Blog Archives - Heavyweight Boxing

Saturday February 1st

1/31/2014

This weekend might be the "Superbowl" weekend but that doesn't stop us from getting some genuinely notable Heavyweight action, even if none of it is in the US.

The biggest name in action this Saturday is English man Anthony Joshua (3-0, 3) who continues to slowly build his credentials as he battles fellow Brit Dorian Darch (7-2, 1). Joshua, an Olympic gold medal winner, shouldn't struggle with the light hitting Darch who has lost 2 of his last 3.

Although Joshua is the biggest name and the most promising, he's far from being the only unbeaten man in action on Saturday. Another unbeaten fighter is Carlos Cotto (6-0, 4) who will be fighting the win-less Oscar Adorno (0-4). Adorno, who has been stopped in all 4 of his losses, is the sort of fighter that we expect to see Cotto building his career on for the next few years. Unfortunately Cotto isn't really very good and his team know it.

One more unbeaten Heavyweight in action is Poland's Marcin Rekowski (12-0, 10) who takes on a yet to be announced opponent. Rekowski is in one of 3 Heavyweights bouts on this card in Poland which also includes a bout between former world title challengers Andrzej Wawrzyk (27-1, 13) and Danny Williams (45-20-0-1, 34). Williams, who is genuinely shot, is amazingly taking part in his 7th bout inside 12 months, a schedule that puts many other fighters to shame. Unfortunately for Williams however it's hard to see anything but pain coming from this bout.

The remaining Heavyweight clash on the Polish card sees yet another unbeaten fighter in action as Germany's Agit Kabayel (8-0, 6) goes up against Poland's limited Wlodzimierz Letr (1-1, 1).

Outside of Europe we get a Heavyweight contest in Argentina. This will see the limited Hector Alfredo Avila (22-15-1, 14) taking on the equally poor Walter David Cabral (17-10, 8). Aged 43 it's hard to see Cabral really holding his own here, though neither man is particularly great.

Friday January 31st

1/29/2014

Although there was, unexpectedly, no Heavyweight action in the US scheduled for Thursday there is a number of bouts scheduled for Friday as we again see the American scene come to life for a night. Sadly though it's not like a weel ago and unfortunately there is little in terms of big name or genuinely promising fighters.

For us the most notable bout is on a card in West Virginia as the unbeaten Jeremiah Karpency (9-0, 4) battles the limited veteran Rubin Williams (29-22-1, 16) in what looks like a mismatch. Although unbeaten Karpency has done little of note so far, however at 23 years old he is a Heavyweight baby and has a lot of time to mature into a possible contender.

On the same card as the Karpency/Williams bout is another Heavyweight contest as the once beaten Daniel Martz (9-1-1, 6) takes on former Karpency foe Dante Craig (20-18-1-1, 15). Craig was stopped in 6 by Karpency so we'd not be hugely shocked if Martz defeated him inside the distance, however it's hard to imagine Martz ever moving on to the next level.

Karpency isn't the only unbeaten man in action as novice Nick Asberry (2-0, 2) is also fighting. Asberry, like Karpency, will be expected to continue his unbeaten as he takes on the limited Raymundo Lopez (4-6, 2) who has lost 3 of his last 4 bouts and hasn't beaten a fighter with a winning record since October 2010.

The only other man that we expect to see is the hard hitting Jarrell Miller (7-0-1, 7). Unfortunately no opponent has yet been named for Miller so we'd expect it to be a very clear mismatch, if he actually fights in the end.

Note-Thanks to Rory Donadio we believe Miller will be fighting Jon Hill (6-4, 5), as we suggested, it's a mismatch.

Thursday January 30th

1/29/2014

Although Thursday's are no longer big days in terms of boxing we do see the odd notable Thursday show including one this week in the US. Unfortunately the US show feature no Heavyweight action, though that doesn't mean the division goes with out with bouts of interest to us taking place in both Latvia and France.

Of the two countries we'll start with France where we actually get a decent looking bout with the unbeaten Newfel Ouatah (11-0, 7) fighting against Gregory Tony (20-4, 15). On paper this looks like a great domestic Heavyweight clash between a promising unbeaten fighter and an established fighter. Thankfully the French Boxing Federation have recognised how good it is and put their national title on the liner for the winner.

We'll admit we're hoping that Ouatah can take the win over Tony as having another unbeaten Heavyweight in the mix at the European level would be a good thing, though if Tony can score a win he may be interested in stepping back up a level for a fight.

