Boxing Thread 2K12

[JKidd]

The fall out of this weekend is massive. It has shaped the landscape at a few premier weight classes.

1st, lets dig into the 147lb class, because that was hit most. The changes:
-Randall Bailey is sent back to obscurity, and a new champ is crowned in Devon Alexander.
-Paulie Malignaggi squeaks one out against newcomer to the division (kind of), Pablo Cano.
-Kell Brook formerly becomes the #1 challenger to IBF champ Devon Alexander.

The landscape: RING champ = vacant
WBA: (Super) Paulie Malignaggi 32-4 (7 KOs) / (Regular) Diego Gabriel Chaves 22-0 (18 KOs)
WBC - (champ in recess) Floyd Mayweather Jr. 43-0 (26 KOs) / (current) Robert Guerrero 30-1-1 (18 KOs)
IBF - Devon Alexander 24-1 (13 KOs)
WBO - Timothy Bradley 29-0 (12 KOs)

So, in the wake of the weekend, and what's currently scheduled:
-Robert Guerrero has a fight scheduled (Andre Berto).
-Timothy Bradley is hanging out, rumors had him coming back at Marlins Park in Miami, but those fell through, and now it looks like he's out the rest of the year (ankle injury from the Pac fight).
-Diego Chaves is an Argentine power puncher yet to face anybody and not rumored to be coming to the US anytime soon.
-Floyd is Floyd. Expect a fight Cinco de Mayo weekend, and that's about it.

So, Paulie off the win against Cano appears to be hanging out for a rematch with Ricky Hatton, provided Ricky gets past Vyacheslav Senchenko next month. Devon Alexander now has Kell Brook as his mandatory, which would be a great fight. However, Brook and his promoter - for whatever reason (obviously money) - don't appear too anxious to invoke the mandatory clause, and are chasing a fight with Amir Khan. Khan is still a light welter, and fighting Brook would be career suicide, IMO. Brook is the exact kind of fighter Khan needs to avoid while he's on his comeback trail. And Randall Bailey, as expected did nothing but look for one punch that never presented itself. I doubt he gets a major billing again considering how many boo-birds were out.

The division is loaded with Marcos Maidana, Kendall Holt, Manny, Selcuk Aydin, Mike Jones, Brit Frankie Gavin, and of course rich with prospects like Thomas Dulorme.

I just hope we don't get a Bradley/Alexander rematch-unification bout again.

---

The light welter division, 140 lbs.
In the past two weeks we've seen the arrival of Brandon Rios, the emergence and somewhat drop of Mike Alvarado, departure (hopefully) of Erik Morales and the rise of Danny Garcia.

The landscape: RING champ = Danny Garcia
WBA - Danny Garcia 25-0 (16 KOs)
WBC - Danny Garcia 25-0 (16 KOs) / (interim) Lucas Matthysse 32-2-1 NC (30 KOs)
IBF - Lamont Peterson 30-1-1 (15 KOs)
WBO - Juan Manuel Marquez 54-6-1 (39 KOs)

So, lets go through this. Marquez is booked up, despite Brandon Rios now being his mandatory. Lamont Peterson had a purse bid to fight Zab Judah. However, the winning bid of $50K will hardly be met with open arms by either fighter, so who really knows? Plus, HBO and Showtime want nothing to do with Peterson and Zab is a promotional free agent having let his deal with Main Events expire, signing with 50 Cent's now debunked TMT, and not wanting to box under Money Mayweather. So, yeah. Danny Garcia really has the division by the balls. He's getting bigger and bigger considering his win over Amir Khan and Erik Morales were marquee bills. He's also got great following in the NE where GBP is wanting to grow, and there is already talk of a Zab/Danny fight at Barclays in February. At this point, the division is his - and GBP's - for the taking. The couple pawns that make this complicated, Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado are both TR guys. So, how they figure into a GBP dominated division is going to be interesting.

