin. Curtis Stevens will get just that on November 2.

3) Darren Barker (1-1-97)

Last Fight: 8/17/2013- W (SD12) vs. #3 Daniel Geale

Next Fight: Unknown

Geale wants a rematch, and Martin Murray is knocking, as well. But more than likely, a mandatory against Sturm is the next move, probably in December.

4) Felix Sturm (8-518-518)

Last Fight: 7/6/2013- TKO4 Predrag Radosevic (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

See Barker’s notes, above.

5) Daniel Geale (1-218-218)

Last Fight: 8/17/2013- L (SD12) vs. #15 Darren Barker

Next Fight: Unknown

Geale wants a rematch, but will probably have to wait until at least 2014, since it appears likely Barker will make a mandatory defense in December against Sturm, instead.

6) Matthew Macklin (1-113-204)

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.

7) Peter Quillin (17-44-65)

Last Fight: 4/27/2013- TKO7 Fernando Guerrero (UNR)

Next Fight: 10/26/2013- vs. Unknown Opponent

Golden Boy expects to put Quillin on the Hopkins-Murat undercard in late October.

8) Dmitry Pirog (17-160-160)

Last Fight: 5/1/2012- UD12 #20 Nobuhiro Ishida

Next Fight: Unknown

Pirog says his back injuries have fully healed, and will be meeting with his people in the US soon to determine his next fight. I’ll probably give him until the end of September to calendar that fight before removing him.

9) Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (8-25-147)

Last Fight: 10/20/2012- L (UD12) vs. #20 Peter Quillin

Next Fight: Unknown

10) Sergio Mora (8-8-8)

Last Fight: 6/28/2013- UD10 #9 Grzegorz Proksa

Next Fight: Unknown

Mora is hoping for a shot at Golovkin off the Proksa win, and has signed with a solid promoter in Lou DiBella.

11) Marco Antonio Rubio (23-134)

Last Fight: 7/27/2013- KO2 Dionisio Miranda (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Rubio is theoretically set up for a alphabet title fight with Chavez, but Chavez has to beat Vera and decide to continue campaigning at 160, which seems increasingly unlikely.

12) Anthony Mundine (23-134)

Last Fight: 1/30/2013- L (UD12) vs. #1 Daniel Geale

Next Fight: Unknown Date- vs. #3 WW Shane Mosley (at JMW)

Mundine says the fight is signed with Mosley, but no date has been announced yet.

13) Osumanu Adama (23-126)

Last Fight: 7/26/2013- RTD7 Doel Carasquillo (UNR) (as SMW)

Next Fight: Unknown

Adama has until September 7 to schedule a middleweight fight to avoid removal, having missed 160 in his last two fights.

14) Akio Shibata (16-16)

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) Max Bursak (1-134)

Last Fight: 7/13/2013- UD12 Prince Arron (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

16) Demetrius Andrade (1-105)

Last Fight: 1/25/2013- UD10 Freddy Hernandez (UNR) (at JMW)

Next Fight: Unknown Date- vs. #14 JMW Vanes Martirosyan (at JMW)

Andrade-Martirosyan has been postponed along with Chavez-Vera due to Chavez’s cut. Chances are the new date will lead to his removal, since it will probably be after his 1-year anniversary of his last middleweight fight. That’s now even more likely with the news that the fight will not be on the same date as Chavez-Vera anymore.

17) Bryan Vera (1-44)

Last Fight: 3/29/2013- TKO7* Donatas Bondorovas (UNR)

Next Fight: 9/28/2013- vs. Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (UNR) (at SMW)

Vera’s fight with Chavez has been delayed again, this time to 9/28.

18) Grzegorz Proksa (1-123)

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.

19) Curtis Stevens (1-3)

Last Fight: 8/3/2013- KO1 Saul Roman (UNR)

Next Fight: 11/2/2013- vs. #2 Gennady Golovkin

Stevens needed a gift to beat journeyman Derrick Findley, and has never beat anything better than a gatekeeper at this weight. My opinion is that his fight with Golovkin will be akin to an execution.

