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Junior Middleweight: 2014, Jul 21-27

Posted in Junior Middleweight, Rankings with tags , , , , , , , on December 25, 2014 by danboxing
Nothing to report from last week.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: None
1) Saul Alvarez (20-177-192)
Last Fight: 7/12/2014- W (SD12) vs. #3 Erislandy Lara (at 155)
Next Fight: Unknown
Canelo deserves none of the detraction he’s getting for his very legitimate win over Lara.  He is getting some buzz as a potential challenger for Cotto’s Middleweight Championship, though he says that fight won’t happen this year.
2) Carlos Molina (20-159-174)
Last Fight: 9/14/2013- W (SD12) vs. #5 Ishe Smith
Next Fight: 10/11/2014- vs. #10 Cornelius Bundrage
Molina’s fight with Bundrage has been moved back to October 11.
3) Erislandy Lara (20-159-181)
Last Fight: 7/12/2014- L (SD12) vs. #1 Saul Alvarez (at 155)
Next Fight: Unknown
Lara clearly lost, despite what Malignaggi and company want you to believe. 
4) Miguel Cotto (7-216-216)
Last Fight: 6/7/2014- RTD10 MW Champ Sergio Martinez (at MW)
Next Fight: Unknown
Cotto is now the Middleweight Champion, so it remains to be seen if he’ll continue to fight at 154 at all.  He’s reportedly interested in fighting Canelo, in a likely catchweight fight.
5) Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (7-45-45)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- W* (MD12) vs. #4 WW Marcos Maidana (at WW)
Next Fight: 9/13/2014- vs. #1 WW Marcos Maidana (at WW)
Floyd recently said he’s rematching Maidana on September 13.  I’m glad.  Maidana deserves that, at the very least.
6) Austin Trout (7-112-181)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- L (UD12) vs. #5 Erislandy Lara
Next Fight: 8/22/2014- vs. Daniel Dawson (UNR)
Trout will look to get back on track with a fairly easy Friday Night Fights main event against upper mid-level Australian journeyman Daniel Dawson, who was once a fringe contender, but not since 2007.
7) Ishe Smith (7-74-74)
Last Fight: 5/2/2014- KO2 Ryan Davis (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
I know he was a relatively short-notice replacement, but Ryan Davis was a little too hapless even by that standard.
8) Joshua Clottey (7-15-15)
Last Fight: 4/9/2014- UD12 #7 Anthony Mundine
Next Fight: Unknown
For those looking for a good way to revitalize a practically evaporated career, you couldn’t do much better than the example Clottey just provided.  He wants to fight Mayweather, but I’d say he’s at least one top 5 win away from having a chance at that.
9) Anthony Mundine (15-34-34)
Last Fight: 4/9/2014- L (UD12) vs. Joshua Clottey (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Mundine is reportedly in talks to bring the now much larger and also more retired Danny Green into a rematch.  He’s also getting an offer from up-and-coming prospect Jeff Horn.
10) Cornelius Bundrage (15-207-207)
Last Fight: 1/24/2014- UD12 Joey Hernandez (UNR)
Next Fight: 10/10/2014- vs. #2 Carlos Molina
See Molina’s notes, above.
11) Demetrius Andrade (6-37)
Last Fight: 6/14/2014- TKO7 #20 Brian Rose
Next Fight: Unknown
After manhandling an overrated Brian Rose, Andrade says he’s ready for the big names, and has recently been aggressively pursuing a Canelo shot.
12) Alfredo Angulo (6-252)
Last Fight: 3/8/2014- L (TKO10) vs. #4 Saul Alvarez
Next Fight: Unknown
Angulo could probably use a fight with a gatekeeper or low level fringe contender just to get his career momentum going.  He’s drawing interest from Julian Williams.
13) Sergey Rabchenko (6-110)
Last Fight: 11/16/2013- UD12 Bradley Pryce (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Rabchenko’s fight in Rome was cancelled on 3 days’ notice due to Visa issues, and his would-be opponent, journeyman Emanuele Della Rosa, will be fighting undefeated prospect Isaac Real for what had been Rabchenko’s European title.
14) Jermell Charlo (5-59)
Last Fight: 5/24/2014- UD12 Charlie Ota (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
15) Vanes Martirosyan (7-164)
Last Fight: 3/21/2014- UD10 Mario Lozano (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Vanes was supposed to fight on the Stiverne-Arreola card from what I understood, but that fight quietly disappeared from the schedule at some unknown point in time.  He’s been dropped by Top Rank and signed with Dan Goossen, as well.
16) Brian Castaño (7-7)
Last Fight: 6/6/2014- TKO4 #15 Cesar Sastre Silva
Next Fight: 8/?/2014- vs. Sebastian Lujan (UNR)
Castano was tentatively scheduled to fight Sebastian Lujan on July 19, but the fight has been postponed to sometime in August due to a Castano illness.
17) Gabriel Rosado (10-26)
Last Fight: 1/25/2014- L (UD10) vs. #18 Jermell Charlo
Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #10 SMW Bryan Vera (at MW)
Rosado will be fighting Bryan Vera in a new event called Big Knockout Boxing.  The knockdown rules are different, and the ring is replaced with a circular “pit.”  I probably won’t know if it will count in the rankings until I’ve had a chance to see it in action.
18) Zaurbek Baysangurov (10-15)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- TKO12 #20 Guido Pitto
Next Fight: Unknown
Baysangurov looked the best I’ve seen him, by far, against Pitto.
19) Willie Nelson (10-73)
Last Fight: 6/7/2014- TKO1 Darryl Cunningham (UNR) (at MW)
Next Fight: 8/8/2014- vs. Luis Grajeda (UNR)
Nelson was just days away from removal for inactivity at 154 when Lou DiBella announced he’d be fighting on August 8.  His opponent is journeyman Luis Grajeda.  That’s not exactly a title fight, and so there’s still the possibility he’ll be removed if it becomes clear that he’s fighting at 160 again.  Stay tuned.
20) Kell Brook (6-6)
Last Fight: 3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR)
Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #6 WW Shawn Porter (at WW)
Brook is really a welterweight (and a top 10 contender at that weight), but has thrown in enough significant wins near the 154 limit to make himself independently a fringe contender at this weight.  He’ll get a shot at a welterweight belt on August 16 against Shawn Porter in New York.

 

The Week Ahead: 
Saturday
Liam Smith vs. Jason Welborn; Manchester, England; BoxNation (UK)
Smith is an undefeated brother of Callum Smith and Paul Smith.  The Liverpool native already owns a win over a borderline top-50 fighter in Erick Ochieng, though at this point he’s probably slightly less proven than his younger and larger brother Callum.  Welborn, a fellow Englishman from the West Midlands, is a mid-range journeyman with two losses who has only lost to undefeated opposition.
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Junior Middleweight: 2014, Jul 14-20

Posted in Junior Middleweight, Rankings with tags , , , , , , , on December 11, 2014 by danboxing
Wednesday in Vegas, welterweight fringe contender Alfonso Gomez returned for the first time in nearly 2 years, rising from two knockdowns (only one of which even arguably was one) to narrowly defeat welterweight gatekeeper Ed Paredes at a 151 pound catchweight.  Paredes had a great opportunity to win the fight, as Gomez had serious problems with his balance which directly led to both the arguably real and the Kenny Bayless-created knockdown.  Unfortunately for him, he threw away that opportunity by fighting in a stiff and robotic manner, and by failing to keep his activity level at an acceptable level.  Gomez was able to carry the day largely due to his excellent timing and late-round accuracy, plus impressive elusiveness down the stretch.  Even so, I had him losing the fight 95-94, but that’s only after deferring to the clearly botched knockdown call.  The range of scores that should have been acceptable with quality referee work would have been between 95-94 and 98-91 Gomez.  Dave Moretti’s 99-92 card impermissibly ignored Kenny Bayless’s call, and was also blatantly biased in favor of Gomez besides that.  Adelaide Byrd’s card was decent at 96-93, while Dick Houck had round 4 10-9, which isn’t really defensible, but otherwise had a halfway decent card at 98-92.

 

In the week’s biggest fight by a wide margin, #1 Canelo Alvarez beat #3 Erislandy Lara clearly beat Erislandy Lara, who fought downright shamefully by running for his life from the opening bell onward.  He didn’t wait until he thought he was far enough ahead, and he didn’t set traps and counterpunch off his movement.  He ran.  He ran, and he only punched in desperate self-defense when Canelo managed to cut him off and get into his grill.  Canelo was the effective aggressor by about 10 miles, made Lara uncomfortable throughout (making him the ring general), and landed more and the extremely more effective punches.  He went to the body especially well.  Perhaps predictably, commentators like Paulie Malignaggi who think their own warped view of what constitutes proper and admirable strategy trumps common sense and…well…landing significant punches saw it as a Lara win.  I had it 118-110, and thought a reasonable judge could score it anything between 119-109 Canelo and 116-112 Canelo.  Bottom line: Canelo won, and it wasn’t even especially close.  Levi Martinez had the only decent card among the three official judges, scoring it 117-111 for Canelo.  Dave Moretti (yes, the same guy who pretty much botched his scoring in Gomez-Paredes above) had it for the right guy, but too close at 115-113.  Jerry Roth proved that he’s a good candidate for retirement by scoring it 115-113 Lara.  Don’t overthink it, guys.  If a guy runs a lot and doesn’t punch off that movement often, he probably didn’t beat the guy that’s punching off the front foot and taking the fight to him.

