September | 2013 | Dan's Weekly Boxer Rankings and Blog

Archive for September, 2013

Light Heavyweight: 2013, Sep 23-29

Posted in Light Heavyweight, Rankings with tags Adonis Stevenson, Andre Ward, Bernard Hopkins, Edison Miranda, Eleider Alvarez, Jean Pascal, Tavoris Cloud, Vyacheslav Uzelkov on September 30, 2013 by danboxing

Ukrainian gatekeeper Vyacheslav Uzelkov got back in the win column on Saturday, knocking out lower-mid-range Hungarian journeyman Attila Palko in just one round in Kharkov, Ukraine.

No changes this week.

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

Champ: Andre Ward (55-55-55)

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

Next Fight: 11/16/2013- vs. #14 Edwin Rodriguez

After tons of posturing, Ward-Rodriguez is now done for 11/16 in Ontario, California.

1) Adonis Stevenson (16-16-16)

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 (55-381-381)
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 (15-36-36)

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 (15-382-382)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Dawson may be returning sometime in November.

5) Andrzej Fonfara (6-6-63)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

See Kovalev’s notes, above.

6) Tony Bellew (6-102-102)

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 (6-170-170)
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 (6-213-213)
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 (6-190-190)

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 (6-26-86)

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 (6-93)

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 (5-75)

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 (5-24)

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 (6-11)

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

Next Fight: 11/16/2013- vs. Champ Andre Ward (at SMW)

See Ward’s notes, above.

15) Lucian Bute (11-47)

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

Next Fight: 1/18/2014- vs. Jean Pascal (UNR)

Bute-Pascal has been pushed back to January 18.

16) Hadillah Mohoumadi (11-13)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Mohoumadi’s fight with De Carolis was briefly rescheduled, but then appears to have been cancelled entirely.

17) Enzo Maccarinelli (6-6)

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 (6-74)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

19) Dmitry Sukhotsky (6-152)

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 (6-35)

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: Montreal is the site of this week’s activity at 175, all on Saturday.

The main event is, of course, the high-profile battle between #1 Adonis Stevenson and #8 Tavoris Cloud.

In an all-Colombian bout on the undercard, #20 Eleider Alvarez collides with fringe contender Edison Miranda. It certainly amounts to a contest for the undisputed championship of Colombia, and arguably for that of South America, as well, and the winner should end up very comfortably ranked.

Also on the card, former Champ Jean Pascal will look to tune up for his upcoming fight with Lucian Bute by taking on high-level but fairly inactive journeyman George Blades- himself a former title challenger.

Leave a comment »

Cruiserweight: 2013: Sep 23-29

Posted in Cruiserweight, Rankings with tags Danie Venter, Denis Lebedev, Enad Licina, Firat Arslan, Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, Marco Huck, Thabiso Mchunu, Yoan Pablo Hernandez on September 28, 2013 by danboxing

#20 Danie Venter knocked out Barbados gatekeeper Shawn Cox in the very first round of their fight in Pretoria on Saturday, in the division’s only meaningful action of the week.

With the win, Venter grabs a firmer foothold on the rankings, climbing a couple spots to #18, displacing Kucher and Glowacki one spot each.

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

Champ: None

1) Denis Lebedev (9-190-190)

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 (54-170-170)

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

Next Fight: 12/14/2013- vs. #12 Alexander Alekseev

Hernandez will make his long-awaited return on December 14 in Germany against Alexander Alekseev.

3) Marco Huck (2-355-355)

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

Next Fight: 1/25/2014- vs. #5 Firat Arslan

Huck-Arslan II has a new date of January 25 after Huck suffered a hand injury.

4) Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (2-431-431)

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

Next Fight: 12/6/2013- vs. #10 Giacobbe Fragomeni
Wlodarczyk will see action in the US for the first time since 2005 on December 6, fighting a trilogy bout with the rapidly aging Italian Giacobbe Fragomeni in Chicago.

5) Firat Arslan (2-72-115)

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

Next Fight: 1/25/2014- vs. #3 Marco Huck

See Huck’s notes, above.

6) Thabiso Mchunu (2-8-46)

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.

7) Ola Afolabi (2-237-237)

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

Next Fight: 11/2/2013- vs. Lukasz Janik (UNR)

If there is to be a Super 4 Cruiserweight tournament in Monaco, it appears it either won’t be on November 2 anymore, or that Afolabi won’t be participating if so, as he is slated for a November 2 fight on the Golovkin-Stevens undercard at Madison Square Garden against Polish prospect Lukasz Janik.

8) Danny Green (2-46-199)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Green has vacated his alphabet belt, and says essentially that only a really good opportunity would get him back between the ropes at this point. Still…he stopped short of retiring.

9) B.J. Flores (2-17-170)

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.

10) Giacobbe Fragomeni (2-2-254)

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

Next Fight: 12/6/2013- vs. #4 Krzysztof Wlodarczyk

See Wlodarczyk’s notes, above.

11) Silvio Branco (2-80)

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.

12) Alexander Alekseev (2-141)

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

Next Fight: 12/14/2013- vs. #2 Yoan Pablo Hernandez

Alekseev gets a shot at Hernandez on December 14.

