Welterweight: 2014, May 19-25
Friday in Oshikoto, Namibia, gatekeeper Bethuel Ushona stopped journeyman Ebenezer Lantei Lamptey in 10, in a fight that was for an alphabet African title, but which was otherwise insignificant.
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- W* (MD12) vs. #4 Marcos Maidana Next Fight: 9/13/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent Mayweather has booked his next fight on September 13. Let’s hope he gives Maidana a rematch. 1) Marcos Maidana (3-50-50) Last Fight:5/3/2014- L* (MD12) vs. Champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Next Fight: Unknown See Mayweather’s notes, above. 2) Manny Pacquiao (3-285-285) Last Fight: 4/12/2014- UD12 #1 Timothy Bradley Next Fight: Unknown Pacquiao is reportedly working on a 5-fight extension with the rotting corpse of Top Rank. 3) Juan Manuel Marquez (3-132-132) Last Fight: 5/17/2014- UD12 #? JWW Mike Alvarado Next Fight: Unknown Marquez still has plenty in the tank, it would appear, as he fairly comfortably handled a young hungry contender in Alvarado. He’s not ruling out another Pacquiao fight, it seems. 4) Timothy Bradley (3-32-102) Last Fight: 4/12/2014- L (UD12) vs. #3 Manny Pacquiao Next Fight: Unknown Bradley says he intends to return in October or November, and says he wants Mayweather. Good luck, especially coming off a loss. Bradley’s best options for a next fight, practically-speaking, are limited to re-hashes of previous fights like Marquez and Provodnikov. 5) Keith Thurman (23-23-63) Last Fight: 4/26/2014- RTD3 Julio Diaz (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Thurman might get a Mayweather shot next, if there’s no Mayweather-Maidana II on the horizon. He’s also drawing interest from Amir Khan. 6) Shawn Porter (23-24-24) Last Fight: 4/19/2014- KO4 #14 Paulie Malignaggi Next Fight: Unknown Thurman wants him and Golden Boy is making noise about him fighting Mayweather, but it’s hard to imagine Porter being able to put off his mandatory with Brook any longer. That fight is being worked on for July, it’s said. 7) Robert Guerrero (24-78-95) Last Fight: 5/4/2013- L (UD12) vs. Champ Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Next Fight: 6/21/2014- vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai (UNR) Guerrero scheduled the Kamegai fight just in time to avoid removal. It’s not exactly the sexiest possible matchup, though Kamegai does make good fights generally. 8) Kell Brook (24-160-160)
Last Fight:3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR) (at JMW) Next Fight: Unknown See Porter’s notes, above. 9) Devon Alexander (24-117-117) Last Fight: 12/7/2013- L (UD12) vs. Shawn Porter (UNR) Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #12 Jesus Soto Karass Boxingscene now reports that Alexander-Soto Karass is done, but not for June 21 as originally reported, but rather on the Canelo-Lara undercard on July 12. 10) Randall Bailey (26-26-26) Last Fight: 11/23/2013- W (DQ8) vs. Humberto Toledo (UNR) Next Fight: 6/7/2014- vs. Freddy Lawson (UNR) Bailey wants Thurman, but it sounds like he’s settling for undefeated but fairly untested Ghanaian prospect Freddy Lawson in Minnesota. 11) Josesito Lopez (26-100) Last Fight: 4/24/2014- TKO5 Aron Martinez (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Lopez is back on the right track, looking at least decent against a likely better fighter than Arnaoutis, whom he almost lost to. 12) Jesus Soto Karass (23-69) Last Fight: 12/14/2013- L (TKO9) vs. #13 Keith Thurman Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #9 Devon Alexander See Alexander’s notes, above. 13) Andre Berto (23-78) Last Fight: 7/27/2013- L (TKO12) vs. #11 Jesus Soto Karass Next Fight: Unknown Berto is now recovered from surgery and is training for a July return. 14) Amir Khan (3-3) Last Fight: 5/3/2014- UD12 #17 Luis Collazo Next Fight: Unknown Despite the fairly impressive win over Collazo, Khan has ruled himself out of a possible Mayweather shot in September, due to Ramadan. He posits Shawn Porter, Keith Thurman, and Robert Guerrero as possible opponents. 15) Paulie Malignaggi (3-24) Last Fight: 4/19/2014- L (KO4) vs. #6 Shawn Porter Next Fight: Unknown Malignaggi confirms he’s considering retirement. 16) Chris van Heerden (3-101) Last Fight: 4/16/2014- W (SD10) vs. Ray Narh (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Van Heerden’s split decision win over Ray Narh doesn’t look very worthy of a top 15 contender on paper, but I unfortunately am unable to find video, and thus can’t opine on what it might mean for his future. 17) Luis Carlos Abregu (3-56) Last Fight: 4/4/2014- TKO8 Jean Carlos Prada (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Abregu is interested in fighting Brandon Rios in the US. 18) Jan Zaveck (16-232) Last Fight: 10/19/2013- UD8 Sebastien Allais (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown There are rumors that Zaveck may soon be positioned for a minor (IBO) title fight. 19) Leonard Bundu (10-12) Last Fight: 12/14/2013- TKO12 Lee Purdy (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Bundu’s fight with Gianluca Branco, scheduled for April 12, is now off due to a training injury to Branco. Bundu’s camp is now targeting May as his next appearance, and Frankie Gavin has been installed as his new mandatory. 20) Luis Collazo (3-16) Last Fight: 5/3/2014- L (UD12) vs. Amir Khan (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown It’s back to the drawing board for Collazo, whose career momentum was abruptly halted by a sharp Khan.
