Light Heavyweight: 2014, Feb 24- Mar 2
The scheduled fight between undefeated Atlanta prospect Michael Seals and Lester Gonzalez did not come off as scheduled in Laughlin, Nevada on Friday, but there was a good fight I forgot to advertise that did. In Moore Park, Australia, prospect Robert Berridge of New Zealand was in a rematch with Kerry Foley. Foley was a low-level fringe prospect when, in 2011, he snatched a majority draw with Berridge, who was then a 10-0 undefeated, though untested, prospect himself. Since then, Foley has gone nearly 30 months without a fight, while Berridge has put himself at or near the top of the South Pacific scene.
Champ: Andre Ward (77-77-77) Last Fight: 11/16/2013- UD12 #15 Edwin Rodriguez (as SMW) 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) Adonis Stevenson (38-38-38) Last Fight: 11/30/2013- TKO6 #6 Tony Bellew Next Fight: 5/24/2014- vs. #6 Andrzej Fonfara According to Ringtv.com, Stevenson-Fonfara will most likely land on May 24. After that, it looks like the Kovalev fight will happen in late 2014. 2) Bernard Hopkins (77-403-403) Last Fight: 10/26/2013- UD12 Karo Murat (UNR)
Next Fight: 4/19/2014- vs. Beibut Shumenov (UNR) Hopkins will fight Shumenov in mid-April at the D.C. Armory in Washington. 3) Jean Pascal (6-6-6) Last Fight: 1/18/2014- UD12 #16 Lucian Bute Next Fight: Unknown Pascal appears to be fully back from his 2 years in the desert, figuratively speaking, having dominated an apparently shopworn Bute. 4) Sergey Kovalev (6-58-58) Last Fight: 11/30/2013- TKO2 Ismayl Sillakh (UNR) Next Fight: 3/29/2014- vs. #15 Cedric Agnew Kovalev is likely to fight Stevenson in late 2014, and has a March 29 fight coming up in Atlantic City with Cedric Agnew. 5) Chad Dawson (6-404-404) Last Fight: 6/8/2013- L(TKO1) vs. SMW #6 Adonis Stevenson Next Fight: Unknown Dawson is now a promotional free agent, and is looking to sign with a top promoter to start rebuilding after a rough year. He says he is interested in a Stevenson rematch. Prospects for another occasionally-discussed rematch- with Jean Pascal- increased recently with word that Pascal’s trainer offered Dawson a contract. 6) Andrzej Fonfara (6-28-85) Last Fight: 12/6/2013- KO2 Samuel Miller (UNR) Next Fight: 5/24/2014- vs. #1 Adonis Stevenson May 24 looks likely for Fonfara-Stevenson. 7) Tony Bellew (6-124-124) Last Fight: 11/30/2013- L (TKO6) vs. #1 Adonis Stevenson Next Fight: 3/15/2014- vs. Valery Brudov (UNR) (at CW) Bellew plans a move to cruiserweight, and his first fight there is scheduled for March 15 in Liverpool, against Valery Brudov. 8) Gabriel Campillo (6-192-192)
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. For anyone who is wondering he says he plans to make another push for a title, rather than retiring. 9) Tavoris Cloud (6-235-235)
Last Fight: 9/28/2013- L (TKO7) vs. #1 Adonis Stevenson
Next Fight: Unknown Cloud should probably get himself back in the win column at some point. 10) Nathan Cleverly (6-212-212) Last Fight: 8/17/2013- L (TKO4) vs. #3 Sergey Kovalev
Next Fight: Unknown Cleverly’s cruiserweight debut is once again delayed by what’s being called a minor injury. His promoter says he intends to schedule him another fight very soon. 11) Isaac Chilemba (6-108) Last Fight: 11/16/2013- UD8 Michael Gbenga (UNR) Next Fight: 3/15/2014- vs. Denis Grachev (UNR) Chilemba is in the US, training for a March 15 bout with fringe contender Grachev. 12) Jürgen Brähmer (6-97) Last Fight: 12/14/2013- UD12 Marcus Oliveira (UNR) Next Fight: 4/5/2014- vs. Enzo Maccarinelli (UNR) Braehmer returns April 5 in Rostock, Germany against moderately resurgent Welshman Enzo Maccarinelli. 13) Karo Murat (5-18) Last Fight: 10/26/2013- L (UD12) vs. #2 Bernard Hopkins Next Fight: Unknown Murat is a free agent after his contract with Sauerland recently expired. 14) Thomas Williams, Jr. (5-5) Last Fight: 1/24/2014- TKO1 #13 Cornelius White Next Fight: Unknown Williams has been well-matched against vulnerable guys with good resumes. 15) Cedric Agnew (6-46) Last Fight: 4/12/2013- UD12 #14 Yusaf Mack Next Fight: 3/29/2014- vs. #4 Sergey Kovalev Agnew was ordered to defend his regional title against fringe contender Anatoliy Dudchenko, and also appeared to have the option of fighting Sukhotsky for a position as IBF mandatory. Instead, he’ll now roll the dice big against Kovalev. 