20) Billi Godoy (1-1)

Last Fight: 7/19/2013- UD12 Mateo Veron (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

The Week Ahead: One-loss prospect and cancer survivor Danny Jacobs will get his stiffest test, by far, since he was knocked out by Pirog back in 2010, when he takes on Dominican gatekeeper Giovanni Lorenzo, a once-promising prospect who still has only lost to top-10 opposition. That fight will inaugurate Fox Sports 1’s new Monday Night Boxing series.

Saturday in Volgograd, Russia, undefeated Russian prospect Dmitry Chudinov- recently ranked in the top 20 before being humbled by a draw to journeyman Patrick Mendy- looks to get back on a winning track against a lesser journeyman in Venezuela’s Jorge Navarro.

A battle of Mexicans is brewing in Glendale, California later that night, as undefeated prospect Gilberto Ramirez takes on veteran journeyman Julio Cesar Garcia.

Capping off the week on Sunday is a very intriguing match-up in Tokyo, where #14 Akio Shibata will look to rudely welcome Olympic Gold Medalist Ryoto Murata to the pro ranks. That’s right. Murata is making his pro debut against the best middleweight in Asia. No baby steps here. I hope Shibata is getting paid well, because this is a very high-risk, low-reward kind of fight. It’s not every day a guy has a chance to be 1-0 and something close to a top-10 fighter.

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Super Middleweight: 2013, Aug 19-25

Posted in Rankings, Super Middleweight with tags Andre Ward, Arthur Abraham, Carl Froch, Dimitri Sartison, Nikola Sjekloca, Robert Stieglitz, Stanislav Kashtanov, Wilbeforce Shihepo on August 25, 2013 by danboxing

No action to report from last week.

Dan’s Top 20

Champ: Andre Ward (88-222-222)

Last Fight: 9/8/2012- TKO10 LHW Champ Chad Dawson
Next Fight: Unknown

1) Carl Froch (65-375-375)
Last Fight: 5/25/2013- UD12 #3 Mikkel Kessler
Next Fight: 11/23/2013- vs. #8 George Groves

Froch-Groves is set for November 23 in Manchester.

2) Robert Stieglitz (22-208-208)

Last Fight: 7/13/2013- TKO10 Yuzo Kiyota (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Arthur Abraham badly wants a trilogy.

3) Mikkel Kessler (36-454-454)

Last Fight: 5/25/2013- L (UD12) vs. #1 Carl Froch
Next Fight: Unknown

Froch is interested in a trilogy on neutral ground, perhaps even more so than a Ward rematch. But it’s not even clear that Kessler will fight again, after saying pre-fight he might retire.

4) Arthur Abraham (14-200-200)
Last Fight: 3/23/2013- L (TKO3) vs. #5 Robert Stieglitz
Next Fight: 8/24/2013- vs. Wilbeforce Shihepo (UNR)

Abraham is slated to fight Namibian journeyman Wilbeforce Shihepo on 8/24, and has now struck a deal to keep fighting until at least 2015, and continues to push for a trilogy with Stieglitz.

5) Brandon Gonzales (8-8-8)

Last Fight: 6/29/2013- D* vs. #5 Thomas Oosthuizen

Next Fight: Unknown

Gonzales at least earned a draw with Oosthuizen despite fading late. I had it a win, and I give him credit for that.

6) Adonis Stevenson (14-89-89)

Last Fight: 6/8/2013- TKO1 LHW#1 Chad Dawson (at LHW)

Next Fight: 9/28/2013- vs. #7 LHW Tavoris Cloud (at LHW)

7) Thomas Oosthuizen (8-116-164)
Last Fight: 6/29/2013- D* vs. Brandon Gonzales (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown

Oosthuizen laid a complete, fully-formed goose egg in the first half of his fight with deserved underdog Brandon Gonzales, and was extremely lucky to escape with a draw.

8) George Groves (8-36-58)

Last Fight: 5/25/2013- TKO5 Noe Gonzalez (UNR)

Next Fight: 11/23/2013- vs. #1 Carl Froch

Groves and Froch will face off on November 23 in Manchester.

