We kick off a new month with a Heavyweight contest in Germany on Sunday as Meris Ljutic (0-0) fights fellow debutant Daniel Baschlau (0-0). Little is known about these two fighters though it's worth noting that they are the fighters that will kick off December's Heavyweight action.
0 Comments
The Heavyweight division to some is basically full of old, ot of shape fighters battling aroundfor the chance to fight a Klitschko brother and pick up apay day. It may be unfair but that's how many do view it right now.
Unfortunately this weekend may struggle to convince the cynics otherwise as a show in Bolivia, yes that country of Mike Tyson fame, hosts a show featuring number of fighters who are either fat, overweight or both. The show, which features 4 Heavyweight contests will kick off with the debuting Yindo Ovale (0-0) fighting Carmelo Roca (4-7-2, 2). This is a contest that is easy to avoid when you look at the other 3 heavyweight bouts on the show. These contests will see, the out of shape, Chauncy Welliver (55-7-5, 22) fighting against Guido Santana (13-6-2, 9), the old Billy Wright (40-4, 31) defending his PABA interim title against Esteban Hillman Tababary (16-10-2, 12) and Saul Farah (44-17-3, 38) fighting against Carlos de los Santos Fresneda (15-4,8). It's hard to see anything but wins for Welliver, Wright and Farah though in all honesty none of those men will likely go far in the sport due to their notable limitations. Bolivia won't be the only country in South America with Heavyweight action ad Brazil joins in on the act with Jonathan Correia da Silva (0-0) debuting against the limited Jose Carlos Da Silva (2-14-1, 1) who has been stopped in 11 of his 14 losses. Whilst the Bolivian show is the most interesting in terms of overall action we actually the best fight in the division will be in the UK as Britain's Dereck Chisora (18-4, 12) battles the Czech republic's Ondrej Pala (32-3, 22). This bout, for the WBA and WBO International titles is some thing like the third opponent Chisora has been scheduled to face and although a late replacement it does look like he's a decent enough opponent. On the same British show the unbeaten Gary Cornish (16-0, 8) fights Ivica Perkovic (20-22, 15). Although the records are worlds apart it wouldn't be a shock in the slightest if Perkovic managed to defeat the very limited Cornish. Staying in Europe, France will have a contest between Ibrahima Mariko (3-1, 2) and David Spilmont (2-1, 1) whilst Germany will see Aleksandr Beliaziun (0-0) making his debut. The action through Europe extends as far as Russia where Apti Davtaev (3-0, 3) fights Frantisek Kynkal (2-2, 2) and Arbi Madaev (1-0) takes on Oleksandr Pritula (0-1) in two very low level match ups. Over in the US we will get several bouts. The highest profile of those will see Travis Kauffman (26-1, 19) fighting the limited, but late replacement, Jason Barnett (14-14, 7). This contest, for the World Boxing Union Intercontinental Heavyweight should really be just a case of handing Kauffman the title. The other bouts in the US will see David Long (12-2-2, 8) attempting to defeat the hard hitting Danny Kelly (4-0-1, 4) in an interesting looking contest, Terrance Dumas (4-0, 3) fighting the debuting Robert Davis (0-0) and both Randy Easton (0-2-1) and Danny Calhoun (2-0, 1) taking on yet to be named opponents. Finally, there is also action in Canada. These bouts will see Didier Bence (9-0, 3) fighting Eric Martel Bahoeli (9-3, 6) in what should be a good test for Bence and Dillon Carman (5-2, 4) taking on Sylvera Louis (5-2, 2). Whilst the Bence bout is the more interesting it's fair to say that both are pretty competitive looking. Friday's action this weekend is rather poor despite their being 4 contests that we've got details on.
