Super Middleweight: 2014, Feb 10-16
No meaningful fights at 168 last week.
Next Fight: Unknown Ward says his manager is working on his next fight despite his lawsuit against promoter Dan Goossen. He had indicated interest in Golovkin, but the Kazakh’s own trainer recently said his fighter is not ready for that fight. 1) Carl Froch (90-400-400)
Last Fight: 11/23/2013- TKO9 #8 George Groves
Next Fight: Unknown In George Groves’ quest for a Froch rematch, he’s found an ally in the IBF, who recently mandated that the fight be staged within 90 days. The two sides failed to agree to terms, but with bids having been held, Froch will get a whopping 85% of the purse. Date and venue have still yet to be finalized, though May 31 in London looks like a good bet. 2) Robert Stieglitz (47-233-233) Last Fight: 10/19/2013- UD12 Isaac Ekpo (UNR) Next Fight: 3/1/2014- vs. #4 Arthur Abraham The Abraham-Stieglitz trilogy bout, originally announced for February 1, is now official for March 1, in Stieglitz’s home base of Magdeburg. 3) Mikkel Kessler (61-479-479) Last Fight: 5/25/2013- L (UD12) vs. #1 Carl Froch
Next Fight: Unknown After meeting with Kessler, his promoter says he won’t be fighting anytime soon, and Kessler hinted at possible retirement immediately after the Froch fight. It’s not looking good for Kessler fans, though the Viking Warrior recently said, rather vaguely, that he still wants a big fight. 4) Arthur Abraham (39-225-225)
Last Fight: 10/26/2013- UD12 Giovanni De Carolis (UNR)
Next Fight: 3/1/2014- vs. #2 Robert Stieglitz See Stieglitz’s notes, above. 5) Brandon Gonzales (33-33-33) Last Fight: 11/16/2013- UD10 Jonathan Nelson (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Date- vs. #12 Maxim Vlasov Gonzales and Vlasov have reached a deal for an eliminator to become Froch’s mandatory, but I haven’t been able to find a date yet. 6) Thomas Oosthuizen (20-141-189)
Last Fight: 11/9/2013- W* (MD12) vs. #13 Ezequiel Maderna
Next Fight: Unknown Oosthuizen was yanked from his intended January 18 fight with Eleider Alvarez and released by his promoter after a bicycle accident and reportedly being hopelessly out of shape about 2 weeks before the fight. 7) Ezequiel Maderna (14-14-59) Last Fight: 11/9/2013- L* (MD12) vs. #6 Thomas Oosthuizen Next Fight: Unknown I doubt he’ll get much love from the alphabets for his effort, but I think you could make a better case for him winning than losing against Oosthuizen, though I had it a draw personally. 8) George Groves (14-61-83) Last Fight: 11/23/2013- L (TKO9) vs. #1 Carl Froch Next Fight: Unknown See Froch’s notes, above. 9) James DeGale (13-36-122) Last Fight: 11/16/2013- UD12 Dyah Davis (UNR) Next Fight: 3/1/2014- vs. Gevorg Khatchikian (UNR) DeGale has been ordered to face Badou Jack for a shot at Bika’s alphabet belt. Before that, he’ll fight undefeated Dutchman Gevorg Khatchikian on March 1 in Bristol. 10) Christopher Rebrasse (13-13-36)
Last Fight: 12/6/2013- UD6 George Kandelaki (UNR) Next Fight: 3/22/2014- vs. Mouhamed Ali Ndiaye (UNR) Rebrasse will get a March 22 rematch against Ndiaye that is hardly needed, as Rebrasse dominated the first fight on his way to being robbed. 11) Sakio Bika (13-358) Last Fight: 12/7/2013- Draw (SD12) vs. Anthony Dirrell (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Dirrell wants a rematch, and that’s obviously a worthy endeavor given the legitimate draw the first time around. In the meantime, machinations are underway for an eliminator between Jack and DeGale, with the winner to become his mandatory. On Bika’s end, he’d like a unification with Froch. 12) Maxim Vlasov (14-66) Last Fight: 12/5/2013- KO4 Maxell Taylor (UNR) (at LHW) Next Fight: Unknown Date- vs. #5 Brandon Gonzales Vlasov appears set for an IBF eliminator against Brandon Gonzales. A deal has been reached, but no date has been reported. 13) Edwin Rodriguez (14-56) Last Fight: 11/16/2013- L (UD12) vs. Champ Andre Ward Next Fight: Unknown According to his trainer Ronnie Shields, they might be looking to fight a top-15 level light heavyweight, and have absolutely no intention to ever try to make 168 again. He’ll be on the shelf for a little while due to bone chip-removal surgery on his elbow in December. 