9) Sakio Bika (8-27-333)

Last Fight: 6/22/2013- MD12 Marco Antonio Periban (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

10) James DeGale (8-11-97)

Last Fight: 6/8/2013- RTD4 Stjepan Bozic (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

DeGale badly wants a big-money fight with Froch.

11) Christopher Rebrasse (8-11)

Last Fight: 6/8/2013- Robbery Draw (W) vs. #10 Mouhamed Ali Ndiaye

Next Fight: Unknown

Rebrasse was so blatantly robbed against Ndiaye that I have to remember to point it out. It’s so clearly a win that I almost forget the judges’ world-class crookedness. The EBU has ordered a rematch, as if one were needed.

12) Maxim Vlasov (7-41)

Last Fight: 7/12/2013- UD8 Mark Suarez (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

13) Edwin Rodriguez (7-31)

Last Fight: 7/13/2013- TKO1 #16 LHW Denis Grachev (at LHW)

Next Fight: Unknown

Rodriguez named Bika as someone he’d like to fight next. Both are talented fighters who care little about technique as they wing wild punches. Could be fun if it happens.

14) Ezequiel Maderna (7-34)

Last Fight: 3/30/2013- L* (UD10) vs. #17 Edwin Rodriguez

Next Fight: Unknown

15) Andy Lee (7-14)

Last Fight: 5/15/2013- TKO1 Darryl Cunningham (UNR)

Next Fight: 9/28/2013- vs. Domenico Spada (UNR) (at MW)

Lee will be in a rare title fight for him, and will thus most likely make the 160 pound limit for his Haye-Fury undercard fight with Domenico Spada- a rarity for him.

16) Caleb Truax (7-9)

Last Fight: 6/21/2013- KO6 #15 Don George

Next Fight: 9/21/2013- vs. Ceresso Fort (UNR) (at MW?)

Truax will see action in Minneapolis on September 21 against fellow Minnesota prospect Ceresso Fort.

17) Hadillah Mohoumadi (7-25)

Last Fight: 6/29/2013- TKO7 #20 CW Pawel Glazewski (at LHW)

Next Fight: Unknown

Mohoumadi cancelled his long-scheduled fight with Giovanni De Carolis in favor of an opportunity with Pawel Glazewki at light heavyweight, it would appear.

18) Glen Johnson (7-16)

Last Fight: 4/19/2013- TKO2 Junior Ramos (UNR) (at CW)

Next Fight: Unknown
Looks like Johnson’s scheduled fight with Isiah Thomas, which would have been on Friday Night Fights, was canceled. I don’t know why.

19) Badou Jack (5-5)

Last Fight: 7/19/2013- UD10 Farah Ennis (UNR)

Next Fight: 9/12/13- vs. Marco Antonio Periban (UNR)

20) Don Mouton (5-14)

Last Fight: 5/3/2013- L* (UD8) vs. #10 Anthony Dirrell (Robbery)

Next Fight: Unknown

Mouton deserved to beat Dirrell, whom he also spotted nearly a full weight class. Mouton was also a short-notice opponent.

The Week Ahead: Four notables will see action in separate fights in Europe on Saturday, none against particularly impressive opponents.

In Donetsk, Ukraine, fringe contending prospect Stanislav Kashtanov stays busy against mediocre Costa Rican journeyman Jaime Barboza.

Aging one-loss Montenegran prospect Nikola Sjekloca will be in against very low-level sub-.500 Serbian journeyman Misa Nikolic in Budva, Montenegro.

In Gladbach, Germany, fringe contender Dimitri Sartison takes on mid-level journeyman Baker Barakat.

And finally, on the Thompson-Pulev undercard in Schwerin, Germany, #4 Arthur Abraham stays busy against Namibian gatekeeper Wilbeforce Shihepo.