13) Mateusz Masternak (2-78)

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

Next Fight: 10/5/2013- vs. #17 Grigory Drozd

Masternak-Drozd once again appears set for 10/5 on the Klitsckho-Povetkin undercard after Boxrec had it off the schedule for some reason for a few weeks.

14) Ilunga Makabu (2-11)

Last Fight: 8/31/2013- TKO5 Eric Fields (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Makabu is rumored for a Monaco 4-man tournament in the fall along with Flores and Australian Brad Pitt.

15) Francisco Palacios (2-130)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

16) Enad Licina (2-170)

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

Next Fight: 9/27/2013- vs. Levan Jomardashvili (UNR)

Licina will fight on the Aydin-Corley undercard in Istanbul this weekend. He’s not fighting anyone special, but it could at least buy him another few months in the rankings if he makes 200.

17) Grigory Drozd (2-46)

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

Next Fight: 10/5/2013- vs. #13 Mateusz Masternak

See Masternak’s notes, above.

18) Danie Venter (1-2)

Last Fight: 9/21/2013- KO1 Shawn Cox (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

I must admit I wrote Venter off when he lost a bit of an upset to Mchunu last year, but Mchunu has proven to be something of a world beater since, and Venter’s overall resume is quietly starting to look pretty solid.

19) Dmytro Kucher (1-65)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Kucher would like a rematch with Makabu, and has his sights set on Wlodarczyk down the road, as well. He expects to be back against someone in November or December.

20) Krzysztof Glowacki (1-9)

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

Next Fight: 10/19/2013- vs. Richard Hall (UNR)

Glowacki is back in October against 41 year-old washed-up former fringe contender Richard Hall in Poland.

THE WEEK AHEAD: #16 Enad Licina is back in action on Friday in Istanbul, where he fights low-level journeyman Levan Jomardashvili of Georgia. If he wins and makes 200, it will buy him a chance to stay in the rankings until his last significant win becomes over a year old in January, instead of the anniversary of his prior last fight at 200, which would see him removed in November.

Leave a comment »

Heavyweight: 2013, Sep 23-29

Posted in Heavyweight, Rankings with tags Alexander Povetkin, David Haye, Dereck Chisora, Edmund Gerber, Steve Cunningham, Tomasz Adamek, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko on September 28, 2013 by danboxing

#7 Dereck Chisora put a beating on busted Sauerland prospect Edmund Gerber on Saturday in London, although that beating was perforated by a bad moment in the 4th in which Gerber badly hurt Chisora, but could not finish. The end came just a round later, as a bloodied Gerber was pinned to the ropes and blasted with heavy shots to force a stoppage.

No changes this week. I was close to promoting Chisora ahead of Kubrat Pulev, but ultimately his 3 losses- reasonable as they were- continue to make the decisive difference.

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

Champ: Wladimir Klitschko (222-435-435)

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

Next Fight: 10/5/2013- vs. #3 Alexander Povetkin

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

1) Tyson Fury (3-114-114)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Haye withdrew with a cut from their scheduled 9/28 fight. The promoter is working on rescheduling, but Fury has made noise to the effect that he might give up on the match-up.

2) David Haye (3-63-63)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Haye avoids removal due to a little injury-related clemency. As long as it appears he’s diligently trying to reschedule or (if Fury pulls out) secure a new opponent, he’ll stick around.

3) Alexander Povetkin (3-309-309)

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

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

See Wlad’s notes, above.

4) Steve Cunningham (3-40-40)

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.

5) Tomasz Adamek (3-179-179)

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

Next Fight: 11/16/2013- #17 Vyacheslav Glazkov

With the Bryant Jennings proposal falling apart over money, Adamek will now be fighting Glazkov in one of NBC’s mid-afternoon telecasts.

6) Kubrat Pulev (3-73-150)

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.

7) Dereck Chisora (3-95-158)

Last Fight: 9/21/2013- TKO5 Edmund Gerber (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Chisora wants to be back again in December, and is hoping to capitalize on Haye’s withdrawal to get a rematch with Fury.

8) Odlanier Solis (3-27-174)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Solis might be back in October against fringe contender Franklin Lawrence.

9) Bermane Stiverne (3-14-30)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Stiverne said after being challenged to a rematch by Chris Arreola that he will wait on Klitschko and will not consider that fight.

10) Chris Arreola (3-3-3)

Last Fight: 9/7/2013- TKO1 #12 Seth Mitchell

Next Fight: Unknown

Arreola may be a candidate for Wilder, or could fight for a vacant title in a rematch with Stiverne, should Vitali retire.

11) Tony Thompson (14-174)

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) Erkan Teper (3-4)

Last Fight: 8/31/2013- TKO1 Michael Sprott (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Teper impressed by putting a beating on an underrated Sprott.

13) Deontay Wilder (3-22)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Wilder would like to fight Arreola, has been challenged by the Odlanier Solis camp, and says he wants the Klitschkos before they retire.

