Fedor Chudinov: Ready for Anyone at Super Middleweight?

By Cliff Rold

It’s funny how fast a division can change. Red-hot can become lukewarm or ice cold in just a few fights and a few moves on the scale. Instant reloads are a rarity. We might be seeing one at 168 lbs.

When the “Super Six” tournament got underway in 2009, the division had a cast that included an undefeated Carl Froch, Andre Ward, Andre Dirrell, and Arthur Abraham along with a once beaten Mikkel Kessler. Lucian Bute was also undefeated, though not part of the tournament fold. Shadows of the tournament still linger.

Today, Abraham holds a belt (WBO) in the division, Dirrell remains on the fringes of contention, and Bute is somewhat recharged after a valiant losing effort to freshly minted IBF titlist James DeGale.

The heart of the division has moved on. Ward is now at light heavyweight after spending most of the last three years and change out of the ring. Kessler and Froch are retired, though the latter keeps verbally flirting with a comeback. That’s a lot for any division to lose and stay interesting.

But super middleweight is interesting right now and we may only be seeing the beginnings. The 30-year old DeGale (22-1, 14 KO) is an excellent talent, a Gold Medalist with speed and skill who could make some mythical ratings waves. Badou Jack had banner year in 2015, returning from a first round stoppage loss in 2014. He bested an undefeated Anthony Dirrell for the WBC belt and then upset George Groves in a good fight.

Jack and DeGale may face off for unification sometime this year. It would be a boon for the division. Now 35, Abraham (44-4, 29 KO) is slated to defend against Gilberto Ramirez (33-0, 24 KO) in April, a fight that could further recede the Super Six shadow.

Just beyond that action is a Russian battler whose name doesn’t come up as much in English language coverage.

Next Saturday in Germany, 28-year old Fedor Chudinov (14-0, 10 KO) will attempt his second defense of the WBA 168. lb. belt against the man he defeated for the then-vacant title last year. 37-year old Felix Sturm (39-5-3, 18 KO) managed to earn a card in a split decision loss last year.

He didn’t deserve it. Chudinov clearly won. German scorecards have been good to Sturm over the years. Let’s call it one for old time’s sake.

Given his age, ring wear, and recent results, Sturm looks to be facing the end of the line. A raucous draw with Robert Stieglitz sandwiched between losses to Sam Soliman and Chudinov may have been his last outstanding night. Sturm will be fondly remembered in Germany. He made good fights against a lot of guys. Win or lose against Ramirez, he and Abraham still always have a chip to cash against each other.

Father time isn’t likely to be friendly for this one. Chudinov should win and move on. When he does, it’s fair to ask if he’s ready for anyone. Technically sound with good power, he has a lot of the ingredients that can build the sort of cult following that can lead to more.

One of the big ingredients is his passport. It gets stamped often. He is a genuine road warrior. While there have been seven fights in Russia, he fought his first four pro affairs in the US. Three of his last four fights have been in Germany, Dominican Republic, and the UK.

He has been well developed for a guy entering his 15th fight. Sturm twice is a good mark at this stage. All of his last nine foes entered with winning records, two of them undefeated. He’s cleared the prospect phase, nailed down the veteran name win, and picked up a belt.

Now it’s just a matter of getting into the bigger mix. If Ramirez defeats Abraham, the division will have four intriguing titlists, two of them without a loss and two with a single setback. The oldest, Jack, is only 32.

It remains to be seen if any of them can have the sort of runs Ward, Froch, or Kessler did. The first step is getting into position for the right amount of people to want to see them try. Jack and DeGale are already there.

Chudinov could be very close to joining them. 
  
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com