By Cliff Rold
Juan Manuel Marquez is still the Lightweight king. Manny Pacquiao is, officially, the Jr. Welterweight king no more. And Light Heavyweight…Light Heavyweight is waiting for answers. Beginning this weekend, a two week, unofficial runoff begins among the top four Light Heavyweights in the world with youth in focus. Glen Johnson has lost twice already, the second time decisively, to division leader Chad Dawson. Now he goes head to head with young tiger Tavoris Cloud in what might just be the sort of breakout, Fight of the Year battle 2010 needs and few seem to see coming.
One week later, Dawson will lock horn with Jean Pascal. Where the winners go from there is anyone’s guess but if all hold to form, there should be more good fights to follow. While the action at 175 prepares to start, new names emerged at 168, 160 and 115 over the last weekend, all of them earning a place in their respective top ten. This is the BoxingScene rating update, the first since early July, with an eye on last week’s results.
Heavyweight (201 lbs.-Unlimited)
Notable Recent Results
05/22: #6 Ruslan Chagaev (26-1-1, 17 KO) UD12 Kali Meehan (35-4, 29 KO)
05/29: #1 Vitali Klitschko (40-2, 38 KO) KO10 Albert Sosnowski (45-3-1, 27 KO)
07/30: #8 Alexander Dimitrenko (30-1, 20 KO) TKO5 Yaroslav Zavorotnyy ((14-5, 12 KO)
World Champion: Wladimir Klitschko (54-3, 48 KO, Lineal/Ring/IBF/WBO)
Lineage Descends From: W. Klitschko RTD9 Chagaev 06/20/2009
Top Ten Contenders
1. Vitali Klitschko (40-2, 38 KO, WBC, 4 Defenses)
2. David Haye (24-1, 22 KO, WBA, 1 Defense)
3. Alexander Povetkin (19-0, 14 KO)
4. Eddie Chambers (35-2, 18 KO)
5. Tomasz Adamek (41-1, 27 KO)
6. Ruslan Chagaev (26-1-1, 17 KO)
7. Nicolay Valuev (50-2, 34 KO)
8. Alexander Dimitrenko (30-1, 20 KO)
9. Denis Boytsov (27-0, 22 KO)
10. Samuel Peter (34-3, 27 KO)
Rating Notes…Will David Haye fight a Klitschko? It’s (almost) the only question of meaning at Heavyweight in terms of economics. In terms of competition, Povetkin and Adamek both could ask questions of the division’s two clear best…Povetkin won’t, at least not right away, opting to skip a mandatory for more experience. It might stink for fans in the short term but it probably the right call. He probably needs some more rounds and activity with a new trainer…Wladimir-Sam Peter II might not excite anyone, but what else is there?...Adamek and Michael Grant is a time suck. After seeing him look more vulnerable than ever versus Sosnowski, chasing Vitali might be crazy like a fox…Chagaev stayed relevant with a win over Meehan but does anyone outside his camp want to see him fight? He could well be in line for Haye within the year as a WBA mandatory…Dimitrenko returned to action for the first time since his sole loss to Eddie Chambers.
Previous Champion: Lennox Lewis (2001-03, Retired)
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal or Other: Joe Louis - 25
Current Champion – Defenses: 1 – Lineal; 4 – IBF; 4 – IBF/WBO
Key Upcoming Heavyweight Contests
08/21: #5 Tomasz Adamek vs. Michael Grant (46-3, 34 KO)
09/11: World Champion Wladimir Klitschko vs. #10 Samuel Peter
Super Middleweight (161-168 lbs.)
Notable Recent Results
06/19: #2 Andre Ward (22-0, 13 KO, WBA) UD12 #10 Allan Green (29-2, 20 KO)
07/31: Jean Paul Mendy (29-0-1, 16 KO) DQ1 Sakio Bika (28-4-2, 19 KO)
07/31: Dimitri Sartison (27-1, 17 KO) UD12 #5 Middleweight Khoren Gevor (31-5, 16 KO)
World Super Middleweight Champion: Vacant
Vacant Since: Joe Calzaghe Vacated September 28, 2008
Top Ten Contenders
1. Andre Ward (22-0, 13 KO, WBA Super, 1 Defense)
2. Lucian Bute (26-0, 21 KO, IBF, 5 Defenses)
3. Mikkel Kessler (43-2, 32 KO, WBC, 0 Defenses)
4. Carl Froch (26-1, 20 KO)
5. Andre Dirrell (19-1, 13 KO)
6. Arthur Abraham (31-1, 25 KO)
7. Librado Andrade (29-3, 22 KO)
8. Robert Stieglitz (38-2, 23 KO, WBO, 2 Defenses)
9. Dimitri Sartison (27-1, 17 KO, WBA, 1 Defense)
10. Sakio Bika (28-4-2, 19 KO)
Ratings Notes…With two rounds complete, Andre Ward is the only fighter in the Super Six without a loss. He also may not have lost a round in defeating Mikkel Kessler or Allan Green. There was hesitancy to boost him to the top slot off the singular performance against Kessler, even if Kessler was a better win than anything on Lucian Bute’s resume. The Green win was impressive in its completeness and Ward takes the top slot…For now…There’s plenty more tournament to go for everyone…Bute will be hard pressed to keep up. Former Middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik can give him a credible and tough opponent. He’ll also have the two fighters who do not advance in the “Super Six” as potential challengers while the tournament elimination rounds take place. Keep winning and Bute versus the ‘Super Six” winner is money in every sense of the word…Froch-Abraham should be a circle on every blood and guts fight fan calendar…Sartison creeps in off the strength of his win over Middleweight contender Khoren Gevor, bumping Allan Green. Sartison has won five straight since being stopped by Kessler in 2008. His WBA belt is meaningless given Ward’s standing (the latest “Super” titlist who didn’t have to unify for the silly distinction), but that isn’t a reflection of whether or not he can go in the ring…Sakio Bika remains rated despite a disqualification loss but drops from seven to ten. He looked well on his way to victory before a thoughtless foul, hooking Mendy while he was down.