14) Robert Helenius (3-174)

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 (3-141)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Dimitrenko turned down a Pulev rematch, and was last seen as a sparring partner in David Haye’s ill-fated camp. No word on his next fight.

16) Seth Mitchell (3-16)

Last Fight: 9/7/2013- L (TKO1) vs. Chris Arreola (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Mitchell’s chin is so fragile that he might want to consider calling it a career.

17) Vyacheslav Glazkov (4-40)

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

Next Fight: 11/16/2013- vs. #5 Tomasz Adamek

Glazkov will go from a non-TV tune-up directly to a NBC-televised afternoon showdown with Adamek.

18) Malik Scott (4-31)

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.

19) Johnathon Banks (4-45)

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.

20) Denis Boytsov (4-223)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Boytsov is expected back on October 26, but no opponent or official announcement yet.

THE WEEK AHEAD: No action in the division this week.

Leave a comment »

Welterweight: 2013, Sep 16-22

Posted in Rankings, Welterweight with tags Floyd Mayweather Jr., Frankie Gavin, Juan Manuel Marquez, Julio Diaz, Manny Pacquiao, Pablo Cesar Cano, Shane Mosley, Shawn Porter on September 26, 2013 by danboxing

For a discussion of Mayweather-Canelo, check my Junior Middleweight update. Mayweather’s Championship at this weight was not at stake.

In the Thursday warm-up card in Vegas, Shawn Porter won an ugly fight in a rematch against gatekeeper Julio Diaz that was really a bit of a preview of Molina-Smith in some ways. Porter took the initiative, such as it was, by constantly lunging in from a low crouch. This made for a very awkward fight, but managed to disrupt Diaz’s rhythm and gave Porter control of the pace. I had it 97-93, as did two of the three judges.

In the opening bout of the Pay-Per-View itself, prospect Pablo Cesar Cano finally won a significant fight while making the welterweight limit. He unloaded more than his share of devastating shots on the iron-chinned British gatekeeper Ashley Theophane, but the resilient Englishman fired back and made a heck of a fight of it in the middle rounds before Cano reasserted himself late to win the fight clearly. I had it 97-93 and can scarcely see how it could be scored otherwise. Ricardo Ocasio, however, turned in an inexplicable 96-94 card in favor of Theophane, meaning he botched at least 3 clear rounds out of a possible 10.

Porter’s win supersedes his earlier deadlock with Diaz, and he perhaps deserves some extra prestige due to the fact that Diaz truly deserved to have beaten Khan in the meantime, but ultimately he’s still a prospect, and in my opinion has not been tested much beyond the top 30 level in a competitive division. Cano’s win is tempered a bit by what has been a poor last couple years in the career of Theophane, but in my judgement the Brit was still just barely a top 50 player, and even at a 142 pound catchweight, the win gives me the pretext I need to allow the young Mexican to profit from what was by all rights a dominant win over Paulie Malignaggi, which I could not use to rate him due to the fact that he missed weight in that fight by less than a pound. Giving that result the proper weight, Cano makes his debut at #19. This forces Leonard Bundu back to #20 and ousts Jessie Vargas (no doubt temporarily) after a 7-week stint.

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

Champ: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (177-209-209)

Last Fight: 9/14/2013- W* (MD12) vs. #2 JMW Saul Alvarez (at JMW)

Next Fight: Unknown

Floyd will likely be back on both May 3 and September 13, with Danny Garcia and the potential Alexander-Khan winner as possibilities.

1) Juan Manuel Marquez (97-97-97)

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 (97-250-250)

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

Next Fight: 11/23/2013- vs. #4 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 (18-18-18)

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

Next Fight: 10/23/2013- vs. #12 MW Anthony Mundine (at JMW)

Mosley-Mundine now has a date of October 23.

4) Devon Alexander (14-82-82)

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 (15-15-15)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Maidana is reportedly very close to a deal for a Pay-Per-View showdown with lightweight Champion Adrien Broner in Vegas on December 14.

6) Jesus Soto Karass (8-8-34)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Keith Thurman believes Soto Karass will be his next opponent.

7) Robert Guerrero (8-43-60)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Guerrero turned down Keith Thurman for a proposed November fight, according to both fighters’ promoter. Dan Rafael reports that Guerrero might be waiting around to fight the winner of Maidana-Broner.

8) Kell Brook (18-125-125)

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’d better make 147 for the non-title fight if he wants to maintain his ranking here.

9) Randall Bailey (18-67-67)

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 (15-65-65)

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

Next Fight: 11/?/2013- vs. Aaron Martinez (UNR)

The Ring’s website has Lopez returning sometime November against fringe prospect Aaron Martinez.

11) Andre Berto (8-43)
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 (8-28)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

See Soto Karass’s notes, above.

13) Chris van Heerden (8-66)

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 (8-21)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Abregu’s plans for an October fight have been scrapped, as he recently had 2013-ending hand surgery.

15) Jan Zaveck (8-197)

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

Next Fight: 10/19/2013- vs. Unknown Opponent

Zaveck is back in action on the undercard of Stieglitz-Ekpo in Leipzig.

