By Cliff Rold
Only a month old, boxing in 2010 has already provided some surprising upsets and its first questionable calls.
Japan’s Takashi Uchiyama turned the knockout trick against Juan Carlos Salgado at 130 lbs. to capture a major title and Carlos Tamara pulled an even bigger upset in knocking off former U.S. Olympian Brian Viloria at 108 lbs. Those were the upsets.
Scoring controversy? Well, that’s what it looked like at Jr. Middleweight when Vanes Martirosyan got some heavy benefit of the doubt in staying on the road to a title shot later this year with overly wide winning score. It was much worse at Light Heavyweight where calls for an investigation have been made over the scoring in Beibut Shumenov’s WBA title win over Gabriel Campillo.
Then there was consistency at Featherweight with Juan Manuel Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa doing the only thing they’ve done so far in their careers. They both won, and won big.
It’s all evidence of the fluidity of the sport, its highs and lows with drama all around. Along with those results, Cruiserweight has seen its newest titlist head back to Light Heavyweight and Welterweight has seen it richest fight die only for hope build to the next best thing.
How could anyone not look forward to Floyd Mayweather-Shane Mosley. It’s a consolation prize equivalent to blowing a date with
This is the BoxingScene Divisional Ratings and Results Update.
Cruiserweight (176-200 lbs.)
Notable Recent Results
10/24: World Champion Tomasz Adamek (39-1, 27 KO) TKO5 Andrew Golota (41-7-1, 33 KO); heavyweight bout
11/21: Zsolt Erdei (31-0, 17 KO) MD12 #4 Giacobbe Fragomeni (26-2-1, 10 KO, WBC)
12/2: Danny Green (28-3, 25 KO) TKO1 #8 Light Heavyweight Roy Jones Jr. (54-6, 40 KO)
12/5: #5 Marco Huck (27-1, 20 KO, WBO) UD12 #3 Ola Afolabi (14-2-3, 6 KO)
World Cruiserweight Champion: Tomasz Adamek (39-1, 27 KO, Lineal/Ring)
Lineage Descends From: Adamek SD12 Cunningham 12/11/2008
Top Ten Contenders
1. Steve Cunningham (22-2, 11 KO)
2. Marco Huck (27-1, 20 KO, WBO, 1 Defense)
3. Ola Afolabi (14-2-3, 6 KO)
4. Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (42-2-1, 31 KO)
5. Victor Ramirez (15-2, 12 KO)
6. Grigory Drozd (32-1, 23 KO)
7. Giacobbe Fragomeni (26-2-1, 10 KO)
8. Danny Green (28-3, 25 KO)
9. Troy Ross (23-1, 16 KO)
10. Denis Lebedev (19-0, 14 KO)
Rating Notes…Cruiserweight, after a lengthy period of relative strength, is either fading or reloading. Time will tell, but the likelihood that Adamek isn’t returning from Heavyweight doesn’t bode well…Huck improved his stock with a nice, close win over Afolabi… Afolabi might have dropped more in defeat but the removal from the ratings of longtime stalwarts Firat Arslan and WBA titlist Guillermo Jones, both of whom were been inactive for over a year, allowed him to keep some ground…Zsolt Erdei’s decision to vacate the WBC Cruiserweight belt also clears him from the ratings…Into the ratings due to their exits come Danny Green, a former WBA Light Heavyweight titlist now competing at Cruiser, Contender Season Four winner Troy Ross, and Denis Lebedev, the man who retired Enzo Maccarinelli last year…Green made a big splash on December 5th with a first round stoppage of Roy Jones…While the division might not ever get Adamek-Steve Cunningham II, a fight it needed, it might get Cunningham-Huck II sometime down the road. Their first fight was quality stuff and it remains Huck’s only defeat.
Previous Champion: David Haye (2007-08, Vacated)
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal: Carlos DeLeon - 4
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Other: Johnny Nelson (WBO) - 13
Current Champion – Defenses: 2 – Lineal/Ring/IBF
Key Upcoming Cruiserweight Contests
02/22: #10 Denis Lebedev vs. Ignacio Esparza (16-1, 12 KO)
Light Heavyweight (169-175 lbs.)
