Welterweight: 2014, Jun 16-22
No welterweight fights of any consequence to report from last week.
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 (7-54-54) 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 (7-289-289) Last Fight: 4/12/2014- UD12 #1 Timothy Bradley Next Fight: 11/23/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent Pacquiao will be back on November 23 in Macau, with a 5th Marquez fight being the most likely scenario. There’s also some talk of matching him with Algieri, but I would hope he wouldn’t sink that low for a pay-per-view, especially… 3) Juan Manuel Marquez (7-136-136) Last Fight: 5/17/2014- UD12 #? JWW Mike Alvarado Next Fight: Unknown The otherwise likely scenario of Pacquiao-Marquez V is maybe a little less likely now, with Marquez having asked for $20 million, which was not well-received by the Pacquiao camp. 4) Timothy Bradley (7-36-106) 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, though Bob Arum is currently considering matching him with Cotto. I would think the logistics of that might be difficult to negotiate, given the weight difference. 5) Keith Thurman (27-27-67) 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, though some believe the departure of Richard Schaeffer from Golden Boy might make it more realistic. 6) Shawn Porter (27-28-28) Last Fight: 4/19/2014- KO4 #14 Paulie Malignaggi Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #8 Kell Brook Porter-Brook is now made for August 16 in New York. 7) Robert Guerrero (28-82-99) 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 (28-164-164)
Last Fight:3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR) (at JMW) Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #6 Shawn Porter See Porter’s notes, above. 9) Devon Alexander (28-121-121) Last Fight: 12/7/2013- L (UD12) vs. Shawn Porter (UNR) Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #12 Jesus Soto Karass I should stop trusting news reports. Alexander-Soto Karass was said to be on a couple different cards, but it’s now definitively settled for June 21. 10) Randall Bailey (30-30-30) Last Fight: 11/23/2013- W (DQ8) vs. Humberto Toledo (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Bailey’s scheduled fight with prospect Freddy Lawson fell through apparently at or near the last minute, but I can’t find a peep about when or why online- at least not yet. 11) Josesito Lopez (30-104) 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 (27-73) 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 (27-82) 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 (7-7) 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. But Mayweather sounds extremely interested in the possibility of fighting Khan at Wembley Stadium, perhaps in 2015. 15) Paulie Malignaggi (7-28) Last Fight: 4/19/2014- L (KO4) vs. #6 Shawn Porter Next Fight: Unknown Malignaggi confirms he’s considering retirement. 16) Chris van Heerden (7-105) 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 (7-60) 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, and is reportedly on the list of potential opponents for Pacquiao. Pac’s team is not interested, and I can see why. Abregu is hardly a household name outside Argentina, except among hardcore fans. 18) Jan Zaveck (20-236) Last Fight: 10/19/2013- UD8 Sebastien Allais (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown 19) Leonard Bundu (14-16) 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 (7-20) 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.
Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20) Champ: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (216-248-248)
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 (7-54-54) 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 (7-289-289) Last Fight: 4/12/2014- UD12 #1 Timothy Bradley Next Fight: 11/23/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent Pacquiao will be back on November 23 in Macau, with a 5th Marquez fight being the most likely scenario. There’s also some talk of matching him with Algieri, but I would hope he wouldn’t sink that low for a pay-per-view, especially… 3) Juan Manuel Marquez (7-136-136) Last Fight: 5/17/2014- UD12 #? JWW Mike Alvarado Next Fight: Unknown The otherwise likely scenario of Pacquiao-Marquez V is maybe a little less likely now, with Marquez having asked for $20 million, which was not well-received by the Pacquiao camp. 4) Timothy Bradley (7-36-106) 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, though Bob Arum is currently considering matching him with Cotto. I would think the logistics of that might be difficult to negotiate, given the weight difference. 5) Keith Thurman (27-27-67) 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, though some believe the departure of Richard Schaeffer from Golden Boy might make it more realistic. 6) Shawn Porter (27-28-28) Last Fight: 4/19/2014- KO4 #14 Paulie Malignaggi Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #8 Kell Brook Porter-Brook is now made for August 16 in New York. 7) Robert Guerrero (28-82-99) 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 (28-164-164)
Last Fight:3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR) (at JMW) Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #6 Shawn Porter See Porter’s notes, above. 9) Devon Alexander (28-121-121) Last Fight: 12/7/2013- L (UD12) vs. Shawn Porter (UNR) Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #12 Jesus Soto Karass I should stop trusting news reports. Alexander-Soto Karass was said to be on a couple different cards, but it’s now definitively settled for June 21. 10) Randall Bailey (30-30-30) Last Fight: 11/23/2013- W (DQ8) vs. Humberto Toledo (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Bailey’s scheduled fight with prospect Freddy Lawson fell through apparently at or near the last minute, but I can’t find a peep about when or why online- at least not yet. 11) Josesito Lopez (30-104) 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 (27-73) 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 (27-82) 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 (7-7) 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. But Mayweather sounds extremely interested in the possibility of fighting Khan at Wembley Stadium, perhaps in 2015. 15) Paulie Malignaggi (7-28) Last Fight: 4/19/2014- L (KO4) vs. #6 Shawn Porter Next Fight: Unknown Malignaggi confirms he’s considering retirement. 16) Chris van Heerden (7-105) 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 (7-60) 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, and is reportedly on the list of potential opponents for Pacquiao. Pac’s team is not interested, and I can see why. Abregu is hardly a household name outside Argentina, except among hardcore fans. 18) Jan Zaveck (20-236) Last Fight: 10/19/2013- UD8 Sebastien Allais (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown 19) Leonard Bundu (14-16) 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 (7-20) 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: Saturday #7 Robert Guerrero vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai; Carson, California; Showtime (US) Guerrero hasn’t seen the ring since dropping a decision to Mayweather for the Championship in May of last year. He won more rounds in that fight, I thought, than most people gave him credit for. The California native has been augmenting his regular training with CrossFit, hoping it will improve his overall strength and conditioning. He shouldn’t need much extra against Kamegai, who is an entertaining Japanese fighter and a one-loss fringe prospect who is on the lower rungs of the top 50. He has never beaten a top 50 fighter, himself, though, and struggled to a draw in 2012 with a guy that ultimately proved to be just a decent journeyman in Jorge Silva. He also lost a year ago to a prospect in Johan Perez. Guerrero ought to be miles and miles above that kind of level, and this is really a bit of a mismatch that probably doesn’t deserve a main event slot.
#9 Devon Alexander vs. #12 Jesus Soto Karass; Carson, California; Showtime (US) This fight is actually contracted at 149, with Soto Karass having requested the catchweight for the non-title fight. It’s an interesting matchup- probably the highlight of the card despite being the first of three fights on the main Showtime broadcast. Soto Karass is called a gatekeeper by a lot of fans, but I think that moniker might underestimate the level of competition he’s both beaten and lost to. Alexander has proven to have world-class ability, most especially when he comfortably outpointed Marcos Maidana. But he’s also quite inconsistent, and his loss to Shawn Porter was a head-scratcher at the time. Porter looked to be a far inferior fighter at that moment, as compared to both Alexander and the current version of Soto Karass, though in fairness he looked a lot more formidable during and since that fight. Still, if Alexander gives a similar performance, he might be in trouble at this level.
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