Tag: Shakur Stevenson

Oscar Valdez will start the rebuilding process anew vs. Liam Wilson on Friday

Oscar Valdez will start the rebuilding process anew against Liam Wilson on Friday in Glendale, Arizona.

Oscar Valdez has some work to do.

The former two-division titleholder was on top of the world after he put Miguel Berchelt down three times and ultimately stopped him in the 10th round to win the WBC 130-pound championship in February 2021.

It has been mostly downhill after that for the 33-year-old Mexican.

He tested positive for a banned weight-loss medication before his next fight seven months later, against Robson Conceicao, yet he was allowed to fight . He won a unanimous decision to retain his belt but his reputation was scarred.

Then things got worse. He was embarrassed by the gifted Shakur Stevenson in his subsequent bout, losing a one-sided decision that seemed to reveal his limitations.

He rebounded to outpoint Adam Lopez 11 months later only to lose another clear decision, this time against WBO beltholder and countryman Emanuel Navarrete, who outworked him in an entertaining fight last August.

Suddenly a rising star was just another fighter.

Valdez (31-2, 23 KOs) will restart the rebuilding process on Friday night, when he’s scheduled to face Liam Wilson of Australia at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona (ESPN+).

The fight will be for the WBO “interim” belt, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize as a legitimate title. Navarrete remains the WBO champ.

“I’m going to be ready,” Valdez said on Wednesday. “I was preparing myself for a world championship fight. Then we got the news that it’s now for an interim title.

“So I’m more than excited and prepared, and we’re going to show that.”

Wilson (13-2, 7 KOs) is a safer opponent than either Stevenson or Navarrete, probably on the level of Lopez.

However, the 28-year-old resident of Queensland is dangerous. He proved that by decking Navarrete and hurting him before being stopped himself in nine rounds in a wild fight for the vacant WBO title in February of last year.

Wilson outpointed two second-tier opponents in Australia after his setback.

“I know Liam Wilson,” Valdez said. “He’s a tough fighter. I was there when he fought Emanuel Navarrete, and he sent him to the canvas. So you better believe that I’m coming with everything because I’m expecting that same Liam Wilson. …

“Liam Wilson is a dangerous fighter. But that makes it more exciting. And the interim title adds fuel to the fire. I’m very motivated.”

Valdez told BoxingScene.com that he would be interested in facing Vasiliy Lomachenko, assuming he wins on Friday and the Ukrainian pound-for-pounder beats underdog George Kambosos Jr. for the vacant IBF 135-pound title on May 12.

However, Valdez’s first priority is to become a champion again at 130. Defeating Wilson is the first step in that process.

“This fight [against Wilson] means everything to me because whoever wins is a step closer to a world title fight at 130 pounds,” he told the outlet. “This is my division. …

“My plan this year is to become a world champion again. But I have to win this fight first. I’m mentally preparing like it’s a world title fight.”

[lawrence-related id=41171,38543,29864,23758,23752,35413]

Oscar Valdez will start the rebuilding process anew vs. Liam Wilson on Friday

Oscar Valdez will start the rebuilding process anew against Liam Wilson on Friday in Glendale, Arizona.

Oscar Valdez has some work to do.

The former two-division titleholder was on top of the world after he put Miguel Berchelt down three times and ultimately stopped him in the 10th round to win the WBC 130-pound championship in February 2021.

It has been mostly downhill after that for the 33-year-old Mexican.

He tested positive for a banned weight-loss medication before his next fight seven months later, against Robson Conceicao, yet he was allowed to fight . He won a unanimous decision to retain his belt but his reputation was scarred.

Then things got worse. He was embarrassed by the gifted Shakur Stevenson in his subsequent bout, losing a one-sided decision that seemed to reveal his limitations.

He rebounded to outpoint Adam Lopez 11 months later only to lose another clear decision, this time against WBO beltholder and countryman Emanuel Navarrete, who outworked him in an entertaining fight last August.

Suddenly a rising star was just another fighter.

Valdez (31-2, 23 KOs) will restart the rebuilding process on Friday night, when he’s scheduled to face Liam Wilson of Australia at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona (ESPN+).

The fight will be for the WBO “interim” belt, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize as a legitimate title. Navarrete remains the WBO champ.