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Light Heavyweight: 2013, Aug 19-25

Posted in Light Heavyweight, Rankings with tags Andrzej Fonfara, Enzo Maccarinelli, Gabriel Campillo, Ismayl Sillakh, Juergen Braehmer, Nathan Cleverly, Ovill McKenzie, Sergey Kovalev on August 24, 2013 by danboxing

Friday at Comiskey Park in Chicago, #14 Andrzej Fonfara pulled one out of the fire against #6 Gabriel Campillo. This was a great crossroads fight, as it held the potential to prove whether or not Fonfara was for real, and whether or not Campillo had faded. I’d say the answers to both are likely yes, although I’m more convinced of the negative on Campillo than the positive on Fonfara. Campillo clearly still has world-class skill, but he has now been stopped in his last two significant fights. His intangibles seem to have withered. Not so much his chin, since he went down multiple times in perhaps his finest performance overall against Cloud- but rather his raw desire not to get stopped, and thereby to win.

I don’t know what the likely pro-Fonfara scorecards looked like at the time of the stoppage, but I had Campillo winning 7 of the 8 completed rounds when Fonfara put him down with a combination midway through the 9th, and Campillo stayed there, his body language that of a broken man.

The following night in Cardiff, Wales, #3 Sergey Kovalev easily handled #8 Nathan Cleverly in his opponent’s backyard. It wasn’t quite the all-out, seek-and-destroy destruction from the jump the way Kovalev’s victories over Campillo and White played out, but it was close. It was more like Kovalev methodically broke Cleverly down, but as a testament to Kovalev’s devastating power, that breaking down process took less than 4 rounds to complete. Regardless of the method, it was clear in the end that Cleverly was hopelessly outgunned and never had a chance. The Welshman is by nature a volume puncher, and he had no chance to apply that style against a guy who could counter that style by punching in between with devastating effect. As a result, he was much more careful than usual, but still couldn’t remotely deal with the Russian’s power, even in more of a skirmish.

On the undercard, fringe contender Ovill McKenzie and gatekeeper Enzo Maccarinelli fought a rematch of their very prematurely stopped fight from last fall. In that fight, McKenzie was looking the better of the two by far, but hadn’t hurt Maccarinelli significantly when the fight was stopped in the 2nd. It’s also worth noting that McKenzie is known to fade after about 5 or 6 rounds.

Flash forward to last weekend. It was a gut check for both guys. The British commentary team took it as a foregone conclusion that the fight would end within a round or two either way. Not the case. Both fighters fought with dogged determination through 10 rather grueling rounds, with each guy largely seeking the knockout everyone expected. On my card, the Welshman Maccarinelli won 3 of the first 4, with McKenzie coming back strong to sweep the next three and claim a narrow lead after 7. BoxNation color man Barry Jones, who appeared to be strongly biased in favor of Maccarinelli, had it for the home fighter even at that point. But it became a moot point, as Maccarinelli caught a second wind in the 8th, swept the next three rounds, and- having pinned McKenzie in the corner- landed a devastating uppercut in the 10th that had McKenzie in a very vulnerable position: hunched over with his hands hanging down, completely unconscious, but still very much on his feet. Luckily, Maccarinelli landed only one glancing blow to the top of the head before the ref made it there to stop it.

Fonfara rockets up to #5, joining no less than Kovalev as the only fighters to ever legitimately beat Campillo. Campillo is forced down to #7 by the move, but avoids further descent due to the fact that he still compares favorably to new #8 Tavoris Cloud, since he clearly beat Cloud last year and since Cloud has no wins since. Likewise, Cleverly is bumped down to #9 by Fonfara’s promotion, but suffers no further decline since there’s no particular shame in even an early stoppage to Kovalev at this point, and since his overall resume still swamps that of new #10 Chilemba, with both having what could be described as mixed results against Bellew and wins over #16 contenders, but with the remainder of Cleverly’s body of work being far superior. Kovalev can’t eclipse Hopkins, since Hopkins has won at a Championship level in the last 5 years and failed only at the level of #2 in that span, where Kovalev has yet to venture. Maccarinelli makes his debut as a light heavyweight player, well after many had written him off as shot, parking at #17 behind Hadillah Mohoumadi and ahead of the recently-struggling Denis Grachev. Everyone #5-13 last week is forced down a spot by Fonfara’s rise, including Cornelius White, who exits the top 10 after 57 weeks. Everyone #17 and below likewise takes a slight dip due to Maccarinelli’s debut, including last week’s #20 Yunieski Gonzalez, whose ouster comes after 22 weeks in the rankings.