#3 Juan Manuel Marquez showed that he’s still got plenty left after a close decision loss to Tim Bradley, winning a comfortable decision over light welterweight contender Mike Alvarado at a 143-pound catchweight. Alvarado showed heart as always, but Marquez was simply too sharp and precise with his entire arsenal of shots, especially early in the fight. Marquez scored a knockdown in the 8th, and was dropped in the very next round, which he otherwise won. I had it 117-110, and Marquez won it by a minimum of 4 points on any reasonable card. Judges Max DeLuca and Julie Lederman had it the same as me, except that they gave Alvarado a 10-8 in the 8th round. Adalaide Byrd scored it 119-108, which I felt was still reasonable.
On the undercard, undefeated prospect Brad Solomon won an 8-round decision over low-level journeyman Arman Ovsepyan, by scores of 79-73 (x2) and 78-74. I didn’t see that fight, but that seems like a bit too close a fight given the relative level of the fighters.
No changes this week, as Alvarado isn’t really a match for the level of guys that he and Pacquiao have been fighting of late. Ultimately the recency of the Pacquiao win over Bradley, who beat Marquez, makes the decisive difference.
Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20) Champ: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (212-244-244)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- W* (MD12) vs. #4 Marcos Maidana Next Fight: 9/13/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent Mayweather has booked his next fight on September 13. Let’s hope he gives Maidana a rematch. 1) Marcos Maidana (3-50-50) Last Fight:5/3/2014- L* (MD12) vs. Champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Next Fight: Unknown See Mayweather’s notes, above. 2) Manny Pacquiao (3-285-285) Last Fight: 4/12/2014- UD12 #1 Timothy Bradley Next Fight: Unknown Pacquiao is reportedly working on a 5-fight extension with the rotting corpse of Top Rank. 3) Juan Manuel Marquez (3-132-132) Last Fight: 5/17/2014- UD12 #? JWW Mike Alvarado Next Fight: Unknown Marquez still has plenty in the tank, it would appear, as he fairly comfortably handled a young hungry contender in Alvarado. He’s not ruling out another Pacquiao fight, it seems. 4) Timothy Bradley (3-32-102) Last Fight: 4/12/2014- L (UD12) vs. #3 Manny Pacquiao Next Fight: Unknown Bradley says he intends to return in October or November, and says he wants Mayweather. Good luck, especially coming off a loss. Bradley’s best options for a next fight, practically-speaking, are limited to re-hashes of previous fights like Marquez and Provodnikov. 5) Keith Thurman (23-23-63) Last Fight: 4/26/2014- RTD3 Julio Diaz (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Thurman might get a Mayweather shot next, if there’s no Mayweather-Maidana II on the horizon. He’s also drawing interest from Amir Khan. 6) Shawn Porter (23-24-24) Last Fight: 4/19/2014- KO4 #14 Paulie Malignaggi Next Fight: Unknown Thurman wants him and Golden Boy is making noise about him fighting Mayweather, but it’s hard to imagine Porter being able to put off his mandatory with Brook any longer. That fight is being worked on for July, it’s said. 7) Robert Guerrero (24-78-95) Last Fight: 5/4/2013- L (UD12) vs. Champ Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Next Fight: 6/21/2014- vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai (UNR) Guerrero scheduled the Kamegai fight just in time to avoid removal. It’s not exactly the sexiest possible matchup, though Kamegai does make good fights generally. 8) Kell Brook (24-160-160)