Notable Recent Results
12/2: #4 Bernard Hopkins (50-5-1, 32 KO) UD12 Enrique Ornelas (29-6, 19 KO)
12/12: #2 Jean Pascal (25-1, 16 KO, WBC) UD12 #7 Adrian Diaconu (26-2, 15 KO)
12/19: #10 Juergen Braehmer (35-2, 28 KO) UD12 Dmitry Sukhotsky (14-1, 9 KO)
01/29: Beibut Shumenov (9-1, 6 KO) SD12 #9 Gabriel Campillo (19-3, 6 KO, WBA)
World Light Heavyweight Champion: Vacant
Vacant Since: Zsolt Erdei Vacated 11/14/2009
Top Ten Contenders
1. Chad Dawson (29-0, 17 KO, WBC interim)
2. Jean Pascal (25-1, 16 KO, WBC, 2 Defenses)
3. Tavoris Cloud (20-0, 18 KO, IBF, 0 Defenses)
4. Bernard Hopkins (50-5-1, 32 KO)
5. Glen Johnson (49-13-2, 33 KO)
6. Antonio Tarver (27-6, 19 KO)
7. Adrian Diaconu (26-2, 15 KO)
8. Yusaf Mack (28-2-2, 17 KO)
9. Gabriel Campillo (19-3, 6 KO)
10. Juergen Braehmer (35-2, 28 KO, WBO, 1 Defense)
Rating Notes…Chad Dawson remains atop the ratings with a chance to solidify his claim as the king of the Light Heavyweights if a bout with Jean Pascal comes off this summer as expected…Tavoris Cloud, a thrilling if far too inactive young banger, has a real fight on his hands with the winner of Johnson-Mack…Campillo had his WBA belt taken from him in the rematch with Beibut Shumenov but did not lose in any objective sense and stays right where he was in the ratings…After vacating at Light Heavyweight, Zsolt Erdei has elected to return to the division, probably for Braehmer; he’ll have to earn his rating back but, given the way he’s matched, is unlikely to ever see the lineal title again…Bernard Hopkins choice to take a rematch with what’s left of Roy Jones says all one needs to know about where Hopkins is in the Light Heavyweight pecking order. A living legend, Hopkins place in time is sealed so if he wants to cash in some easy ones, it’s hard to argue against it…Antonio Tarver may soon be on his way to Cruiserweight.
Previous Champion: Zsolt Erdei (2004-09)
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal: Bob Foster/Dariusz Michalczewski - 14
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Other: Dariusz Michalczewski (WBO) - 23
Key Upcoming Light Heavyweight Contests
02/05: #5 Glen Johnson vs. #8 Yusaf Mack
Middleweight (155-160 lbs.)
Notable Recent Results
12/05: #2 Paul Williams (38-1, 27 KO) MD12 #3 Jr. Middleweight Sergio Martinez (44-2-2, 24 KO)
12/19: World Champion Kelly Pavlik (36-1, 32 KO) TKO5 Miguel Espino (20-3-1, 9 KO)
01/11: #5 Anthony Mundine (38-3, 23 KO) UD12 Robert Medley (27-3, 17 KO)
01/16: #8 Marco Antonio Rubio (45-5-1, 39 KO) TKO9 Rigoberto Alvarez (23-2, 17 KO)
01/30: #3 Sebastian Sylvester (33-3, 16 KO, IBF) TKO10 Billy Lyell (21-8, 4 KO)
World Middleweight Champion: Kelly Pavlik (36-1, 32 KO, Lineal/Ring/WBC/WBO)
Lineage Descends From: Hopkins TKO12 Trinidad 09/29/2001
Top Ten Contenders
1. Felix Sturm (33-2-1, 13 KO, WBA, 7 Defenses)
2. Paul Williams (38-1, 27 KO)
3. Sebastian Sylvester (33-3, 16 KO, IBF, 1 Defense)
4. Khoren Gevor (31-4, 16 KO)
5. Anthony Mundine (38-3, 23 KO)
6. Daniel Geale (22-1, 13 KO)
7. Sebastian Zbik (28-0, 10 KO, WBC interim)
8. Marco Antonio Rubio (45-5-1, 39 KO)
9. David Lopez (38-12, 23 KO)
10. Giovanni Lorenzo (27-2, 19 KO)
Rating Notes…A rough 2009 business wise ended as it began for World Champion Kelly Pavlik, in knockout victory. The world still wants to see him with Paul Williams and Pavlik has stated he’ll take it, but it’s doesn’t look imminent…Williams showed vulnerability in a classic battle against Sergio Martinez and Martinez’s performance may well culminate soon in a shot at Pavlik…Felix Strum is caught up in some management issues. If those are resolved, he could mix in well with those three as could the man who should have received the decision and Sturm’s WBA belt last July, Khoren Gevor.