16) Edwin Rodriguez (6-33) Last Fight: 11/16/2013- L (UD12) vs. Champ Andre Ward Next Fight: Unknown Rodriguez’s trainer Ronnie Shields opines that a fight against a top-15 level light heavyweight would be a good jumping-off point for his anticipated permanent move up. Before that happens, he’ll need to recover from minor elbow surgery he had in December. 17) Hadillah Mohoumadi (18-35) Last Fight: 11/30/2013- TKO5 Bartlomiej Grafka (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown 18) Cornelius White (5-115) Last Fight: 1/24/2014- L (TKO1) vs. Thomas Williams, Jr. (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Never blessed with big-time promotional or managerial ties, White has risked becoming a permanent opponent with his last two losses. 19) Eleider Alvarez (5-57) Last Fight: 1/18/2014- UD10 Andy Gardiner (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Alvarez may have been suffering from a letdown after Oosthuizen withdrew from what could have been the Colombian’s biggest fight ever, and almost let it effect him to the point of losing to an unheralded undefeated prospect in Gardiner. 20) Lucian Bute (5-69) Last Fight: 1/18/2014- L (UD12) vs. Jean Pascal (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Bute looks rather shopworn after the brutal beating at the hands of Froch, the close pitched battle with Grachev, and the humiliation at the hands of Pascal.
The fight was fairly brutal. Neither guy showed a great deal of defense, but both were excellent at delivering punishing bombs. Berridge was pulling ahead on the cards by all rights, as he was applying consistent pressure and consistent work, but Foley was able to assert himself in spurts, usually hurting Berridge when he did. It was pretty even through 5. In the 6th, Foley was hurt and appeared on the verge of being stopped by Berridge, but pulled a perfect right hand out of the bag to drop his antagonist. Berridge came back strong and probably won the round outside of the knockdown. Berridge returned the favor, dropping Foley to a knee in the 7th, though that round was competitive as well. It was an excellent two-way slugfest, though by the 9th it appeared Foley had given all he had and was just looking to hang around. That brought us to the 10th, when one of the best of Berridge’s many brutal body shots landed flush and caused Foley to take a knee again. This time his corner quite correctly asked referee Charlie Lucas to call a halt for a 10th round TKO.
This does nothing for the Butcher’s ranking, since Foley is proven- to the extent he’s proven at all- only against Berridge himself, but it sure was a fun fight.
Dan’s Top 20 (weeks in current position-weeks in top 10 (if applicable)-weeks in top 20)
Champ: Andre Ward (77-77-77) Last Fight: 11/16/2013- UD12 #15 Edwin Rodriguez (as SMW) 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) Adonis Stevenson (38-38-38) Last Fight: 11/30/2013- TKO6 #6 Tony Bellew Next Fight: 5/24/2014- vs. #6 Andrzej Fonfara According to Ringtv.com, Stevenson-Fonfara will most likely land on May 24. After that, it looks like the Kovalev fight will happen in late 2014. 2) Bernard Hopkins (77-403-403) Last Fight: 10/26/2013- UD12 Karo Murat (UNR)
Next Fight: 4/19/2014- vs. Beibut Shumenov (UNR) Hopkins will fight Shumenov in mid-April at the D.C. Armory in Washington. 3) Jean Pascal (6-6-6) Last Fight: 1/18/2014- UD12 #16 Lucian Bute Next Fight: Unknown Pascal appears to be fully back from his 2 years in the desert, figuratively speaking, having dominated an apparently shopworn Bute. 4) Sergey Kovalev (6-58-58) Last Fight: 11/30/2013- TKO2 Ismayl Sillakh (UNR) Next Fight: 3/29/2014- vs. #15 Cedric Agnew Kovalev is likely to fight Stevenson in late 2014, and has a March 29 fight coming up in Atlantic City with Cedric Agnew. 5) Chad Dawson (6-404-404) Last Fight: 6/8/2013- L(TKO1) vs. SMW #6 Adonis Stevenson Next Fight: Unknown Dawson is now a promotional free agent, and is looking to sign with a top promoter to start rebuilding after a rough year. He says he is interested in a Stevenson rematch. Prospects for another occasionally-discussed rematch- with Jean Pascal- increased recently with word that Pascal’s trainer offered Dawson a contract. 6) Andrzej Fonfara (6-28-85) Last Fight: 12/6/2013- KO2 Samuel Miller (UNR) Next Fight: 5/24/2014- vs. #1 Adonis Stevenson May 24 looks likely for Fonfara-Stevenson. 7) Tony Bellew (6-124-124) Last Fight: 11/30/2013- L (TKO6) vs. #1 Adonis Stevenson Next Fight: 3/15/2014- vs. Valery Brudov (UNR) (at CW) Bellew plans a move to cruiserweight, and his first fight there is scheduled for March 15 in Liverpool, against Valery Brudov. 8) Gabriel Campillo (6-192-192)