16) Selcuk Aydin (8-231)

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

Next Fight: 9/27/2013- vs. Demarcus Corley (UNR)

Aydin will move back down to 140 to seek a minor title in Istanbul against gatekeeper Demarcus Corley.

17) Timothy Bradley (8-67)

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 (8-27)

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

Next Fight: 10/19/2013- vs. JWW #3 Mike Alvarado (at JWW)

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

19) Pablo Cesar Cano (1-1)

Last Fight: 9/14/2013- W (SD10*) vs. Ashley Theophane (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Cano said after the 143-pound catchweight win against Theophane that he intends to seek title contention at 140 now. I must say I’m surprised by the move, considering he failed to make weight for one of his biggest fights at 147 against Malignaggi.

20) Leonard Bundu (1-13)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Bundu is apparently set to fight 43 year-old former fringe contender Gianluca Branco for the EBU title, though no official announcement has yet been made.

The Week Ahead: Undefeated Birmingham prospect Frankie Gavin meets Manchester journeyman David Barnes in London for the British and Commonwealth titles on Saturday, though obviously Kell Brook is the preeminent British welterweight overall.

Leave a comment »

Junior Middleweight: 2013, Sep 16-22

Posted in Junior Middleweight, Rankings with tags Austin Trout, Carlos Molina, Erislandy Lara, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Frank Haroche Horta, Ishe Smith, Miguel Cotto, Saul Alvarez on September 26, 2013 by danboxing

Okay so this is where some of you begin to think I’m crazy or don’t know what I’m talking about. But I’d just ask you- if you saw the fight- to watch it again without the commentary, and really keep track of the action in some objective physical way. For those of you that thought Floyd Mayweather dominated or schooled Saul Alvarez on Saturday- or that it was not a close fight in general- I think you were giving Floyd at least 3 or 4 rounds just for showing up.

Point 1: Ring generalship doesn’t mean “backing up.” I’m not saying Floyd was running- though he had his moments in the last couple rounds when he thought he had it wrapped up- but he was, by and large, taking a defensive posture and backing up. It’s only ring generalship if he’s using that motion to walk Canelo into punches or using distance to his advantage offensively. He was doing that sometimes, sure, but Canelo was also being effectively aggressive with pressure at least as often. Even by Compubox’s cockeyed estimation, Canelo threw more punches than did Floyd. Ask yourself this: was Canelo throwing wildly? Was he out of range when he threw punches? Off balance? No. He wasn’t. So if Floyd was in command of the distance, how did he get reasonably outpunched by his opponent? This is what I think happened: in a close fight with few dramatic moments or punches, Floyd got credit from commentators and media for being dominant merely by a) being Floyd Mayweather and b) looking confident, and sheep (and folks that weren’t actualy scoring the fight closely) ate it up, especially since it fit the narrative they imagined might play out pre-fight.

Point 2: Canelo was landing roughly an equal number of punches, and was doing so with more inherent power. Compubox was way out of line. Don’t be fooled by the name. It’s just a couple guys with essentially a clicker. It’s not a computer being objective. It’s two guys with their own human biases and error-prone nature. If Floyd significantly out-landed Canelo at all, it was disproportionately a jab which, while sharp, was by no means heavy. It was basically a really snappy arm punch. Canelo clearly had the heavier hands as I saw it, and went to the body in particular with some hard, clean shots, particularly in the early going.

So get your outrage ready. I scored it 115-113 Canelo, while thinking it could easily have gone either way. I think C.J. Ross’s much-vilified card was by far the best and most objective of the three, and infinitely better than her ignorant critics that had it as wide as 119-109. I’m not saying she’s a saint. She did botch the Pacquiao-Bradley fight (though so did the supposedly infallible Duane Ford). But she’s now being crucified for doing a great job, and a job that none of her critics- or at least none that I’ve heard or read- have ever sought or received any training to do.

For those of you that have been living under a rock, Mayweather prevailed on the cards by majority decision.

In the division’s other earth-shattering battle, #1 Carlos Molina scratched out a very awkward, close, and very difficult split decision over #5 Ishe Smith. I had it 116-112 Molina (agreeing with judge Barry Druxman), though it could have easily been a draw or even a narrow win for Smith. Judge Adelaide Byrd went way too far in giving it to Smith 116-112, the only judge to rule in his favor. Bert Clements had it a round wider for Molina.

Smith took a page from Molina’s tactical playbook by smothering and frustrating his fellow veteran’s offense, and probably even landed the cleaner shots, but Molina’s workrate was significantly higher, and he managed to scratch out enough rounds to take it.

In Thursday’s appetizer from Golden Boy, undefeated Philly prospect Julian Williams was well on his way to a dominant win over fellow undefeated Hugo Centeno, Jr., but Centeno rather conveniently turned out to be unable to continue with a (mutual) cut formed from a head clash, just a minute or two before the fight became official, leading to a very unsatisfying no contest, and immediate calls for a rematch that Ceneteno appeared to accept verbally.