 

There are no changes this week.  Alvarez-Lara just kinda reinforces the status quo.  You might say it makes Alvarez the uncrowned champion, but uncrowned he remains, since there’s no reason to skip Carlos Molina to create a championship fight.  Gomez installs himself as a fringe contender at this weight, but he is unable to break through to the top 20.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: None
1) Saul Alvarez (19-176-191)
Last Fight: 7/12/2014- W (SD12) vs. #3 Erislandy Lara (at 155)
Next Fight: Unknown
Canelo deserves none of the detraction he’s getting for his very legitimate win over Lara.  He is getting some buzz as a potential challenger for Cotto’s Middleweight Championship.
2) Carlos Molina (19-158-173)
Last Fight: 9/14/2013- W (SD12) vs. #5 Ishe Smith
Next Fight: 10/11/2014- vs. #10 Cornelius Bundrage
Molina’s fight with Bundrage has been moved back to October 11.
3) Erislandy Lara (19-158-180)
Last Fight: 7/12/2014- L (SD12) vs. #1 Saul Alvarez (at 155)
Next Fight: Unknown
Lara clearly lost, despite what Malignaggi and company want you to believe. 
4) Miguel Cotto (6-215-215)
Last Fight: 6/7/2014- RTD10 MW Champ Sergio Martinez (at MW)
Next Fight: Unknown
Cotto is now the Middleweight Champion, so it remains to be seen if he’ll continue to fight at 154 at all.  He’s reportedly interested in fighting Canelo, in a likely catchweight fight, if Canelo can get by Lara.
5) Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (6-44-44)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- W* (MD12) vs. #4 WW Marcos Maidana (at WW)
Next Fight: 9/13/2014- vs. #1 WW Marcos Maidana (at WW)
Floyd recently said he’s rematching Maidana on September 13.  I’m glad.  Maidana deserves that, at the very least.
6) Austin Trout (6-111-180)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- L (UD12) vs. #5 Erislandy Lara
Next Fight: 8/22/2014- vs. Daniel Dawson (UNR)
Trout will look to get back on track with a fairly easy Friday Night Fights main event against upper mid-level Australian journeyman Daniel Dawson, who was once a fringe contender, but not since 2007.
7) Ishe Smith (6-73-73)
Last Fight: 5/2/2014- KO2 Ryan Davis (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
I know he was a relatively short-notice replacement, but Ryan Davis was a little too hapless even by that standard.
8) Joshua Clottey (6-14-14)
Last Fight: 4/9/2014- UD12 #7 Anthony Mundine
Next Fight: Unknown
For those looking for a good way to revitalize a practically evaporated career, you couldn’t do much better than the example Clottey just provided.  He wants to fight Mayweather, but I’d say he’s at least one top 5 win away from having a chance at that.
9) Anthony Mundine (14-33-33)
Last Fight: 4/9/2014- L (UD12) vs. Joshua Clottey (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Mundine is reportedly in talks to bring the now much larger and also more retired Danny Green into a rematch.  He’s also getting an offer from up-and-coming prospect Jeff Horn.
10) Cornelius Bundrage (14-206-206)
Last Fight: 1/24/2014- UD12 Joey Hernandez (UNR)
Next Fight: 10/10/2014- vs. #2 Carlos Molina
See Molina’s notes, above.
11) Demetrius Andrade (5-36)
Last Fight: 6/14/2014- TKO7 #20 Brian Rose
Next Fight: Unknown
After manhandling an overrated Brian Rose, Andrade says he’s ready for the big names.
12) Alfredo Angulo (5-251)
Last Fight: 3/8/2014- L (TKO10) vs. #4 Saul Alvarez
Next Fight: Unknown
Angulo could probably use a fight with a gatekeeper or low level fringe contender just to get his career momentum going.  He’s drawing interest from Julian Williams.
13) Sergey Rabchenko (5-109)
Last Fight: 11/16/2013- UD12 Bradley Pryce (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Rabchenko’s fight in Rome was cancelled on 3 days’ notice due to Visa issues, and his would-be opponent, journeyman Emanuele Della Rosa, will be fighting undefeated prospect Isaac Real for what had been Rabchenko’s European title.
14) Jermell Charlo (5-58)
Last Fight: 5/24/2014- UD12 Charlie Ota (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
15) Vanes Martirosyan (6-163)
Last Fight: 3/21/2014- UD10 Mario Lozano (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Vanes was supposed to fight on the Stiverne-Arreola card from what I understood, but that fight quietly disappeared from the schedule at some unknown point in time.  He’s been dropped by Top Rank and signed with Dan Goossen, as well.
16) Brian Castaño (6-6)
Last Fight: 6/6/2014- TKO4 #15 Cesar Sastre Silva
Next Fight: 8/?/2014- vs. Sebastian Lujan (UNR)
Castano was tentatively scheduled to fight Sebastian Lujan on July 19, but the fight has been postponed to sometime in August due to a Castano illness.
17) Gabriel Rosado (9-25)
Last Fight: 1/25/2014- L (UD10) vs. #18 Jermell Charlo
Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #10 SMW Bryan Vera (at MW)
Rosado will be fighting Bryan Vera in a new event called Big Knockout Boxing.  The knockdown rules are different, and the ring is replaced with a circular “pit.”  I probably won’t know if it will count in the rankings until I’ve had a chance to see it in action.
18) Zaurbek Baysangurov (9-14)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- TKO12 #20 Guido Pitto
Next Fight: Unknown
Baysangurov looked the best I’ve seen him, by far, against Pitto.
19) Willie Nelson (9-72)
Last Fight: 6/7/2014- TKO1 Darryl Cunningham (UNR) (at MW)
Next Fight: 8/8/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent
Nelson was just days away from removal for inactivity at 154 when Lou DiBella announced he’d be fighting on August 8.  There’s no opponent yet, and so there’s still the possibility he’ll be removed if it becomes clear that he’s fighting at 160 again.  Stay tuned.
20) Kell Brook (5-5)
Last Fight: 3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR)
Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #6 WW Shawn Porter (at WW)
Brook is really a welterweight (and a top 10 contender at that weight), but has thrown in enough significant wins near the 154 limit to make himself independently a fringe contender at this weight.  He’ll get a shot at a welterweight belt on August 16 against Shawn Porter in New York.

 

The Week Ahead: Nothing of importance to report for this week.

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Junior Middleweight: 2014, Jul 7-13

Posted in Junior Middleweight, Rankings with tags , , , , , , , on November 22, 2014 by danboxing
No junior middleweight fights of substance last week, and no changes this week.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: None
1) Saul Alvarez (18-175-190)
Last Fight: 3/8/2014- TKO10 #10 Alfredo Angulo (at 155)
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #3 Erislandy Lara (at 155)
Canelo came knocking, and Lara answered the door.
2) Carlos Molina (18-157-172)
Last Fight: 9/14/2013- W (SD12) vs. #5 Ishe Smith
Next Fight: 9/6/2014- vs. #10 Cornelius Bundrage
Molina defends his alphabet belt on September 6 in Cancun against Bundrage.
3) Erislandy Lara (18-157-179)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- UD12 #4 Austin Trout
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #1 Saul Alvarez
Lara traded an intended fight with Ishe Smith for a more lucrative and important showdown with Canelo.  The fight might not determine a legitimate champion, but it should at least crown a preeminent top contender.
4) Miguel Cotto (5-214-214)
Last Fight: 6/7/2014- RTD10 MW Champ Sergio Martinez (at MW)
Next Fight: Unknown
Cotto is now the Middleweight Champion, so it remains to be seen if he’ll continue to fight at 154 at all.  He’s reportedly interested in fighting Canelo, in a likely catchweight fight, if Canelo can get by Lara.
5) Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (5-43-43)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- W* (MD12) vs. #4 WW Marcos Maidana (at WW)
Next Fight: 9/13/2014- vs. #1 WW Marcos Maidana (at WW)
Floyd recently said he’s rematching Maidana on September 13.  I’m glad.  Maidana deserves that, at the very least.
6) Austin Trout (5-110-179)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- L (UD12) vs. #5 Erislandy Lara
Next Fight: 7/19/2014- vs. Daniel Dawson (UNR)
Trout will look to get back on track with a fairly easy Friday Night Fights main event against upper mid-level Australian journeyman Daniel Dawson, who was once a fringe contender, but not since 2007.
7) Ishe Smith (5-72-72)
Last Fight: 5/2/2014- KO2 Ryan Davis (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
I know he was a relatively short-notice replacement, but Ryan Davis was a little too hapless even by that standard.
8) Joshua Clottey (5-13-13)
Last Fight: 4/9/2014- UD12 #7 Anthony Mundine
Next Fight: Unknown
For those looking for a good way to revitalize a practically evaporated career, you couldn’t do much better than the example Clottey just provided.  He wants to fight Mayweather, but I’d say he’s at least one top 5 win away from having a chance at that.
9) Anthony Mundine (13-32-32)
Last Fight: 4/9/2014- L (UD12) vs. Joshua Clottey (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Mundine is reportedly in talks to bring the now much larger and also more retired Danny Green into a rematch.  He’s also getting an offer from up-and-coming prospect Jeff Horn.
10) Cornelius Bundrage (13-205-205)
Last Fight: 1/24/2014- UD12 Joey Hernandez (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/6/2014- vs. #2 Carlos Molina
See Molina’s notes, above.
11) Demetrius Andrade (4-35)
Last Fight: 6/14/2014- TKO7 #20 Brian Rose
Next Fight: Unknown
After manhandling an overrated Brian Rose, Andrade says he’s ready for the big names.
12) Alfredo Angulo (4-250)
Last Fight: 3/8/2014- L (TKO10) vs. #4 Saul Alvarez
Next Fight: Unknown
Angulo could probably use a fight with a gatekeeper or low level fringe contender just to get his career momentum going.  He’s drawing interest from Julian Williams.
13) Sergey Rabchenko (4-108)
Last Fight: 11/16/2013- UD12 Bradley Pryce (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Rabchenko’s fight in Rome was cancelled on 3 days’ notice due to Visa issues, and his would-be opponent, journeyman Emanuele Della Rosa, will be fighting undefeated prospect Isaac Real for what had been Rabchenko’s European title.
14) Jermell Charlo (4-57)
Last Fight: 5/24/2014- UD12 Charlie Ota (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
15) Vanes Martirosyan (5-162)
Last Fight: 3/21/2014- UD10 Mario Lozano (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Vanes was supposed to fight on the Stiverne-Arreola card from what I understood, but that fight quietly disappeared from the schedule at some unknown point in time.  He’s been dropped by Top Rank and signed with Dan Goossen, as well.
16) Brian Castaño (5-5)
Last Fight: 6/6/2014- TKO4 #15 Cesar Sastre Silva
Next Fight: Unknown
Castano looked like kind of a beast against Sastre Silva.  Only time will tell if he really is a beast, was beating up on an overrated fringe contender, or some combination of those possibilities.
17) Gabriel Rosado (8-24)
Last Fight: 1/25/2014- L (UD10) vs. #18 Jermell Charlo
Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #10 SMW Bryan Vera (at MW)
Rosado will be fighting Bryan Vera in a new event called Big Knockout Boxing.  The knockdown rules are different, and the ring is replaced with a circular “pit.”  I probably won’t know if it will count in the rankings until I’ve had a chance to see it in action.
18) Zaurbek Baysangurov (8-13)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- TKO12 #20 Guido Pitto
Next Fight: Unknown
Baysangurov looked the best I’ve seen him, by far, against Pitto.
19) Willie Nelson (8-71)
Last Fight: 6/7/2014- TKO1 Darryl Cunningham (UNR) (at MW)
Next Fight: 8/8/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent
Nelson was just days away from removal for inactivity at 154 when Lou DiBella announced he’d be fighting on August 8.  There’s no opponent yet, and so there’s still the possibility he’ll be removed if it becomes clear that he’s fighting at 160 again.  Stay tuned.
20) Kell Brook (4-4)
Last Fight: 3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR)
Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #6 WW Shawn Porter (at WW)
Brook is really a welterweight (and a top 10 contender at that weight), but has thrown in enough significant wins near the 154 limit to make himself independently a fringe contender at this weight.  He’ll get a shot at a welterweight belt on August 16 against Shawn Porter in New York.

