Heavyweight: 2014, May 12-18
#12 Bermane Stiverne confirmed the result of his 2013 fight with Chris Arreola in a shorter but more competitive and action-packed fight on ESPN from Los Angeles this Saturday. Arreola was generally effective behind his aggression and his jab, but his always suspect defense was just too lax to avoid getting caught by a guy like Stiverne who carried the power to take him out. Stiverne, for his part, has a pretty scary combination of one-punch knockout power and impressive heavyweight hand speed. Arreola won 3 of the first 4 rounds (perhaps all of them, really), but Stiverne began to take over in the 5th, and never looked back. He dropped Arreola twice in the 6th en route to the stoppage, and it should have ended sooner than it did. Referee Jack Reiss- usually a good ref- bent over backwards to give Arreola extra time to recover, and was way too slow to pull the plug when it was clear that the recovery wasn’t going to happen.
Last Fight: 4/26/2014- TKO5 #16 Alex Leapai
Next Fight: 9/6/2014- vs. #5 Kubrat Pulev
All signs point to the long-awaited defense against Pulev taking place on September 6. 1) Tyson Fury (13-13-13) Last Fight: 2/15/2014- TKO4 Joey Abell (UNR) Next Fight: 7/26/2014- vs. #6 Dereck Chisora Fury-Chisora has been made. July 26, in Manchester. The winner will become one of Wlad’s mandatories. 2) Vyacheslav Glazkov (9-9-73) Last Fight: 3/15/2014- UD12 #4 Tomasz Adamek
Next Fight: Unknown Glazkov reports that negotiations for a fight with Povetkin have failed, and that Povetkin would likely be fighting Manuel Charr, instead. 3) Alexander Povetkin (9-342-342) Last Fight: 10/5/2013- L (UD12) vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko
Next Fight: 5/30/2014- vs. Manuel Charr (UNR)
Povetkin, who could have faced Glazkov, will instead take on the less proven Manuel Charr in Moscow on May 30. 4) Amir Mansour (6-6-6) Last Fight: 4/4/2014- Robbery L (UD10) vs. #4 Steve Cunningham Next Fight: Unknown Cunningham had the more sympathetic story and a legitimately great comeback attempt, but Mansour had the better collection of rounds legitimately won. Mansour was robbed even though the fight was close, and deserves Cunningham’s former position in the rankings for his effort. 5) Kubrat Pulev (13-106-183) Last Fight: 4/5/2014- RTD3 Ivica Perkovic (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/6/2014- vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko
See Klitschko’s notes, above. 6) Dereck Chisora (13-128-191) Last Fight: 2/15/2014- UD12 Kevin Johnson (UNR)
Next Fight: 7/26/2014- vs. #1 Tyson Fury
See Fury’s notes, above. 7) Bermane Stiverne (1-1-63) Last Fight: 5/10/2014- TKO6 #13 Chris Arreola Next Fight: Unknown From all appearances, Deontay Wilder has likely got the next crack at Stiverne. 8) Steve Cunningham (1-73-73) Last Fight: 4/4/2014- Robbery W (UD10) vs. Amir Mansour (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown I hope you’ll all pray for his daughter to recover from her life-threatening health condition, and the guy had guts to come back from the 2 knockdowns. But he didn’t win the fight. 9) Tony Thompson (1-8-207) Last Fight: 3/22/2014- W* (SD12) vs. #8 Odlanier Solis
Next Fight: 6/6/2014- vs. #11 Carlos Takam Thompson- no stranger to the road- will visit France for a fight with tough customer Carlos Takam on June 6. 10) Tomasz Adamek (1-212-212) Last Fight: 3/15/2014- L (UD12) vs. #18 Vyacheslav Glazkov
Next Fight: Unknown I’d have to think Adamek would at least consider retirement after being brutalized for 12 rounds by a guy that had looked like he might top out around the top 15. He’s recently announced his candidacy for the European parliament elections in May, so that may be a sign that he’s leaning that direction. 11) Odlanier Solis (1-207) Last Fight: 3/22/2014- L* (SD12) vs. #13 Tony Thompson
Next Fight: Unknown
The Solis haters are out in force, claiming a clear loss in a fight that Solis deserved to win. You might not like his physique or his training habits or his style, but if he outfights the other guy, he still deserves to be respected as a winner at least as much as a disappointment. A loss to Thompson is not that embarrassing, especially when you ought to have won it. 12) Carlos Takam (1-17) Last Fight: 1/18/2014- Robbery Draw (W) vs. #11 Mike Perez Next Fight: 6/6/2014- vs. #8 Tony Thompson See Thompson’s notes, above. 