With the full understanding that most of my readers will believe that I’m being far too tough on Mayweather, and that he should be either #1 or Champion, I must conclude that his resume of two indecisive fights at this weight against contenders ranked #2 and #4 cannot by itself justify his promotion over Carlos Molina, given Molina’s close but clean victories over #3 Kirkland and #5 Smith, plus #7 Cintron and #11 Spinks thrown in for good measure. Either way, a contest between Molina and Mayweather would be required to crown a champion at this point. Alvarez, having arguably achieved his greatest triumph as I saw it, backtracks only as far as is necessary to accommodate Mayweather’s return, settling in at #3. The same can be said for Smith who, despite a rather tedious viewing experience, far from embarrassed himself against the top man in the division. Last week’s #9 Gabriel Rosado is removed a week earlier than he otherwise would have been due to his scheduling a middleweight fight with Peter Quillin for more than a year after this week’s anniversary of his last fight at 154. Therefore, everyone ranked #2-8 last week and below last week sags one place.

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

Champ: None

1) Carlos Molina (33-115-130)

Last Fight: 9/14/2013- W (SD12) vs. #5 Ishe Smith

Next Fight: Unknown

Molina’s team wants to match him against Canelo, a proposition that Mayweather himself blessed in the aftermath of his own fight with Alvarez.

2) Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (1-1-1)

Last Fight: 9/14/2013- W* (MD12) vs. #2 Saul Alvarez

Next Fight: Unknown

Mayweather intends to fight twice in 2014: on May 3 and September 13, if all goes to plan. Danny Garcia and a potential Alexander-Khan winner seem like possibilities. Bernard Hopkins pledges to make 160 for May 3 if Floyd is interested, as well.

3) Saul Alvarez (1-133-148)

Last Fight: 9/14/2013- L* (MD12) vs. WW Champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

Next Fight: Unknown

See Molina’s notes, above.

4) Austin Trout (1-68-137)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Trout is suing his former promoter over allegations that the promoter threatened to sue Showtime if they put his ex-fighter on the Mayweather-Canelo undercard, something he had no authority to do since their contract had already expired.

5) Erislandy Lara (1-115-137)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

See Trout’s notes, above.

6) Ishe Smith (1-30-30)

Last Fight: 9/14/2013- L (SD12) vs. #1 Carlos Molina

Next Fight: Unknown

No word on Ishe’s next move after losing his alphabet belt in a close fight.

7) Miguel Cotto (1-172-172)

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.

8) Cornelius Bundrage (1-163-163)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Bundrage might be fighting a re-match with gatekeeper Zaurbek Baysangurov on November 9 in Russia.

9) Alfredo Angulo (1-208-208)

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.

10) Sergey Rabchenko (20-20-66)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Rabchenko is already in camp for his re-match with Cedric Vitu, though the date has yet to be announced.

11) Delvin Rodriguez (20-114)

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

Next Fight: 10/5/2013- vs. #7 Miguel Cotto

See Cotto’s notes, above.

12) Lukas Konecny (20-110)

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 (20-43)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Thurman and Guerrero appeared destined to fight in November, but according to Golden Boy- which promotes both fighters- Guerrero turned it down.

14) Vanes Martirosyan (20-120)

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

Next Fight: 11/9/2013- vs. Demetrius Andrade (UNR)

Martirosyan-Andrade has been moved up a week to November 9.

15) Yuri Foreman (20-34)

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 (16-29)

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 (16-26)

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

Next Fight: 10/26/2013- vs. Javier Maciel (UNR)

Rose will be back on the Brook-Senchenko undercard in Sheffield, and will be fighting Argentine prospect Javier Maciel- certainly his toughest opponent since capturing the British title.

18) Jermell Charlo (15-15)

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 (15-21)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

A Culcay-Pitto rematch was postponed due to headliner Marco Huck’s elbow injury. I’m assuming it’ll go down on the rescheduled card in early winter, if not before.

20) Kell Brook (10-10)

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: French gatekeeper Frank Haroche Horta stays busy with his countryman, the aptly named Kevin Bertogal, on Thursday in Lyon, France. I say aptly named because he’s probably got about as much business boxing a top 50 male junior middleweight as some of the less talented women in Andre Berto’s family.

Leave a comment »

Middleweight: 2013, Sep 16-22

Posted in Middleweight, Rankings with tags Billy Joe Saunders, Caleb Truax, Dmitry Chudinov, Gennady Golovkin, Les Sherrington, Martin Murray, Max Bursak, Sergio Martinez on September 23, 2013 by danboxing

No action in the division this week.

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

Champ: Sergio Martinez (179-179-179)

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. He also said recently that he wants to defend in Argentina. I would too, if I’d gotten the gift he got last time around.

1) Martin Murray (21-94-94)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Murray is the mandatory challenger for the Golovkin-Stevens winner.

2) Gennady Golovkin (12-55-118)

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 (5-5-101)

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 (12-522-522)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

See Barker’s notes, above.

5) Daniel Geale (5-222-222)

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. Geale wants to be back in December in any event.

6) Matthew Macklin (5-117-208)

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 (21-48-69)

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

Next Fight: 10/26/2013- vs. JMW #9 Gabriel Rosado

Quillin will fight the very solid Rosado on the Hopkins-Murat undercard, though his opponent is clearly much better at 154.