“I’m going to be ready,” Valdez said on Wednesday. “I was preparing myself for a world championship fight. Then we got the news that it’s now for an interim title.

“So I’m more than excited and prepared, and we’re going to show that.”

Wilson (13-2, 7 KOs) is a safer opponent than either Stevenson or Navarrete, probably on the level of Lopez.

However, the 28-year-old resident of Queensland is dangerous. He proved that by decking Navarrete and hurting him before being stopped himself in nine rounds in a wild fight for the vacant WBO title in February of last year.

Wilson outpointed two second-tier opponents in Australia after his setback.

“I know Liam Wilson,” Valdez said. “He’s a tough fighter. I was there when he fought Emanuel Navarrete, and he sent him to the canvas. So you better believe that I’m coming with everything because I’m expecting that same Liam Wilson. …

“Liam Wilson is a dangerous fighter. But that makes it more exciting. And the interim title adds fuel to the fire. I’m very motivated.”

Valdez told BoxingScene.com that he would be interested in facing Vasiliy Lomachenko, assuming he wins on Friday and the Ukrainian pound-for-pounder beats underdog George Kambosos Jr. for the vacant IBF 135-pound title on May 12.

However, Valdez’s first priority is to become a champion again at 130. Defeating Wilson is the first step in that process.

“This fight [against Wilson] means everything to me because whoever wins is a step closer to a world title fight at 130 pounds,” he told the outlet. “This is my division. …

“My plan this year is to become a world champion again. But I have to win this fight first. I’m mentally preparing like it’s a world title fight.”

[lawrence-related id=41171,38543,29864,23758,23752,35413]

William Zepeda mauls Maxi Hughes, stopping the Briton after four rounds

William Zepeda mauled Maxi Hughs, stopping the Briton after four rounds

Another fight, another William Zepeda beat down.

The unbeaten 135-pound contender pounded overmatched Maxi Hughes relentlessly until the Briton’s cornermen finally stopped the fight after four rounds of a two-sanctioning body title eliminator Saturday at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.

Zepeda (30-0, 26 KOs) and Hughes (26-7-2, 5 KOs) fought on roughly even terms in the first round but it was all Zepeda after that.

The volume-punching southpaw from Mexico didn’t allow his overmatched opponent room to breathe, throwing 408 punches (102 per round) — many of them to the body — in the four rounds.

And Hughes could do nothing to stop him, at least in part because he didn’t have the punching power to turn the tide.

Hughes began to wilt as early as Round 2 and continued to take brutal punishment until the final moments of Round 4, after which his handlers knew he was finished.

“Thirty different camps, 30 different wins,” Zepeda said afterward. “All I can do is thank my camp, thank everybody. And let’s keep it going.”

Zepeda is ranked No. 1 by the WBA and WBC, whose champions are Gervonta Davis and Shakur Stevenson. His victory on Saturday solidifies his position as mandatory challenger in both organizations.

Meanwhile, Vasiliy Lomachenko will face George Kambosos Jr. for the vacant IBF title on May 12. Zepeda is ranked No. 6 by the IBF.

Davis, Stevenson and Lomachenko are three of the most talented fighters today. However, Zepeda appears to be more and more of a threat to anyone every time he fights.

He knows what it would take to succeed against fighters like that.

“We know whoever is ahead of us, they have a lot of experience. We just have to keep working,” he said. “… I’m ready for Shakur, for Gervonta, I’m ready for whoever is on that list.”

And he served up a bold prediction, describing himself as, “The next champion from Mexico.”

No one who has watched Zepeda fight would take exception to that prognostication.

William Zepeda mauls Maxi Hughes, stopping the Briton after four rounds

William Zepeda mauled Maxi Hughs, stopping the Briton after four rounds

Another fight, another William Zepeda beat down.

The unbeaten 135-pound contender pounded overmatched Maxi Hughes relentlessly until the Briton’s cornermen finally stopped the fight after four rounds of a two-sanctioning body title eliminator Saturday at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.

Zepeda (30-0, 26 KOs) and Hughes (26-7-2, 5 KOs) fought on roughly even terms in the first round but it was all Zepeda after that.

The volume-punching southpaw from Mexico didn’t allow his overmatched opponent room to breathe, throwing 408 punches (102 per round) — many of them to the body — in the four rounds.

And Hughes could do nothing to stop him, at least in part because he didn’t have the punching power to turn the tide.