Previous Champion: Jermain Taylor (2005-07)
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal: Carlos Monzon - 14
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Other: Bernard Hopkins (IBF) - 20
Current Champion – Defenses: 3 - Lineal/Ring/WBC/WBO
Key Upcoming Middleweight Contests
Nothing notable signed at this time.
Welterweight (141-147 lbs.)
Notable Recent Results
12/11: Jan Zaveck (28-1, 16 KO) TKO3 Issac Hlatshwayo (29-2-1, 10 KO, IBF)
World Welterweight Champion: Vacant
Top Ten Contenders
1. Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KO, WBA Super, 0 Defenses)
2. Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KO, WBO, 0 Defenses)
3. Miguel Cotto (34-2, 27 KO)
4. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (40-0, 25 KO)
5. Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KO)
6. Andre Berto (25-0, 19 KO, WBC, 3 Defenses)
7. Luis Collazo (30-4, 15 KO)
8. Vyacheslav Senchenko (30-0, 20 KO, WBA Regular, 1 Defense)
9. Carlos Quintana (27-2, 21 KO)
10. Jan Zaveck (28-1, 16 KO, IBF, 0 Defenses)
Ratings Notes…All eyes and rhetoric have been on the embarrassing failure to make Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather but the sport could get a silver lining…Shane Mosley retains the number one spot but was without a dance partner with Andre Berto stepping out of their fight. He looks set now for Mayweather, the last lineal champion of the division, and the winner will emerge as the true champion of the class despite Mayweather’s #4 rating…For Mayweather, a Mosley fight silences any insinuations that he was looking for a softer fight than Pacquiao. Pacquiao may have moved to a tough fight ion Joshua Clottey, but Mayweather has moved on to the next best man in class…The rest of the division is little more than a Greek chorus right now with these three main players in the fold.
Previous Champion: Floyd Mayweather (2006-08, Retired)
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal or Other: Henry Armstrong - 18
Key Upcoming Welterweight Contests
03/13: #2 Manny Pacquiao vs. #5 Joshua Clottey
05/01: #1 Shane Mosley vs. #4 Floyd Mayweather
Jr. Lightweight (127-130 lbs.)
Notable Recent Results
12/19: #1 Humberto Soto (50-7-2, 32 KO) UD10 Jesus Chavez (44-7, 30 KO); non-title
01/11: Takashi Uchiyama (14-0, 11 KO) TKO12 #4 Juan Carlos Salgado (21-1-1, 15 KO, WBA)
World Jr. Lightweight Champion: Vacant
Top Ten Contenders
1. Humberto Soto (50-7-2, 32 KO, WBC, 3 Defenses)
2. Robert Guerrero (25-1-1, 17 KO, IBF, 0 Defenses)
3. Roman Martinez (23-0-1, 14 KO, WBO, 1 Defense)
4. Takashi Uchiyama (14-0, 11 KO, WBA, 0 Defenses)
5. Malcolm Klassen (24-5-2, 15 KO)
6. Cassius Baloyi (37-4-1, 19 KO)
7. Mzonke Fana (29-4, 12 KO)
8. Nicky Cook (29-2, 16 KO)
9. Vitali Tajbert (19-1, 6 KO)
10. Juan Carlos Salgado (21-1-1, 15 KO)
Ratings Notes…This remains a division in search of an identity, but at least it’s been more interesting of late…After shocking super talent Jorge Linares in the first round, Salgado is promptly shocked himself by the 30-year old Uchiyama…It’s the latest shakeup in a division which soon could lose its best titlist, Soto, to the Lightweights…Guerrero-Martinez would be a gut wrenching war if it could get made. Just throwing that out there.