---

Lastly, the middleweight division, 160 lbs.
The division has been largely reshaped in the past month. So here's the landscape: RING Champ = Sergio Martinez
WBA - Daniel Geale 28-1 (15 KOs) / Gennady Golovkin 24-0 (21 KOs)
WBC - Sergio Martinez 50-2-2 (28 KOs)
IBF - Daniel Geale 28-1 (15 KOs)
WBO - Dmitry Pirog 20-0 (15 KOs) / Peter Quillin 28-0 (20 KOs)

Lets start with the man, Sergio. He's going to be out for a while due to knee surgery. And then, who knows? Knee surgery for a guy who moves as much as him, kinda scary IMO. Word is a rematch with Julio at the Cowboys stadium when Julio's suspension is over, when that's handed down. Daniel Geale has a grudge match with Anthony Mundine on the books. Gennady Golovkin... he's really got the division in a stir, because nobody wants to fight him. He's the ultimate high risk and low reward kind of guy. Word is he's helping out with some sparring here and there. Dmitry Pirog, now an obscure figure unless he plans to come back state side to fight Golovkin again or fight his mandatory Peter Quillin. Now, enter Peter Quillin. A solid fighter who took out yet another regional champ in Hassan N'Dam this weekend. He's far from a polished champ, but with some work on his cardio, he should be ok. Be interesting to see how Quillin comes back from the N'Dam fight. He's got a lot of drawing power in the NE, and may look to crack the second Barlcays card considering he staged the best fight of the night. The division is deep (all be it internationally) with Felix Sturm, Marty Murray, Matthew Macklin, David Lemieux, dare I say Jermain Taylor, and Andy Lee all out there as well. So, champs have some legit challengers to fight.

[JKidd]

So some news and notes on hump day.

-British HW prospect David Price has set his next fight. He's tabbed Matt Skelton for December. Expect another highlight reel KO. Skelton is 45, never was even a has been, and has no business being in the ring anymore. But, whatever.

-Gennady Golovkin was slated to be back in December, but there is no opponent ready for him. They're now looking at the January/February date for the next Barclays event. Not a bad idea there, IMO.

-Yuriorkis Gamboa is ready to come back... however, he's got not promoter and no weight class right now. Word is he'll be heading back to TR, which would give him the best shot at champions in 126 and 130... but who knows considering the spat he just went through with them?

-Vic Darchinyan is looking to come back for a fight against WBO bantamweight champ Pungluang Sor Singyu. The fight is hoping to be made on the Geale/Mundine card, but no word yet.

-Kell Brook vs. Devon Alexander, the IBF mandated welter weight title fight, is going to be a promoters nightmare. Kell Brook is insisting the fight takes place in the UK. Devon Alexander, states that will NOT happen and Kell must come to the US to fight. Simply put, a champ isn't going to his challengers back yard and if Kell wants a world class opponent, like Devon, he'd better be ready to make the world class jump. I expect a purse bid in the future, and the numbers will be staggering for that, just to be able to pick the location.

-Lots of talk about Brandon Rios vs. Manny Pacquiao next year. First, they're a division apart. Rios just made the jump to JWW last weekend, and now he's already being shopped for a fight at 147? Makes no sense in that regard. However, Rios vs. Manny would be a fresh, action packed, all Top Rank fight. So, chances are that maybe the case, even though I hope not.

-Gabriel Rosado isn't waiting for his IBF title fight with K9 Bundrage. He's taking another fight to be on NBC at Temple University 12/8. Gotta love the fighting spirit of Rosado. K9 wants to ***** foot around, and he's going to keep fighting. This will make for his 4th fight of the year, and 3rd in the final half of the year.

-WBO Lightweight champ Ricky Burns will take on Liam Walsh in London on 12/15. Great to see Rickster back at it after his demolition of Kevin Mitchell just 3-4 weeks ago. It's really a glorified regional fight between the two.

-Huge cross roads fight added to the Guerrero/Berto card:
Carlos Quintana vs. Keith Thurman.
I love the fight. Quintana wants back into the title picture in a bad way, and Thurman is a very tough, very powerful, youngster looking for a name to add to his resume.

