Heavyweight: 2015, Jan 5-11
37 year-old whippersnapper Zoltan Csala won the battle of the Zoltans (sounds like a really bad sci-fi film, right?) in Budapest on Monday, lifting 48 year-old Zoltan Petranyi’s Hungarian title and halting the career momentum that remarkably had his ancient countryman in the top 50 for the first time in his career. Maybe it was as much opportunism as ability, but the 3rd round knockout gives Csala, at only 6-0, a real prospect and minor player on the world stage. No changes to the rankings.
Last Fight: 11/15/2014- KO5 #5 Kubrat Pulev
Next Fight: 4/25/2015- vs. #17 Bryant Jennings
Klitschko-Jennings is on, and figures to be a fairly average defense for the Champ. 1) Tyson Fury (47-47-47) Last Fight: 11/29/2014- RTD10 #6 Dereck Chisora Next Fight: 2/28/2015- vs. Christian Hammer (UNR) Christian Hammer is a very beatable gatekeeper, but did look good in his last fight, and is probably about a class better than you’d expect a guy with a mandatory championship shot coming his way to stay busy against. 2) Alexander Povetkin (32-376-376) Last Fight: 10/24/2014- KO10 #7 Carlos Takam
Next Fight: Unknown
Nothing has been signed yet, but the WBC has given approval for Povetkin to fight an eliminator with Mike Perez. 3) Vyacheslav Glazkov (32-43-107) Last Fight: 11/8/2014- TKO7 Darnell Wilson (UNR)
Next Fight: 3/14/2015- vs. #9 Steve Cunningham With Main Events behind both fighters, you could almost see this one coming. Glazkov will take on Steve Cunningham, likely on NBC Sports, in March. 4) Amir Mansour (40-40-40) Last Fight: 11/8/2014- KO7 Fred Kassi (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Mansour’s power was brought to bear on the mediocre Kassi, who did a good job of hanging in there- perhaps for longer than most expected while losing every round. 5) Kubrat Pulev (47-140-217) Last Fight: 11/15/2014- L (KO5) vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko
Next Fight: Unknown
Back to the drawing board for the Bulgarian. He at least mounted an attack. That’s more than some challengers can say. 6) Carlos Takam (6-31-51) Last Fight: 10/24/2014- L (KO10) vs. #2 Alexander Povetkin Next Fight: Unknown Takam found the ceiling on his rise to the top in #2 Povetkin. He actually appeared more than a match for the Russian early in the fight, but couldn’t hang in the later rounds. 7) Dereck Chisora (6-162-225) Last Fight: 11/29/2014- L (RTD10) vs. #1 Tyson Fury
Next Fight: Unknown
Chisora apparently doesn’t want to leave the bad taste in his mouth from his last performance, as he is reportedly planning to fight again on February 28. He is also said to be splitting from trainer Don Charles. 8) Bermane Stiverne (31-35-97) Last Fight: 5/10/2014- TKO6 #13 Chris Arreola Next Fight: 1/17/2015- vs. #12 Deontay Wilder Stiverne-Wilder is finally set for January 17 at the MGM Grand in Vegas, it would appear. 9) Steve Cunningham (31-107-107) Last Fight: 10/18/2014- W (RTD7) vs. Natu Visinia (UNR) Next Fight: 3/14/2015- vs. #3 Vyacheslav Glazkov See Glazkov’s notes, above. 10) Tony Thompson (31-42-241) Last Fight: 6/6/2014- L (UD12) vs. #12 Carlos Takam
Next Fight: 1/24/2015 – vs. #11 Odlanier Solis
Maybe the third time will be the charm. Thompson-Solis II gets its 3rd intended date on January 24. 11) Odlanier Solis (9-241) Last Fight: 3/22/2014- L* (SD12) vs. #13 Tony Thompson
Next Fight: 1/24/2015- vs. #10 Tony Thompson