Over in Latvia fans in Riga will get a chance to see the wonderfully nicknamed "Finnish Butterbean" in action. The rotund Janne Katajisto (15-1-1, 7) is the unfortunate man with that moniker though hell need to have a real stinker to lose to the awful Juris Kirins (1-3, 1) who has already been stopped 3 times.

We'll admit we love the look of the French fight but the Latvian one really is just a stinker...at least we get some Heavyweight action though.

Sunday January 26th

1/23/2014

The Heavyweight action continues on Sunday with two bouts taking place in Slovakia, unfortunately neither bout is of any real interest.

One of the bouts, the less interesting if you will, sees professional loser Ladislav Slezak (3-28-2) taking on the win-less Gabriel Jaszai (0-3). It's fair to say that no one will really care about this bout with neither man likely to go very far at all.

The second bout sees novice Gyorgy Novak (3-1, 1) fighting another professional loser in the form of Imrich Borka (2-47, 1) who has been stopped numerous times in his career.

Saturday January 25th

1/23/2014

Whilst Friday is one of the Heavyweight division's busiest days in a long, long time, it's fair to actually that Saturday isn't disappointing either. In fact whilst Friday was busy we'd dare say that Saturday is more important with several bouts of real significance as opposed to a number of bouts featuring unbeaten prospects.

The biggest bout of the day is in the US as unbeaten, world ranked, pair Bryant Jennings (17-0, 9) takeson Poland's Artur Szpilka (16-0, 12). This bout, a really key one to the division, is something that looks a bit special to us though there are issues around it including the fact Szpilka's preparations were troublesome with the Polish fighter struggling with Visa issues. Despite the issues this is truly a sensational match up and the winner looks likely to be rewarded with a world title eliminator by the end of the year. Of the two men Jennings is the more skilled though Szpilka is the bigger puncher and they both have questionable durability despite both being unbeaten. This could be the fight of the weekend.

A second notable bout takes place in Germany as the once promising David Price (15-2, 13) starts his rebuilding process in Germany. The affable Brit takes on the very limited, but hard hitting, Konstantin Airich (19-7-2, 15) and knows that another loss will be the end of the line. With that sort of pressure on his shoulders Price may not be himself, though if he can land that explosive right hand of his there no chance that Airich will take it, especially not after the way he was stopped, in a round, by Manuel Charr last time out.

On this same card in Germany we get the next chance to see the promising youngster Otto Wallin (4-0, 3) who will be fighting Istvan Ruzsinszky (12-9-1, 8) in what looks like a good step up for Wallin though it's a bout that he should win with out many problems.

Back in the US we get a number of lesser bouts but ones which are interesting. These include a brilliant matchup between Travis Kauffman (27-1, 20) and Vincent Thompson (13-1, 2). Both men do have a loss but both will be hoping to move on to the next level. On paper Kauffman is the favourite though Thompson does have the skills to make life very difficult for Kauffman whose opponents so far have generally been poor. Thompson, who lost last time out to Charles Martin, will be hoping to show off his skills here against a man who was once tipped as the next "Great White Hope".

Staying with American bouts the entertaining Derric Rossy (28-7, 14) takes on the good testing Joey Dawejko (8-3-2, 3) in what looks like an interesting lower level bout. This contest shares a card with another interesting bout as the unbeaten Dorsett Barnwell (11-0, 5) battles Jon Bolden (6-7, 5). These bouts aren't great but both should be entertaining enough, and cheap enough, considering they are both on a much smaller card than some of the other bouts.

In Brazil we have a very interesting Heavyweight, in terms of the South American stage, as the big hitting Irineu Beato Costa Junior (14-0, 13) attempts to defend his WBO Latino title against Daniel Alejandro Sanabria (17-3, 11). Costa Junior does hit hard and in all honesty it'd be a shock if Sanabria could take his power, though it could be an interesting test for the Brazilian who has looked very limited in previous contests.

Friday January 24th

1/23/2014

The reports of the death of the Heavyweight division may have resurfaced after last weekend's awful performance by the highly regarded Mike Perez but this weekend sees the division coming to life in a huge way. In fact if every Friday was like this one then the death of the Heavyweight division wouldn't even be a conversation any more.

The key action is from the US which proves, once again, that they are developing some interesting fighters in the division and in fact are developing some really promomising prospects.

The most interesting of the prospects on show this Friday is Gerald Washington (10-0, 7) who looks to extend his winning run as he takes on Aaron Lyons (12-14-1, 9). Washington, who impressed us all when he beat Sherman Williams, looks like a very promising and explosive fighter with an athletic background. Of course we've not really seen him hit yet but he has the traits of a really good fighter in the making.