-Nonito Donaire vs. Jorge Arce is once again a dead fight. Donaire now appears to be taking the rest of the year off (which is a shame). Word is that Arce was going to have Donaire take a very small amount of money to fight him in Mexico City, and Donaire laughed it off. Of course, the big fight most want to see is Donaire/Rigo or Donaire/Mares. Forget about Abner getting the call, he's a GBP fighter. Rigo, again, forget it. Bob Arum isn't willing to risk Donaire.

-Still no word on the Ward/Pavlik fight. I really hope that fight doesn't get made. Ward destroys Pavlik every which way if it goes down. Location is the biggest issue at the moment.

-Finally an update on Ismayl Sillakh. The fella is embattled in a promotional dispute. This will tie him up the rest of the year, so no appearances on the horizon.

-Speaking of promotional disputes, other LHW fighter Tony Bellew is finally done with his promotional spat with Frank Warren. Good to see, and good to see Bomber has another fight on the docket against Roberto Bolonti over in the UK.

-Still no word on the situation between Jean Pascal and Tavoris Cloud. Looks like both fighters will go their separate ways. Pascal wants another crack at Chad Dawson. Dawson doesn't seem too interested in heading back to Canada. Cloud, typical of DK fighters, nothing scheduled or talked about.

-Canelo was going to fight in December at the MGM, but apparently that is scrapped and he'll be taking the rest of the year off. That really sucks. Love watching Canelo fight.

That's it thus far.

[JKidd]

Some very unfortunate and sad news to pass a long.

Emanuel Steward has passed away.

He is of course the trainer for the Klit brothers, and numerous other champions along the way, as well as the owner and head trainer at the Kronk gym in Detroit.

A tragic loss to the boxing world that has already seen many other legends pass away this year.

RIP Manny.

[Wadubbin]

Yeah I saw this news earlier in the day.Then his family came out and said it wasn't true.Then more reports came out that he had passed...Tragic loss of an icon in the boxing world.Back when I was a kid and really started to get into boxing.I remember all the great boxers from the Kronk gym.With their gold and red trunks and their names on the belt line.Guys like Hilmer Kenty.Tommy Hearns,Jimmy Paul,Duane Thomas,Milton McCrory,Stevie McCrory,Gerald McClelland,and a long list of fighters that Manny trained.Not to mention Oscar,Lennox,and the Klit Bros...Just a sad day for boxing fans and boxing in general.My sympathies go out to his family and friends..

[JKidd]

Some breaking news and the weekend preview, I'll then post my thoughts on Manny Steward.

Breaking news, the WBO has stripped Juan Manuel Marquez of his light welter weight title. They have now ordered Ruslan Provodnikov to fight Brandon Rios for the belt. Can you say another fight of the year candidate?

Negotiations will be underway in the next 30 days to make the fight, will likely end up in Cali in January or February.

The weekend preview:
HBO card in Verona NY
-Miguel Vazquez (31-3, 13 KOs) vs. Marvin Quintero (25-3, 21 KOs) - for Vazquez's IBF lightweight title
-Thomas Dulorme (16-0, 12 KOs) vs. Luis Carlos Abregu (33-1, 27 KOs) - 10 rounds, welterweights
-Mauricio Herrera (18-2, 7 KOs) vs. Karim Mayfield (16-0, 10 KOs) - 10 rounds, junior welterweights

Lets start with the Herrera/Mayfield bout.
A late bloomer in Herrera and a grizzled vet who has been in the sparring ring with a number of champs, Mayfield. Herrera has seen world class bangers before, and Mayfield comes into this as essentially a one trick pony - throw the right hand. I expect Herrera to neutralize that one punch, and pick him apart. Expect a close, possibly disputed decision here.

Dulorme and Abregu:
A cross roads fight to the extreme. The established, fringe contender veteran in Abregu and the super prospect Dulorme. Abregu loses here, he might as well pack up his career and head to Argentina to live in relative obscurity. He's been on Showtime in the past and fought Timothy Bradley, but was pretty much outclassed. I don't see him getting past the prospect here. Dulorme is smart enough to handle the pressure and he will bomb away on Abregu, which we'll see just how tough his beard really is in this one. Give me Dulorme via TKO.