8) Dmitry Pirog (21-164-164)

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 (12-28-151)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

10) Sergio Mora (12-12-12)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

11) Marco Antonio Rubio (27-138)

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 (27-138)

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

Next Fight: 10/23/2013- vs. #3 WW Shane Mosley (at JMW)

Mosley-Mundine is October 23 in Australia.

13) Max Bursak (2-138)

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

Next Fight: 9/21/2013- vs. Nick Blackwell (UNR)

Bursak fights 2-loss English prospect Nick Blackwell on the 21st in the Ukraine.

14) Bryan Vera (2-48)

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.

15) Grzegorz Proksa (2-127)

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.

16) Curtis Stevens (2-7)

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.

17) Billi Godoy (2-5)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

18) Danny Jacobs (2-4)

Last Fight: 8/19/2013- TKO3 Giovanni Lorenzo (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

19) Dmitry Chudinov (2-4)

Last Fight: 8/24/2013- KO2 Jorge Navarro (UNR)

Next Fight: 9/21/2013- vs. Max Maxwell (UNR)

Chudinov has a late-breaking fight on the Saunders-Ryder undercard in London this week.

20) Akio Shibata (2-2)

Last Fight: 8/25/2013- L (TKO2) vs. Ryoto Murata (UNR) (at 161)

Next Fight: Unknown

The Week Ahead: Gatekeeper-level Australian Les Sherrington gets an easy outing against low-level Japanese journeyman Shigetaka Yonezawa in Southport, Australia on Friday.

But Saturday hosts the hottest action of all in the division. In Kharkov, Ukraine, #13 Max Bursak takes on British fringe prospect Nick Blackwell.

Speaking of Britain, undefeated prospects Billy Joe Saunders and John Ryder will contest the British and Commonwealth titles in London later that night, with Saunders being the more tested of the two.

#19 Dmitry Chudinov will also see action on that card, mixing it up with mid-level British journeyman Max Maxwell.

Finally, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, #17 Super Middleweight Caleb Truax will probably make 160 when he fights one-loss fellow Minnesotan Ceresso Fort for a minor Middleweight title.

Leave a comment »

Super Middleweight: 2013, Sep 16-22

Posted in Rankings, Super Middleweight with tags Andre Ward, Badou Jack, Caleb Truax, Carl Froch, Derrick Findley, Giovanni De Carolis, Hadillah Mohoumadi, Lamar Russ on September 23, 2013 by danboxing

In a very tight fight on Thursday in Vegas, #20 Badou Jack narrowly avoided his first career loss by escaping with a majority draw against fellow prospect Marco Antonio Periban. I had it 96-94 for Periban, but the fight could have gone either way, and a draw is probably an appropriate result. To summarize the action, Periban was typically more frenetic and active, while sometimes a little sloppy. Jack was calm and composed, but lacked aggression and much of a workrate. He also started very slowly. One judge had it exactly as I did, while the other two were a round friendlier to Jack, thus yielding the draw. I didn’t really catch this during the broadcast, but apparently Periban misssed weight by a half-pound, as well.

The following night in Hammond, Indiana, fringe contender Derrick Findley easily handled Chicago prospect Mike Jimenez, finally stopping the undefeated young fighter in 7.

No changes this week. Jack’s performance diminishes him a little, but he still owns a win over unofficial #21 Don Mouton.

Dan’s Top 20

Champ: Andre Ward (92-226-226)

Last Fight: 9/8/2012- TKO10 LHW Champ Chad Dawson
Next Fight: 11/16/2013- vs. Unknown Opponent

Ward was looking for a comeback fight on September 28 against Caleb Truax, Dimitri Sartison, or Stas Kashtanov. HBO rejected all three, and Edwin Rodriguez wanted more time to prepare. The comeback has now been tentatively moved to November 16, but Ward is still looking for an HBO-friendly opponent after Rodriguez priced himself out with outlandish financial demands, though the fight doesn’t appear totally dead yet.

1) Carl Froch (69-379-379)
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 (26-212-212)

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

Next Fight: 10/19/2013- vs. Isaac Ekpo (UNR)

Stieglitz and Abraham seem to be competing on who can fight the more mediocre opponents before rematching. Ekpo is the worst yet- a low-level Nigerian prospect.

3) Mikkel Kessler (40-458-458)

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 (18-204-204)
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 (12-12-12)

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 (18-93-93)

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

Next Fight: 9/28/2013- vs. #8 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 (12-120-168)
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 (12-40-62)

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 (12-31-337)

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 (12-15-101)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

DeGale badly wants a big-money fight with Froch.

11) Christopher Rebrasse (12-15)

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 (11-45)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

13) Edwin Rodriguez (11-35)

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. Turns out he had two different shots at Andre Ward since the Grachev fight. He turned down one and priced himself out of the other, but seems to be negotiating again.

14) Ezequiel Maderna (11-38)

Last Fight: 9/6/2013- UD10 Arnaldo Alcides Benitez (UNR)

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 (11-18)

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.