The most noteworthy contest that we know off takes place in the UK as the promising Kash Ali (5-0) battles Rolandas Cesna (3-15-1). Unfortunately as Ali doesn't seem to be a puncher and Cesna is rather tough this has "distance" fight written all over it. Ali/Cesna is one of two contests on the same show as Karl Bell (5-1, 1) fights the win-less James Oliphant (0-5-2) in another bout that seems likely to go the distance. On a seperate show in Britain Welsh man Darren Morgan (6-5, 4) fights the tough and incredibly durable Remigijus Ziausys (20-55-4, 10). Ziausys, who has only been stopped once in his 79 fight career, is unlikely to defeat Morgan though should be able to make things interesting. As well as the three bouts in Britain, a country known for boxing, there is also on in French Polynesia as the unbeaten Temoo Tamaititahio (3-0, 2) fights the win-less Tafa Misipati (0-1). It might pain some folk to read this but today's biggest fight is a fight between the 42 year old Sugar Shane Mosley and the always controversial Anthony Mudine, who himself is 38. Yes, it's fair to say that's not a bout that will have many really excited.
Although Mosley/Mudine is a poor fight the card does serve a purpose as it contains the first Heavyweight contest of the day as Blake Ferguson (0-0) faces fellow debutant Luke Turner (0-0). This 4 rounder in Australia is unlikely to really interest many fans but it is a Heavyweight clash and should benoted as so. Thankfully for us the Turner/Ferguson bout isn't the only Heavyweight contest. In Indiana the unbeaten Nick Asberry (2-0, 2) will be fighting the experienced but limited Corey Gregory (5-15-1, 3) in what looks like a solid test for Asberry at this point in his career. The only other contest of the day is in West Virginia as Angelo Magnone (2-0, 2) battled the debuting Robert Simms (0-0). Magnone appears to be the promoter of the show, so we dare say that we know who we expect to win. The Heavyweight division right now seems to be one that splits opinion. For us however it's less opinion splitting and more about "groupings". Whilst we all accept that it's not great and that we're not in a golden age of talent we do see the good as well as the bad.
The good is that the division has a brilliantly crop of youngsters coming through. The likes of Andy Ruiz Jr, Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury, Hughie Fury and Mike Perez genuinely do excite us. Sure they aren't yet ready for the world stage but fights against Perez and Ruiz Jr, Wilder and Tyson Fury and Hughie Fury and Anthony Joshua are genuinely mouth watering clashes that all have a genuine possiblity of happening. This coming Tuesday doesn't seeanyone from that group in action but it does see action from fighters in different groups. The "blown up older fighter" is a group that is on show on Tuesday thanks to former Light Heavyweight Antonio Tarver (29-6-0-1, 20) who fights in his second ever Heavyweight contest. Tarver, who is coming back following a ban for steroids, whill be fighting the limited Mike Sheppard (21-15-1, 9) in a contest for the interim NABA Heavyweight title. In theory the winner of this should be fighting Fres Oquendo, though we don't see that as likely. On the same card we also get a chance to see one of the "talented under-achievers". Cuban Luis Ortiz (19-0-0-1, 16) had the talent to be a genuine contender. Unfortunately he's now 34 years old and fighting low level opponents rather than making the most of his talented. His bout sees him fighting against the limited Alex Gonzales (20-8, 10) in what is a total nothing contest. Somehow Ortiz is ranked #2 by the WBA but we'd have to ask what he did to deserve his ranking as we;ve no ideawhy he's ranked in the top 20 by anyone. Amazingly a third group is represented on the same card. "The young up and comers". The youngster on show here is US Olympian Dominic Breazeale (7-0, 7) who takes on the experienced Nagy Aguilera (19-7, 12). This is the toughest test of Breazeale's career so far but it'd be a shock if didn't come out victorious here, even if he does get taken the distance for the first time in his career. As you can see, the division doesn't just flat out "suck", but it's probably that we're early in on a cycle that looks to include a number of very interesting fighters. The problem is that fighters like Breazeale are far too inexperienced to hang with the top contenders or the champions and it's this gulf which parlays a feeling of "awfulness" in the division. Thankfully the future is bright! Heavyweight fights in Asia are rare, we all know that, though just days after Andy Ruiz Jr defeat Tor Hamer in Macau the division again in the spotlight in the East as Japanese Heavyweight champion Kyotaro Fujimoto (7-1, 5) makes the first defense of his title.
