“And New…” - BoxingScene Ratings and Results Update

By Cliff Rold

Any time boxing can point to a new, true World Champion, it’s a good thing.   Any time that champion has an immediate slate of possibilities, it’s even better.   That is the case on both counts at Light Heavyweight as Jean Pascal steps into a slot left empty by the retirement of Joe Calzaghe (or the vacating of Zsolt Erdei for purists) in 2009.  

With that shakeup, and some other notable action over the last couple weeks, this is the second BoxingScene ratings update for August.

Light Heavyweight (169-175 lbs.)

Notable Recent Results

07/23: Beibut Shumenov (10-1, 6 KO, WBA ) UD12 #8 Vyecheslav Uzelkov (22-1, 14 KO)

08/07: #3 Tavoris Cloud (21-0, 18 KO, IBF ) UD12 #4 Glen Johnson (50-14-2, 34 KO)

08/14: #2 Jean Pascal (26-1, 16 KO, WBC ) TD11 #1 Chad Dawson (29-1, 17 KO); vacant World Championship

World Light Heavyweight Champion: Jean Pascal (26-1, 16 KO, Lineal/Ring/WBC)

Lineage Descends From: Pascal TD11 Dawson 08/14/2010

Top Ten Contenders                                           

1. Chad Dawson (29-1, 17 KO, WBC interim )

2. Tavoris Cloud (21-0, 18 KO, IBF , 0 Defenses)

3. Glen Johnson (50-14-2, 34 KO)

4. Bernard Hopkins (51-5-1, 32 KO)

5. Adrian Diaconu (26-2, 15 KO)

6. Juergen Braehmer (36-2, 29 KO, WBO , 2 Defenses)

7. Karo Murat (22-0, 13 KO)

8. Gabriel Campillo (20-3, 7 KO)

9. Chris Henry (25-2, 20 KO)

10. Beibut Shumenov (10-1, 6 KO)

Rating Notes… The top three fighters at Light Heavyweight remain as they were but the order has changed.   Pascal’s win over Dawson makes his the clear class of the class and he assumes the crown…Dawson’s previous work and competitive first loss make him the number one contender.   A rematch between the two could come out differently…Cloud has taken three progressive steps up and come out looking better each time.   He is all excitement in the ring and would be hell for Pascal or Dawson…Johnson gave Cloud a rough if educational night and doesn’t lose any ground for it…Light Heavyweight is only beginning to heat up and the possible arrival of Super Middleweight Lucian Bute would only add to the fun.

Previous Champion: Zsolt Erdei (2004-09); Erdei Vacated 11/14/2009

Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal: Bob Foster / Dariusz Michalczewski - 14

Consecutive Title Defense Record, Other: Dariusz Michalczewski (WBO) – 23

Current Champion – Defenses: 0 – Lineal/Ring; 3 – WBC

Key Upcoming Light Heavyweight Contests

09/18: #7 Karo Murat vs. Nathan Cleverly (19-0, 9 KO)

Jr. Welterweight (136-140 lbs.)

Notable Recent Results

07/17: #1 Timothy Bradley (26-0, 11 KO) UD12 Luis Abregu (29-1, 23 KO); non-title at Welterweight

08/07: #2 Devon Alexander (21-0, 13 KO, WBC/IBF ) UD12 #5 Andriy Kotelnik (31-4-1, 13 KO)

World Jr. Welterweight Champion: Vacant

Vacant Since: Manny Pacquiao Vacated 7/26/2010

Top Ten Contenders                                                            

1. Timothy Bradley (26-0, 11 KO, WBO , 2 Defenses )

2. Devon Alexander (21-0, 13 KO, WBC , 2 Defenses; IBF , 1 Defense)

3. Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KO, WBA , 2 Defenses)

4. Andriy Kotelnik (31-4-1, 13 KO)

5. Marcos Maidana (28-1, 27 KO)

6. Kaizer Mabuza (23-6-3, 14 KO)

7. Mike Alvarado (27-0, 19 KO)

8. Paulie Malignaggi (27-4, 5 KO)

9. Lamont Peterson (28-1, 14 KO)

10. Victor Ortiz (27-2-1, 21 KO)

Ratings Notes… Timothy Bradley’s position as class leader is more secure after Alexander’s struggle with Kotelnik.   No matter what the armchair viewers scored, Alexander didn’t win eight rounds…Kotelnik moves up a slot to fourth, past a Maidana he’s previously defeated…Alexander remains at number two for now.   While Khan beat Kotelnik cleanly, Alexander’s struggle on a single night was weighed against Khan’s previous chin issues and choice of mostly non-physically threatening foes since…Khan’s team seems to hope for a tilt with World Lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez.   A win there would strengthen Khan’s credentials and increase his star power with a win…Bradley-Alexander looks realistic for early next year and remains a fascinating affair between two talents still mastering their craft.

Previous Champion: Manny Pacquiao (2009-10)

Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal: Antonio Cervantes - 10

Consecutive Title Defense Record, Other: Julio Cesar Chavez (WBC) - 13

Key Upcoming Jr. Welterweight Contests

Nothing notable signed at this time.

Lightweight (131-135 lbs.)

Notable Recent Results

07/31: World Champion Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 37 KO) UD12 #1 Juan Diaz (35-4, 17 KO)

07/31: #7 Robert Guerrero (27-1-1, 18 KO) UD10 Joel Casamayor (37-5-1, 22 KO)

08/14: Miguel Vazquez (26-3, 12 KO) UD12 #8 Ji Hoon Kim (21-6, 18 KO); vacant IBF belt

World Lightweight Champion: Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 37 KO, Lineal/Ring/WBA Super/WBO )

Lineage Descends From: Castillo UD12 Lazcano, 06/05/2004

Top Ten Contenders                           

1. Michael Katsidis (27-2, 22 KO, WBO interim )

2. Miguel Acosta (27-3-2, 21 KO, WBA Regular , 0 Defenses)

3. Juan Diaz (35-4, 17 KO)

4. Ali Funeka (30-3-3, 25 KO)

5. Anthony Peterson (30-0, 20 KO)

6. Humberto Soto (52-7-2, 32 KO, WBC , 1 Defense)

7. Robert Guerrero (27-1-1, 18 KO)

8. Miguel Vazquez (26-3, 12 KO, IBF , 0 Defenses)

9. Antonio DeMarco (24-2-1, 17 KO)

10. Paulus Moses (25-1, 17 KO)

Rating Notes… Juan Manuel Marquez beat Juan Diaz earlier, if not as concussively in their rematch and remains the king at Lightweight…Despite having defeated Katsidis in 2008, Diaz has now lost three of four since and could easily have dropped the sole win in the run.   Katsidis moves to the top slot and Diaz drops to third…Anthony Peterson is still being ducked…Robert Guerrero managed to win almost every round and impress no one with a win over the aged Casamayor.   Let’s hope the Cuban great calls it a day…Ji Hoon Kim exits and his conqueror, Vazquez, assumes the eight slot off a dominant decision win.

Previous Champion: Joel Casamayor (2006-08)

Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal: Joe Gans – 14*

Consecutive Title Defense Record, Other: Artur Grigorian (WBO) - 17

Current Champion – Defenses: 2 – Lineal/Ring; 1 - WBA/WBO

*Gans defenses were spread over two reigns but he never lost the title in the ring, electing to vacate the title in a short trip to Welterweight before returning to reclaim the crown.   Roberto Duran can also be credited with the record at 12 in a single title reign.

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Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America.   He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com