13) Deontay Wilder (1-55) Last Fight: 3/15/2014- KO1 #19 Malik Scott Next Fight: Unknown Wilder is probably on deck to fight Stiverne, and in the mean time, he’s keeping busy by beating up morons from Youtube in the gym. 14) Chris Arreola (1-36) Last Fight: 5/10/2014- L (TKO6) vs. #12 Bermane Stiverne Next Fight: Unknown Having spent the better part of the last 5 years losing or fighting nobodies, Arreola’s resume now depends entirely on the Mitchell win. 15) Erkan Teper (6-37) Last Fight: 11/16/2013- KO1 Martin Rogan (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown 16) Alex Leapai (6-25) Last Fight: 4/26/2014- L (KO5) vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko Next Fight: Unknown Leapai is reportedly interested in fighting Shannon Briggs in the wake of his total non-performance against the Champ. 17) Andy Ruiz (6-25) Last Fight: 11/24/2013- RTD3 Tor Hamer (UNR) Next Fight: 5/17/2014- vs. Manuel Quezada (UNR) Ruiz was scheduled to fight on the Marquez-Alvarado undercard on May 10, but has been bumped back a week to a fight in Fresno against Manuel Quezada. 18) Seth Mitchell (6-49) 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. Golden Boy’s CEO says he’s advised Mitchell to do just that, though he reports that Mitchell seems to have no such intention. 19) Johnathon Banks (6-10) Last Fight: 6/22/2013- L (UD12) vs. #20 Seth Mitchell Next Fight: Unknown With Sam Peter out with injury, the word is that Banks has been officially offered a spot in the “Super 8” tournament in Auckland. Kali Meehan, Martin Rogan, and Michael Sprott are among the other participants. This would take place on June 4, and would be similar to Britain’s Prizefighter concept. 20) Francesco Pianeta (6-9) Last Fight: 12/6/2013- TKO2 Robert Teuber (UNR) Next Fight: 5/30/2014- vs. Mickael Vieira (UNR) Pianeta makes his 2014 debut in Dresden on May 30 against lower-mid-level journeyman Mickael Vieira of France.
On the undercard, two-loss Texas prospect Eric Molina stopped 45 year-old former fringe contender Davarryl Williamson, who was coming off a two-year layoff. No video of the fight is available, so all I can really say is that Molina, per Boxrec, didn’t score any knockdowns en route to the victory.
Stiverne not only just beat the highest-ranked contender of his career so far, but also saw his head-scratching draw with a journeyman become 5 years old last month. He’s now got no blemishes on his relevant record, and 3 wins over top 20 contenders (even if two of them are the same guy). He rises to his highest level yet at #7, though it’s not his first time in the top 10. Arreola doesn’t suffer much from losing to an impressive performer he’s already lost to, but unfortunately he saw his win over Jameel McCline become 5 years old around the same time as Stiverne’s draw, so he does slump one place, swapping spots with Deontay Wilder, who just so happens to be Stiverne’s likely next opponent. It’s crazy to think about, but the Seth Mitchell destruction is Arreola’s only top 50 win in the last 5 years now, essentially meaning that his entire time as a hot-ticket prospect has now been squandered. With the shake-up, everyone ranked #7-11 last week drops a spot, including Odlanier Solis, who exits the top 10 after 59 consecutive weeks in.
Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in current position-weeks in top 10 (if applicable)-weeks in top 20) Champ: Wladimir Klitschko (255-468-468)
Last Fight: 4/26/2014- TKO5 #16 Alex Leapai
Next Fight: 9/6/2014- vs. #5 Kubrat Pulev
All signs point to the long-awaited defense against Pulev taking place on September 6. 1) Tyson Fury (13-13-13) Last Fight: 2/15/2014- TKO4 Joey Abell (UNR) Next Fight: 7/26/2014- vs. #6 Dereck Chisora Fury-Chisora has been made. July 26, in Manchester. The winner will become one of Wlad’s mandatories. 2) Vyacheslav Glazkov (9-9-73) Last Fight: 3/15/2014- UD12 #4 Tomasz Adamek
Next Fight: Unknown Glazkov reports that negotiations for a fight with Povetkin have failed, and that Povetkin would likely be fighting Manuel Charr, instead. 3) Alexander Povetkin (9-342-342) Last Fight: 10/5/2013- L (UD12) vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko
Next Fight: 5/30/2014- vs. Manuel Charr (UNR)
Povetkin, who could have faced Glazkov, will instead take on the less proven Manuel Charr in Moscow on May 30. 4) Amir Mansour (6-6-6) Last Fight: 4/4/2014- Robbery L (UD10) vs. #4 Steve Cunningham Next Fight: Unknown Cunningham had the more sympathetic story and a legitimately great comeback attempt, but Mansour had the better collection of rounds legitimately won. Mansour was robbed even though the fight was close, and deserves Cunningham’s former position in the rankings for his effort. 5) Kubrat Pulev (13-106-183) Last Fight: 4/5/2014- RTD3 Ivica Perkovic (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/6/2014- vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko
