Heavyweight: 2015, Jan 12-18
Unbeaten prospect Charles Martin did what he had to do on the non-televised ShoBox undercard on Friday in Cabazon, California, dispatching 41 year-old fattened-up super middleweight Damon McCreary late in the first round. I was able to find a youtube video of the last few seconds of the fight, and it appears that Martin caught McCreary coming in reckless, with a southpaw counter left hand high on the head. Martin pretty much had to win by stoppage inside of 2 rounds to avoid negative comparisons to Deontay Wilder and even cruiserweight Jordan Shimmell, both of whom took care of McCreary within 2. No changes this week.
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 (48-48-48) 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 (33-377-377) 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 (33-44-108) 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 (41-41-41) 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 (48-141-218) 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 (7-32-52) 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 (7-163-226) 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 (32-36-98) 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 (32-108-108) 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 (32-43-242) 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 (10-242) 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 (10-90) 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 (10-71) 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 (10-19) 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 (10-72) 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 (5-5) Last Fight: 12/11/2014- TKO7 Johnathon Banks (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Tarver has recently challenged a comebacking David Haye. 17) Bryant Jennings (4-25) 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 (4-10) Last Fight: 11/8/2014- W (UD10) vs. #11 Tomasz Adamek
Next Fight: 3/?/2015- vs. Unknown Opponent Szpilka was originally due back on January 31, but after signing with Al Haymon, it appears he’s pushed that back to a Showtime card in late March. 19) Mike Perez (4-25) Last Fight: 7/26/2014- L* (SD12) vs. Bryant Jennings (UNR) Next Fight: 2/5/2015- vs. Unknown Opponent Perez looks like he’s on his way to a fight with Povetkin, but will stay busy against an unknown opponent on February 5. 20) Alex Leapai (4-4) 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 (290-503-503)
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 (48-48-48) 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 (33-377-377) 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 (33-44-108) 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 (41-41-41) 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 (48-141-218) 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 (7-32-52) 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 (7-163-226) 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 (32-36-98) 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 (32-108-108) 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 (32-43-242) 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 (10-242) 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 (10-90) 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 (10-71) 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 (10-19) 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 (10-72) 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 (5-5) Last Fight: 12/11/2014- TKO7 Johnathon Banks (UNR) Next Fight: Unknown Tarver has recently challenged a comebacking David Haye. 17) Bryant Jennings (4-25) 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 (4-10) Last Fight: 11/8/2014- W (UD10) vs. #11 Tomasz Adamek
Next Fight: 3/?/2015- vs. Unknown Opponent Szpilka was originally due back on January 31, but after signing with Al Haymon, it appears he’s pushed that back to a Showtime card in late March. 19) Mike Perez (4-25) Last Fight: 7/26/2014- L* (SD12) vs. Bryant Jennings (UNR) Next Fight: 2/5/2015- vs. Unknown Opponent Perez looks like he’s on his way to a fight with Povetkin, but will stay busy against an unknown opponent on February 5. 20) Alex Leapai (4-4) Last Fight: 10/31/2014- L (UD10) vs. #20 Malik Scott Next Fight: Unknown
THE WEEK AHEAD: Saturday #8 Bermane Stiverne vs. #12 Deontay Wilder; Las Vegas, NV; ESPN In the first major heavyweight fight of 2016, two rising stars with plenty of knockout power compete for the alphabet belt vacated by Vitali Klitschko and picked up by Stiverne in his rematch with Arreola. It’s being billed as the return of heavyweight title boxing to basic cable. It’s an interesting matchup with plenty of potential for fireworks.
Eric Molina vs. TBA; Las Vegas, NV; Off TV Molina has the distinct edge against TBA, who rarely wins, and never does so under his own name.
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