Previous Champion: Joe Calzaghe (2006-08, Vacated)
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal: Chong Pal Park - 10
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Other: Tie – Joe Calzaghe (WBO)/Sven Ottke (IBF) - 21
Key Upcoming Super Middleweight Contests
09/25: #1 Andre Ward vs. #5 Andre Dirrell
09/25: #3 Mikkel Kessler vs. #10 Allan Green
10/02: #4 Carl Froch vs. #6 Arthur Abraham
10/15: #2 Lucian Bute vs. Jesse Brinkley (35-5, 22 KO)
Middleweight (155-160 lbs.)
Notable Recent Results
06/02: #7 Daniel Geale (23-1, 14 KO) TKO8 Kariz Kariuki (21-9-2, 18 KO)
06/05: #4 Sebastian Sylvester (33-3-1, 16 KO, IBF) D12 Roman Karmazin (40-3-1, 26 KO)
07/31: #9 Sebastian Zbik (30-0, 10 KO) UD12 Jorge Heiland (16-1, 8 KO)
World Middleweight Champion: Sergio Martinez (45-2-2, 24 KO, Lineal/Ring)
Lineage Descends From: Hopkins TKO12 Trinidad 09/29/2001
Top Ten Contenders
1. Paul Williams (39-1, 27 KO)
2. Kelly Pavlik (36-2, 32 KO)
3. Felix Sturm (33-2-1, 13 KO, WBA, 7 Defenses)
4. Sebastian Sylvester (33-3-1, 16 KO, IBF, 2 Defenses)
5. Khoren Gevor (31-5, 16 KO)
6. Roman Karmazin (40-3-2, 26 KO)
7. Anthony Mundine (38-3, 23 KO)
8. Daniel Geale (23-1, 14 KO)
9. Dmitry Pirog (17-0, 14 KO)
10. Sebastian Zbik (30-0, 10 KO, WBC interim)
Rating Notes…Sergio Martinez and Paul Williams being, clearly, the best fighters at 160 and 154 lbs. would used to have meant only that they were the two best Middleweights in the world. Extra divisions just means twice the accolades one supposes, but only if those two can be reunited for more of the old ultra-violence they produced in late-2009…Felix Sturm returning for Giovanni Lorenzo is much better than the proposed Ricardo Mayorga bout…Pavlik remains rated until his future course is cleared up, only once removed from his stint as champ…Karmazin’s draw with Sylvester, no matter what side of the scoring debate one falls on, proved Karmazin a belonging player at 160. The former Jr. Middleweight titlist enters the ratings at 4-0-1 since a shock loss to Alex Bunema 2008…Zbik’s debatable win over Heiland costs him a slot when weighed against Pirog’s impressive stop of undefeated Daniel Jacobs. Pirog makes his debut in the ratings.
Previous Champion: Kelly Pavlik (2007-10)
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal: Carlos Monzon - 14
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Other: Bernard Hopkins (IBF) - 20
Current Champion – Defenses: 0 - Lineal/Ring/WBC
Key Upcoming Middleweight Contests
09/04: #3 Felix Sturm vs. Giovanni Lorenzo (28-2, 20 KO)
Welterweight (141-147 lbs.)