See Klitschko’s notes, above. 6) Dereck Chisora (13-128-191) Last Fight: 2/15/2014- UD12 Kevin Johnson (UNR)
Next Fight: 7/26/2014- vs. #1 Tyson Fury
See Fury’s notes, above. 7) Bermane Stiverne (1-1-63) Last Fight: 5/10/2014- TKO6 #13 Chris Arreola Next Fight: Unknown From all appearances, Deontay Wilder has likely got the next crack at Stiverne. 8) Steve Cunningham (1-73-73) Last Fight: 4/4/2014- Robbery W (UD10) vs. Amir Mansour (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown I hope you’ll all pray for his daughter to recover from her life-threatening health condition, and the guy had guts to come back from the 2 knockdowns. But he didn’t win the fight. 9) Tony Thompson (1-8-207) Last Fight: 3/22/2014- W* (SD12) vs. #8 Odlanier Solis
Next Fight: 6/6/2014- vs. #11 Carlos Takam Thompson- no stranger to the road- will visit France for a fight with tough customer Carlos Takam on June 6. 10) Tomasz Adamek (1-212-212) Last Fight: 3/15/2014- L (UD12) vs. #18 Vyacheslav Glazkov
Next Fight: Unknown I’d have to think Adamek would at least consider retirement after being brutalized for 12 rounds by a guy that had looked like he might top out around the top 15. He’s recently announced his candidacy for the European parliament elections in May, so that may be a sign that he’s leaning that direction. 11) Odlanier Solis (1-207) Last Fight: 3/22/2014- L* (SD12) vs. #13 Tony Thompson
Next Fight: Unknown
The Solis haters are out in force, claiming a clear loss in a fight that Solis deserved to win. You might not like his physique or his training habits or his style, but if he outfights the other guy, he still deserves to be respected as a winner at least as much as a disappointment. A loss to Thompson is not that embarrassing, especially when you ought to have won it. 12) Carlos Takam (1-17) Last Fight: 1/18/2014- Robbery Draw (W) vs. #11 Mike Perez Next Fight: 6/6/2014- vs. #8 Tony Thompson See Thompson’s notes, above. 13) Deontay Wilder (1-55) Last Fight: 3/15/2014- KO1 #19 Malik Scott Next Fight: Unknown Wilder is probably on deck to fight Stiverne, and in the mean time, he’s keeping busy by beating up morons from Youtube in the gym. 14) Chris Arreola (1-36) Last Fight: 5/10/2014- L (TKO6) vs. #12 Bermane Stiverne Next Fight: Unknown Having spent the better part of the last 5 years losing or fighting nobodies, Arreola’s resume now depends entirely on the Mitchell win. 15) Erkan Teper (6-37) Last Fight: 11/16/2013- KO1 Martin Rogan (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown 16) Alex Leapai (6-25) Last Fight: 4/26/2014- L (KO5) vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko Next Fight: Unknown Leapai is reportedly interested in fighting Shannon Briggs in the wake of his total non-performance against the Champ. 17) Andy Ruiz (6-25) Last Fight: 11/24/2013- RTD3 Tor Hamer (UNR) Next Fight: 5/17/2014- vs. Manuel Quezada (UNR) Ruiz was scheduled to fight on the Marquez-Alvarado undercard on May 10, but has been bumped back a week to a fight in Fresno against Manuel Quezada. 18) Seth Mitchell (6-49) 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. Golden Boy’s CEO says he’s advised Mitchell to do just that, though he reports that Mitchell seems to have no such intention. 19) Johnathon Banks (6-10) Last Fight: 6/22/2013- L (UD12) vs. #20 Seth Mitchell Next Fight: Unknown With Sam Peter out with injury, the word is that Banks has been officially offered a spot in the “Super 8” tournament in Auckland. Kali Meehan, Martin Rogan, and Michael Sprott are among the other participants. This would take place on June 4, and would be similar to Britain’s Prizefighter concept. 20) Francesco Pianeta (6-9) Last Fight: 12/6/2013- TKO2 Robert Teuber (UNR) Next Fight: 5/30/2014- vs. Mickael Vieira (UNR) Pianeta makes his 2014 debut in Dresden on May 30 against lower-mid-level journeyman Mickael Vieira of France.
THE WEEK AHEAD: Saturday Eddie Chambers vs. TBA; Leeds, England; TV Unknown Another stay VERY busy fight for Chambers. The fact that his opponent isn’t known a matter of days before fight night should tell you it’s not going to be a big deal.
#17 Andy Ruiz vs. Manuel Quezada; Fresno, California; Unimas (US) Ruiz is already proven well beyond the level of former fringe contender but current journeyman Quezada. Still, Quezada is a half-decent measuring stick, if nothing else, having made a halfway decent showing against Chris Arreola as recently as a few years ago.
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