Previous Champion: Manny Pacquiao (2008, Vacated)
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal or Other: Brian Mitchell – 13
Key Upcoming Jr. Lightweight Contests
Nothing notable signed at this time.
Featherweight (123-126 lbs.)
Notable Recent Results
01/23: #3 at 122 lbs. Juan Manuel Lopez (28-0, 25 KO) TKO7 #2 Steven Luevano (37-2-1, 15 KO, WBO)
01/23: #7 Yuriorkis Gamboa (17-0, 15 KO) TKO2 Rogers Mtagwa (26-14-2, 18 KO)
World Featherweight Champion: Vacant
Top Ten Contenders
1. Chris John (43-0-2, 22 KO, WBA Super, 12 Defenses)
2. Juan Manuel Lopez (28-0, 25 KO, WBO, 0 Defenses
3. Cristobal Cruz (39-11-2, 23 KO, IBF, 3 Defenses)
4. Elio Rojas (21-1, 13 KO, WBC, 0 Defenses)
5. Steven Luevano (37-2-1, 15 KO)
6. Yuriorkis Gamboa (17-0, 15 KO, WBA, 2 Defenses)
7. Rocky Juarez (28-5-1, 20 KO)
8. Jorge Solis (37-2-2, 27 KO)
9. Takahiro Aoh (17-2-1, 8 KO)
10. Mario Santiago (21-1-1, 14 KO)
* Attell’s record streak varies from 18-22 title defenses by source; the CyberBoxingZone records 20 title defenses while 18 is noted in numerous other historical records
Ratings Notes…This division sees some serious shakeups with some more probably on the way...after their twin destructive victories, interest in a Lopez-Gamboa bout is growing but it’s right to wait on that one. Why not see if they can narrow the field to themselves as the top two? One of them needs to mix Chris John in first or they’re battling for nothing but second place…Celestino Caballero moving up from the divison below would make this a potent top ten indeed…Gamboa moves up but only a little after his win over Mtagwa and may yet be too high at six. The talent is evident, but he hasn’t really been in with the real world class stuff yet in the pros…Cruz is fun but wasting time with a second Castillo bout isn’t much to look forward too…Keep an eye on Rojas. He could be more than a sleeper titlist before it’s all said and done.
Previous Champion: Manny Pacquiao (2003-05, Vacated)
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal: Abe Attell – 18*
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Other: Eusebio Pedroza (WBA) – 19
Key Upcoming Featherweight Contests
02/19: #3 Cristobal Cruz vs. Ricardo Castillo (38-7-1, 25 KO)
02/20: #4 Elio Rojas vs. Guty Espadas Jr. (45-7, 28 KO)
Jr. Featherweight (119-122 lbs.)
Notable Recent Results
01/11: #2 Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym (40-1, 28 KO, WBA) MD12 Satashi Hosono (16-1, 12 KO)
World Jr. Featherweight Champion: Vacant
Top Ten Contenders
1. Celestino Caballero (33-2, 23 KO, WBA, 6 Defenses; WBA Super/IBF, 2 Defenses)
2. Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym (40-1, 28 KO, WBA, 1 Defense)
3. Toshiaki Nishioka (35-4-3, 22 KO, WBC, 3 Defenses)
4. Steve Molitor (31-1, 12 KO)
5. Rendall Munroe (20-1, 8 KO)
6. Jeffrey Mathebula (23-2-2, 13 KO)
7. Antonio Escalante (22-2, 14 KO)
8. Bernard Dunne (28-2, 15 KO)
9. Satashi Hosono (16-1, 12 KO)
10. Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. (17-0-1, 14 KO)
Ratings Notes…Like Featherweight, the landscape is altered here, largely because of what is happening at 126 lbs…Lopez exits from the three spot to campaign at 126 and Rafael Marquez, who hasn’t fought in the division in almost two years and appear asset to stay at Featherweight, exits from fourth…new to the ratings are Hosono at nine, a narrow loser in his first title challenge, and Vasquez Jr. at ten…Vasquez Jr. tries to match his father, a former titlist at 122, against former Jr. Bantamweight titlist Marvin Sosona…Will Caballero soon be gone as well? Could Hozumi Hasegawa move up from Bantamweight before the year is out? This is a division in flux, but the good kind.