Vazquez vs. Quintero:
Got ourselves a bull vs. matador fight in this one. Quintero will be acting bull, and Vazquez will be trying to box with him all night as the matador. Compared to recent opposition, this is a step up for Vazquez and a defense against a very capable, very powerful but very limited opponent. Exepct Quintero to try and corner the smooth boxing Vazquez and beat him into submission. I don't see that happening though. Vazquez is too smooth, too accurate a puncher, and too good as a boxer to let that happen. I'll take Vazquez sharp shooting in a decision win.

There is some international action as well in Japan, Takahiro Ao vs. Gamaliel Diaz in a super featherweight title fight. Ao will retain his title in a decision over the overmatched Diaz.

[smashem]

Yeah i saw that Manny passed away also, any info of how. I heard his heavyweights were 34-2-1 in championship fights. Pretty damn good there. RIP

[Golden Gloves22]

Originally Posted by smashem

Yeah i saw that Manny passed away also, any info of how. I heard his heavyweights were 34-2-1 in championship fights. Pretty damn good there. RIP

He'd been battling the big C for a little while, sucks. RIP...He was the only commentator worth listening to on HBO besides Roy, and Kellerman.

[Golden Gloves22]

Gabriel Rosado has withdrawn from his fight against Elvin Ayala on Dec.8
He is waiting on K9's next move. It sucks cause I enjoy watching Rosado fight, been following him for a little while now and really enjoy him and his trainers approach...however I understand where he's coming from, he's more than paid his dues and wants his shot...still think he should fight though. Because Im selfish

[JKidd]

Originally Posted by Golden Gloves22

Gabriel Rosado has withdrawn from his fight against Elvin Ayala on Dec.8
He is waiting on K9's next move. It sucks cause I enjoy watching Rosado fight, been following him for a little while now and really enjoy him and his trainers approach...however I understand where he's coming from, he's more than paid his dues and wants his shot...still think he should fight though. Because Im selfish

Wasn't happy to see this. But, given the situation and the fact that K9 has got nothing on his plate in the least bit, and no opportunities for anything, it's a good move for Rosado. I just wish he didn't go back on his word within a days time. Main Events went from being enthused to release he'd be fighting again on Wednesday to retracting that and releasing the fight being cancelled on Thursday. Not too good there.

Some other quick hits, Nonito Donaire vs. Jorge Arce is a done deal for December in Houston. It's a complete mismatch, but, it's a fight Arum wanted because it's going to give Donaire a hell of a chance to win fighter of the year, and will get him much needed further exposure in what should be a great fight.

Mercito Gesta vs. Miguel Vazquez will also be on that card. Huge step up for Gesta against essentially the #2 of the division at lightweight.

[Daaaa B's]

A couple surprising results on the weekend with Dulorme's hype-train gettting derailed and Ao losing his title. I haven't seen any highlights yet but it sounds like Dulorme was outclassed by Abregu getting dropped a couple times.

Rafael Marquez also lost on the weekend in what could be the last fight of his amazing career.

[JKidd]

Abregu's experience and the lack there of from Dulorme was the major issue this past weekend.

Remember, Dulorme is just 22, so by most promoters map, he should be fighting bums and ESPN level opponents for the next couple of years. He was boxing very well early on, but into the 3rd, the vastly more experienced Abregu made a great adjustment to compensate for the hand speed disadvantage, he timed the right hand over the jab.

The end result, Dulorme goes down VERY hard in the 3rd. I didn't expect him to get up, but the kid has some heart. He also survived the remainder of the round. After that though, is when he failed a lot of tests and proves why these kids shouldn't be gift wrapped titles, he couldn't adapt and change things. He kept trying to jab, and Abregu just kept feeding him straight rights over it. Then, when he had him hurt enough, he through the straight right and then followed with the left hook, and Dulorme was down again.

No adjustments whatsoever from the Dulorme corner. At least they saved him from further punishment in the 7th.

Some breaking news is that Ryan Coyne, who was going to challenge Nathan Cleverly in about 2 weeks for the LHW title, has been removed from the card due to a legal tiff between him and Don King.

[JKidd]

Originally Posted by Daaaa B's

Rafael Marquez also lost on the weekend in what could be the last fight of his amazing career.