Hughes began to wilt as early as Round 2 and continued to take brutal punishment until the final moments of Round 4, after which his handlers knew he was finished.

“Thirty different camps, 30 different wins,” Zepeda said afterward. “All I can do is thank my camp, thank everybody. And let’s keep it going.”

Zepeda is ranked No. 1 by the WBA and WBC, whose champions are Gervonta Davis and Shakur Stevenson. His victory on Saturday solidifies his position as mandatory challenger in both organizations.

Meanwhile, Vasiliy Lomachenko will face George Kambosos Jr. for the vacant IBF title on May 12. Zepeda is ranked No. 6 by the IBF.

Davis, Stevenson and Lomachenko are three of the most talented fighters today. However, Zepeda appears to be more and more of a threat to anyone every time he fights.

He knows what it would take to succeed against fighters like that.

“We know whoever is ahead of us, they have a lot of experience. We just have to keep working,” he said. “… I’m ready for Shakur, for Gervonta, I’m ready for whoever is on that list.”

And he served up a bold prediction, describing himself as, “The next champion from Mexico.”

No one who has watched Zepeda fight would take exception to that prognostication.

Weekend Review: Fury vs. Usyk merely delayed, Buatsi and Benn win easily

Weekend Review: The Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk fight was delayed. Meanwhile, Joshua Buatsi and Conor Benn easily won their fights.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

MOST DAMAGING CUT
Tyson Fury’s

S— happens. Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) was set to face fellow titleholder Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) for the undisputed heavyweight championship on Feb. 17 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia when Fury suffered a deep cut over his right eye in sparring, which forced the postponement of the event on Friday. Organizers bemoaned the calamity, Fury apologized profusely and Usyk’s manager cried foul, calling Fury a coward and insisting the WBC beltholder had sought a way out of the fight. A day later the camps agreed to reschedule the event for May 18 in the same location. Problem solved. Of course, the initial news was disappointing for everyone. The fighters were primed to take part in the biggest fight of their careers only to have to slam on the brakes and begin preparations to restart their camps, probably next month. That’s an enormous letdown for them. Fans also were excited about the crowning of the first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis and a compelling matchup, which became particularly interesting when Fury eked out a victory over an MMA star making his boxing debut (Francis Ngannou) in October. The good news is that May will roll around soon enough and we’ll have our big fight, assuming nothing else unforeseen happens.

 

BIGGEST WINNER
Joshua Buatsi

Buatsi (18-0, 13 KOs) looked sharp in his one-sided decision over previously unbeaten London-area friend Dan Azeez (20-1, 13 KOs) on Saturday night in London, bolstering his status as the top 175-pound contender. He’s the mandatory challenger for the title held by pound-for-pounder Dmitry Bivol and arguably the best light heavyweight without a belt, as he’s ranked No. 1 by two of the three major sanctioning bodies and will soon ascend to the top of a third. The problem for him is that Bivol and fellow titleholder Artur Beterbiev have agreed to fight one another for the undisputed championship on June 1 in Saudi Arabia, which could tie up the titles for a while. Buatsi would have to wait at least until the fall to face the winner if he gets that opportunity at all. And Bivol vs. Beterbiev has the feel of a rivalry that could result in multiple fights. That could push back Buatsi’s big opportunity even further, although one never knows how things will play out. Fighters move up in weight, they get stripped, they get injured, they retire. The list goes on. Buatsi (18-0, 13 KOs) must continue to focus on the one thing he can control, winning fights. If the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist can do that – particularly as convincingly as he did on Saturday – his time will come soon enough.

 

BIGGEST WINNER II
Conor Benn

Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) needed a win. The 147-pounder contender from England has had a rough year and half, after failing two drug tests, getting suspended, getting cleared of wrong doing by an independent anti-doping agency and then having British authorities appeal that decision. That leaves him without a license to box in his homeland to this day. His response? He has moved his career across the pond, where he outpointed Rodolfo Orozco in September in Orlando and Peter Dobson (16-1, 9 KOs) on Saturday in Las Vegas. He gave a solid performance against the defense-challenged Dobson in a 12-round 151-pound bout, using his overmatched foe as a punching bag en route to winning a one-sided decision. The fact he couldn’t hurt Dobson, at least not seriously, might be an indication that he should stick to fighting at 147 for the time being. The important thing is that he has gotten back to what he does best, which is to box. That’s helping him overcome the most difficult period of his life. Soon he’ll be reinstated in the U.K. and face the big-name opponents he has been calling out. Then he can leave his PED issues in the past.