 

The Week Ahead: 
Wednesday
Alfonso Gomez vs. Ed Paredes; Las Vegas, Nevada; FS1 (US)
Gomez and Paredes are both traditionally welterweights.  Gomez is best described as a fringe contender, and Paredes maybe more of a gatekeeper.  Gomez hasn’t fought since July 2012- just shy of two years ago.  That being the case, Paredes might be a bit of a big ask.  Even so, Paredes himself hasn’t fought anyone remotely worth fighting in almost exactly the same amount of time.  Interesting scrap.

 

#1 Saul Alvarez vs. #3 Erislandy Lara; Las Vegas, Nevada; Showtime PPV (US)
One of the best matchups of the year, marred slightly be the unfortunate decision to contract it at 155 and thus cloud the divisional picture slightly.  Lara is the sharper and quicker puncher of the two, and has quicker feet by a wide margin.  Canelo is the heavier-handed.  Any way you slice this, it’s an interesting fight.  Unfortunately, it won’t crown a champion, since there’s no compelling reason to bypass Carlos Molina.
 

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Middleweight: 2014, Jul 7-13

Posted in Middleweight, Rankings with tags , , , , , , , on November 22, 2014 by danboxing
Saturday in Tokyo, fringe contender Akio Shibata got a decision win over high-level journeyman Hikaru Nishida to defend his Japanese title.  It was apparently at least a fairly close fight, with one judge having it 7 rounds to 5 at 115-113, another at 116-112, and the third a more comfortable 118-110.  As is often the case with Japanese fights, though, no video is apparently available.  The best summary of the action I can find is here.

 

No changes this week.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: Miguel Cotto (5-5-5)
Last Fight: RTD10 Champ Sergio Martinez
Next Fight: Unknown
Cotto is the Champion.  The only question now is whether he will risk that Championship against the dominant #1 contender against whom he probably would have very little chance.  His thoughts seem to be more in the direction of Canelo.
1) Gennady Golovkin (30-97-160)
Last Fight: 2/1/2014- TKO7 Osumanu Adama (UNR)
Next Fight: 7/26/2014- vs. #5 Daniel Geale
Golovkin-Geale is official for July 26 in New York.
2) Sam Soliman (6-30-30)
Last Fight: 5/31/2014- UD12 #2 Felix Sturm
Next Fight: Unknown
His trainer wants Cotto, but Martin Murray looks more likely.  Soliman himself says he wants the winner of Golovkin-Geale.
3) Sergio Martinez (5-221-221)
Last Fight: 6/7/2014- L (RTD10) vs. #8 JMW Miguel Cotto
Next Fight: Unknown
When assessing Maravilla’s viability as a contender at this point, it really comes down to one question: is his base athletic level and chin as bad as his performance against Cotto, or can it be blamed on a knee or other sort of leg injury?  If the latter, he might stand some chance to come back given enough recuperation time.  If the former, then he’s one of the most obviously finished fighters I’ve ever seen.  His manager ominously said after the fight that his only injury was a broken nose.  That’s incredible, if true, considering how bad his legs looked.  A big soccer fan, he says he’ll determine his future after the World Cup.
4) Felix Sturm (5-564-564)
Last Fight: 5/31/2014- L (UD12) vs. #8 Sam Soliman
Next Fight: Unknown
Sturm passed on an eliminator with Curtis Stevens, right after David Lemieux passed on an eliminator with Sturm.  Apparently nobody wants the IBF title.
5) Daniel Geale (5-264-264)
Last Fight: 2/19/2014- RTD6 Garth Wood (UNR)
Next Fight: 7/26/2014- vs. #1 Gennady Golovkin
See Golovkin’s notes, above.
6) Martin Murray (3-136-136)
Last Fight: 6/21/2014- UD12 #15 Max Bursak
Next Fight: Unknown
Murray wants Cotto, in what would be his second shot at the lineal Championship.  I thought he won the first one pretty clearly, and I’d favor him in this one.
7) Peter Quillin (3-90-111)
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- UD12 Lukas Konecny (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
The WBO has ordered Quillin-Korobov.
8) Matthew Macklin (5-159-250)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- UD10 Lamar Russ (UNR)
Next Fight: 8/30/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent
Macklin is back on August 30 in Dublin.
9) Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (5-30-30)
Last Fight: 4/16/2014- UD10 Fulgencio Zuniga (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
With the first 3 of the first 4 guys offered the shot having turned it down already, the 4th- Curtis Stevens- is now in talks for an IBF eliminator with N’Dam.  The winner would earn a shot at Soliman’s belt.
10) Sergio Mora (5-54-54)
Last Fight: 5/31/2014- TKO5 Samuel Rogers (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Mora wants Quillin or Golovkin.
11) Osumanu Adama (5-23)
Last Fight: 2/1/2014- L (TKO7) vs. #1 Gennady Golovkin
Next Fight: Unknown
Not the most pleasant entry into the rankings we’ve ever seen, but his resume stacks up pretty well as long as he’s active and on weight.
12) Dmitry Chudinov (5-15)
Last Fight: 6/1/2014- UD12 Patrick Nielsen (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Chudinov’s promoter has verbally offered Sam Soliman a fight on August 8.
13) Marco Antonio Rubio (5-180)
Last Fight: 4/5/2014- KO10* Domenico Spada (UNR)
Next Fight:Unknown
Rubio wants a shot at Cotto.
14) Matt Korobov (2-2)
Last Fight: 6/28/2014- UD10 Jose Uzcategui (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
See Quillin’s notes, above.
15) Jarrod Fletcher (2-23)
Last Fight: 2/1/2014- W* (UD12) vs. #12 Max Bursak
Next Fight: 8/9/2014- vs. Daniel Jacobs (UNR)
Fletcher will fight fringe contender Daniel Jacobs on August 9 for a trumped up (aka WBA) title.
16) Max Bursak (2-180)
Last Fight: 6/21/2014- L (UD12) vs. #7 Martin Murray
Next Fight: Unknown
Monte Carlo isn’t kind to Bursak.  He lost a debatable decision to Jarrod Fletcher there, and then was more or less dominated by Martin Murray.
17) David Lemieux (2-7)
Last Fight: 5/24/2014- KO3 Fernando Guerrero (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Lemieux’s eye-popping domination of Guerrero has fueled idle speculation of a potential shot at Peter Quillin, who is short on options for high-level opponents due to the ongoing Showtime-HBO feud.  In the meantime, he’s reportedly turned down an eliminator with Sturm.
18) Caleb Truax (5-42)
Last Fight: 1/3/2014- Draw (UD10) vs. Ossie Duran (UNR) (at SMW)
Next Fight: 7/25/2014- vs. Derek Ennis (UNR)
Truax has a new opponent for 7/25, with a slight downgrade to Derek Ennis.
19) Curtis Stevens (5-49)
Last Fight: 4/4/2014- TKO10* Tureano Johnson (UNR) (at SMW)
Next Fight: Unknown
Stevens will likely fight N’Dam for a shot at Soliman’s alphabet belt.
20) Andrey Meryasev (5-35)
Last Fight: 4/26/2014- UD10 Carlos Baldomir (UNR) (at SMW)
Next Fight: Unknown
Meryasev dominated in pedestrian fashion against the now-retired Baldomir.