14) Andy Lee (20-39) Last Fight: 11/23/2013-TKO2 Ferenc Hafner (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Lee is reportedly being considered for a shot at Gennady Golovkin on April 26. 15) Gilberto Ramirez (2-2) Last Fight: 2/1/2014- TKO1 #19 Don Mouton Next Fight: Unknown Much like many of his peers in the 168 pound rankings, Ramirez might really be a middleweight, but nevertheless has a solid resume in this division. 16) Ryota Murata (2-25) Last Fight: 12/6/2013- TKO8 Dave Peterson (UNR) Next Fight: 2/22/2014- vs. Carlos Nascimento (UNR) Murata is slated for a February 22 card in Macau against mediocre Brazilian journeyman Carlos Nascimento. 17) Anthony Dirrell (2-10) Last Fight: 12/7/2013- Draw (SD12) vs. #11 Sakio Bika Next Fight: Unknown His hard-fought draw with Sakio Bika gained Dirrell a measure of redemption for what pretty clearly should have been a loss against Don Mouton, and has him back in the hot prospect category. He’s called for a rematch (good idea) and a fight with Golovkin (bad idea). 18) Hadillah Mohoumadi (2-50) Last Fight: 11/30/2013- TKO5 Bartlomiej Grafka (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown 19) Caleb Truax (2-34) Last Fight: 1/3/2014- Draw (MD12) vs. Ossie Duran (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Truax may have been a little lucky to escape with a draw against Duran. I agree with the decision, but it could only have tilted the other way if it tilted at all. 20) Badou Jack (2-30) Last Fight: 12/6/2013- TKO6 Rogelio Medina (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Jack has been ordered to face DeGale for a shot at Bika.
Dan’s Top 20 Champ: Andre Ward (113-247-247) Last Fight: 11/16/2013- UD12 #13 Edwin Rodriguez
Next Fight: Unknown Ward says his manager is working on his next fight despite his lawsuit against promoter Dan Goossen. He had indicated interest in Golovkin, but the Kazakh’s own trainer recently said his fighter is not ready for that fight. 1) Carl Froch (90-400-400)
Last Fight: 11/23/2013- TKO9 #8 George Groves
Next Fight: Unknown In George Groves’ quest for a Froch rematch, he’s found an ally in the IBF, who recently mandated that the fight be staged within 90 days. The two sides failed to agree to terms, but with bids having been held, Froch will get a whopping 85% of the purse. Date and venue have still yet to be finalized, though May 31 in London looks like a good bet. 2) Robert Stieglitz (47-233-233) Last Fight: 10/19/2013- UD12 Isaac Ekpo (UNR) Next Fight: 3/1/2014- vs. #4 Arthur Abraham The Abraham-Stieglitz trilogy bout, originally announced for February 1, is now official for March 1, in Stieglitz’s home base of Magdeburg. 3) Mikkel Kessler (61-479-479) Last Fight: 5/25/2013- L (UD12) vs. #1 Carl Froch
Next Fight: Unknown After meeting with Kessler, his promoter says he won’t be fighting anytime soon, and Kessler hinted at possible retirement immediately after the Froch fight. It’s not looking good for Kessler fans, though the Viking Warrior recently said, rather vaguely, that he still wants a big fight. 4) Arthur Abraham (39-225-225)
Last Fight: 10/26/2013- UD12 Giovanni De Carolis (UNR)
Next Fight: 3/1/2014- vs. #2 Robert Stieglitz See Stieglitz’s notes, above. 5) Brandon Gonzales (33-33-33) Last Fight: 11/16/2013- UD10 Jonathan Nelson (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Date- vs. #12 Maxim Vlasov Gonzales and Vlasov have reached a deal for an eliminator to become Froch’s mandatory, but I haven’t been able to find a date yet. 6) Thomas Oosthuizen (20-141-189)
Last Fight: 11/9/2013- W* (MD12) vs. #13 Ezequiel Maderna