 

MOST EXCITING

We learned on Saturday that Bivol and Beterbiev had reached their deal to fight in less than four months, which is exciting. The winner arguably can claim to be the top 175-pounder of his era, making it one of the biggest possible matchups in the sport. The gifted Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) became an overnight star when he easily outpointed Canelo Alvarez in May 2022 and has dominating many more top contenders, including Sullivan Barrera, Isaac Chilemba, Jean Pascal, Joe Smith Jr. and Gilberto Ramirez. Few active fighters have had a better run. And Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) remains a beast at 39, as he demonstrated by becoming the first to stop Callum Smith on Jan. 13. He is one of the biggest punchers pound-for-pound and an underappreciated boxer, making him as a formidable opponent for anyone. Who wins? This is a 50-50 matchup if there ever was one. Bivol is the better boxer and athlete but it’s anyone’s guess whether he can withstand Beterbiev’s pressure and power. Can’t wait.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

Manny Pacquiao, 45, evidently is no longer retired. That’s the word from his longtime advisor Sean Gibbons, who told BoxingScene.com that his client is interested in facing Gervonta Davis or Ryan Garcia in a sanctioned bout. Please, no. The last thing we want to see is Pacquiao take the kind of beating he delivered against Oscar De La Hoya in 2008. And that’s what would happen if he faces a titleholder or top contender. He has an exhibition against muay thai fighter Buakaw Banchamek scheduled for April 20 in Thailand, he has expressed interest in facing old rival Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition and a bout with Conor McGregor has been discussed. Those are reasonable options. Davis or Garcia? That could be a mistake. … News item: unbeaten 135-pound titleholder Shakur Stevenson last week announced his retirement from boxing at 26 years old, which evidently was prompted by his inability to get the fights he wants. I understand Stevenson’s frustration, which is common to many top fighters. Ask Terence Crawford. But does anyone really believe Stevenson is going to walk away from the millions of dollars he stands to earn over the next several years? Of course not. He’ll be back soon. And he’ll eventually get the biggest fights that have been elusive. … Japanese boxer Kazuki Anaguchi died Friday, the result of a subdural hematoma suffered in a decision loss against Seiya Tsutsumi on Dec. 26 in Tokyo. Anaguchi, who went down four times in the fight, lost consciousness afterward and never awakened. He was only 23. … And so long to actor Carl Weathers, who has died at 76. Weathers played Apollo Creed, the rival of Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) and one of the great characters in any boxing movie.

[lawrence-related id=40646,40642,40640,40637,40626]

Weekend Review: Fury vs. Usyk merely delayed, Buatsi and Benn win easily

Weekend Review: The Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk fight was delayed. Meanwhile, Joshua Buatsi and Conor Benn easily won their fights.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

MOST DAMAGING CUT
Tyson Fury’s

S— happens. Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) was set to face fellow titleholder Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) for the undisputed heavyweight championship on Feb. 17 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia when Fury suffered a deep cut over his right eye in sparring, which forced the postponement of the event on Friday. Organizers bemoaned the calamity, Fury apologized profusely and Usyk’s manager cried foul, calling Fury a coward and insisting the WBC beltholder had sought a way out of the fight. A day later the camps agreed to reschedule the event for May 18 in the same location. Problem solved. Of course, the initial news was disappointing for everyone. The fighters were primed to take part in the biggest fight of their careers only to have to slam on the brakes and begin preparations to restart their camps, probably next month. That’s an enormous letdown for them. Fans also were excited about the crowning of the first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis and a compelling matchup, which became particularly interesting when Fury eked out a victory over an MMA star making his boxing debut (Francis Ngannou) in October. The good news is that May will roll around soon enough and we’ll have our big fight, assuming nothing else unforeseen happens.