16) Ryoto Murata (4-4)

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 (4-13)

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 (4-29)

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

Next Fight: 9/21/2013- vs. Giovanni De Carolis (UNR)

Mohoumadi is once again scheduled to fight borderline top-50 Italian gatekeeper Giovanni De Carolis. Let’s hope it’s not another Italian robbery of a Frenchman like Rebrasse-Ndiaye.

19) Glen Johnson (4-20)

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 (4-9)

Last Fight: 9/12/2013- Draw (MD12) vs. Marco Antonio Periban (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Jack never looks all that bad, but he does struggle at around the fringe contender level.

The Week Ahead: Monday in Queens, New York, undefeated prospect Lamar Russ takes on low-level journeyman Latif Mundy a few pounds over the middleweight limit.

#18 Hadillah Mohoumadi battles borderline top-50 Italian Giovanni De Carolis in Rome on Saturday.

Later that night in Minneapolis, #17 Caleb Truax meets in-state rival and one-loss prospect Ceresso Fort, but at 160.

Leave a comment »

Light Heavyweight: 2013, Sep 16-22

Posted in Light Heavyweight, Rankings with tags Adonis Stevenson, Andre Ward, Bernard Hopkins, Chad Dawson, Hadillah Mohoumadi, Roberto Feliciano Bolonti, Sergey Kovalev, Vyacheslav Uzelkov on September 23, 2013 by danboxing

Argentine gatekeeper Roberto Feliciano Bolonti saw action in Mar del Plata in his home country on Friday, and knocked out low-level journeyman Rodrigo Chavez in 4. No changes this week.

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

Champ: Andre Ward (54-54-54)

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

Next Fight: 11/16/2013- vs. Unknown Opponent

1) Adonis Stevenson (15-15-15)

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 (54-380-380)
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 (14-35-35)

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 (14-381-381)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Dawson may be returning sometime in November.

5) Andrzej Fonfara (5-5-62)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

See Kovalev’s notes, above.

6) Tony Bellew (5-101-101)

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 (5-169-169)
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 (5-212-212)
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 (5-189-189)

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 (5-25-85)

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 (5-92)

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 (4-74)

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 (4-23)

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 (5-10)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Rodriguez asked for a ridiculous amount of money to fight Andre Ward in November after turning down a late September date due to short notice. Kinda seems like he secretly doesn’t want the fight right now.

15) Lucian Bute (10-46)

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

Next Fight: 1/18/2014- vs. Jean Pascal (UNR)

Bute-Pascal has been pushed back to January 18.

16) Hadillah Mohoumadi (10-12)

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

Next Fight: 9/21/2013- vs. Giovanni De Carolis (UNR)

Mohoumadi will once again take his underrated record on the road, fighting for a couple minor titles at 168 against Italian gatekeeper Giovanni De Carolis.

17) Enzo Maccarinelli (5-5)

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 (5-73)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

19) Dmitry Sukhotsky (5-151)

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 (5-34)

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: Saturday in Kharkov, Ukraine, gatekeeper Vyacheslav Uzelkov looks to get back on track against Hungarian journeyman Attila Palko.

#16 Hadillah Mohoumadi is also in action, but that’s at 168.

Leave a comment »

Cruiserweight: 2013: Sep 16-22

Posted in Cruiserweight, Rankings with tags Danie Venter, Denis Lebedev, Denton Daley, Firat Arslan, Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, Marco Huck, Troy Ross, Yoan Pablo Hernandez on September 19, 2013 by danboxing

Undefeated Canadian prospect Denton Daley won a unanimously 100-90 decision over French journeyman Jean Marc Monrose in Rama, Ontario on Saturday.

As I mentioned last week, William Fernando Souza Bezerra was supposed to have a fight in Brazil on Friday, but as I write this on Wednesday night, it’s still showing as a scheduled fight on Boxrec, and no results can be found online. This is nothing new for Souza Bezerra. He may or may not actually be fighting these fights.

Last week’s #3 Troy Ross falls out this week, having been inactive for a year with nothing scheduled. Everyone ranked below him last week moves up one, and Danie Venter returns at #20. I had originally decided to install Pawel Kolodziej, but he hasn’t made 200 in essentially 18 months. He is technically eligible this week because he has been within 2 pounds of the limit in that time, but even the extra 6 months that gives him will expire next week. Giacobbe Fragomeni ascends to #10 for the first time since I think early last year.

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

Champ: None

1) Denis Lebedev (8-189-189)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

2) Yoan Pablo Hernandez (53-169-169)

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

Next Fight: 12/14/2013- vs. #12 Alexander Alekseev

Hernandez will make his long-awaited return on December 14 in Germany against Alexander Alekseev.

3) Marco Huck (1-354-354)

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

Next Fight: 1/25/2014- vs. #5 Firat Arslan

Huck-Arslan II has a new date of January 25 after Huck suffered a hand injury.

4) Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (1-430-430)

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

Next Fight: Unknown
It’s not official, but all signs point to a February 22 heavyweight fight in Poland against countryman Albert Sosnowski.

5) Firat Arslan (1-71-114)

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

Next Fight: 1/25/2014- vs. #3 Marco Huck

See Huck’s notes, above.