 

The Week Ahead: 
Saturday
#1 JMW Saul Alvarez vs. #3 JMW Erislandy Lara; Las Vegas, Nevada; Showtime PPV (US)
This is basically a junior middleweight fight, but will be contested, for no apparent reason, at a 155 pound catchweight.  I’ll mostly consider it at 154, but it could come into play here, as well.

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Junior Middleweight: 2014, Jun 30- Jul 6

Posted in Junior Middleweight, Rankings with tags , , , , , , , on November 20, 2014 by danboxing
Spanish gatekeeper Roberto Santos got a unanimous shutout in an 8-round stay-busy fight with generic Belgian journeyman Kobe Vandekerkhove on Saturday in Madrid.  No changes this week.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: None
1) Saul Alvarez (17-174-189)
Last Fight: 3/8/2014- TKO10 #10 Alfredo Angulo (at 155)
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #3 Erislandy Lara
Canelo came knocking, and Lara answered the door.
2) Carlos Molina (17-156-171)
Last Fight: 9/14/2013- W (SD12) vs. #5 Ishe Smith
Next Fight: 9/6/2014- vs. #10 Cornelius Bundrage
The September 6 date for the Bundrage fight is still a bit tentative, but it looks pretty solid.  It will take place in Cancun due to Molina’s legal and immigration issues.
3) Erislandy Lara (17-156-178)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- UD12 #4 Austin Trout
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #1 Saul Alvarez
Lara traded an intended fight with Ishe Smith for a more lucrative and important showdown with Canelo.  The fight might not determine a legitimate champion, but it should at least crown a preeminent top contender.
4) Miguel Cotto (4-213-213)
Last Fight: 6/7/2014- RTD10 MW Champ Sergio Martinez (at MW)
Next Fight: Unknown
Cotto is now the Middleweight Champion, so it remains to be seen if he’ll continue to fight at 154 at all.  He’s reportedly interested in fighting Canelo, in a likely catchweight fight, if Canelo can get by Lara.
5) Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (4-42-42)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- W* (MD12) vs. #4 WW Marcos Maidana (at WW)
Next Fight: 9/13/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent
Floyd will be fighting on September 13.  A Maidana rematch remains a possibility.
6) Austin Trout (4-109-178)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- L (UD12) vs. #5 Erislandy Lara
Next Fight: 7/19/2014- vs. Daniel Dawson (UNR)
Trout will look to get back on track with a fairly easy Friday Night Fights main event against upper mid-level Australian journeyman Daniel Dawson, who was once a fringe contender, but not since 2007.
7) Ishe Smith (4-71-71)
Last Fight: 5/2/2014- KO2 Ryan Davis (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
I know he was a relatively short-notice replacement, but Ryan Davis was a little too hapless even by that standard.
8) Joshua Clottey (4-12-12)
Last Fight: 4/9/2014- UD12 #7 Anthony Mundine
Next Fight: Unknown
For those looking for a good way to revitalize a practically evaporated career, you couldn’t do much better than the example Clottey just provided.  He wants to fight Mayweather, but I’d say he’s at least one top 5 win away from having a chance at that.
9) Anthony Mundine (12-31-31)
Last Fight: 4/9/2014- L (UD12) vs. Joshua Clottey (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Mundine is reportedly in talks to bring the now much larger and also more retired Danny Green into a rematch.
10) Cornelius Bundrage (12-204-204)
Last Fight: 1/24/2014- UD12 Joey Hernandez (UNR)
Next Fight: 9/6/2014- vs. #2 Carlos Molina
See Molina’s notes, above.
11) Demetrius Andrade (3-34)
Last Fight: 6/14/2014- TKO7 #20 Brian Rose
Next Fight: Unknown
After manhandling an overrated Brian Rose, Andrade says he’s ready for the big names.
12) Alfredo Angulo (3-249)
Last Fight: 3/8/2014- L (TKO10) vs. #4 Saul Alvarez
Next Fight: Unknown
Angulo could probably use a fight with a gatekeeper or low level fringe contender just to get his career momentum going.
13) Sergey Rabchenko (3-107)
Last Fight: 11/16/2013- UD12 Bradley Pryce (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Rabchenko’s fight in Rome was cancelled on 3 days’ notice due to Visa issues, and his would-be opponent, journeyman Emanuele Della Rosa, will be fighting undefeated prospect Isaac Real for what had been Rabchenko’s European title.
14) Jermell Charlo (3-56)
Last Fight: 5/24/2014- UD12 Charlie Ota (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
15) Vanes Martirosyan (4-161)
Last Fight: 3/21/2014- UD10 Mario Lozano (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Vanes was supposed to fight on the Stiverne-Arreola card from what I understood, but that fight quietly disappeared from the schedule at some unknown point in time.  He’s been dropped by Top Rank and signed with Dan Goossen, as well.
16) Brian Castaño (4-4)
Last Fight: 6/6/2014- TKO4 #15 Cesar Sastre Silva
Next Fight: Unknown
Castano looked like kind of a beast against Sastre Silva.  Only time will tell if he really is a beast, was beating up on an overrated fringe contender, or some combination of those possibilities.
17) Gabriel Rosado (7-23)
Last Fight: 1/25/2014- L (UD10) vs. #18 Jermell Charlo
Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #10 SMW Bryan Vera (at MW)
Rosado will be fighting Bryan Vera in a new event called Big Knockout Boxing.  The knockdown rules are different, and the ring is replaced with a circular “pit.”  I probably won’t know if it will count in the rankings until I’ve had a chance to see it in action.
18) Zaurbek Baysangurov (7-12)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- TKO12 #20 Guido Pitto
Next Fight: Unknown
Baysangurov looked the best I’ve seen him, by far, against Pitto.
19) Willie Nelson (7-70)
Last Fight: 6/7/2014- TKO1 Darryl Cunningham (UNR) (at MW)
Next Fight: 8/8/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent
Nelson was just days away from removal for inactivity at 154 when Lou DiBella announced he’d be fighting on August 8.  There’s no opponent yet, and so there’s still the possibility he’ll be removed if it becomes clear that he’s fighting at 160 again.  Stay tuned.
20) Kell Brook (3-3)
Last Fight: 3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR)
Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #6 WW Shawn Porter (at WW)
Brook is really a welterweight (and a top 10 contender at that weight), but has thrown in enough significant wins near the 154 limit to make himself independently a fringe contender at this weight.  He’ll get a shot at a welterweight belt on August 16 against Shawn Porter in New York.

 

The Week Ahead: No consequential fights to discuss at 154 next week.

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Junior Middleweight: 2014, Jun 23-29

