Tweet
1. Mikkel Kessler (39-1)
Nice work if you can get it: For a second consecutive fight, Kessler will take on a soft opponent, this time defending his wholly nonsensical WBA "regular" title against Danilo Haussler (29-3-1), whose status as a mandatory challenger is a joke. The only thing that makes the fight remotely interesting is that Kessler will fight in Haussler's backyard in Germany after his team lost the purse bid.
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Haussler.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Lucian Bute (22-0)
All hail Showtime, which picked up the rights to Bute's mandatory defense against exciting Librado Andrade in Montreal and will televise it on "ShoBox."
Next: Oct. 24 vs. Andrade.
3. Anthony Mundine (33-3)
Instead of coming to America to face former "Contender" participant Miguel Espino (19-2-1) on a Nov. 13 Versus card, the former titlist from Australia, who ducked a rematch with Kessler and gave up his belt, is instead staying in Australia to continue to try to convince Danny Green to come out of retirement for a big-money rematch. How is Mundine doing that? By having his next fight in Green's hometown of Perth.
Next: Nov. 12 vs. TBA.
4. Librado Andrade (27-1)
In his first title opportunity, Andrade was wiped out in a lopsided decision loss to Kessler. Now, Andrade has a second opportunity against Bute, which figures to be another tough assignment. At least American fight fans will have the opportunity to see it on Showtime.
Next: Oct. 24 vs. Bute.
5. Denis Inkin (34-0)
With Joe Calzaghe officially abdicating his last super middleweight alphabet belt, Inkin's Sept. 27 bout with tough Fulgencio Zuniga (now 21-3-1) was sanctioned for the title instead of an interim belt. Inkin took care of business, winning a unanimous decision.
Next: TBA.
6. Jeff Lacy (24-1)
The former titleholder ended seven-month layoff by escaping with a majority decision win against Epifanio Mendoza (now 28-6-1) July 23 in a poor performance that nonetheless paved that way for a fall fight with Jermain Taylor, his 2000 U.S. Olympic teammate. After the win, Lacy said he was going to retire because he was unhappy with the money for the Taylor fight. It was an idle threat. The deal was worked out and the fight is on.
Next: Nov. 15 vs Taylor.
7. Jermain Taylor (27-2-1)
The former undisputed middleweight champion will meet Lacy on HBO in the fall in a title eliminator. Even though Taylor is coming off two losses to Kelly Pavlik and Lacy has won three in a row, Taylor has looked much better and should be the favorite.
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Lacy.
8. Allan Green (26-1)
Promoter Tony Holden, fed up with the enigmatic Green, finalized a deal for promoter Lou DiBella to take over the contract and inherit the headache.
Next: TBA.
9. Carl Froch (23-0)
With Calzaghe relinquishing his WBC version of the title, Froch will fight at home in Nottingham, England, against Canada's Jean Pascal for the vacant belt.
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Pascal.
10. Sakio Bika (26-3-2)
The winner of the third season of "The Contender" has been awfully inactive since his epic battle with Jaidon Codrington last November to win the tournament; Bika needed only one round to knock out Gustavo Kapusi in April. But he returns for an interesting fight with first-season star Peter Manfredo (31-5) in the main event of a Versus card featuring series alumni.
Next: Nov. 13 vs. Manfredo.
Nice work if you can get it: For a second consecutive fight, Kessler will take on a soft opponent, this time defending his wholly nonsensical WBA "regular" title against Danilo Haussler (29-3-1), whose status as a mandatory challenger is a joke. The only thing that makes the fight remotely interesting is that Kessler will fight in Haussler's backyard in Germany after his team lost the purse bid.
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Haussler.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Lucian Bute (22-0)
All hail Showtime, which picked up the rights to Bute's mandatory defense against exciting Librado Andrade in Montreal and will televise it on "ShoBox."
Next: Oct. 24 vs. Andrade.
3. Anthony Mundine (33-3)
Instead of coming to America to face former "Contender" participant Miguel Espino (19-2-1) on a Nov. 13 Versus card, the former titlist from Australia, who ducked a rematch with Kessler and gave up his belt, is instead staying in Australia to continue to try to convince Danny Green to come out of retirement for a big-money rematch. How is Mundine doing that? By having his next fight in Green's hometown of Perth.
Next: Nov. 12 vs. TBA.
4. Librado Andrade (27-1)
In his first title opportunity, Andrade was wiped out in a lopsided decision loss to Kessler. Now, Andrade has a second opportunity against Bute, which figures to be another tough assignment. At least American fight fans will have the opportunity to see it on Showtime.
Next: Oct. 24 vs. Bute.
5. Denis Inkin (34-0)
With Joe Calzaghe officially abdicating his last super middleweight alphabet belt, Inkin's Sept. 27 bout with tough Fulgencio Zuniga (now 21-3-1) was sanctioned for the title instead of an interim belt. Inkin took care of business, winning a unanimous decision.
Next: TBA.
6. Jeff Lacy (24-1)
The former titleholder ended seven-month layoff by escaping with a majority decision win against Epifanio Mendoza (now 28-6-1) July 23 in a poor performance that nonetheless paved that way for a fall fight with Jermain Taylor, his 2000 U.S. Olympic teammate. After the win, Lacy said he was going to retire because he was unhappy with the money for the Taylor fight. It was an idle threat. The deal was worked out and the fight is on.
Next: Nov. 15 vs Taylor.
7. Jermain Taylor (27-2-1)
The former undisputed middleweight champion will meet Lacy on HBO in the fall in a title eliminator. Even though Taylor is coming off two losses to Kelly Pavlik and Lacy has won three in a row, Taylor has looked much better and should be the favorite.
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Lacy.
8. Allan Green (26-1)
Promoter Tony Holden, fed up with the enigmatic Green, finalized a deal for promoter Lou DiBella to take over the contract and inherit the headache.
Next: TBA.
9. Carl Froch (23-0)
With Calzaghe relinquishing his WBC version of the title, Froch will fight at home in Nottingham, England, against Canada's Jean Pascal for the vacant belt.
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Pascal.
10. Sakio Bika (26-3-2)
The winner of the third season of "The Contender" has been awfully inactive since his epic battle with Jaidon Codrington last November to win the tournament; Bika needed only one round to knock out Gustavo Kapusi in April. But he returns for an interesting fight with first-season star Peter Manfredo (31-5) in the main event of a Versus card featuring series alumni.
Next: Nov. 13 vs. Manfredo.
Comment