Heavyweight: 2013, Aug 12-18
Samoan borderline top 50 heavyweight Alex Leapai got the job done on Friday in Hengyang, China, stopping former top 50 cruiserweight Felipe Romero in 9. Romero was on the downside after absorbing defeats against Polish prospects Masternak and Glowacki, but in the end it may have been Leapai’s greater comfort at heavyweight that made the difference. Romero apparently did have his moments, as he won 2 rounds unanimously of the completed 8, and a 3rd by majority, but went down 3 times: once in the first, and twice again in the 9th.
Champ: Wladimir Klitschko (216-429-429)
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 (253-253-253)
Last Fight: 9/8/2012- TKO4 Manuel Charr (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Klitschko requested and was granted an extension on purse bids by the WBC for his mandated showdown with Bermane Stiverne, frustrating the would-be challenger to no end.
2) Tyson Fury (17-108-108) 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 (17-57-57) 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 (57-303-303) 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 (17-34-34) 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 (17-173-173)
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) Dereck Chisora (4-89-152) Last Fight: 7/20/2013- KO6* #17 Malik Scott
Next Fight: 9/21/2013- vs. Unknown Opponent Frank Warren has Chisora scheduled again already for 9/21, promising a big name. He also has a purse bid scheduled for a EBU mandatory with Kubrat Pulev on August 20. 8) Kubrat Pulev (4-67-144) Last Fight: 9/29/2012- KO11 Alexander Ustinov (UNR)
Next Fight: 8/24/2013- vs. #11 Tony Thompson
Pulev is scheduled for a high-stakes battle with Tony Thompson in Schwerin, Germany on August 24, and will also be involved with a purse bid on the 20th for one whale of an EBU title defense against Dereck Chisora, as well.
9) Odlanier Solis (10-21-168)
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 (8-8-24) 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 (8-168) Last Fight: 7/6/2013- TKO5 David Price (UNR) Next Fight: 8/24/2013- vs. #8 Kubrat Pulev
Thompson gets a final eliminator on the 24th against Kubrat Pulev. The upside would theoretically be another fight with Wladimir Klitschko. That feels like a score that’s been settled, but I can’t say the winner wouldn’t reasonably deserve it. 12) Seth Mitchell (8-10) Last Fight: 6/22/2013- UD12 #10 Johnathon Banks Next Fight: 9/6/2013- vs. Chris Arreola (UNR) Mitchell-Arreola appears done for September 6 in Indio, California. 13) Deontay Wilder (10-16) 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. 14) Robert Helenius (10-168)
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 (10-135) Last Fight: 3/9/2013- UD8 Ivica Perkovic (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Dimitrenko turned down a Pulev rematch. 16) Vyacheslav Glazkov (10-34) 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. 17) Malik Scott (10-25) 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 (8-39) Last Fight: 6/22/2013- L (UD12) vs. #20 Seth Mitchell Next Fight: Unknown 19) Denis Boytsov (8-217)
Last Fight: 6/15/2013- KO3 Alexander Nesterenko (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Boytsov has signed with Sauerland, and looks to make his debut under their banner in August or September. 20) Franklin Lawrence (8-24) Last Fight: 1/25/2013- Mark Brown (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown
#13 Deontay Wilder did his thing in Indio, California later that night, destroying inactive and likely totally shot journeyman Sergei Liakhovich- a former contender- in under a round. Wilder brutalized Liakhovich along the ropes, leaving the Belarorussian spasming on the canvas. Liakhovich has been brutally stopped in his last three, and should consider retiring. Given Liakhovich’s status as nowhere near the top 50, however, this fight does probably a lot for Wilder’s reputation, but nothing for his ranking.
No changes this week.
Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in current position-weeks in top 10 (if applicable)-weeks in top 20)
Champ: Wladimir Klitschko (216-429-429)
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 (253-253-253)
Last Fight: 9/8/2012- TKO4 Manuel Charr (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Klitschko requested and was granted an extension on purse bids by the WBC for his mandated showdown with Bermane Stiverne, frustrating the would-be challenger to no end.
2) Tyson Fury (17-108-108) 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 (17-57-57) 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 (57-303-303) 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 (17-34-34) 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 (17-173-173)
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) Dereck Chisora (4-89-152) Last Fight: 7/20/2013- KO6* #17 Malik Scott
Next Fight: 9/21/2013- vs. Unknown Opponent Frank Warren has Chisora scheduled again already for 9/21, promising a big name. He also has a purse bid scheduled for a EBU mandatory with Kubrat Pulev on August 20. 8) Kubrat Pulev (4-67-144) Last Fight: 9/29/2012- KO11 Alexander Ustinov (UNR)
Next Fight: 8/24/2013- vs. #11 Tony Thompson
Pulev is scheduled for a high-stakes battle with Tony Thompson in Schwerin, Germany on August 24, and will also be involved with a purse bid on the 20th for one whale of an EBU title defense against Dereck Chisora, as well.
9) Odlanier Solis (10-21-168)
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 (8-8-24) 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 (8-168) Last Fight: 7/6/2013- TKO5 David Price (UNR) Next Fight: 8/24/2013- vs. #8 Kubrat Pulev
Thompson gets a final eliminator on the 24th against Kubrat Pulev. The upside would theoretically be another fight with Wladimir Klitschko. That feels like a score that’s been settled, but I can’t say the winner wouldn’t reasonably deserve it. 12) Seth Mitchell (8-10) Last Fight: 6/22/2013- UD12 #10 Johnathon Banks Next Fight: 9/6/2013- vs. Chris Arreola (UNR) Mitchell-Arreola appears done for September 6 in Indio, California. 13) Deontay Wilder (10-16) 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. 14) Robert Helenius (10-168)
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 (10-135) Last Fight: 3/9/2013- UD8 Ivica Perkovic (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Dimitrenko turned down a Pulev rematch. 16) Vyacheslav Glazkov (10-34) 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. 17) Malik Scott (10-25) 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 (8-39) Last Fight: 6/22/2013- L (UD12) vs. #20 Seth Mitchell Next Fight: Unknown 19) Denis Boytsov (8-217)
Last Fight: 6/15/2013- KO3 Alexander Nesterenko (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Boytsov has signed with Sauerland, and looks to make his debut under their banner in August or September. 20) Franklin Lawrence (8-24) Last Fight: 1/25/2013- Mark Brown (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown
THE WEEK AHEAD: Wednesday in New York, local prospect-gatekeeper hybrid Tor Hamer takes on oft-recycled journeyman Kertson Manswell.
Friday, undefeated Polish prospect Artur Szpilka once again throws hands with rugged journeyman Mike Mollo, a crude banger who sent Szpilka to the canvas twice back in February before Szpilka came back to knock him out with a dynamite 1-2 combo in one of the best fights of the year. The first fight will be replayed on Friday Night Fights (it was originally only televised on an ESPN3 internet stream) to open the night, with the rematch to follow on the Campillo-Fonfara undercard from Comiskey Park in Chicago.
Dan's Weekly Boxer Rankings and Blog 
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