Posted in Junior Middleweight, Rankings with tags , , , , , , , on November 18, 2014 by danboxing
Weltereweight contender Devon Alexander got a very debatable decision over Jesus Soto Karass on Saturday at a catchweight of 149.  Theoretically, they could both be ranked here based on the nebulous outcome (I’ll discuss that more in my welterweight update), but I just don’t think that makes a darned lick of sense.  Both guys, especially Alexander, are still Welterweights, and Alexander’s performance is not worthy of his present ranking at welterweight, much less a new one at 154.  This isn’t any kind of precedent going forward.  It’s just common sense as I see it.  No changes.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: None
1) Saul Alvarez (16-173-188)
Last Fight: 3/8/2014- TKO10 #10 Alfredo Angulo (at 155)
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #3 Erislandy Lara
Canelo came knocking, and Lara answered the door.
2) Carlos Molina (16-155-170)
Last Fight: 9/14/2013- W (SD12) vs. #5 Ishe Smith
Next Fight: Unknown
Molina and Bundrage haven’t reached a deal for their IBF-mandated fight is scheduled for purse bids on June 24.
3) Erislandy Lara (16-155-177)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- UD12 #4 Austin Trout
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #1 Saul Alvarez
Lara traded an intended fight with Ishe Smith for a more lucrative and important showdown with Canelo.  The fight might not determine a legitimate champion, but it should at least crown a preeminent top contender.
4) Miguel Cotto (3-212-212)
Last Fight: 6/7/2014- RTD10 MW Champ Sergio Martinez (at MW)
Next Fight: Unknown
Cotto is now the Middleweight Champion, so it remains to be seen if he’ll continue to fight at 154 at all.  He’s reportedly interested in fighting Canelo, in a likely catchweight fight, if Canelo can get by Lara.
5) Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (3-41-41)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- W* (MD12) vs. #4 WW Marcos Maidana (at WW)
Next Fight: 9/13/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent
Floyd will be fighting on September 13.  A Maidana rematch remains a possibility.
6) Austin Trout (3-108-177)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- L (UD12) vs. #5 Erislandy Lara
Next Fight: 7/19/2014- vs. Daniel Dawson (UNR)
Trout will look to get back on track with a fairly easy Friday Night Fights main event against upper mid-level Australian journeyman Daniel Dawson, who was once a fringe contender, but not since 2007.
7) Ishe Smith (3-70-70)
Last Fight: 5/2/2014- KO2 Ryan Davis (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
I know he was a relatively short-notice replacement, but Ryan Davis was a little too hapless even by that standard.
8) Joshua Clottey (3-11-11)
Last Fight: 4/9/2014- UD12 #7 Anthony Mundine
Next Fight: Unknown
For those looking for a good way to revitalize a practically evaporated career, you couldn’t do much better than the example Clottey just provided.  He wants to fight Mayweather, but I’d say he’s at least one top 5 win away from having a chance at that.
9) Anthony Mundine (11-30-30)
Last Fight: 4/9/2014- L (UD12) vs. Joshua Clottey (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Mundine is reportedly in talks to bring the now much larger and also more retired Danny Green into a rematch.
10) Cornelius Bundrage (11-203-203)
Last Fight: 1/24/2014- UD12 Joey Hernandez (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
See Molina’s notes, above.
11) Demetrius Andrade (2-33)
Last Fight: 6/14/2014- TKO7 #20 Brian Rose
Next Fight: Unknown
After manhandling an overrated Brian Rose, Andrade says he’s ready for the big names.
12) Alfredo Angulo (2-248)
Last Fight: 3/8/2014- L (TKO10) vs. #4 Saul Alvarez
Next Fight: Unknown
Angulo could probably use a fight with a gatekeeper or low level fringe contender just to get his career momentum going.
13) Sergey Rabchenko (2-106)
Last Fight: 11/16/2013- UD12 Bradley Pryce (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Rabchenko’s fight in Rome was cancelled on 3 days’ notice due to Visa issues, and his would-be opponent, journeyman Emanuele Della Rosa, will be fighting undefeated prospect Isaac Real for what had been Rabchenko’s European title.
14) Jermell Charlo (2-55)
Last Fight: 5/24/2014- UD12 Charlie Ota (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
15) Vanes Martirosyan (3-160)
Last Fight: 3/21/2014- UD10 Mario Lozano (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Vanes was supposed to fight on the Stiverne-Arreola card from what I understood, but that fight quietly disappeared from the schedule at some unknown point in time.  He’s been dropped by Top Rank and signed with Dan Goossen, as well.
16) Brian Castaño (3-3)
Last Fight: 6/6/2014- TKO4 #15 Cesar Sastre Silva
Next Fight: Unknown
Castano looked like kind of a beast against Sastre Silva.  Only time will tell if he really is a beast, was beating up on an overrated fringe contender, or some combination of those possibilities.
17) Gabriel Rosado (6-22)
Last Fight: 1/25/2014- L (UD10) vs. #18 Jermell Charlo
Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #10 SMW Bryan Vera (at MW)
Rosado will be fighting Bryan Vera in a new event called Big Knockout Boxing.  The knockdown rules are different, and the ring is replaced with a circular “pit.”  I probably won’t know if it will count in the rankings until I’ve had a chance to see it in action.
18) Zaurbek Baysangurov (6-11)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- TKO12 #20 Guido Pitto
Next Fight: Unknown
Baysangurov looked the best I’ve seen him, by far, against Pitto.
19) Willie Nelson (6-69)
Last Fight: 6/7/2014- TKO1 Darryl Cunningham (UNR) (at MW)
Next Fight: Unknown
Nelson has until Monday to schedule a fight at 154 to avoid removal for inactivity at the weight.
20) Kell Brook (2-2)
Last Fight: 3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR)
Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #6 WW Shawn Porter (at WW)
Brook is really a welterweight (and a top 10 contender at that weight), but has thrown in enough significant wins near the 154 limit to make himself independently a fringe contender at this weight.  He’ll get a shot at a welterweight belt on August 16 against Shawn Porter in New York.

 

The Week Ahead: 
Saturday
Roberto Santos vs. Kobe Vandekerkhove; Rzeszow, Poland; Off TV
Santos is a Spanish gatekeeper promoted by Sergio Martinez.  He’s just keeping busy with low-level journeyman Vandekerkhove of Belgium.

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Junior Middleweight: 2014, Jun 16-22

Posted in Junior Middleweight, Rankings with tags , , , , , , , on November 9, 2014 by danboxing
One-loss prospect Glen Tapia scored two knockdowns and ultimately a stoppage in less than half a round in Atlantic City on Saturday, earning an easy tune-up win over inactive lower-mid-level journeyman Keenan Collins of Brooklyn.

 

In a significantly more important fight, #14 Demetrius Andrade of Providence, Rhode Island brutally dominated overrated #20 Brian Rose of England.  Andrade scored knockdowns in the first and third rounds, and earned a 10-8 in my book in the 6th, too, before stopping his man in the 7th.  Andrade looked quite dynamic, showing both world-class boxing and plenty of power, as well.  He might be one of the most well-rounded fighters in the entire division.  As for Rose, I had only grudgingly ranked him as high as #20 at this point, because his poor performances against the likes of Maciel and Kris Carslaw had pretty clearly indicated that all of his serious success (most notably a win over Prince Arron, who hasn’t been heard of since, really) was most likely a mirage.  He looked every bit the fraud against Andrade.  I leave it to you to decide which guy it says more about.  I think it is probably a strong reflection on the level of both guys, personally.

 

Andrade continues to rise, falling just short of the top 10 at #11.  Angulo, Rabchenko, and Jermell Charlo each drop a spot to accommodate his promotion.  Rose narrowly loses his spot to Kell Brook, who is also ranked in the top 10 at 147, and returns to the rankings at 154 for the first time since he was forced out on January 27.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: None
1) Saul Alvarez (15-172-187)
Last Fight: 3/8/2014- TKO10 #10 Alfredo Angulo (at 155)
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #3 Erislandy Lara
Canelo came knocking, and Lara answered the door.
2) Carlos Molina (15-154-169)
Last Fight: 9/14/2013- W (SD12) vs. #5 Ishe Smith
Next Fight: Unknown
Molina and Bundrage haven’t reached a deal for their IBF-mandated fight is scheduled for purse bids on June 24.
3) Erislandy Lara (15-154-176)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- UD12 #4 Austin Trout
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #1 Saul Alvarez
Lara traded an intended fight with Ishe Smith for a more lucrative and important showdown with Canelo.  The fight might not determine a legitimate champion, but it should at least crown a preeminent top contender.
4) Miguel Cotto (2-211-211)
Last Fight: 6/7/2014- RTD10 MW Champ Sergio Martinez (at MW)
Next Fight: Unknown
Cotto is now the Middleweight Champion, so it remains to be seen if he’ll continue to fight at 154 at all.  He’s reportedly interested in fighting Canelo, in a likely catchweight fight, if Canelo can get by Lara.
5) Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (2-40-40)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- W* (MD12) vs. #4 WW Marcos Maidana (at WW)
Next Fight: 9/13/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent
Floyd will be fighting on September 13.  A Maidana rematch remains a possibility.
6) Austin Trout (2-107-176)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- L (UD12) vs. #5 Erislandy Lara
Next Fight: 7/19/2014- vs. Daniel Dawson (UNR)
Trout will look to get back on track with a fairly easy Friday Night Fights main event against upper mid-level Australian journeyman Daniel Dawson, who was once a fringe contender, but not since 2007.
7) Ishe Smith (2-69-69)
Last Fight: 5/2/2014- KO2 Ryan Davis (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
I know he was a relatively short-notice replacement, but Ryan Davis was a little too hapless even by that standard.
8) Joshua Clottey (2-10-10)
Last Fight: 4/9/2014- UD12 #7 Anthony Mundine
Next Fight: Unknown
For those looking for a good way to revitalize a practically evaporated career, you couldn’t do much better than the example Clottey just provided.  He wants to fight Mayweather, but I’d say he’s at least one top 5 win away from having a chance at that.
9) Anthony Mundine (10-29-29)
Last Fight: 4/9/2014- L (UD12) vs. Joshua Clottey (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Mundine is reportedly in talks to bring the now much larger and also more retired Danny Green into a rematch.
10) Cornelius Bundrage (10-202-202)
Last Fight: 1/24/2014- UD12 Joey Hernandez (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
See Molina’s notes, above.
11) Demetrius Andrade (1-32)
Last Fight: 6/14/2014- TKO7 #20 Brian Rose
Next Fight: Unknown
After manhandling an overrated Brian Rose, Andrade says he’s ready for the big names.
12) Alfredo Angulo (1-247)
Last Fight: 3/8/2014- L (TKO10) vs. #4 Saul Alvarez
Next Fight: Unknown
Angulo could probably use a fight with a gatekeeper or low level fringe contender just to get his career momentum going.
13) Sergey Rabchenko (1-105)
Last Fight: 11/16/2013- UD12 Bradley Pryce (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Rabchenko’s fight in Rome was cancelled on 3 days’ notice due to Visa issues, and his would-be opponent, journeyman Emanuele Della Rosa, will be fighting undefeated prospect Isaac Real for what had been Rabchenko’s European title.
14) Jermell Charlo (1-54)
Last Fight: 5/24/2014- UD12 Charlie Ota (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
15) Vanes Martirosyan (2-159)
Last Fight: 3/21/2014- UD10 Mario Lozano (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Vanes was supposed to fight on the Stiverne-Arreola card from what I understood, but that fight quietly disappeared from the schedule at some unknown point in time.  He’s been dropped by Top Rank and signed with Dan Goossen, as well.
16) Brian Castaño (2-2)
Last Fight: 6/6/2014- TKO4 #15 Cesar Sastre Silva
Next Fight: Unknown
Castano looked like kind of a beast against Sastre Silva.  Only time will tell if he really is a beast, was beating up on an overrated fringe contender, or some combination of those possibilities.
17) Gabriel Rosado (5-21)
Last Fight: 1/25/2014- L (UD10) vs. #18 Jermell Charlo
Next Fight: Unknown
Rosado was offered to Ishe Smith as a May 2 replacement, but Smith turned him down.  In turn, Rosado is being challenged by Hassan N’Dam.
18) Zaurbek Baysangurov (5-10)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- TKO12 #20 Guido Pitto
Next Fight: Unknown
Baysangurov looked the best I’ve seen him, by far, against Pitto.
19) Willie Nelson (5-68)
Last Fight: 6/7/2014- TKO1 Darryl Cunningham (UNR) (at MW)
Next Fight: Unknown
Nelson just signed with manager Cameron Dunkin, but will need to get a potentially light middleweight fight scheduled by the end of June to maintain his ranking.
20) Kell Brook (1-1)
Last Fight: 3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR)
Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #6 WW Shawn Porter (at WW)
Brook is really a welterweight (and a top 10 contender at that weight), but has thrown in enough significant wins near the 154 limit to make himself independently a fringe contender at this weight.  He’ll get a shot at a welterweight belt on August 16 against Shawn Porter in New York.

