Welterweight: 2014, May 26- Jun 1
Thursday in Pointe Claire, Quebec, fringe contender Jo Jo Dan got a picturesque but easy win over Polish journeyman Lukasz Janik, in a fight that was contracted at 150. Dan mainly worked off the jab while dominating from the outside with a high workrate. At the same time, he didn’t let himself get too jab-heavy, mixing it up well with a diverse arsenal of effective punches. In the 4th round, when it became apparent from body language that Janik was close to succumbing to an accumulation of shots, Dan started concentrating more on power, and began leading and doubling up with his southpaw right hook, which he used to no mean effect. In the 5th he got a used-up Janik pinned in the corner and went to work, landing dozens of unanswered shots that caused referee Steve St. Germain to reasonably stop the fight. Janik was basically on the level of a decent sparring partner, but never really made Dan remotely uncomfortable.
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 (4-51-51) Last Fight:5/3/2014- L* (MD12) vs. Champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Next Fight: Unknown There are rumors swirling around two possible fights for Maidana- a Mayweather rematch and a showdown with Keith Thurman. 2) Manny Pacquiao (4-286-286) Last Fight: 4/12/2014- UD12 #1 Timothy Bradley Next Fight: Unknown Pacquiao signed a 2-year extension with Top Rank, limiting his fight options and potentially killing any forlorn hope fans might still have of a Mayweather fight. 3) Juan Manuel Marquez (4-133-133) 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 (4-33-103) 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 (24-24-64) Last Fight: 4/26/2014- RTD3 Julio Diaz (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown There’s a rumor that has Thurman fighting Maidana on September 13. He’s also expressed interest in Tim Bradley, a politically difficult proposition. 6) Shawn Porter (24-25-25) 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 (25-79-96) 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 (25-161-161)
Last Fight:3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR) (at JMW) Next Fight: Unknown See Porter’s notes, above. 9) Devon Alexander (25-118-118) 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 (27-27-27) 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 (27-101) 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 (24-70) 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 (24-79) 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 (4-4) 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, and has indicated interest in fighting in Dubai. 15) Paulie Malignaggi (4-25) Last Fight: 4/19/2014- L (KO4) vs. #6 Shawn Porter Next Fight: Unknown Malignaggi confirms he’s considering retirement. 16) Chris van Heerden (4-102) 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 (4-57) Last Fight: 4/4/2014- TKO8 Jean Carlos Prada (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Abregu offered Brandon Rios a fight, but Rios turned it down. He is also interested in Thurman. 18) Jan Zaveck (17-233) 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 (11-13) Last Fight: 12/14/2013- TKO12 Lee Purdy (UNR) Next Fight: 8/1/2014- vs. Frankie Gavin (UNR) Bundu will fight unbeaten Brit Frankie Gavin in Wolverhampton, England on August 1 for Bundu’s European belt. 20) Luis Collazo (4-17) 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.
On Saturday’s Stevenson-Fonfara undercard in Montreal, another Quebec favorite, prospect Kevin Bizier, also fought at a junior middleweight contract weight, this one at 152 against lower-mid-level Argentine journeyman Carlos Herrera. In the first round, Bizier allowed himself to be circled consistently by Herrera, who looked to dance and jab from the outside, but still managed to be first and land all of the telling blows. He began to make the ring a little smaller for Herrera in the 2nd, though I still wouldn’t say he cut the ring off, exactly. Regardless, he continued to land heavy shots, including a flush uppercut that rocked Herrera about midway through the round. From there, Bizier’s finishing skills proved formidable, as he quickly scored a knockdown. After the count he jumped all over Herrera on the ropes, blistering him with a sustained flurry that prompted the Argentine to crouch down on the canvas. After St. Germain, who apparently had a busy week, reached the count of 8, Herrera’s corner hopped onto the ring apron and waved the towel, yielding a 2nd round TKO win for Bizier. He’s still got a lot to work on, but the talent is definitely there.
No changes this week, since both guys were in light, and technically not even at 147.
Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20) Champ: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (213-245-245)
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 (4-51-51) Last Fight:5/3/2014- L* (MD12) vs. Champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Next Fight: Unknown There are rumors swirling around two possible fights for Maidana- a Mayweather rematch and a showdown with Keith Thurman. 2) Manny Pacquiao (4-286-286) Last Fight: 4/12/2014- UD12 #1 Timothy Bradley Next Fight: Unknown Pacquiao signed a 2-year extension with Top Rank, limiting his fight options and potentially killing any forlorn hope fans might still have of a Mayweather fight. 3) Juan Manuel Marquez (4-133-133) 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 (4-33-103) 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 (24-24-64) Last Fight: 4/26/2014- RTD3 Julio Diaz (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown There’s a rumor that has Thurman fighting Maidana on September 13. He’s also expressed interest in Tim Bradley, a politically difficult proposition. 6) Shawn Porter (24-25-25) 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 (25-79-96) 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 (25-161-161)
Last Fight:3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR) (at JMW) Next Fight: Unknown See Porter’s notes, above. 9) Devon Alexander (25-118-118) 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 (27-27-27) 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 (27-101) 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 (24-70) 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 (24-79) 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 (4-4) 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, and has indicated interest in fighting in Dubai. 15) Paulie Malignaggi (4-25) Last Fight: 4/19/2014- L (KO4) vs. #6 Shawn Porter Next Fight: Unknown Malignaggi confirms he’s considering retirement. 16) Chris van Heerden (4-102) 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 (4-57) Last Fight: 4/4/2014- TKO8 Jean Carlos Prada (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Abregu offered Brandon Rios a fight, but Rios turned it down. He is also interested in Thurman. 18) Jan Zaveck (17-233) 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 (11-13) Last Fight: 12/14/2013- TKO12 Lee Purdy (UNR) Next Fight: 8/1/2014- vs. Frankie Gavin (UNR) Bundu will fight unbeaten Brit Frankie Gavin in Wolverhampton, England on August 1 for Bundu’s European belt. 20) Luis Collazo (4-17) 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: Nothing big this week. Borderline gatekeeper Aslanbek Kozaev is in action against a journeyman, but that fight is only arguably significant since Kozaev is only arguably top 50. It’s only going to be seriously significant if he loses anyway, so I’ll skip it for the sake of efficiency unless that happens.
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