The 27 year old Kyotaro, just the second ever Japanese Heavyweight champion, will be facing the more experienced Kotatsu Takehara (9-8-3, 4). Although Takehara's record is average at best he has faced the more notable opponents having shared a ring with Alex Leapai, Magomed Abdusalamov and Lucas Browne. This experience may well serve Takehara well going in to this bout, though Kyotaro will still be favoured in what looks to be nothing short of a boxing "oddity". To end the weekend we have a Sole Heavyweight contest in Australia as the debuting Matt Steele (0-0) battles the win-less Herman Ene Purcell (0-1) in a bout scheduled for 3 rounds.
Purcell, who lost a 3 round decision on debut has an experience edge though this is one of those contests where both men are too inexperience for us to say much. Despite how uninspiring Friday night's Heavyweight action was things really seem to be on the verge of picking up for Saturday with several notable bouts as well as the lower level action that we're used to.
For us the mostnotable bout takes place in Germany as Denis Boytsov (33-0, 26) battles Alex Leapai (29-4-3, 24) in a contest for the WBO Asia Pacific Heavyweight title. It's now expected that if Boytsov can defeat Leapai he'll be walking into a Heavyweight world title fight in early 2014 against Wladimir Klitschko. On the same show as Boytsov/Leapai we expect to see the promising prospect Otto Wallin (3-0, 3) in action against journeyman Tomas Mrazek (7-43-6, 5) in what is expected to be Wallin's toughest bout to date, though still far from a real test. Whilst the best fight might be in Germany there is also a key bout in Macau where Mexican destroyer Andy Ruiz Jr (20-0, 14) fights American Tor Hamer (21-2, 14). With the WBO Inter-Continental Heavyweight title, held by Ruiz, and the vacant NABF Heavyweight title both on the line there is plenty to play for here, though Hamer strikes us as the sort of fighter who struggles when a fighter pushes him and Ruiz will push him. In the US we have a number of Heavyweight contests. The most interesting fighter in action Stateside is Alexis Santos (11-0, 10). Although Santos is facing a yet to be named opponent he is a fighter we're very interested in and a fighter we're keeping a close eye on. The other US bouts will see Khalib Whitmore (2-0, 1) taking on Martez Williamson (1-3), Tyyab Beale (8-3-1, 3) fighting Jon Bolden (6-6, 5) and William Monroe (0-0) taking on fellow debutant Charles Jerome (0-0). In Australia Bryan Peters (5-1, 4) is expected to be in action, albeit against a yet to be named opponent. Peters is one of several fighters who is facing a yet to be named opponent. Whilst Peters is in Australia, it does seem to be something that appears to be a common theme in Europe as Frenchman Mickael Vieira (12-3-1, 6), Englishman Matt Legg (6-2, 2), German Michael Stromberg (4-1, 3) and Turkish born Yakup Saglam (30-3, 27) are all in the same boat. Of those contests we expect to only see Saglam in a title bout as he attempts to claim the German International Heavyweight title. The only Heavyweight fight that we are aware of in Africa sees Morris Okola (3-0, 2) facing off against the win-less Abbas Alli (0-3) in what looks to be a mismatch. After a number of action-less days the Heavyweight division returns this Friday with a number of bouts, albeit they aren't particularly the most exciting contests.
The most interesting of the bouts takes place in New York where the gutsy Vinny Maddalone (37-8, 28) fights Maurenzo Smith (12-7-2, 9). It's hard to see past a Maddalone victory here though Smith has got power and Maddalone, whilst brave has been stopped 5 times. We expect to see a further 5 Heavyweight contests in the US, unfortunately only one of those appears to be fully scheduled, and that's a mismatch as Javier Torres (5-0-1, 3) takes on Kevin Howard (3-11-1, 1). The other US bouts are expected to see Raphael Murphy (7-0, 7), Nat Heaven (7-0, 5), Justin Goslee (2-0, 2) and the debut of James Hammortree (0-0). Unfortunately none of these men have a listed opponent as of yet. Outside of the US we have two other contests including a total mismatch in Australia as Nathan MacKay (1-0) takes on the win-less Anton Tuilotolava (0-7) and a less than inspiring contest in Argentina as Jorge Alberto Ramos (2-11, 2) fights Jose Manuel Farias (2-2-1). Yeah, it's fair to say there is little to be excited about in regards to Friday's action. After a very quiet Friday in terms of quantity and quality of action things get back underway in a major way for Saturday with numerous Heavyweight contests taking place around the globe with several major names in action.