 

The Week Ahead: 
Saturday
#9 WW Devon Alexander vs. #12 WW Jesus Soto Karass; Carson, California; Showtime (US)
This is technically scheduled to be a light middleweight fight, with Soto Karass having requested a catchweight of 149.  I plan to discuss it in much more detail at 147, but it very well might affect the rankings at both weights.

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Junior Middleweight: 2014, May 26- Jun 1

Posted in Junior Middleweight, Rankings with tags , , , , , , , on October 22, 2014 by danboxing
#16 Jermell Charlo got a really nice win on the Saturday undercard of Stevenson-Fonfara, capturing a unanimous decision over fringe contending prospect Charlie Ota, whose only loss came way back in 2007 in his 7th pro fight.  It wasn’t exactly a blowout.  Ota did score a knockdown in the 3rd round (a round he otherwise lost), and may have won as many as four rounds, which is the number I gave him.  Judge Lapointe had it essentially the same as me, except that at 115-111, he apparently gave Ota an undeserved 10-8 in round 3.  The other two judges, Larry Hazzard and Robert Paolino, apparently gave Charlo every close round, and had it 118-109.  Either way, it was a clear win for Charlo.  My main criticism of him is that he ran a bit too much.  He would have been well-served, both from a fan-friendly perspective and from a competitive one, to punch off movement more consistently, instead of waiting until he gets stuck on the ropes to let his hands go, which is something he did fairly often.  But on the flipside, Ota’s main problem was that he couldn’t cut off the ring very often, and thus allowed the generally passive Charlo to still be first, and to control range.  One side note on the officiating.  French-Canadian ref Jean-Guy Brousseau functionally couldn’t speak English, which makes him an inexcusably poor choice to referee a fight between two English-speaking fighters.  It’s not like they didn’t have other options in Quebec, such as Michael Griffin.  Even aside from the language barrier, Brousseau had a bad moment in the 9th, when he took a point from Charlo for a low blow.  It was only the second low blow I’d seen, and neither was blatant.  Definitely not a warranted deduction, in my opinion.

 

On the deeper, Showtime Extreme-televised undercard, undefeated prospect Julian Williams got the biggest win of his young career with a dominant 8 round TKO win over gatekeeper Michael Medina.  Williams appeared to be both accurate and heavy-handed, although you simultaneously have to question his natural power when you stop to consider that he hit Medina with the proverbial kitchen sink about 10 times before he was finally able to drop him in the 8th.  Even if Williams indeed is not another Golovkin-type puncher, you still have to credit the heart and chin of Medina (though not much else about his performance).  He had no head movement and was practically unable to defend himself really at all for any of the 8 rounds the fight lasted.  Medina’s stock is way down after he had little or nothing to offer in back-to-back fights against Willie Nelson and now Williams.

 

Gatekeeper Luciano Cuello got a little bit of help from the judges in La Plata, Argentina to remain viable internationally, as he took a 12-round decision over undefeated prospect Martin Rios.  I had it 114-113 Rios, and would have had it 115-113 if not for a point deduction by referee Jorge Basile for a backhanded punch that was petty, at best.  There were several close rounds, and I could have seen the fight legitimately going anywhere between 116-111 Rios and 117-110 Cuello, or 117-111 either way without the deduction.  Judges Manuel Veliz (116-111) and Juan Carlos Palmieri (114-112) had it within that range (both for Cuello), while Jorge Gorin apparently had a really good time at happy hour right before the fight, because his 119-108 card was just hideous.  I mean Rios completely dominated the first 2 rounds, as well as the last.  A drunken monkey could have scored those rounds right.  Judging aside, the story of the fight was a blistering fast start from Rios, who came out winging wild shots with his long arms, and having a great deal of success with that, especially on the plethora of occasions on which he had a passive Cuello backed to the ropes.  He appeared to be entirely punched out in the middle rounds, though, as he was forced to throw his whole body into his shots just to deliver them credibly.  This allowed Cuello to block nearly all of them.  Surprisingly, Cuello seemed content most of the time to tap away with the jab at close range, just trying to score points rather than hurt Rios.  This may have contributed to Rios’ ability to catch his second wind late in the fight.  Besides that, Rios simply appeared to want it more.  He hustled and threw his shots with conviction, while Cuello’s workrate was too low to win many of the rounds, while he allowed himself to get smothered on the inside.  Rios deserved better, I think, and Cuello looked nothing like the strong rugged guy that almost upset Willie Nelson not long ago.

 

Williams falls shy of claiming a ranking, though he does unofficially take a spot in the top 25.  Charlo benefits from the extra quality win on his resume, advancing to #13 on Ota’s back.  The Japan-based American, for his part, slumps down into roughly the mid-30s.  Cuello hasn’t beaten any top 50 opponents yet, so he’s not eligible for a ranking, and thus even though Rios would otherwise earn at least token consideration, he’s not eligible either, due to the paradox.  If either guy does have success against a top 50 opponent at some stage, though, this fight will figure into the calculus when determining his rightful place.  With Charlo’s promotion, everyone ranked #13-15 backtracks a spot.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: None
1) Saul Alvarez (12-169-184)
Last Fight: 3/8/2014- TKO10 #10 Alfredo Angulo (at 155)
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #3 Erislandy Lara
Canelo came knocking, and Lara answered the door.
2) Carlos Molina (12-151-166)
Last Fight: 9/14/2013- W (SD12) vs. #5 Ishe Smith
Next Fight: Unknown
Molina is out of jail and training in Mexico City.  He lobbied the IBF to give him an exemption to defend his belt against Jermall Charlo, whom he was supposed to face already before he was jailed, but the alphabet is sticking to its guns and will try to make him fight Bundrage, instead.
3) Erislandy Lara (12-151-173)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- UD12 #4 Austin Trout
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #1 Saul Alvarez
Lara traded an intended fight with Ishe Smith for a more lucrative and important showdown with Canelo.  The fight might not determine a legitimate champion, but it should at least crown a preeminent top contender.
4) Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (12-37-37)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- W* (MD12) vs. #4 WW Marcos Maidana (at WW)
Next Fight: 9/13/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent
Floyd will be fighting on September 13.  A Maidana rematch remains a possibility.
5) Austin Trout (25-104-173)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- L (UD12) vs. #5 Erislandy Lara
Next Fight: Unknown
Trout might be getting to that unfortunate position of having a record underwhelming enough to be low-reward, while still being easily skilled enough to be high-risk.  He says essentially that he wants worthwhile fights in 2014, rather than a soft diet for rebuilding purposes.
6) Ishe Smith (37-66-66)
Last Fight: 5/2/2014- KO2 Ryan Davis (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
I know he was a relatively short-notice replacement, but Ryan Davis was a little too hapless even by that standard.
7) Joshua Clottey (7-7-7)
Last Fight: 4/9/2014- UD12 #7 Anthony Mundine
Next Fight: Unknown
For those looking for a good way to revitalize a practically evaporated career, you couldn’t do much better than the example Clottey just provided.  He wants to fight Mayweather, but I’d say he’s at least one top 5 win away from having a chance at that.
8) Miguel Cotto (26-208-208)
Last Fight: 10/5/2013- TKO3 #11 Delvin Rodriguez
Next Fight: 6/7/2014- vs. MW Champ Sergio Martinez (at MW)
Cotto and Martinez have now officially agreed to a Middleweight Championship fight on June 7 at MSG.
9) Anthony Mundine (7-26-26)
Last Fight: 4/9/2014- L (UD12) vs. Joshua Clottey (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Mundine is reportedly in talks to bring the now much larger and also more retired Danny Green into a rematch.
10) Cornelius Bundrage (7-199-199)
Last Fight: 1/24/2014- UD12 Joey Hernandez (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
It appears that Bundrage has jumped to the front of the line to challenge for Molina’s belt, and his would-be opponent is now out of jail and training.
11) Alfredo Angulo (7-244)
Last Fight: 3/8/2014- L (TKO10) vs. #4 Saul Alvarez
Next Fight: Unknown
Angulo could probably use a fight with a gatekeeper or low level fringe contender just to get his career momentum going.
12) Sergey Rabchenko (7-102)
Last Fight: 11/16/2013- UD12 Bradley Pryce (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Rabchenko’s fight in Rome was cancelled on 3 days’ notice due to Visa issues, and his would-be opponent, journeyman Emanuele Della Rosa, will be fighting undefeated prospect Isaac Real for what had been Rabchenko’s European title.
13) Jermell Charlo (1-51)
Last Fight: 5/24/2014- UD12 Charlie Ota (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
With the cancellation of Smith-Lara, Charlo has been bumped back to May 24, and will fight fringe contending prospect Charlie Ota.
14) Demetrius Andrade (1-29)
Last Fight: 11/9/2013- W* (SD12) vs. #13 Vanes Martirosyan
Next Fight: 6/14/2014- vs. Brian Rose (UNR)
Andrade and Rose have agreed to fight in the US, with a date of June 14.
15) Cesar Sastre Silva (1-6)
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- Robbery UD10 Loss (should be win) vs. #13 Javier Maciel
Next Fight: 6/6/2014- vs. Brian Castano (UNR)
Sastre Silva dominated a confused-looking Javier Maciel, but got robbed even worse than Maciel had been robbed against Rose in his previous fight.  Now he’ll be in with an undefeated prospect in Brian Castano on June 6.
16) Vanes Martirosyan (1-156)
Last Fight: 3/21/2014- UD10 Mario Lozano (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Vanes was supposed to fight on the Stiverne-Arreola card from what I understood, but that fight quietly disappeared from the schedule at some unknown point in time.  He’s been dropped by Top Rank and signed with Dan Goossen, as well.
17) Gabriel Rosado (2-18)
Last Fight: 1/25/2014- L (UD10) vs. #18 Jermell Charlo
Next Fight: Unknown
Rosado was offered to Ishe Smith as a May 2 replacement, but Smith turned him down.  In turn, Rosado is being challenged by Hassan N’Dam.
18) Zaurbek Baysangurov (2-7)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- TKO12 #20 Guido Pitto
Next Fight: Unknown
Baysangurov looked the best I’ve seen him, by far, against Pitto.
19) Willie Nelson (2-65)
Last Fight: 6/29/2013- UD10 Luciano Cuello (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
After a big fight fell through for him in May, Nelson’s co-promoter Lou DiBella says the lanky Nelson will be fighting in a main event in August.
20) Brian Rose (2-2)
Last Fight: 10/26/2014- Robbery SD12 W (Draw at best) vs. Javier Maciel (UNR)
Next Fight: 6/14/2014- vs. #13 Demetrius Andrade
See Andrade’s notes, above.