 

BIGGEST WINNER
Joshua Buatsi

Buatsi (18-0, 13 KOs) looked sharp in his one-sided decision over previously unbeaten London-area friend Dan Azeez (20-1, 13 KOs) on Saturday night in London, bolstering his status as the top 175-pound contender. He’s the mandatory challenger for the title held by pound-for-pounder Dmitry Bivol and arguably the best light heavyweight without a belt, as he’s ranked No. 1 by two of the three major sanctioning bodies and will soon ascend to the top of a third. The problem for him is that Bivol and fellow titleholder Artur Beterbiev have agreed to fight one another for the undisputed championship on June 1 in Saudi Arabia, which could tie up the titles for a while. Buatsi would have to wait at least until the fall to face the winner if he gets that opportunity at all. And Bivol vs. Beterbiev has the feel of a rivalry that could result in multiple fights. That could push back Buatsi’s big opportunity even further, although one never knows how things will play out. Fighters move up in weight, they get stripped, they get injured, they retire. The list goes on. Buatsi (18-0, 13 KOs) must continue to focus on the one thing he can control, winning fights. If the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist can do that – particularly as convincingly as he did on Saturday – his time will come soon enough.

 

BIGGEST WINNER II
Conor Benn

Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) needed a win. The 147-pounder contender from England has had a rough year and half, after failing two drug tests, getting suspended, getting cleared of wrong doing by an independent anti-doping agency and then having British authorities appeal that decision. That leaves him without a license to box in his homeland to this day. His response? He has moved his career across the pond, where he outpointed Rodolfo Orozco in September in Orlando and Peter Dobson (16-1, 9 KOs) on Saturday in Las Vegas. He gave a solid performance against the defense-challenged Dobson in a 12-round 151-pound bout, using his overmatched foe as a punching bag en route to winning a one-sided decision. The fact he couldn’t hurt Dobson, at least not seriously, might be an indication that he should stick to fighting at 147 for the time being. The important thing is that he has gotten back to what he does best, which is to box. That’s helping him overcome the most difficult period of his life. Soon he’ll be reinstated in the U.K. and face the big-name opponents he has been calling out. Then he can leave his PED issues in the past.

 

MOST EXCITING

We learned on Saturday that Bivol and Beterbiev had reached their deal to fight in less than four months, which is exciting. The winner arguably can claim to be the top 175-pounder of his era, making it one of the biggest possible matchups in the sport. The gifted Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) became an overnight star when he easily outpointed Canelo Alvarez in May 2022 and has dominating many more top contenders, including Sullivan Barrera, Isaac Chilemba, Jean Pascal, Joe Smith Jr. and Gilberto Ramirez. Few active fighters have had a better run. And Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) remains a beast at 39, as he demonstrated by becoming the first to stop Callum Smith on Jan. 13. He is one of the biggest punchers pound-for-pound and an underappreciated boxer, making him as a formidable opponent for anyone. Who wins? This is a 50-50 matchup if there ever was one. Bivol is the better boxer and athlete but it’s anyone’s guess whether he can withstand Beterbiev’s pressure and power. Can’t wait.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

Manny Pacquiao, 45, evidently is no longer retired. That’s the word from his longtime advisor Sean Gibbons, who told BoxingScene.com that his client is interested in facing Gervonta Davis or Ryan Garcia in a sanctioned bout. Please, no. The last thing we want to see is Pacquiao take the kind of beating he delivered against Oscar De La Hoya in 2008. And that’s what would happen if he faces a titleholder or top contender. He has an exhibition against muay thai fighter Buakaw Banchamek scheduled for April 20 in Thailand, he has expressed interest in facing old rival Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition and a bout with Conor McGregor has been discussed. Those are reasonable options. Davis or Garcia? That could be a mistake. … News item: unbeaten 135-pound titleholder Shakur Stevenson last week announced his retirement from boxing at 26 years old, which evidently was prompted by his inability to get the fights he wants. I understand Stevenson’s frustration, which is common to many top fighters. Ask Terence Crawford. But does anyone really believe Stevenson is going to walk away from the millions of dollars he stands to earn over the next several years? Of course not. He’ll be back soon. And he’ll eventually get the biggest fights that have been elusive. … Japanese boxer Kazuki Anaguchi died Friday, the result of a subdural hematoma suffered in a decision loss against Seiya Tsutsumi on Dec. 26 in Tokyo. Anaguchi, who went down four times in the fight, lost consciousness afterward and never awakened. He was only 23. … And so long to actor Carl Weathers, who has died at 76. Weathers played Apollo Creed, the rival of Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) and one of the great characters in any boxing movie.