Dan’s Top 20 (weeks in current position-weeks in top 10 (if applicable)-weeks in top 20)

Champ: Andre Ward (50-50-50)

Last Fight: 9/8/2012- TKO10 Champ Chad Dawson (at SMW)

Next Fight: Unknown

Ward has offers more or less on the table to fight Froch or Stevenson. He is trying to split with promoter Dan Goossen, though, which could conceivably complicate matters.

1) Adonis Stevenson (11-11-11)

Last Fight: 6/8/2013- TKO1 #1 Chad Dawson

Next Fight: 9/28/2013- vs. #8 Tavoris Cloud

It’s Stevenson-Cloud in September, with the winner to fight Bellew in November.

2) Bernard Hopkins (50-376-376)
Last Fight: 3/9/2012- UD12 #6 Tavoris Cloud
Next Fight: 10/26/2013- vs. Karo Murat (UNR)

Hopkins-Murat has been reset for October 26, with Showtime televising.

3) Sergey Kovalev (10-31-31)

Last Fight: 8/17/2013- TKO4 #8 Nathan Cleverly

Next Fight: Unknown

Kovalev continues to cut through top 10 light heavyweights like butter. The only two challenges that would really mean anything to his ranking at this point (assuming Ward won’t move up) are Hopkins and Stevenson.

4) Chad Dawson (10-377-377)

Last Fight: 6/8/2013- L(TKO1) vs. SMW #6 Adonis Stevenson

Next Fight: Unknown

Dawson’s career is suddenly in an all-out tailspin just 2 fights after winning the lineal title from Hopkins.

5) Andrzej Fonfara (1-1-58)

Last Fight: 8/16/2013- KO9 #6 Gabriel Campillo

Next Fight: Unknown

Fonfara looked outclassed for the most part, but got the desired result in the end, knocking out a fading Campillo in the latter half of the fight.

6) Tony Bellew (1-97-97)

Last Fight: 5/25/2013- UD12 #7 Isaac Chilemba

Next Fight: 11/30/2013- vs. Unknown Opponent

Bellew is scheduled to fight the Stevenson-Cloud winner on his November 30 birthday.

7) Gabriel Campillo (1-165-165)
Last Fight: 8/16/2013- L (KO9) vs. #14 Andrzej Fonfara
Next Fight: Unknown

Campillo might be on his way to deserved obscurity after being robbed of deserved prominence for so much of his career. He still has plenty of boxing skill, but his will might be fading just a bit.

8) Tavoris Cloud (1-208-208)
Last Fight: 3/9/2013- L (UD12) vs. #2 Bernard Hopkins
Next Fight: 9/28/2013- vs. #1 Adonis Stevenson

See Stevenson’s notes, above.

9) Nathan Cleverly (1-185-185)

Last Fight: 8/17/2013- L (TKO4) vs. #3 Sergey Kovalev
Next Fight: Unknown

Cleverly says he’ll take a vacation after his drubbing at the hands of Kovalev, and is unsure as to whether he’ll keep fighting or not.

10) Isaac Chilemba (1-21-81)

Last Fight: 5/25/2013- L (UD12) vs. #9 Tony Bellew

Next Fight: Unknown

Chilemba may have lost the second fight to Bellew in his opponent’s back yard, but between the two fights, he’s managed to elevate himself somewhat.

11) Cornelius White (1-88)

Last Fight: 6/14/2013- L (TKO3) vs. #5 Sergey Kovalev

Next Fight: Unknown

White was blasted out by Kovalev, but at least he has good company in that regard.

12) Cedric Agnew (1-19)

Last Fight: 4/12/2013- UD12 #14 Yusaf Mack

Next Fight: Unknown

Agnew may have caught a fading Yusaf Mack at the right time, but he’s clearly a climber, having now beaten both Mack and Otis Griffin.