 

The Week Ahead: Nothing going on this week.

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Junior Middleweight: 2014, May 19-25

Posted in Junior Middleweight, Rankings with tags , , , , , , , on October 17, 2014 by danboxing
Friday in Montreal, #15 Delvin Rodriguez looked to be somewhat the worse for wear after his wipeout loss to Cotto last year.  His opponent this time was former contender and current journeyman Joachim Alcine, who returned to his form of at least a few years ago, it seemed.  Rodriguez started out solidly enough, carrying the first three rounds on my card.  But by the fourth, his work had begun to look a bit ragged.  Alcine swept the middle four rounds in my opinion, and had the lead at 67-66 after 7 complete.  Inexplicably, though, it almost seemed that Alcine’s desire to win the fight waned down the stretch, and he allowed Rodriguez to simply outwork him for each of the last three rounds.  I had Rodriguez eeking out a 96-94 victory.  Judge Benoit Roussel had it a round wider, while Jack Woodburn swung a couple toss-up rounds to Alcine to have him up 96-94.  Paschal Procopio split the difference at 95-95, and the fight was declared a draw.  I can’t argue much with that, even though I did think Rodriguez edged it out.

 

Giving deference to the judges, Alcine moves back to the gatekeeper category and perhaps resurrects his career a little, while Rodriguez exits the top 20, settling in at about the borderline of the top 25 for my money.  

 

This movement allows everyone ranked #16 and below last week to move up a spot, and lets Brian Rose reclaim a spot in the top 20 for the first time since he was forced out on April 14.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: None
1) Saul Alvarez (11-168-183)
Last Fight: 3/8/2014- TKO10 #10 Alfredo Angulo (at 155)
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #3 Erislandy Lara
Canelo came knocking, and Lara answered the door.
2) Carlos Molina (11-150-165)
Last Fight: 9/14/2013- W (SD12) vs. #5 Ishe Smith
Next Fight: Unknown
Molina is out of jail and training in Mexico City.  He will most likely get Cornelius Bundrage next, but has requested an optional defense against Jermall Charlo, with whom he had a fight scheduled before his incarceration.
3) Erislandy Lara (11-150-172)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- UD12 #4 Austin Trout
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #1 Saul Alvarez
Lara traded an intended fight with Ishe Smith for a more lucrative and important showdown with Canelo.  The fight might not determine a legitimate champion, but it should at least crown a preeminent top contender.
4) Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (11-36-36)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- W* (MD12) vs. #4 WW Marcos Maidana (at WW)
Next Fight: 9/13/2014- vs. Unknown Opponent
Floyd will be fighting on September 13.  A Maidana rematch remains a possibility.
5) Austin Trout (24-103-172)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- L (UD12) vs. #5 Erislandy Lara
Next Fight: Unknown
Trout might be getting to that unfortunate position of having a record underwhelming enough to be low-reward, while still being easily skilled enough to be high-risk.  He says essentially that he wants worthwhile fights in 2014, rather than a soft diet for rebuilding purposes.
6) Ishe Smith (36-65-65)
Last Fight: 5/2/2014- KO2 Ryan Davis (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
I know he was a relatively short-notice replacement, but Ryan Davis was a little too hapless even by that standard.
7) Joshua Clottey (6-6-6)
Last Fight: 4/9/2014- UD12 #7 Anthony Mundine
Next Fight: Unknown
For those looking for a good way to revitalize a practically evaporated career, you couldn’t do much better than the example Clottey just provided.  He wants to fight Mayweather, but I’d say he’s at least one top 5 win away from having a chance at that.
8) Miguel Cotto (25-207-207)
Last Fight: 10/5/2013- TKO3 #11 Delvin Rodriguez
Next Fight: 6/7/2014- vs. MW Champ Sergio Martinez (at MW)
Cotto and Martinez have now officially agreed to a Middleweight Championship fight on June 7 at MSG.
9) Anthony Mundine (6-25-25)
Last Fight: 4/9/2014- L (UD12) vs. Joshua Clottey (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Not one to be kept down for long, Mundine offered to substitute for Erislandy Lara for Ishe Smith’s May 2 date.
10) Cornelius Bundrage (6-198-198)
Last Fight: 1/24/2014- UD12 Joey Hernandez (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
It appears that Bundrage has jumped to the front of the line to challenge for Molina’s belt, and his would-be opponent is now out of jail and training.
11) Alfredo Angulo (6-243)
Last Fight: 3/8/2014- L (TKO10) vs. #4 Saul Alvarez
Next Fight: Unknown
Angulo could probably use a fight with a gatekeeper or low level fringe contender just to get his career momentum going.
12) Sergey Rabchenko (6-101)
Last Fight: 11/16/2013- UD12 Bradley Pryce (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Rabchenko’s fight in Rome was cancelled on 3 days’ notice due to Visa issues, and his would-be opponent, journeyman Emanuele Della Rosa, will be fighting undefeated prospect Isaac Real for what had been Rabchenko’s European title.
13) Demetrius Andrade (5-28)
Last Fight: 11/9/2013- W* (SD12) vs. #13 Vanes Martirosyan
Next Fight: 6/14/2014- vs. Brian Rose (UNR)
Andrade and Rose have agreed to fight in the US, with a date of June 14.
14) Cesar Sastre Silva (5-5)
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- Robbery UD10 Loss (should be win) vs. #13 Javier Maciel
Next Fight: 6/6/2014- vs. Brian Castano (UNR)
Sastre Silva dominated a confused-looking Javier Maciel, but got robbed even worse than Maciel had been robbed against Rose in his previous fight.  Now he’ll be in with an undefeated prospect in Brian Castano on June 6.
15) Vanes Martirosyan (1-155)
Last Fight: 3/21/2014- UD10 Mario Lozano (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Vanes was supposed to fight on the Stiverne-Arreola card from what I understood, but that fight quietly disappeared from the schedule at some unknown point in time.  He’s been dropped by Top Rank and signed with Dan Goossen, as well.
16) Jermell Charlo (1-50)
Last Fight: 1/25/2014- UD10 Gabriel Rosado (UNR)
Next Fight: 5/24/2014- vs. Charlie Ota (UNR)
With the cancellation of Smith-Lara, Charlo has been bumped back to May 24, and will fight fringe contending prospect Charlie Ota.
17) Gabriel Rosado (1-17)
Last Fight: 1/25/2014- L (UD10) vs. #18 Jermell Charlo
Next Fight: Unknown
Rosado was offered to Ishe Smith as a May 2 replacement, but Smith turned him down.  In turn, Rosado is being challenged by Hassan N’Dam.
18) Zaurbek Baysangurov (1-6)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- TKO12 #20 Guido Pitto
Next Fight: Unknown
Baysangurov looked the best I’ve seen him, by far, against Pitto.
19) Willie Nelson (1-64)
Last Fight: 6/29/2013- UD10 Luciano Cuello (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
After a big fight fell through for him in May, Nelson’s co-promoter Lou DiBella says the lanky Nelson will be fighting in a main event in August.
20) Brian Rose (1-1)
Last Fight: 10/26/2014- Robbery SD12 W (Draw at best) vs. Javier Maciel (UNR)
Next Fight: 6/14/2014- vs. #13 Demetrius Andrade
See Andrade’s notes, above.