You'd think so... but, from the sounds of it, he and his brother (Juan Manuel) are blaming it on a stomach issue.

So, expect Rafa to make one more fight to try and go out on a winning note.

Also announced at the WBA convention which is ongoing, cruiserweight champ Guillermo Jones has been stripped of his WBA title. He was mandated to fight regular WBA champ Denis Lebedev, a deal was signed, and then Jones, naturally, pulled out. 2 defenses of the WBA CW title in 3 years. His only saving grace was that the Panamanian sanctioning body didn't want to strip a fellow Panamanian, up until now.

Oh yeah, for those wondering or hearing rumors, Oscar is not coming back from retirement. Received a note from GBP today in the email (with ticket information for Khan/Molina, for those interested in LA) that he's not coming back, and his comments about beating 154lbers was taken out of context.

[JKidd]

Boxing schedule has been updated:
Boxing Thread 2K12

This is going to be an amazing month of action, and it starts with a huge, all be it foreign, opening weekend. I'll preview the action a bit more tomorrow.

Also worth noting, the WBA has stripped Daniel Geale of their super champ status. He was supposed to fight Gennady Golovkin, but decided to go the money route with a mega money fight against Anthony Mundine in Australia. I'm sure Geale is devastated with losing the "super" belt and making what would amount to around $3M for an avenge fight with Mundine (who is Geale's only blemish).

Tom Loeffler of K2, Golovkin's promoter, released a statement saying he's happy the WBA made the move, blah blah blah, and they hope to announce GGG's plans this weekend or next week.

Guillermo Rigondeaux has been added to the Donaire/Arce 12/15 card. His opponent, Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym of Thailand. The 122 lb former champ, and regional champ in Asia. I love this fight. It's a huge step up for Rigo (compared to his recent opposition), and a huge one for Poon - getting back on the world class level.

WBA has also mandated that Andre Ward must face the winner of the Brian McGee/Mikkel Kessler fight. Wonderful.

Timothy Bradley turned down almost $2.5M to face Lamont Peterson in search of a "bigger" payday. I know you're supposed to try and make some money in this sport, but come the **** on. Turning down that kind of payday because you think you're name has some sort of value after you "beat" Manny? Ok! Must have been hanging out with Winky Wright too much.

*News*
Tyson Fury has selected Russian HW Denis Boytsov (31-0, 25 KOs) as his next opponent. A huge step up in class for Fury. Word is the winner gets in line for a shot at Vitali, or whoever the WBC champ will be early next year.

[JKidd]

Weekend preview time:

In Germany: Marco Huck (34-2, 25 KOs) vs. Firat Arslan (32-5-2, 21 KOs) - for Huck's WBO cruiserweight title

**Prediction**
Huck looked pretty bad in his recent bout, a draw against Ola Afolabi. Afolabi does have a strange style, and is a sharp puncher, but Huck should have beaten him, especially at home. He now has Firat, who's 42 and hasn't beaten a notable CW in years. Like Huck, he failed on home turf to gain a decision, against Alexander Alekseev (a very good CW). In this one, with the possibility of big fights on the line, I see Huck coming through and taking it to Arslan. With Firat being a southpaw, he should be prime pickings for the straight right hand, and Huck has a good one of those. I'll take Huck by TKO.

Separate card in Montreal: Lucian Bute (30-1, 24 KOs) vs. Denis Grachev (12-0-1, 8 KOs) - 12 rounds, catch weight 170

**Prediction**
Grachev got lucky against Sillakh, in that Ismayl isn't a closer, and doesn't have a killer instinct. That isn't the case with Bute, who is a hell of a closer when he gets a chance. He's also a hell of a body puncher, something that will be useful against Grachev, who is going to try and pressure him into breaking. Bute needs to not look past the Pirate to Froch, or he'll get put on his ass again. Grachev does have power, and Bute is chinny, but, in the end, I see Bute doing what he does in Canada and knocking Grachev out in the middle rounds. Should be a huge confidence builder for Bute heading into the Froch rematch next year.

[Wadubbin]

What ever happened to Poonsawat???It seemed he disappeared for a few years.