13) Jürgen Brähmer (1-70)

Last Fight: 4/27/2013- TKO2 Tony Averlant (UNR)

Next Fight: 8/24/2013- vs. Stefano Abatangelo (UNR)

Braehmer will take on low-level Italian gatekeeper Abatangelo on August 24, while awaiting a title shot.

14) Edwin Rodriguez (1-6)

Last Fight: 7/13/2013- TKO1 #16 Denis Grachev

Next Fight: Unknown

Rodriguez turned in a career-best performance against Grachev, and thus has earned a ranking in a division he has no intention of continuing in. He wants Ward or Bika next.

15) Lucian Bute (6-42)

Last Fight: 11/3/2012- UD12 #16 Denis Grachev

Next Fight: 12/7/2013- vs. Jean Pascal (UNR)

Bute-Pascal has been rescheduled tentatively for December 7 after Bute suffered a hand injury. They’ve also reserved January 25 as a back-up plan. Either way, it will be in Montreal.

16) Hadillah Mohoumadi (6-8)

Last Fight: 6/29/2013- TKO7 CW #20 Pawel Glazewski

Next Fight: Unknown

Often robbed at 168, Mohoumadi took matters into his hands in his first major outing at 175 by stopping the local favorite.

17) Enzo Maccarinelli (1-1)

Last Fight: 8/17/2013- TKO11 Ovill McKenzie (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Maccarinelli has revitalized his career to an extent with the gutsy McKenzie win.

18) Denis Grachev (1-69)

Last Fight: 7/13/2013- L (TKO1) vs. #13 SMW Edwin Rodriguez

Next Fight: Unknown

19) Dmitry Sukhotsky (1-147)

Last Fight: 6/4/2013- KO3 Mikhail Krinitsin (UNR) (at SMW)

Next Fight: Unknown

Sukhotsky may be sticking around at 168 from now on, but only time will tell. He has until December to schedule a fight at 175 if he wants to keep his ranking.

20) Eleider Alvarez (1-30)

Last Fight: 3/22/2013- TKO3 Nicholson Poulard (UNR)

Next Fight: 9/28/2013- vs. Edison Miranda (UNR)

Alvarez’s 9/28 opponent will be fringe contender Edison Miranda.

The Week Ahead: There are two Euro fights to report this week, both on Saturday.

In Schwerin, Germany, #13 Juergen Braehmer takes on barely top-50 Italian fringe prospect Stefano Abatangelo.

In Donetsk, Ukraine, local one-loss prospect Ismayl Sillakh will fight low-level Russian journeyman Konstantin Piternov in essentially a stay-busy fight.

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Cruiserweight: 2013: Aug 19-25

Posted in Cruiserweight, Rankings with tags Alejandro Valori, Denis Lebedev, Garrett Wilson, Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, Marco Huck, Nuri Seferi, Troy Ross, Yoan Pablo Hernandez on August 19, 2013 by danboxing

Undefeated prospect Yunier Dorticos was supposed to fight on the Geale-Barker undercard, but the fight didn’t come off. No changes.

Dan’s Top 20 (weeks in current position-weeks in top 10 (if applicable)-weeks in top 20)

Champ: None

1) Denis Lebedev (4-185-185)

Last Fight: 5/17/2013- L (TKO11) vs. Guillermo Jones (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

2) Yoan Pablo Hernandez (49-165-165)

Last Fight: 9/15/2012- W*(UD12) vs. #20 Troy Ross

Next Fight: Unknown

Finally some Hernandez news: his hand has been slow to heal, but he’s ready to train again. He’s looking at a likely October fight with Alekseev.

3) Troy Ross (49-49-81)

Last Fight: 9/15/2012- L*(UD12) vs. #1 Yoan Pablo Hernandez

Next Fight: Unknown

4) Marco Huck (4-350-350)

Last Fight: 6/8/2013- W (MD12) vs. #5 Ola Afolabi

Next Fight: 9/14/2013- vs. #6 Firat Arslan

Huck will make a mandatory defense in a rematch against Firat Arslan on September 14.

5) Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (4-426-426)

Last Fight: 6/21/2013- TKO8 Rakhim Chakhkiev (UNR)

6) Firat Arslan (4-67-110)

Last Fight: 4/27/2013- UD10 Varol Vekiloglu (UNR)

Next Fight: 9/14/2013- vs. #4 Marco Huck

See Huck’s notes, above.

7) Thabiso Mchunu (3-3-41)

Last Fight: 8/3/2013- UD10 Eddie Chambers (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Mchunu intends to be back by the end of the year, and stays he’ll take on anyone in the division. I don’t blame him. I’d pick him to beat anyone.

8) Ola Afolabi (3-232-232)

Last Fight: 6/8/2013- L (MD12) vs. #8 Marco Huck

Next Fight: Unknown

Afolabi is rumored for the next Monaco Million Dollar Super 4 tournament, along with BJ Flores, Ilunga Makabu, and Australian prospect Brad Pitt.

9) Danny Green (3-41-194)

Last Fight: 11/21/2012- UD12 Shane Cameron (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Green is leaning toward retirement at last check.

10) B.J. Flores (3-12-165)

Last Fight: 10/6/2012- TKO2 David McNemar (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Flores has been released from his contract with Don King, and is now rumored for an upcoming Million Dollar tournament in Monaco, with the other participants rumored to be Ilunga Makabu, Brad Pitt, and Ola Afolabi.

11) Giacobbe Fragomeni (3-249)

Last Fight: 7/27/2013- UD8 Toni Visic (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Fragomeni snuck in a strictly stay-busy fight with Toni Visic on about 1 day’s notice as far as I can tell.

12) Silvio Branco (3-75)

Last Fight: 7/6/2013- W (TD10) vs. Juho Haapoja (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Branco continues to chug along at 47 years young. He’s like a lower-level Hopkins.

13) Alexander Alekseev (3-136)

Last Fight: 2/22/2013- UD12* Garrett Wilson (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Alekseev is very likely for a shot at Yoan Pablo Hernandez in October.

14) Mateusz Masternak (3-73)

Last Fight: 4/13/2013- TKO9 Sean Corbin (UNR)

Next Fight: 10/5/2013- vs. #18 Grigory Drozd

15) Francisco Palacios (3-125)

Last Fight: 9/22/2012- L(U12) vs. #7 Krzysztof Wlodarczyk

Next Fight: Unknown

Palacios very likely will not fight until after his contract with Don King expires in September.

16) Ilunga Makabu (3-6)

Last Fight: 7/13/2013- W (MD12) vs. #17 Dmytro Kucher

Next Fight: 8/31/2013- vs. Eric Fields (UNR)

Makabu takes on borderline top-30 Oklahoma one-loss prospect Eric Fields in South Africa on August 31. He’s also rumored for a Monaco 4-man tournament in the fall along with Flores, Afolabi, and Australian Brad Pitt.

17) Enad Licina (4-165)

Last Fight: 7/27/2013- UD6 Marko Rupcic (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

18) Grigory Drozd (4-41)

Last Fight: 12/17/2012- UD12 Jean-Marc Monrose (UNR)

Next Fight: 10/5/2013- vs. #14 Mateusz Masternak

See Masternak’s notes, above.

19) Dmytro Kucher (4-60)

Last Fight: 7/13/2013- L (MD12) vs. Ilunga Makabu (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Kucher is practically back to square one after falling short against Makabu.

20) Krzysztof Glowacki (4-4)

Last Fight: 4/20/2013- UD8 Taylor Mabika (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

THE WEEK AHEAD: Two fights to mention this week:

Friday in Galati, Romania, gatekeepers Nuri Seferi of Albania/Macedonia/Switzerland and Garrett Wilson of the US face off in a fairly intriguing battle.

The same night in Villa Hidalgo, Argentina, gatekeeper Alejandro Valori gets a relatively soft touch against journeyman Jose Maria Rodriguez.

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