Super Middleweight: 2013, Jul 29- Aug 4
There’s a new name in the division that you need to know: Jake Carr. Carr is a now 5-0 Australian who just beat credible Cameroonian gatekeeper Serge Yannick for the Australian title in- as you might guess- just his 5th pro fight. The rangy and skilled 22-year-old impressed me most in that he actually distinguished himself late in the fight. I had it even over what you’d think was Carr’s best opportunity: the first 4 rounds. But I only had him losing one of the last 6, when you’d have thought the much more experienced Yannick would have taken over. Carr moves well, shows an impressive assortment of punches, and controls range effectively when he sees the need, while also willing to mix it up and wear out the body. When I saw the rather close scorecards, I expected he may have gotten a little bit of help from the judges, but after seeing the fight I could scarcely have been more impressed.
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 (62-372-372)
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 (19-205-205) Last Fight: 7/13/2013- TKO10 Yuzo Kiyota (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Arthur Abraham badly wants a trilogy. 3) Mikkel Kessler (33-451-451) 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 (11-197-197)
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 (5-5-5) Last Fight: 6/29/2013- D* vs. #5 Thomas Oosthuizen Next Fight: Unknown Gonzales at least earned a draw ith Oosthuizen despite fading late. I had it a win, and I give him credit for that. 6) Adonis Stevenson (11-86-86) 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 (5-113-161)
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 (5-33-55) 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 (5-24-330) 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 (5-8-94) Last Fight: 6/8/2013- RTD4 Stjepan Bozic (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown DeGale badly wants a big-money fight with Froch. 11) Christopher Rebrasse (5-8)
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 (4-38) Last Fight: 7/12/2013- UD8 Mark Suarez (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown 13) Edwin Rodriguez (4-28) 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 (4-31) 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 (4-11) Last Fight: 5/15/2013- TKO1 Darryl Cunningham (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Yes, I know. Andy Lee is not a Super Middleweight. The only problem is he almost exclusively fights as one, if only barely. 16) Caleb Truax (4-6) Last Fight: 6/21/2013- KO6 #15 Don George Next Fight: 9/21/2013- vs. Unknown Opponent Truax will see action in Minneapolis on September 21. No opponent yet. 17) Hadillah Mohoumadi (4-22) 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 (4-13) Last Fight: 4/19/2013- TKO2 Junior Ramos (UNR) (at CW) Next Fight: 8/23/2013- vs. Isiah Thomas (UNR) (at LHW)
Johnson is being used as a stepping stone for undefeated Detroit light heavyweight prospect Isiah Thomas in August. 19) Badou Jack (2-2) Last Fight: 7/19/2013- UD10 Farah Ennis (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Jack didn’t light the world on fire, but got the job done against Ennis. With his earlier win over a more lightly-regarded version of the now-ranked Mouton, he’s earned his top 20 berth in a roundabout way. His trainer would, like apparently everyone else, would like a shot at Sakio Bika. 20) Don Mouton (2-11) 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.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have a similar opportunity to review a video on the Minneapolis fight between local favorite and gatekeeper Phil Williams and his peer, Derrick Findley, and thus I will have to accept the 8-round split draw verdict as entered, and can’t really add much.
On the Showtime Extreme undercard for Berto-Soto Karass in San Antonio, Anthony Dirrell looked miles better than his last performance in destroying Anthony Hanshaw in 3. Unfortunately Hanshaw was in no position to help Dirrell reclaim his ranking, having lost to Farah Ennis in his last fight. Also, the fight was closer to 175 than 168.
Williams and Findley have both become eligble for a ranking, but neither of their resumes is particularly inspiring overall. They are both in the mid-high 30s among eligible fighters in this division now. Carr, with his undefeated record, is a bit better off. He wasn’t even an Olympian, so it’s that much more remarkable that after just 5 fights, he finds himself as basically a fringe contending prospect already. The one fight is not quite enough to earn him a top-20 ranking, but he’s at least nearing the top 25 level at this point.
No changes.
Dan’s Top 20 Champ: Andre Ward (85-219-219) 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 (62-372-372)
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 (19-205-205) Last Fight: 7/13/2013- TKO10 Yuzo Kiyota (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Arthur Abraham badly wants a trilogy. 3) Mikkel Kessler (33-451-451) 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 (11-197-197)
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 (5-5-5) Last Fight: 6/29/2013- D* vs. #5 Thomas Oosthuizen Next Fight: Unknown Gonzales at least earned a draw ith Oosthuizen despite fading late. I had it a win, and I give him credit for that. 6) Adonis Stevenson (11-86-86) 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 (5-113-161)
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 (5-33-55) 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 (5-24-330) 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 (5-8-94) Last Fight: 6/8/2013- RTD4 Stjepan Bozic (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown DeGale badly wants a big-money fight with Froch. 11) Christopher Rebrasse (5-8)
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 (4-38) Last Fight: 7/12/2013- UD8 Mark Suarez (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown 13) Edwin Rodriguez (4-28) 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 (4-31) 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 (4-11) Last Fight: 5/15/2013- TKO1 Darryl Cunningham (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Yes, I know. Andy Lee is not a Super Middleweight. The only problem is he almost exclusively fights as one, if only barely. 16) Caleb Truax (4-6) Last Fight: 6/21/2013- KO6 #15 Don George Next Fight: 9/21/2013- vs. Unknown Opponent Truax will see action in Minneapolis on September 21. No opponent yet. 17) Hadillah Mohoumadi (4-22) 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 (4-13) Last Fight: 4/19/2013- TKO2 Junior Ramos (UNR) (at CW) Next Fight: 8/23/2013- vs. Isiah Thomas (UNR) (at LHW)
Johnson is being used as a stepping stone for undefeated Detroit light heavyweight prospect Isiah Thomas in August. 19) Badou Jack (2-2) Last Fight: 7/19/2013- UD10 Farah Ennis (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Jack didn’t light the world on fire, but got the job done against Ennis. With his earlier win over a more lightly-regarded version of the now-ranked Mouton, he’s earned his top 20 berth in a roundabout way. His trainer would, like apparently everyone else, would like a shot at Sakio Bika. 20) Don Mouton (2-11) 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: Nothing of note going on in the division this week.
Dan's Weekly Boxer Rankings and Blog 
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