On the same show as Washington/Lyons there is another really promising American Heavyweight in the form of Dominic Breazeale (8-0, 8). Breazeale, a former amateur stand out, has been great fun since turning professional and now gets to kick 2014 with his biggest test as he takes on the tough Homero Fonseca (10-6-3, 3), who has been the distance with the very good Andy Ruiz Jr. Breazeale, despite only being a professional for 15 months so, already looks like being a better matched prospect than Doentay Wilder and it's possible that Golden Boy have learned from the Wilder experiment and realised that prospect need to be pushed rather than given nothing fights on a regular basis.

On a seperate US show we get another big hitting unbeaten prospect in the form of Aaron Green (13-0, 11) who takes on man mountain Richard Carmack (12-3, 10) in what looks like a highly explosive match up. Although Carmack is a big man it's hard to bet against Green here who appears to have the tools to go a long way in this sport, if looked after by a clever team.

A second Heavyweight bout on the Green/Carmack show sees the unbeaten Ray Edwards (4-0, 3), a former NFL star, taking on Alex Rozman (2-4, 1) in what appears to be another part of Ray Edwards's bizarre story. The former Atlanta Falcon and Minnesota Viking player has had a relatively hilarious career so far with one opponent seemingly knocked out by a phantom. Unfortunately we don't expect this one to be any better with Edwards likely being built towards a TV fight some where down the line courtesy of some very suspect match making.

A man who is much more promising, at least in terms of boxing, than Edwards is Michael Hunter (2-0, 2) who, on a seperate show to Edwards, will be fighting fellow unbeaten Gary Tapuosa (2-0-1, 1) in what looks like a good match up with Hunter facing a man who will want to remain unbeaten. Hunter, a former amateur standout, is the son of Mike "The Bounty" Hunter, who tragically died in 2006, and will be a man looking to continue the families fighting name.

On the same show as Hunter's bout we actually get 2 other Heavyweight contests. The most notable man in action is slickster Malik Scott (35-1-1, 12) who takes on Grover Young (7-11-1, 4) in what is Scott's first fight since his controversial loss to Dereck Chisora last year. Scott, who is talented, needs a big performance here if he's ever going to get another big fight and unfortunately the stoppage to Chisora has seen many fans questioning just how good he is mentally. Hopefully 2014 sees Scott facing a good caliber of opponents like he did last year.

Further down the show we see the Kevin Cunningham trained Stephan Shaw (1-0, 1) in action. The unbeaten Shaw, another former amateur standout, will be looking to score his second victory as he takes on Thomas Jones (1-2) in what is a good test for Shaw at this point in his young career.

A final US show has the most well matched bout of the day as unbeaten men collide. In one corner we have Fred Latham (4-0, 2) and in the other corner Mark Rideout (4-0-1, 1). Whilst neither guy is likely to go as far as some of the other men in action this still a fantastic match up between men who know that this is a major opportunity to go forward in their career. Great match making and credit to both men for agreeing to the match up.

The one bout not in the US sees Gabriel Enguema (1-0, 1) in action against a yet to be named opponent. This bout, in Spain, is one that we'll admit having little interest in, but it'd be brilliant if we could have a notable Spanish Heavyweight for the first time in recent memory.

Saturday January 18th

1/16/2014

Although Friday was a day lacking in notable Heavyweight action it does seem that Saturday is much better and in fact we have several really interesting match ups.

The most noteworthy bouts are both on the same show in Quebec, Canada. The lesser of the 2 bouts will see Canadian based Colombian Oscar Rivas (12-0, 7) facing off against former Cruiserweight title challenger Shawn Cox (17-4, 16). Cox, who has a punchers reputation, has lost 3 of his last 4 by stoppage including a second round blow out by Denis Lebedev and an opening round loss to South African Danie Venter and although he has heavy hands it's hard to see him beating Rivas. Rivas, although not a great fighter, is talented and will be trying to get his career back on track after more than a year out due to injuries.

Although Rivas/Cox is an interesting bout on paper it's a nothing bout compared to the brilliantly made match up between Cuban sensation Mike Perez (20-0, 12) and French based Cameroonian Carlos Takam (29-1, 23). Perez, fighting for the first time since his tragic bout with Russian puncher Magomed Abdusalamov, will be hoping that he doesn't have any ill effects of that bout as Takam will be coming to the bout with the intention of scoring a career best victory. This is a major opportunity for Takam who is on an 11 fight winning streak with victories over Michael Grant and Frans Botha though of course Botha and Grant are both a bit long in the tooth whilst Perez is a fighter in his prime and looking likely to, one day, challenge for a world title bout.