The biggest fight seems likely to be between Poland's Tomasz Adamek (49-2, 29), a former Light Heavyweight and Cruiserweight champion, and 2008 Olympian Vyacheslav Glazkov (15-0-1, 11). Although this is the biggest fight on paper, some are doubtful about both men with Adamek looking a shell of the fighter he was in the smaller divisions and with Glazkov having looked very poor against Malik Scott. There is also a rumour that Adamek may be about to pull out of the contest with justa few days notice due to illness. For once it's not just one country with notable fights, in fact we get notable action on at least 3 continents. In Germany the most note worthy bout is that of prospect Erkan Teper (11-0, 7) who will fight Martin Rogan (16-4, 8). Although this is a mismatch on paper with Rogan being a fighter well beyond his prime it's still a chance to see Teper in action, not a bad thing considering the way some do regard very highly. This same show has a second notable contest with the debuting Uwe Hueck (0-0) fighting former world champion Luan Krasniqi (30-4-1, 14). This is mostly notabe as "Krasniqi's comeback" and really shouldn't be competitive given that Hueck is 41 himself. Staying with that German show for a second we get a third Heavyweight contest as 25 year old Canadian Franz Rill (3-0, 2) faces his stiffest opponent so far in the form of Ivo Andelic (8-1-1, 3). We get yet another notable bout in New Zealand where former Heavyweight title challenger David Tua (52-4-2, 43) fights Russian fiant Alexander Ustinov (28-1, 21). There has been talk about the winner of this contest being a possible opponent for Wladimir Klitschko so the bout is certainly an important one, though one that perhaps pits two older and more limited fighters against each other. If nothing else this bout will certainly look like little and large with aroun 10" of height difference between the two men. On the same show as Tua/Ustinov are two other Heavyweight contests as Dave Letele (0-0) debuts against Jason Williams (6-2, 3) and Bubba Tuigamala (0-0), also making his debut, faced Clint Foai (0-3). You could argue a fourth notable bout takes place in Australia as the big hitting Mark de Mori (24-1-2, 22) takes on experienced journeyman Ivica Perkovic (20-21, 15) in a contest for the WBF world title. Whilst it certainly a lesser fight than some of the others it is one that promises to be explosive with both men having heavy hands. On the de Mori/Perkovic card is an interesting secondary Heavyweight contest as Hunter Sam (7-2-2, 4) fights Clarence Tillman (11-13-2, 6) in a bout for the WBF Asia Pacific title. Hopefully this will lead to a Sam/de Mori bout in in 2014 because that could genuinely be a very under-the-radar classic. Unfortunately the rest of the action in the Heavyweight division this weekend is at an extremely low level with most debutants or novices in action. The low level action is seen around the world. In Germany it's most notable thanks a double in Berlin which will see Ali Ibrahim Kujaschewski (7-0, 7) in action and also Manuel Reuss (0-6) also on the show. It appears very unlikely that these two men will fight each other, but it also seems unlikely that either will fight a decent opponent. In the UK we expect to see AJ Carter (3-0, 1) up against Radek Linka (5-1, 5) in what looks like a good test for the unbeaten man and also a bout between Declan Timlin (8-2, 4) and journeyman Tayar Mehmed (5-24-2, 1). The remaining bout in which both fighters have at least one professional contest under their belt takes place in the US as Latashia Burton (2-2) battles fellow woman Saretha Bonner (0-1) Amongst the debutants are Anthony Carpin (0-0) fights the win-less Milos Andric (0-0-1) in France; Nico Feulner (0-0) who battles the fragile Stefan Albers (0-3) in Germany; Wlodzimierz Letr (0-0) who takes on Damian Sarzala (0-1) in Poland and an all debutant clash between Tyler East (0-0) and Daniel Haymes (0-0) in the US. |