Previous Champion: Israel Vasquez (2007-09, Vacated)
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal or Other: Wilfredo Gomez - 17
Key Upcoming Jr. Featherweight Contests
02/27: #10 Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. vs. Marvin Sonsona (14-0-1, 12 KO)
Jr. Bantamweight (113-115 lbs.)
Notable Recent Results
12/12: World Champion Vic Darchinyan (33-2-1, 27 KO) KO2 #10 Tomas Rojas (32-12-1, 22 KO)
01/30: #8 Jorge Arce (53-6-1, 40 KO) TD7 Angky Angkota (23-5, 14 KO); vacant WBO belt
World Jr. Bantamweight Champion: Vic Darchinyan (33-2-1, 27 KO, Lineal/WBC/WBA Super)
Lineage Descends From: Darchinyan KO 9 Mijares 11/01/08; Fernando Montiel Officially Leaves Division 03/28/09
Top Ten Contenders
1. Nonito Donaire (22-1, 14 KO, WBA interim)
2. Nobuo Nashiro (13-1-1, 8 KO, WBA Regular, 2 Defenses)
3. Simphiwe Nongqayi (16-0, 6 KO, IBF, 0 Defenses)
4. Hugo Cazares (30-6-2, 22 KO)
5. Kohei Kono (24-4, 8 KO)
6. Drian Francisco (18-0-1, 14 KO)
7. Daigo Nakahiro (21-2, 8 KO)
8. Jorge Arce (53-6-1, 40 KO, WBO, 0 Defenses)
9. Takefumi Sakata (35-5-2, 16 KO)
10. Raul Martinez (25-1, 15 KO)
Ratings Notes…Jorge Arce finally picked up a full belt at 115 and it shows how humorous the belt business can be. In two of his previous three bouts, he’s fought Darchinyan (lost), Nongqayi (lost) and, finally, against an undeserving ‘contender’ in Angkota, he’s got the WBO belt. A ‘world’ champion indeed…Darchinyan has a so-so next defense with a potential Donaire rematch later in 2010…Nashiro and Cazares, one of 2009’s most underrated fights, is likely for a 2010 sequel. The winner will deserve a crack at Darchinyan.
Previous Champion: Masamori Tokuyama (2005-06, Retires)
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal: Masamori Tokuyama - 8
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Other: Khaosai Galaxy (WBA) - 19
Current Champion – Defenses: 1 - Lineal; 2 - WBC/WBA
Key Upcoming Jr. Bantamweight Contests
02/13: #1 Nonito Donaire vs. Gerson Guerrero (34-8, 26 KO)
02/20: #9 Takefumi Sakata vs. Eric Siregar (9-9-3, 1 KO)
03/06: World Champion Vic Darchinyan vs. Rodrigo Guerrero (13-1-1, 9 KO)
Jr. Flyweight (106-108 lbs.)