 

The Week Ahead:
Saturday
#16 Jermell Charlo vs. Charlie Ota; Montreal, Quebec; Showtime (US)
This is a really nice match-up.  Charlo is a supremely talented undefeated prospect with the full backing of the most powerful promoter in the world.  Ota is a pretty decent prospect in his own right.  A former American serviceman once known as Charlie Bellamy, he has fought his entire career out of Japan.  I’ve got him unofficially ranked in the mid-20s currently.  Charlo handled a proven fringe contender in Rosado, so he’s the clear favorite here.  Still, Ota is no joke, and this should be a worthwhile scrap.

 

Julian Williams vs. Michael Medina; Montreal, Quebec; Showtime Extreme (US)
Williams is a rising 24 year-old Philly prospect.  Medina is a California gatekeeper who comes off more than 14 months’ inactivity following an ankle injury and TKO loss to Willie Nelson in March 2013.  He is roughly on a par with the other 3 or 4 best opponents of Williams’ career.  Williams handled Freddy Hernandez and Dashon Johnson with ease, dominated Hugo Centeno before a cut caused a no contest, and won a hard-fought battle with Joachim Alcine mainly by dropping Alcine 3 times.  Based on that track record, Williams ought to be the big favorite, especially with Medina’s potential for ring rust and physical issues from the injury.

 

Luciano Cuello vs. Martin Rios; La Plata, Argentina; TyC Sports (Argentina)
Cuello, of Argentina, would qualify as a gatekeeper.  Managed by Sergio Martinez, he was a 23-0 prospect when he lost a close decision to a pre-prime Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. in 2009.  18 months later, he was stopped in 6 by a young Canelo.  He made his US cable debut in June, when he lost a very very close fight with current #19 Willie Nelson.  Rios is a moderately unproven undefeated prospect, also from Argentina, who has two draws on his record, but comes off a TKO over the best opponent of his career, mid-range journeyman Juan Manuel Bonanni, in February.  Cuello looks like a real international threat to the division, and I don’t think Rios looks like the kind of guy that’s likely to graduate to that level.

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Junior Middleweight: 2014, May 12-18

Posted in Junior Middleweight, Rankings with tags , , , , , , , on October 13, 2014 by danboxing
No significant action to report from last week.

 

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)
Champ: None
1) Saul Alvarez (10-167-182)
Last Fight: 3/8/2014- TKO10 #10 Alfredo Angulo (at 155)
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #3 Erislandy Lara
Canelo came knocking, and Lara answered the door.
2) Carlos Molina (10-149-164)
Last Fight: 9/14/2013- W (SD12) vs. #5 Ishe Smith
Next Fight: Unknown
Molina is out of jail and training in Mexico City.  He will most likely get Cornelius Bundrage next.
3) Erislandy Lara (10-149-171)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- UD12 #4 Austin Trout
Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #1 Saul Alvarez
Lara traded an intended fight with Ishe Smith for a more lucrative and important showdown with Canelo.  The fight might not determine a legitimate champion, but it should at least crown a preeminent top contender.
4) Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (10-35-35)
Last Fight: 5/3/2014- W* (MD12) vs. #4 WW Marcos Maidana (at WW)
Next Fight: Unknown
I’m not taking anything away from the very impressive Maidana, but it’s been clear to me in recent fights that Floyd is falling back to the pack.  He lost this fight beyond all but the most generous of doubt.
5) Austin Trout (23-102-171)
Last Fight: 12/7/2013- L (UD12) vs. #5 Erislandy Lara
Next Fight: Unknown
Trout might be getting to that unfortunate position of having a record underwhelming enough to be low-reward, while still being easily skilled enough to be high-risk.  He says essentially that he wants worthwhile fights in 2014, rather than a soft diet for rebuilding purposes.
6) Ishe Smith (35-64-64)
Last Fight: 5/2/2014- KO2 Ryan Davis (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
I know he was a relatively short-notice replacement, but Ryan Davis was a little too hapless even by that standard.
7) Joshua Clottey (5-5-5)
Last Fight: 4/9/2014- UD12 #7 Anthony Mundine
Next Fight: Unknown
For those looking for a good way to revitalize a practically evaporated career, you couldn’t do much better than the example Clottey just provided.  He wants to fight Mayweather, but I’d say he’s at least one top 5 win away from having a chance at that.
8) Miguel Cotto (24-206-206)
Last Fight: 10/5/2013- TKO3 #11 Delvin Rodriguez
Next Fight: 6/7/2014- vs. MW Champ Sergio Martinez (at MW)
Cotto and Martinez have now officially agreed to a Middleweight Championship fight on June 7 at MSG.
9) Anthony Mundine (5-24-24)
Last Fight: 4/9/2014- L (UD12) vs. Joshua Clottey (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Not one to be kept down for long, Mundine offered to substitute for Erislandy Lara for Ishe Smith’s May 2 date.
10) Cornelius Bundrage (5-197-197)
Last Fight: 1/24/2014- UD12 Joey Hernandez (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
It appears that Bundrage has jumped to the front of the line to challenge for Molina’s belt, and his would-be opponent is now out of jail and training.
11) Alfredo Angulo (5-242)
Last Fight: 3/8/2014- L (TKO10) vs. #4 Saul Alvarez
Next Fight: Unknown
Angulo could probably use a fight with a gatekeeper or low level fringe contender just to get his career momentum going.
12) Sergey Rabchenko (5-100)
Last Fight: 11/16/2013- UD12 Bradley Pryce (UNR)
Next Fight: 5/17/2014- vs. Emanuele Della Rosa (UNR)
Rabchenko will defend his European belt in Rome on May 17 against a local prospect, and is hoping for a shot at a vacant alphabet belt after that.
13) Demetrius Andrade (4-27)
Last Fight: 11/9/2013- W* (SD12) vs. #13 Vanes Martirosyan
Next Fight: 6/14/2014- vs. Brian Rose (UNR)
Andrade and Rose have agreed to fight in the US, with a date of June 14.
14) Cesar Sastre Silva (4-4)
Last Fight: 4/19/2014- Robbery UD10 Loss (should be win) vs. #13 Javier Maciel
Next Fight: 6/6/2014- vs. Brian Castano (UNR)
Sastre Silva dominated a confused-looking Javier Maciel, but got robbed even worse than Maciel had been robbed against Rose in his previous fight.  Now he’ll be in with an undefeated prospect in Brian Castano on June 6.
15) Delvin Rodriguez (5-148)
Last Fight: 10/5/2013- L (TKO3) vs. #7 Miguel Cotto
Next Fight: 5/16/2014- vs. Joachim Alcine (UNR)
Rodriguez looks to get back on track on May 16 against veteran Alcine on Friday Night Fights.
16) Vanes Martirosyan (5-154)
Last Fight: 3/21/2014- UD10 Mario Lozano (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
Vanes was supposed to fight on the Stiverne-Arreola card from what I understood, but that fight quietly disappeared from the schedule at some unknown point in time.
17) Jermell Charlo (5-49)
Last Fight: 1/25/2014- UD10 Gabriel Rosado (UNR)
Next Fight: 5/24/2014- vs. Charlie Ota (UNR)
With the cancellation of Smith-Lara, Charlo has been bumped back to May 24, and will fight fringe contending prospect Charlie Ota.
18) Gabriel Rosado (5-16)
Last Fight: 1/25/2014- L (UD10) vs. #18 Jermell Charlo
Next Fight: Unknown
Rosado was offered to Ishe Smith as a May 2 replacement, but Smith turned him down.  In turn, Rosado is being challenged by Hassan N’Dam.
19) Zaurbek Baysangurov (5-5)
Last Fight: 4/12/2014- TKO12 #20 Guido Pitto
Next Fight: Unknown
Baysangurov looked the best I’ve seen him, by far, against Pitto.
20) Willie Nelson (5-63)
Last Fight: 6/29/2013- UD10 Luciano Cuello (UNR)
Next Fight: Unknown
After a big fight fell through for him in May, Nelson’s co-promoter Lou DiBella says the lanky Nelson will be fighting in a main event in August.

 

The Week Ahead:
Friday
#15 Delvin Rodriguez vs. Joachim Alcine; Montreal, Quebec; ESPN2 (US)
Rodriguez is not exactly on a roll, having been flat-out destroyed by Miguel Cotto in October.  This fight is all about getting a win against a respected fighter on his last legs.  Alcine may be just that.  He once held an alphabet title, and more recently upset David Lemieux at the outset of his rebuilding effort, but he lost 5 straight against good opposition after that fight, and has only beaten complete nobodies in his two fights since.  Rodriguez might be on a downward swing, himself, but he ought to still be a level or two above Alcine at the moment.

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