Notable Recent Results
06/05: #9 Selcuk Aydin (20-0, 15 KO) SD12 Jo Jo Dan (26-1, 14 KO)
07/30: Ashley Theophane (26-5-1, 7 KO) MD10 #10 Delvin Rodriguez (25-5-2, 14 KO)
World Welterweight Champion: Floyd Mayweather Jr. (41-0, 25 KO)
Lineage Descends From: Mayweather UD12 Mosley, 05/01/2010
Top Ten Contenders
1. Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KO, WBO, 1 Defense)
2. Miguel Cotto (35-2, 28 KO)
3. Andre Berto (26-0, 20 KO, WBC, 4 Defenses)
4. Shane Mosley (46-6, 39 KO)
5. Joshua Clottey (35-4, 20 KO)
6. Luis Collazo (30-4, 15 KO)
7. Vyacheslav Senchenko (30-0, 20 KO, WBA, 1 Defense)
8. Jan Zaveck (29-1, 17 KO, IBF, 1 Defense)
9. Selcuk Aydin (20-0, 15 KO)
10. Rafal Jackiewicz (36-8-1, 18 KO)
Ratings Notes…This division has one fight that matters. That fight isn’t happening this year. The hell with everyone involved until it gets done…Rodriguez exits after another heartbreaking loss but not for the most current to post a win over him. The slot instead goes to Jackiewicz for the time being having received the earlier, if debatable, call over Rodriguez.
Previous Champion: Floyd Mayweather (2006-08, Retired)
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal or Other: Henry Armstrong - 18
Current Champion – Defenses: 0
Key Upcoming Welterweight Contests
08/30: #7 Vyacheslav Senchenko vs. Charlie Navarro (18-3, 13 KO)
09/18: #4 Shane Mosley vs. Sergio Mora (22-1, 6 KO); Jr. Middleweight contest
Jr. Welterweight (136-140 lbs.)
Notable Recent Results
05/15: Victor Ortiz (27-2-1, 21 KO) UD10 #5 Nate Campbell (33-6-1, 25 KO)
05/15: #4 Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KO, WBA) TKO11 #8 Paulie Malignaggi (27-4, 5 KO)
07/17: #1 Timothy Bradley (26-0, 11 KO) UD12 Luis Abregu (29-1, 23 KO); non-title at Welterweight
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 (20-0, 13 KO, WBC, 1 Defense; IBF, 0 Defenses)
3. Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KO, WBA, 2 Defenses)
4. Marcos Maidana (28-1, 27 KO)
5. Andriy Kotelnik (31-3-1, 13 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…Manny Pacquiao informed Ring Magazine of his relinquishment of their Jr. Welterweight crown, the last link he had to the lineal crown he won from Ricky Hatton last year. This is the first time the Jr. Welterweight crown has been vacant since Kostya Tszyu earned the distinction of undisputed king with a second round knockout of Zab Judah in 2001...Timothy Bradley, Devon Alexander, and Amir Khan are all going to have their chance to fill the vacancy sooner than later in this loaded field…Bradley looked fine at Welterweight versus Abregu but his best work is still to be found at 140. A showdown with Alexander early next year would be a hardcore fan’s delight…Former champion Ricky Hatton may yet return to the division. A fight with Khan would be among the richest British fights ever.
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
08/07: #2 Devon Alexander vs. #5 Andriy Kotelnik
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)
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. Ji Hoon Kim (21-5, 18 KO)
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.
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.
Key Upcoming Lightweight Contests
08/14: #8 Ji Hoon Kim vs. Miguel Vazquez (25-3, 12 KO); vacant IBF belt
Jr. Bantamweight (113-115 lbs.)
Notable Recent Results
07/03: #2 Hugo Cazares (32-6-2, 23 KO) TKO7 Everado Morales (34-15-2, 23 KO)
07/10: #1 Nonito Donaire (24-1, 16 KO) TKO7 Hernan Marquez (27-2, 20 KO)
07/31: Juan Alberto Rosas (32-5, 26 KO) TKO6 #4 Simphiwe Nongqayi (16-1-1, 6 KO)
World Jr. Bantamweight Champion: Vic Darchinyan (35-2-1, 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 (24-1, 16 KO, WBA interim)
2. Hugo Cazares (32-6-2, 23 KO, WBA Regular, 1 Defense)
3. Nobuo Nashiro (13-2-1, 8 KO)
4. Omar Narvaez (32-0-2, 19 KO, WBO, 0 Defenses)
5. Juan Alberto Rosas (32-5, 26 KO, IBF, 0 Defenses)
6. Kohei Kono (25-4, 9 KO)
7. Simphiwe Nongqayi (16-1-1, 6 KO)
8. Drian Francisco (19-0-1, 15 KO)
9. Daigo Nakahiro (21-2-1, 8 KO)
10. Raul Martinez (27-1, 16 KO)
Ratings Notes…The face of 115 lbs. could change dramatically before the year is out. Arce has vacated his belt and moved on, Darchinyan could stay at 118, and Donaire should be shortly following both. As long as Cazares and Nashiro keep fighting each other, it might be hard to notice. The two once again produced a Fight of the Year contender and what might have been the Mexican bangers best performance…Narvaez moved up and snagged the WBO belt Jorge Arce ditched, his second belt from the sanctioning body. Given the opponent he was allowed to face for the belt, it was almost a thank you for years of service…Rosas enters the ratings one slot below Narvaez, his title win the fourth straight duke since a decision loss at the hands of Fernando Montiel.
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: 2 - Lineal; 3 - WBC/WBA
Key Upcoming Jr. Bantamweight Contests
Nothing signed at the time of this rating.
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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