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. For anyone who is wondering he says he plans to make another push for a title, rather than retiring. 9) Tavoris Cloud (6-235-235)
Last Fight: 9/28/2013- L (TKO7) vs. #1 Adonis Stevenson
Next Fight: Unknown Cloud should probably get himself back in the win column at some point. 10) Nathan Cleverly (6-212-212) Last Fight: 8/17/2013- L (TKO4) vs. #3 Sergey Kovalev
Next Fight: Unknown Cleverly’s cruiserweight debut is once again delayed by what’s being called a minor injury. His promoter says he intends to schedule him another fight very soon. 11) Isaac Chilemba (6-108) Last Fight: 11/16/2013- UD8 Michael Gbenga (UNR) Next Fight: 3/15/2014- vs. Denis Grachev (UNR) Chilemba is in the US, training for a March 15 bout with fringe contender Grachev. 12) Jürgen Brähmer (6-97) Last Fight: 12/14/2013- UD12 Marcus Oliveira (UNR) Next Fight: 4/5/2014- vs. Enzo Maccarinelli (UNR) Braehmer returns April 5 in Rostock, Germany against moderately resurgent Welshman Enzo Maccarinelli. 13) Karo Murat (5-18) Last Fight: 10/26/2013- L (UD12) vs. #2 Bernard Hopkins Next Fight: Unknown Murat is a free agent after his contract with Sauerland recently expired. 14) Thomas Williams, Jr. (5-5) Last Fight: 1/24/2014- TKO1 #13 Cornelius White Next Fight: Unknown Williams has been well-matched against vulnerable guys with good resumes. 15) Cedric Agnew (6-46) Last Fight: 4/12/2013- UD12 #14 Yusaf Mack Next Fight: 3/29/2014- vs. #4 Sergey Kovalev Agnew was ordered to defend his regional title against fringe contender Anatoliy Dudchenko, and also appeared to have the option of fighting Sukhotsky for a position as IBF mandatory. Instead, he’ll now roll the dice big against Kovalev. 16) Edwin Rodriguez (6-33) Last Fight: 11/16/2013- L (UD12) vs. Champ Andre Ward Next Fight: Unknown Rodriguez’s trainer Ronnie Shields opines that a fight against a top-15 level light heavyweight would be a good jumping-off point for his anticipated permanent move up. Before that happens, he’ll need to recover from minor elbow surgery he had in December. 17) Hadillah Mohoumadi (18-35) Last Fight: 11/30/2013- TKO5 Bartlomiej Grafka (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown 18) Cornelius White (5-115) Last Fight: 1/24/2014- L (TKO1) vs. Thomas Williams, Jr. (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Never blessed with big-time promotional or managerial ties, White has risked becoming a permanent opponent with his last two losses. 19) Eleider Alvarez (5-57) Last Fight: 1/18/2014- UD10 Andy Gardiner (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Alvarez may have been suffering from a letdown after Oosthuizen withdrew from what could have been the Colombian’s biggest fight ever, and almost let it effect him to the point of losing to an unheralded undefeated prospect in Gardiner. 20) Lucian Bute (5-69) Last Fight: 1/18/2014- L (UD12) vs. Jean Pascal (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Bute looks rather shopworn after the brutal beating at the hands of Froch, the close pitched battle with Grachev, and the humiliation at the hands of Pascal.
The Week Ahead: Saturday Ryno Liebenberg vs. Joey Vegas; Kempton Park, South Africa; Fight Klub (Poland) Undefeated prospect Liebenberg gets by far his toughest test to date in gatekeeper Joey Vegas of Uganda. The winner will at least be on the map.
Wilbeforce Shihepo vs. Johnny Muller; Kempton Park, South Africa; Fight Klub (Poland) On the Liebenberg card, Muller looks to get his career going after thrice failing at or below the gatekeeper level (twice against Ryno himself). Shihepo is no world-beater, but has to be the favorite against Muller, who looks like a mid-level journeyman so far.
Dan's Weekly Boxer Rankings and Blog 
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