See Thompson’s notes, above. 12) Deontay Wilder (9-89) Last Fight: 8/16/2014- W(RTD4) vs. Jason Gavern (UNR) Next Fight: 1/17/2015 – vs. #8 Bermane Stiverne See Stiverne’s notes, above. 13) Chris Arreola (9-70) Last Fight: 5/10/2014- L (TKO6) vs. #12 Bermane Stiverne Next Fight: Unknown Arreola advised Boxingscene.com that he’s likely back in late January or February, and called out Antonio Tarver, as well. 14) Malik Scott (9-18) Last Fight: 10/31/2014- UD10 #16 Alex Leapai Next Fight: Unknown After an apparently dominant win over Leapai, Scott is probably back in the mix for some sort of big fight. 15) Erkan Teper (9-71) Last Fight: 6/13/2014- RTD6 Newfel Ouatah (UNR) Next Fight:Unknown Teper will most likely fight France’s Johann Duhaupas at some point, but the fight has been postponed to a later date due to Teper having his appendix out. 16) Antonio Tarver (4-4) Last Fight: 12/11/2014- TKO7 Johnathon Banks (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Tarver has recently challenged a comebacking David Haye. 17) Bryant Jennings (3-24) Last Fight: 7/26/2014- W* (SD12) vs. Mike Perez (UNR) Next Fight: 4/25/2015- vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko Jennings has got his shot at Klitschko for April 25. Almost certanily too soon for him, given his mediocre last performance against Perez. 18) Artur Szpilka (3-9) Last Fight: 11/8/2014- W (UD10) vs. #11 Tomasz Adamek
Next Fight: 1/31/2015- vs. Unknown Opponent Szpilka returned to camp just a week after the Adamek fight, as he is planning a return for January 31 in Torun, Poland. 19) Mike Perez (3-24) Last Fight: 7/26/2014- L* (SD12) vs. Bryant Jennings (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Perez looks like he’s on his way to a fight with Povetkin. 20) Alex Leapai (3-3) Last Fight: 10/31/2014- L (UD10) vs. #20 Malik Scott Next Fight: Unknown
Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in current position-weeks in top 10 (if applicable)-weeks in top 20) Champ: Wladimir Klitschko (289-502-502)
Last Fight: 11/15/2014- KO5 #5 Kubrat Pulev
Next Fight: 4/25/2015- vs. #17 Bryant Jennings
Klitschko-Jennings is on, and figures to be a fairly average defense for the Champ. 1) Tyson Fury (47-47-47) Last Fight: 11/29/2014- RTD10 #6 Dereck Chisora Next Fight: 2/28/2015- vs. Christian Hammer (UNR) Christian Hammer is a very beatable gatekeeper, but did look good in his last fight, and is probably about a class better than you’d expect a guy with a mandatory championship shot coming his way to stay busy against. 2) Alexander Povetkin (32-376-376) Last Fight: 10/24/2014- KO10 #7 Carlos Takam
Next Fight: Unknown
Nothing has been signed yet, but the WBC has given approval for Povetkin to fight an eliminator with Mike Perez. 3) Vyacheslav Glazkov (32-43-107) Last Fight: 11/8/2014- TKO7 Darnell Wilson (UNR)
Next Fight: 3/14/2015- vs. #9 Steve Cunningham With Main Events behind both fighters, you could almost see this one coming. Glazkov will take on Steve Cunningham, likely on NBC Sports, in March. 4) Amir Mansour (40-40-40) Last Fight: 11/8/2014- KO7 Fred Kassi (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Mansour’s power was brought to bear on the mediocre Kassi, who did a good job of hanging in there- perhaps for longer than most expected while losing every round. 5) Kubrat Pulev (47-140-217) Last Fight: 11/15/2014- L (KO5) vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko
Next Fight: Unknown
Back to the drawing board for the Bulgarian. He at least mounted an attack. That’s more than some challengers can say. 6) Carlos Takam (6-31-51) Last Fight: 10/24/2014- L (KO10) vs. #2 Alexander Povetkin Next Fight: Unknown Takam found the ceiling on his rise to the top in #2 Povetkin. He actually appeared more than a match for the Russian early in the fight, but couldn’t hang in the later rounds. 7) Dereck Chisora (6-162-225) Last Fight: 11/29/2014- L (RTD10) vs. #1 Tyson Fury
Next Fight: Unknown