[lawrence-related id=40646,40642,40640,40637,40626]

Pound-for-pound: Devin Haney continues his ascent up the Boxing Junkie list

Pound-for-pound: Devin Haney continues his ascent up the Boxing Junkie list of the best fighters in the world.

Devin Haney turned in the best performance of his career Saturday in his hometown of San Francisco, shutting out overmatched 140-pound champ Regis Prograis to win a major title in a second division.

If there was any doubt about Haney’s place among the best fighters in the world beforehand, there isn’t now.

The question we faced was whether his impressive victory merited an upgrade on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list (Top 15 plus five Honorable Mentions).

We feel it did.

Haney entered the fight ranked No. 14, one spot behind fellow young star Shakur Stevenson.

We normally wouldn’t bump a fighter up more than one or two notches after a victory over an opponent who wasn’t on the pound-for-pound list going into the fight. However, this case is unusual.

Consider three things:

  • One, Haney didn’t simply defeat Prograis, he embarrassed him. He dropped him and won every round on all three scorecards.
  • Two, he moved up in weight and directly into a world championship fight.
  • And, three, Prograis was no easy mark. He was a respected, once-beaten, two-time titleholder.

Yes, it was a special night for Haney.

As a result, he moves up to No. 10, which knocks previous No. 10 Errol Spence Jr., No. 11 Vasiliy Lomachenko, No. 12 Artur Beterbiev and Stevenson down one spot each.

Note: Spence and Lomachenko are coming off losses – Spence to Terence Crawford and Lomachenko to Haney – and Stevenson gave a shaky performance in his unanimous decision victory over Edwin De Los Santos.

Beterbiev, 38, can bounce back up the list depending on how he performs against Callum Smith on Jan. 13

Next pound-for-pounder up: Honorable mentions Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez and Sunny Edwards will face off on Saturday in Glendale, Arizona.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – No fight scheduled.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Scheduled to face fellow titleholder Marlon Tapales for the undisputed 122-pound championship on Dec. 26 in Japan.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – Scheduled to face fellow titleholder and No. 9 Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight championship on Feb. 17 in Saudi Arabia.
  4. Dmitry Bivol – Scheduled to defend his 175-pound title against Lyndon Arthur on Dec. 23 in Saudi Arabia.
  5. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  6. Canelo Alvarez– No fight scheduled.
  7. Jermell Charlo – No fight scheduled.
  8. Gervonta Davis – No fight scheduled.
  9. Tyson Fury – Scheduled to face fellow titleholder and No. 3 Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship on Feb. 17 in Saudi Arabia.
  10. Devin Haney – No fight scheduled.
  11. Errol Spence Jr. – No fight scheduled.
  12. Vasiliy Lomachenko – No fight scheduled.
  13. Artur Beterbiev – Scheduled to defend his 175-pound titles against Callum Smith on Jan. 13 in Quebec City, Canada.
  14. Shakur Stevenson – No fight scheduled.
  15. David Benavidez – No fight scheduled.

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled); Sunny Edwards (scheduled to face Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez in a 112-pound title-unification bout on Dec. 16 in Glendale, Arizona); Roman Gonzalez (no fight scheduled);  Kazuto Ioka (scheduled to defend his 115-pound title against Josber Perez on New Year’s Eve in Japan); Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (scheduled to face Sunny Edwards in a 112-pound title-unification bout on Dec. 16 in Glendale, Arizona).

[lawrence-related id=40041,40037]

Pound-for-pound: Devin Haney continues his ascent up the Boxing Junkie list

Pound-for-pound: Devin Haney continues his ascent up the Boxing Junkie list of the best fighters in the world.

Devin Haney turned in the best performance of his career Saturday in his hometown of San Francisco, shutting out overmatched 140-pound champ Regis Prograis to win a major title in a second division.

If there was any doubt about Haney’s place among the best fighters in the world beforehand, there isn’t now.

The question we faced was whether his impressive victory merited an upgrade on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list (Top 15 plus five Honorable Mentions).

We feel it did.

Haney entered the fight ranked No. 14, one spot behind fellow young star Shakur Stevenson.

We normally wouldn’t bump a fighter up more than one or two notches after a victory over an opponent who wasn’t on the pound-for-pound list going into the fight. However, this case is unusual.