Notable Recent Results
12/18: #6 Juan Carlos Reveco (22-1, 12 KO) KO3 Ronald Barrera (26-7-2, 16 KO)
12/19: Johnriel Casimero (14-0, 8 KO) TKO11 #8 Cesar Canchila (28-3, 22 KO); interim WBO
01/23: #10 Carlos Tamara (21-4, 15 KO) TKO12 #1 Brian Viloria (26-3, 15 KO, IBF)
World Jr. Flyweight Champion: Ivan Calderon (33-0-1, 6 KO, Lineal/ Ring/WBO)
Lineage Descends From: Cazares TKO10 Dieppa, 09/30/2006
Top Ten Contenders
1. Giovanni Segura (22-1-1, 18 KO, WBA, 2 Defenses)
2. Carlos Tamara (21-4, 15 KO, IBF, 0 Defenses)
3. Rodel Mayol (26-4-1, 20 KO, WBC, 0 Defenses)
4. Edgar Sosa (37-6, 21 KO)
5. Brian Viloria (26-3, 15 KO)
6. Ulises Solis (29-2-2, 20 KO)
7. Juan Carlos Reveco (22-1, 12 KO, interim WBA)
8. Omar Nino (28-3-1, 11 KO)
9. Edren Dapudong (16-2, 8 KO)
10. Johnriel Casimero (14-0, 8 KO, interim WBO)
Ratings Notes…Hopes for a high profile showdown between Calderon and Viloria went up in smoke as the rugged Carlos Tamara pulled the upset…Segura has a rough road ahead to hold the number one slot, a rubber match with the only man to defeat him, Cesar Canchila, up next…Nino-Mayol could sneak up and be a real war…What now for Ivan Calderon? Time is running out for the little genius to cement his place but the opponents might not be in his division. Could division number three be calling “Iron Boy” sooner than later?
Previous Champion: Hugo Cazares (2006-07)
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal: Saman Sorjaturong - 10
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Other: Myung-Woo Yuh (WBA) – 17
Current Champion: 5 – Lineal/Ring/WBO
Key Upcoming Jr. Flyweight Contests
02/20: #1 Giovanni Segura vs. Cesar Canchila (28-3, 22 KO)
02/27: #3 Rodel Mayol vs. #7 Omar Nino
Strawweight (105 lbs.)
Notable Recent Results
01/14: #6 Milan Melindo (20-0, 5 KO) UD10 Anthony Villareal (9-3, 4 KO)
01/23: #4 Donnie Nietes (26-1-3, 15 KO) TKO10 Jesus Silvestre (15-2, 12 KO); non-title affair
01/30: #1 Roman Gonzalez (25-0, 21 KO) TKO4 Ivan Meneses (14-6-1, 8 KO)
World Strawweight Champion: Vacant
Top Ten Contenders
1. Roman Gonzalez (25-0, 21 KO, WBA, 3 Defenses)
2. Oleydong Sithsamerchai (33-0, 12 KO, WBC, 4 Defenses)
3. Raul Garcia (27-0, 16 KO, IBF, 4 Defenses)
4. Donnie Nietes (26-1-3, 15 KO, WBO, 3 Defenses)
5. Juan Palacios (26-3, 20 KO)
6. Milan Melindo (20-0, 5 KO)
7. Nkosinathi Joyi (20-0, 15 KO)
8. Yasutaka Kuroki (22-3-1, 14 KO)
9. Manuel Vargas (26-4-1, 11 KO)
10. Muhammad Rachman (62-8-5, 31 KO)
Ratings Notes…The top three fighters in this division, with about twenty more pounds on them, would force screams for confrontation. They don’t have those pounds and so a potentially thrilling division meanders on…Gonzalez, the division leader, racked up another knockout. He needs another foe like the man he won the title from, Yutaka Niida, to show how close he is to being more than just another Straw. Sithsamerchai would be a great test in an ideal world; Calderon three pounds up would be better. Kuroki, his looming mandatory, ain’t bad…March’s Garcia-Joyi bout could be the best action fight in the division since Mayol-Kyowa a few years ago…Melindo could be rated here or at 108 but remains because the sanctioning bodies still regard him at Strawweight and he’s positioned to challenge both Gonzalez and Garcia.
Previous Champion: Ricardo Lopez (1990-99, Vacated)
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal or Other: Ricardo Lopez – 22
Key Upcoming Strawweight Contests
02/01: #8 Yasutaka Kuroki vs. Takumi Suda (10-5-2, 2 KO)
03/26: #3 Raul Garcia vs. #7 Nkosinathi Joyi