Chisora apparently doesn’t want to leave the bad taste in his mouth from his last performance, as he is reportedly planning to fight again on February 28. He is also said to be splitting from trainer Don Charles. 8) Bermane Stiverne (31-35-97) Last Fight: 5/10/2014- TKO6 #13 Chris Arreola Next Fight: 1/17/2015- vs. #12 Deontay Wilder Stiverne-Wilder is finally set for January 17 at the MGM Grand in Vegas, it would appear. 9) Steve Cunningham (31-107-107) Last Fight: 10/18/2014- W (RTD7) vs. Natu Visinia (UNR) Next Fight: 3/14/2015- vs. #3 Vyacheslav Glazkov See Glazkov’s notes, above. 10) Tony Thompson (31-42-241) Last Fight: 6/6/2014- L (UD12) vs. #12 Carlos Takam
Next Fight: 1/24/2015 – vs. #11 Odlanier Solis
Maybe the third time will be the charm. Thompson-Solis II gets its 3rd intended date on January 24. 11) Odlanier Solis (9-241) Last Fight: 3/22/2014- L* (SD12) vs. #13 Tony Thompson
Next Fight: 1/24/2015- vs. #10 Tony Thompson
See Thompson’s notes, above. 12) Deontay Wilder (9-89) Last Fight: 8/16/2014- W(RTD4) vs. Jason Gavern (UNR) Next Fight: 1/17/2015 – vs. #8 Bermane Stiverne See Stiverne’s notes, above. 13) Chris Arreola (9-70) Last Fight: 5/10/2014- L (TKO6) vs. #12 Bermane Stiverne Next Fight: Unknown Arreola advised Boxingscene.com that he’s likely back in late January or February, and called out Antonio Tarver, as well. 14) Malik Scott (9-18) Last Fight: 10/31/2014- UD10 #16 Alex Leapai Next Fight: Unknown After an apparently dominant win over Leapai, Scott is probably back in the mix for some sort of big fight. 15) Erkan Teper (9-71) Last Fight: 6/13/2014- RTD6 Newfel Ouatah (UNR) Next Fight:Unknown Teper will most likely fight France’s Johann Duhaupas at some point, but the fight has been postponed to a later date due to Teper having his appendix out. 16) Antonio Tarver (4-4) Last Fight: 12/11/2014- TKO7 Johnathon Banks (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Tarver has recently challenged a comebacking David Haye. 17) Bryant Jennings (3-24) Last Fight: 7/26/2014- W* (SD12) vs. Mike Perez (UNR) Next Fight: 4/25/2015- vs. Champ Wladimir Klitschko Jennings has got his shot at Klitschko for April 25. Almost certanily too soon for him, given his mediocre last performance against Perez. 18) Artur Szpilka (3-9) Last Fight: 11/8/2014- W (UD10) vs. #11 Tomasz Adamek
Next Fight: 1/31/2015- vs. Unknown Opponent Szpilka returned to camp just a week after the Adamek fight, as he is planning a return for January 31 in Torun, Poland. 19) Mike Perez (3-24) Last Fight: 7/26/2014- L* (SD12) vs. Bryant Jennings (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Perez looks like he’s on his way to a fight with Povetkin. 20) Alex Leapai (3-3) Last Fight: 10/31/2014- L (UD10) vs. #20 Malik Scott Next Fight: Unknown
THE WEEK AHEAD: Friday Charles Martin vs. Damon McCreary; Cabazon, California; Off TV Martin is a rising prospect from St. Louis. McCreary has a decent enough record at 15-3, but it’s a very hollow 15-3. First, he’s really just a fattened-up super middleweight. He’s been in with Deontay Wilder and cruiserweight prospect Jordan Shimmell, but was blown out in 2 rounds by both. He did go the 6-round distance in an apparently competitive fight with unbeaten Ali Mansour, but Mansour hasn’t fought anyone before or since. At 41, he does have two decent wins in his career, but those were about 15 years ago and at light heavyweight or below. If Martin wants to make any kind of point with this fight, he’s gotta make a short night of it like Wilder and Shimmell did. Because of McCreary’s mediocrity, I am guessing this won’t make the ShoBox telecast.
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