Consider three things:

  • One, Haney didn’t simply defeat Prograis, he embarrassed him. He dropped him and won every round on all three scorecards.
  • Two, he moved up in weight and directly into a world championship fight.
  • And, three, Prograis was no easy mark. He was a respected, once-beaten, two-time titleholder.

Yes, it was a special night for Haney.

As a result, he moves up to No. 10, which knocks previous No. 10 Errol Spence Jr., No. 11 Vasiliy Lomachenko, No. 12 Artur Beterbiev and Stevenson down one spot each.

Note: Spence and Lomachenko are coming off losses – Spence to Terence Crawford and Lomachenko to Haney – and Stevenson gave a shaky performance in his unanimous decision victory over Edwin De Los Santos.

Beterbiev, 38, can bounce back up the list depending on how he performs against Callum Smith on Jan. 13

Next pound-for-pounder up: Honorable mentions Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez and Sunny Edwards will face off on Saturday in Glendale, Arizona.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – No fight scheduled.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Scheduled to face fellow titleholder Marlon Tapales for the undisputed 122-pound championship on Dec. 26 in Japan.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – Scheduled to face fellow titleholder and No. 9 Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight championship on Feb. 17 in Saudi Arabia.
  4. Dmitry Bivol – Scheduled to defend his 175-pound title against Lyndon Arthur on Dec. 23 in Saudi Arabia.
  5. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  6. Canelo Alvarez– No fight scheduled.
  7. Jermell Charlo – No fight scheduled.
  8. Gervonta Davis – No fight scheduled.
  9. Tyson Fury – Scheduled to face fellow titleholder and No. 3 Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship on Feb. 17 in Saudi Arabia.
  10. Devin Haney – No fight scheduled.
  11. Errol Spence Jr. – No fight scheduled.
  12. Vasiliy Lomachenko – No fight scheduled.
  13. Artur Beterbiev – Scheduled to defend his 175-pound titles against Callum Smith on Jan. 13 in Quebec City, Canada.
  14. Shakur Stevenson – No fight scheduled.
  15. David Benavidez – No fight scheduled.

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled); Sunny Edwards (scheduled to face Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez in a 112-pound title-unification bout on Dec. 16 in Glendale, Arizona); Roman Gonzalez (no fight scheduled);  Kazuto Ioka (scheduled to defend his 115-pound title against Josber Perez on New Year’s Eve in Japan); Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (scheduled to face Sunny Edwards in a 112-pound title-unification bout on Dec. 16 in Glendale, Arizona).

[lawrence-related id=40041,40037]

Pound-for-pound: Does David Benavidez crack Top 15 after sensational KO?

Pound-for-pound: Does David Benavidez crack the Top 15 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list after his brutal KO of Demetrius Andrade?

This one is tricky.

David Benavidez couldn’t have looked much better than he did against Demetrius Andrade on Saturday in Las Vegas, where he put the former two-division titleholder down and pummeled him until the fight was stopped after the sixth round.

Benavidez’s stock certainly went up. However, was it enough for the Honorable Mention (going into the fight) to crack our Top 15?

Yes.

The question was how he would fit in. This is what we did:

  • No. 14 Roman Gonzalez, who has lost twice to Juan Francisco Estrada in his last three fights, drops to Honorable Mention. The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer has no fight scheduled.
  • No. 15 Devin Haney, coming off a victory over No. 11 Vasiliy Lomachenko in a close fight, moves up to No. 14. The 135-pound titleholder will challenge 140-pound champ Regis Prograis on Dec. 9, meaning his position here could change.
  • And Benavidez enters at No. 15, the highest position he has attained.

Honorable Mention Jermall Charlo, a 160-pound titleholder, held his position by outpointing smaller, but determined Jose Benavidez Jr. on the David Benavidez-Andrade card after a 2½-year layoff.