Last Fight:3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR) (at JMW) Next Fight: Unknown See Porter’s notes, above. 9) Devon Alexander (24-117-117) Last Fight: 12/7/2013- L (UD12) vs. Shawn Porter (UNR) Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #12 Jesus Soto Karass Boxingscene now reports that Alexander-Soto Karass is done, but not for June 21 as originally reported, but rather on the Canelo-Lara undercard on July 12. 10) Randall Bailey (26-26-26) Last Fight: 11/23/2013- W (DQ8) vs. Humberto Toledo (UNR) Next Fight: 6/7/2014- vs. Freddy Lawson (UNR) Bailey wants Thurman, but it sounds like he’s settling for undefeated but fairly untested Ghanaian prospect Freddy Lawson in Minnesota. 11) Josesito Lopez (26-100) Last Fight: 4/24/2014- TKO5 Aron Martinez (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Lopez is back on the right track, looking at least decent against a likely better fighter than Arnaoutis, whom he almost lost to. 12) Jesus Soto Karass (23-69) Last Fight: 12/14/2013- L (TKO9) vs. #13 Keith Thurman Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #9 Devon Alexander See Alexander’s notes, above. 13) Andre Berto (23-78) Last Fight: 7/27/2013- L (TKO12) vs. #11 Jesus Soto Karass Next Fight: Unknown Berto is now recovered from surgery and is training for a July return. 14) Amir Khan (3-3) Last Fight: 5/3/2014- UD12 #17 Luis Collazo Next Fight: Unknown Despite the fairly impressive win over Collazo, Khan has ruled himself out of a possible Mayweather shot in September, due to Ramadan. He posits Shawn Porter, Keith Thurman, and Robert Guerrero as possible opponents. 15) Paulie Malignaggi (3-24) Last Fight: 4/19/2014- L (KO4) vs. #6 Shawn Porter Next Fight: Unknown Malignaggi confirms he’s considering retirement. 16) Chris van Heerden (3-101) Last Fight: 4/16/2014- W (SD10) vs. Ray Narh (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Van Heerden’s split decision win over Ray Narh doesn’t look very worthy of a top 15 contender on paper, but I unfortunately am unable to find video, and thus can’t opine on what it might mean for his future. 17) Luis Carlos Abregu (3-56) Last Fight: 4/4/2014- TKO8 Jean Carlos Prada (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Abregu is interested in fighting Brandon Rios in the US. 18) Jan Zaveck (16-232) Last Fight: 10/19/2013- UD8 Sebastien Allais (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown There are rumors that Zaveck may soon be positioned for a minor (IBO) title fight. 19) Leonard Bundu (10-12) Last Fight: 12/14/2013- TKO12 Lee Purdy (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Bundu’s fight with Gianluca Branco, scheduled for April 12, is now off due to a training injury to Branco. Bundu’s camp is now targeting May as his next appearance, and Frankie Gavin has been installed as his new mandatory. 20) Luis Collazo (3-16) Last Fight: 5/3/2014- L (UD12) vs. Amir Khan (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown It’s back to the drawing board for Collazo, whose career momentum was abruptly halted by a sharp Khan.
The Week Ahead: Thursday Jo Jo Dan vs. Lukasz Janik; Pointe Claire, Quebec; TV Unknown Fringe contender Dan, of Quebec by way of Romania, will take on low-level Polish journeyman Janik on a small show in that province. Janik, incidentally, is not to be confused with the fringe contending cruiserweight prospect of the same name.
Saturday Kevin Bizier vs. Carlos Herrera; Montreal, Quebec; Indigo (Canada) Bizier comes off a highly questionable split decision loss to the aforementioned Dan, a loss that deprived him of his undefeated record. Even with that blemish, he remains a promising prospect. His opponent is a lower-mid-level journeyman from Argentina who comes off consecutive stoppage losses to David Avanesyan and Mateo Veron. He’s also lost to significantly lesser competition in his day, so it’s hard to imagine him even going the distance with Bizier.
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