6) Thabiso Mchunu (1-7-45)

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.

7) Ola Afolabi (1-236-236)

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

Next Fight: 11/2/2013- vs. Lukasz Janik (UNR)

8) Danny Green (1-45-198)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Green is leaning toward retirement at last check.

9) B.J. Flores (1-16-169)

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.

10) Giacobbe Fragomeni (1-1-253)

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.

11) Silvio Branco (1-79)

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.

12) Alexander Alekseev (1-140)

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

Next Fight: 12/14/2013- vs. #2 Yoan Pablo Hernandez

Alekseev gets a shot at Hernandez on December 14.

13) Mateusz Masternak (1-77)

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

Next Fight: 10/5/2013- vs. #17 Grigory Drozd

Masternak-Drozd once again appears set for 10/5 on the Klitsckho-Povetkin undercard after Boxrec had it off the schedule for some reason for a few weeks.

14) Ilunga Makabu (1-10)

Last Fight: 8/31/2013- TKO5 Eric Fields (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Makabu is rumored for a Monaco 4-man tournament in the fall along with Flores and Australian Brad Pitt.

15) Francisco Palacios (1-129)

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) Enad Licina (1-169)

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.

17) Grigory Drozd (1-45)

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

Next Fight: 10/5/2013- vs. #13 Mateusz Masternak

See Masternak’s notes, above.

18) Dmytro Kucher (1-64)

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.

19) Krzysztof Glowacki (1-8)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

20) Danie Venter (1-1)

Last Fight: 7/27/2013- UD6 Elvis Moyo (UNR) (at HW)

Next Fight: 9/21/2013- vs. Shawn Cox (UNR)

Venter gets a re-ranking just in time for his fight this weekend.

THE WEEK AHEAD: South African fringe contender Danie Venter takes on Shawn Cox of Barbados, a borderline top 50 operator. That will be Saturday in Pretoria.

Leave a comment »

Heavyweight: 2013, Sep 16-22

No action in the division this week.

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

Champ: Wladimir Klitschko (221-434-434)

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

Next Fight: 10/5/2013- vs. #3 Alexander Povetkin

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

1) Tyson Fury (2-113-113)

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

Next Fight: 9/28/2013- vs. #2 David Haye

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

2) David Haye (2-62-62)

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

Next Fight: 9/28/2013- vs. #1 Tyson Fury

See Fury’s notes, above.

3) Alexander Povetkin (2-308-308)

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

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

See Wlad’s notes, above.

4) Steve Cunningham (2-39-39)

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.

5) Tomasz Adamek (2-178-178)

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

Next Fight: 11/16/2013- #17 Vyacheslav Glazkov

With the Bryant Jennings proposal falling apart over money, Adamek will now be fighting Glazkov in one of NBC’s mid-afternoon telecasts.

6) Kubrat Pulev (2-72-149)

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.

7) Dereck Chisora (2-94-157)

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

Next Fight: 9/21/2013- vs. Edmund Gerber (UNR)

Chisora will fight busted German prospect Edmund Gerber on the 21st. Gerber is, in my opinion, very little threat to win a fight at this level, especially without his German home cooking.

8) Odlanier Solis (2-26-173)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Solis might be back in October against fringe contender Franklin Lawrence.

9) Bermane Stiverne (2-13-29)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Stiverne said after being challenged to a rematch by Chris Arreola that he will wait on Klitschko and will not consider that fight.

10) Chris Arreola (2-2-2)

Last Fight: 9/7/2013- TKO1 #12 Seth Mitchell

Next Fight: Unknown

Arreola may be a candidate for Wilder, or could fight for a vacant title in a rematch with Stiverne, should Vitali retire.

11) Tony Thompson (13-173)

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) Erkan Teper (2-3)

Last Fight: 8/31/2013- TKO1 Michael Sprott (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Teper impressed by putting a beating on an underrated Sprott.

13) Deontay Wilder (2-21)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Wilder would like to fight Arreola, has been challenged by the Odlanier Solis camp, and says he wants the Klitschkos before they retire.

14) Robert Helenius (2-173)

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 (2-140)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Dimitrenko turned down a Pulev rematch. He’s sparring with David Haye currently, but no word on who he might fight next.

16) Seth Mitchell (2-15)

Last Fight: 9/7/2013- L (TKO1) vs. Chris Arreola (UNR)

Next Fight: Unknown

Mitchell’s chin is so fragile that he might want to consider calling it a career.

17) Vyacheslav Glazkov (3-39)

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

Next Fight: 11/16/2013- vs. #5 Tomasz Adamek

Glazkov will go from a non-TV tune-up directly to a NBC-televised afternoon showdown with Adamek.

18) Malik Scott (3-30)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

19) Johnathon Banks (3-44)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

20) Denis Boytsov (3-222)

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

Next Fight: Unknown

Boytsov is expected back on October 26, but no opponent or official announcement yet.

THE WEEK AHEAD: #7 Dereck Chisora returns to action Saturday in a show of admirable activity, taking on Germany’s Edmund Gerber- essentially a busted prospect- in London.

Leave a comment »

Archive for September, 2013

Pages