Next pound-for-pounder up: No. 14 Haney faces Prograis on Dec. 9 in San Francisco.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – No fight scheduled.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Scheduled to face fellow titleholder Marlon Tapales for the undisputed 122-pound championship on Dec. 26 in Japan.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – Scheduled to face fellow titleholder and No. 9 Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight championship on Feb. 17 in Saudi Arabia.
  4. Dmitry Bivol – Scheduled to defend his 175-pound title against Lyndon Arthur on Dec. 23 in Saudi Arabia.
  5. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  6. Canelo Alvarez– No fight scheduled.
  7. Jermell Charlo – No fight scheduled.
  8. Gervonta Davis – No fight scheduled.
  9. Tyson Fury – Scheduled to face fellow titleholder and No. 3 Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship on Feb. 17 in Saudi Arabia.
  10. Errol Spence Jr. – No fight scheduled.
  11. Vasiliy Lomachenko – No fight scheduled.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – Scheduled to defend his 175-pound titles against Callum Smith on Jan. 13 in Quebec City, Canada.
  13. Shakur Stevenson – No fight scheduled.
  14. Devin Haney – Scheduled to challenge 140-pound titleholder Regis Prograis on Dec. 9 in San Francisco.
  15. David Benavidez – No fight scheduled.

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled); Sunny Edwards (scheduled to face Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez in a 112-pound title-unification bout on Dec. 16 in Glendale, Arizona); Roman Gonzalez (no fight scheduled);  Kazuto Ioka (scheduled to defend his 115-pound title against Josber Perez on New Year’s Eve in Japan); Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (scheduled to face Sunny Edwards in a 112-pound title-unification bout on Dec. 16 in Glendale, Arizona).

[lawrence-related id=39510,39507,39503,39500,39495,39488]

Pound-for-pound: Does David Benavidez crack Top 15 after sensational KO?

Pound-for-pound: Does David Benavidez crack the Top 15 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list after his brutal KO of Demetrius Andrade?

This one is tricky.

David Benavidez couldn’t have looked much better than he did against Demetrius Andrade on Saturday in Las Vegas, where he put the former two-division titleholder down and pummeled him until the fight was stopped after the sixth round.

Benavidez’s stock certainly went up. However, was it enough for the Honorable Mention (going into the fight) to crack our Top 15?

Yes.

The question was how he would fit in. This is what we did:

  • No. 14 Roman Gonzalez, who has lost twice to Juan Francisco Estrada in his last three fights, drops to Honorable Mention. The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer has no fight scheduled.
  • No. 15 Devin Haney, coming off a victory over No. 11 Vasiliy Lomachenko in a close fight, moves up to No. 14. The 135-pound titleholder will challenge 140-pound champ Regis Prograis on Dec. 9, meaning his position here could change.
  • And Benavidez enters at No. 15, the highest position he has attained.

Honorable Mention Jermall Charlo, a 160-pound titleholder, held his position by outpointing smaller, but determined Jose Benavidez Jr. on the David Benavidez-Andrade card after a 2½-year layoff.

Next pound-for-pounder up: No. 14 Haney faces Prograis on Dec. 9 in San Francisco.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – No fight scheduled.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Scheduled to face fellow titleholder Marlon Tapales for the undisputed 122-pound championship on Dec. 26 in Japan.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – Scheduled to face fellow titleholder and No. 9 Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight championship on Feb. 17 in Saudi Arabia.
  4. Dmitry Bivol – Scheduled to defend his 175-pound title against Lyndon Arthur on Dec. 23 in Saudi Arabia.
  5. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  6. Canelo Alvarez– No fight scheduled.
  7. Jermell Charlo – No fight scheduled.
  8. Gervonta Davis – No fight scheduled.
  9. Tyson Fury – Scheduled to face fellow titleholder and No. 3 Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship on Feb. 17 in Saudi Arabia.
  10. Errol Spence Jr. – No fight scheduled.
  11. Vasiliy Lomachenko – No fight scheduled.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – Scheduled to defend his 175-pound titles against Callum Smith on Jan. 13 in Quebec City, Canada.
  13. Shakur Stevenson – No fight scheduled.
  14. Devin Haney – Scheduled to challenge 140-pound titleholder Regis Prograis on Dec. 9 in San Francisco.
  15. David Benavidez – No fight scheduled.

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled); Sunny Edwards (scheduled to face Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez in a 112-pound title-unification bout on Dec. 16 in Glendale, Arizona); Roman Gonzalez (no fight scheduled);  Kazuto Ioka (scheduled to defend his 115-pound title against Josber Perez on New Year’s Eve in Japan); Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (scheduled to face Sunny Edwards in a 112-pound title-unification bout on Dec. 16 in Glendale, Arizona).

[lawrence-related id=39510,39507,39503,39500,39495,39488]