We'll just say well done to the matchmakers for both of these bouts as they are both genuinely exciting and should see all 4 men forced to prove something about themsevles, no matter who wins or loses.

It's not just the show in Quebec that has a genuinely interesting unbeaten prospect on the show but there is also one on a card in Florida. In this particular bout it's American based Greek Thanasis Michaloudis (7-0, 6) who will be expected to take an easy victory over Willie Chisolm (7-20, 4). Chisolm, who has only been stopped 4 times in 27 bouts, will be expected to take Michaloudis the distance though shouldn't really be able to test out the promising unbeaten man.

The Michaloudis/Chisolmbout is one of 2 Heavyweight bouts on the card with the other bout being one between Chaen Chess (3-1, 2) and Hector Hodge (1-1) in what looks like one of the least interesting Heavyweight bouts of the weekend.

Staying in the US for another moment there is a bout which sees Eugene Russell (1-0, 1) taking on fellow novice Solomon Maye (1-1, 1) in a 4 rounder in New York.

The final bout that we know about is in Mexico where the debuting Gibran Merino (0-0) takes on veteran Noe Zamora (2-6, 1) in what should be an interesting battle at the very lowest levrel

Friday January 17th

1/16/2014

The Heavyweight division, despite our hopes, still hasn't really kicked off as we'd have hoped for this year and this coming Friday is an example of just how flat the division has been, thus far in 2014.

We do action, through only 3 bouts and worst of all, 2 of those take place in the Latvian capital of Riga. You know, the boxing capital of Europe...oh never mind...

The most telling bout of the 2 in Riga is arguable the one that sees Janis Ginters (4-6, 4), a low level European journeyman who has twice fought in the UK, taking on the debuting Elmars Lankovskis (0-0). Whilst we know nothing about the debuting man it's fair to assume he's been picked as a patsy for Ginters who's 4 wins so far have come against debutants in, you guess, Riga! Ginters is 4-0 (4) in Riga and 0-6 outside of his homeland, something that should tell you all you need to know about him.

Ginter's is joined in action by another recognisable name as Edgars Kalnars (24-27, 15), another name well known to European fans, is in action. Kalnars, like Ginters, is a journeyman who has made his name by travelling to lose. Amongst those who have beaten Kalnars are Mike Perez, Oscar Rivas, Gregory Tony, Andrzej Wawrzyk and Manuel Charr with all of those losses, amongst numerous others, coming on the road.

Despite being known as a journeyman Kalnars is a former Latvia Heavyweight champion, although he did beat Nigerian Franklin Egobi for that title. Kalnars looks for his first victory of 2014 as he takes on novice Alberts Mutulis (0-1). Mutulis himself debuted last November and lost, in Riga, to Vitalijs Zakirko, who at the time was 0-3. Most worryingly is the fact Mutulis lasted just 20 seconds. Fair to say we're not expecting Mutulis to really give Kalnars any sort of a test.

The one Heavyweight bout that isn't in Riga is in Memphis in the US and will see Jeremy Scruggs (2-1,2 2) taking on Tobias Rice (4-10-1, 2). Like the 2 bouts in Riga this is certainly not a bout that will really interest anyone other than the family and friends of the fighters.

Disappointing day really.

Wednesday 15th January

1/15/2014

Midweek fights in the Heavyweight division are rarely great on paper and we that this Wednesday with 2 low level bouts taking place in Serbia.

These bouts are scheduled to see Boban Filipovic (1-0, 1) and Sasa Nebrigic (0-3) in action though neither man has yet to have an opponent named so we're not expected to see either man put in any sort of an interesting contest.

Saturday January 11th

1/8/2014

One of the growing countries in world boxing over the past few years has been Belgium. They may not have managed to get a world champion though they do have a number of world ranked fighters across a number of the lower weights.

Unfortunately it's not all been good for Belgium and in the Heavyweight division they've yet to have a break out fighter. The one man who, did once, appear to be the guy was Herve Hubeaux (15-1, 7) who looked like a talented youngster who needed proper development to ever reach his potential. Sadly for Hubeaux his development hasn't been great and instead of slowly stepping up in class his career has stalled somewhat.

Hubeaux returns to the ring for his first fight of 2014 this Saturday as he takes on Hungarian journeyman Gabor Farkas (6-29-6, 3) who, with out being harsh, shouldn't test Hubeaux. Yes, Hubeaux has been disappointing in recent fights going 1-1 with the limited Toni Visic and struggling past Tamas Bajzath but he'll need to turn in a career worst performance if he's to lose to Farkas who has gone 0-15-1 in his last 16 bouts.