Next Fight: Unknown Oosthuizen was yanked from his intended January 18 fight with Eleider Alvarez and released by his promoter after a bicycle accident and reportedly being hopelessly out of shape about 2 weeks before the fight. 7) Ezequiel Maderna (14-14-59) Last Fight: 11/9/2013- L* (MD12) vs. #6 Thomas Oosthuizen Next Fight: Unknown I doubt he’ll get much love from the alphabets for his effort, but I think you could make a better case for him winning than losing against Oosthuizen, though I had it a draw personally. 8) George Groves (14-61-83) Last Fight: 11/23/2013- L (TKO9) vs. #1 Carl Froch Next Fight: Unknown See Froch’s notes, above. 9) James DeGale (13-36-122) Last Fight: 11/16/2013- UD12 Dyah Davis (UNR) Next Fight: 3/1/2014- vs. Gevorg Khatchikian (UNR) DeGale has been ordered to face Badou Jack for a shot at Bika’s alphabet belt. Before that, he’ll fight undefeated Dutchman Gevorg Khatchikian on March 1 in Bristol. 10) Christopher Rebrasse (13-13-36)
Last Fight: 12/6/2013- UD6 George Kandelaki (UNR) Next Fight: 3/22/2014- vs. Mouhamed Ali Ndiaye (UNR) Rebrasse will get a March 22 rematch against Ndiaye that is hardly needed, as Rebrasse dominated the first fight on his way to being robbed. 11) Sakio Bika (13-358) Last Fight: 12/7/2013- Draw (SD12) vs. Anthony Dirrell (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Dirrell wants a rematch, and that’s obviously a worthy endeavor given the legitimate draw the first time around. In the meantime, machinations are underway for an eliminator between Jack and DeGale, with the winner to become his mandatory. On Bika’s end, he’d like a unification with Froch. 12) Maxim Vlasov (14-66) Last Fight: 12/5/2013- KO4 Maxell Taylor (UNR) (at LHW) Next Fight: Unknown Date- vs. #5 Brandon Gonzales Vlasov appears set for an IBF eliminator against Brandon Gonzales. A deal has been reached, but no date has been reported. 13) Edwin Rodriguez (14-56) Last Fight: 11/16/2013- L (UD12) vs. Champ Andre Ward Next Fight: Unknown According to his trainer Ronnie Shields, they might be looking to fight a top-15 level light heavyweight, and have absolutely no intention to ever try to make 168 again. He’ll be on the shelf for a little while due to bone chip-removal surgery on his elbow in December. 14) Andy Lee (20-39) Last Fight: 11/23/2013-TKO2 Ferenc Hafner (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Lee is reportedly being considered for a shot at Gennady Golovkin on April 26. 15) Gilberto Ramirez (2-2) Last Fight: 2/1/2014- TKO1 #19 Don Mouton Next Fight: Unknown Much like many of his peers in the 168 pound rankings, Ramirez might really be a middleweight, but nevertheless has a solid resume in this division. 16) Ryota Murata (2-25) Last Fight: 12/6/2013- TKO8 Dave Peterson (UNR) Next Fight: 2/22/2014- vs. Carlos Nascimento (UNR) Murata is slated for a February 22 card in Macau against mediocre Brazilian journeyman Carlos Nascimento. 17) Anthony Dirrell (2-10) Last Fight: 12/7/2013- Draw (SD12) vs. #11 Sakio Bika Next Fight: Unknown His hard-fought draw with Sakio Bika gained Dirrell a measure of redemption for what pretty clearly should have been a loss against Don Mouton, and has him back in the hot prospect category. He’s called for a rematch (good idea) and a fight with Golovkin (bad idea). 18) Hadillah Mohoumadi (2-50) Last Fight: 11/30/2013- TKO5 Bartlomiej Grafka (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown 19) Caleb Truax (2-34) Last Fight: 1/3/2014- Draw (MD12) vs. Ossie Duran (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Truax may have been a little lucky to escape with a draw against Duran. I agree with the decision, but it could only have tilted the other way if it tilted at all. 20) Badou Jack (2-30) Last Fight: 12/6/2013- TKO6 Rogelio Medina (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Jack has been ordered to face DeGale for a shot at Bika.
The Week Ahead: Saturday Samy Anouche vs. Mariano Hilario; Paris, France; Off TV? Anouche is a Frenchman who lost his first fight, but hasn’t lost since. He did have a draw in 2012 against unheralded Patrick Bois. That being the case, he might be a little borderline, despite being ranked well within the top 50 by Boxrec. Hilario is a 9-2 Dominican living in Spain, and might be a bit worse than his halfway decent record. He’s a fairly low-level journeyman, and his losses were both against nondescript opponents.
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