Shumenov Up, Daiki Moves On: Review, Ratings Update
by Cliff Rold
The story out of WBO Light Heavyweight titlist Juergen Braehmer was that a stomach illness meant a trip back to Germany rather than staying put for a unification clash with WBA titlist Beibut Shumenov.
How severe a problem it was remains to be found out. Braehmer reportedly refused to meet with doctors in Kazakhstan, nuking what was to have been the first serious fight of 2011. Since, the week of the fight, one man was ready to go and the other behaved oddly in pulling out, Braehmer slides a slot below Shumenov in the ratings for now.
At Flyweight, WBA titlist Daiki Kameda’s decision to move up in weight, long anticipated, results in Luis Concepcion being instilled as full WBA champ while Kameda moves on to a likely showdown with WBA 115 lb. titlist Hugo Cazares later this year - if Hugo decides to stick around at the weight.
That should be a hell of a fight. Kameda is, for now, unrated in any division.
Not affecting the ratings but deserving praise, Mauricio Herrera’s upset of Ruslan Provodnikov on Friday night earns kudos for both men. ESPN2 had a solid 2010 and the trend continues already. One or both of those warriors may soon find themselves regarded among the very best in the world.
For those who already are…
Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel, the Yahoo Pound for Pound voting panel, and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com
