On the Move: SecondsOut World Rankings 11/6/11

By Derek Bonnett: The late October snowfall of winter storm Alfred left many New Englanders in the dark for up to a week in some places. In Connecticut, yours truly was left without heat, warm showers, television, and internet access. I missed some pretty good action in the boxing world and was unable to keep SecondsOut readers up to snuff with our ever changing world rankings and, for that, I apologize. However, the lights are back on and, baby, I am ready to report on some of the boxing activity and movements the first week of November provided in the SecondsOut rankings.

First, I will comment upon some changes which should have occurred last week. Troy Ross said goodbye to his number five cruiserweight ranking after one year of inactivity. The currently ranked five through nine fighters all were elevated one ranking to allow Lateef Kayode to enter at number ten. Also, Arthur Abraham has been removed from the super middleweight rankings as he plans to make a return to the middleweight division. He will remain unranked at 160 for the time being. Vusi Malinga also fell victim to the inactivity bug and no longer appears in the bantamweight rankings. Hugo Cazares moved up from 115 to assume the number nine slot at 118. Also penalized for an empty schedule was Omar Nino Romero at 108 pounds. Romero leaves the top ten for now and is replaced by Jether Oliva. Oliva entered at tenth.

On Friday, November 4, at National Stadium Gymnasium, Bangkok, Thailand, Suriyan Sor Rungvisai defended his WBC super flyweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Nobou Nashiro. The twenty-two year old champion won by scores of 115-113, 119-109, and 116-113. Rungvisai’s professional record moved to 20-4-1 (7). Nashiro fell to 15-4-1 (9).

Rungvisai elevated his ranking from fourth to third among SecondsOut’s top performing 115 pounders. Cesar Seda Jr. was pushed from third to fourth.

Also on the same day, at Khodynka Ice Palace, Moscow, Russia, Denis Lebedev captured a unanimous over James Toney in an interim WBA cruiserweight title bout (Why there is a need for an interim WBA title is beyond me). Lebedev did not lose a round on the three judges’ cards by counts of 120-108 twice and 120-107. Lebedev has added the pelts of two future hall of famers in Roy Jones Jr. and Toney since losing a disputed decision to Marco Huck at the close of 2010. Antonio Tarver, also a likely hall of famer, has been mentioned as a possible next opponent. Lebedev enhanced his ring credentials to 23-1 (17). Toney dipped to 73-7-3 (44)

Lebedev remained the second best cruiserweight at SecondsOut, but needs a rematch victory over Huck in order to claim the top spot.

On Saturday, November 5, at Seminole Hark Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida, USA, Guillermo Jones TKO’d Michael Marrone in six rounds to defend his WBA cruiserweight crown. This was just the second defense of Jones’ title since September 2008. The thirty-nine year old Panamanian improved his dossier to 38-3-2 (30). Marrone, typically a heavyweight, fought for the first time as a cruiserweight in this title bout. He fell to 20-4 (15) as a professional.

Jones could have been removed from the SecondsOut rankings in October, but since he had a bout scheduled he was spared. However, since he fought only one low-profile opponent in thirteen months, he dropped from sixth to seventh. Antonio Tarver replaced him at sixth.

Also on this date, at Wembley Arena, Wembley, London, United Kingdom, Ricky Burns scored a high profile decision victory over Michael Katsidis for the interim WBO lightweight title. Burns’ move to the lightweight division permanently paid off significantly as greater opportunities now loom for him in the immediate future. Burns, a former WBO super featherweight titlist, augmented his ledger to 33-2 (9). Katsidis, further proving he simply cannot win the big fights, fell to 28-5 (23).

Burns enters SecondsOut’s 135 pound rankings at number five. Katsidis fall from fifth to ninth. Gavin Rees departs for the time being. The lightweight division could be looking at another serious makeover in the near future. Although still the man to beat at 135, it is unlikely Juan Manuel Marquez will return to lightweight after his bout with Manny Pacquiao. Also, Robert Guerrero and Brandon Rios both consistently get mentioned as possible 140 pound players. Miguel Vazquez and Burn might begin to vie for the top spot before too long.

At Centro de Cancun, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, James Kirkland and Alfredo Angulo provided boxing fans with a round of the year candidate in their opening three minutes. Kirkland prevailed by TKO in the sixth, but was forced to get off the canvas in the opening thirty seconds and survive a brutal drubbing from a ferocious Angulo. Angulo tired badly and withstood a beating before the bout was stopped. The improbably comeback of Kirkland pushed his record to 30-1 (27). Angulo dropped to 20-2 (17).

Kirkland re-entered the SecondsOut rankings at seventh. Angulo had previously been unranked due to inactivity. Antonio Margarito exits the rankings due to inactivity since his lopsided defeat to Manny Pacquiao. However, he has the opportunity to re-enter should he defeat Miguel Cotto. Paul Williams dropped one ranking.

Also on the same card, Peter Quillin TKO’d Craig McEwan in six rounds of a lopsided contest. Although McEwan was not seriously hurt, he was not protecting himself at the time of the stoppage. Quillin elevated his ring stats to 26-0 (20). McEwan fell to 19-2 (10).

Quillin dropped down from super middleweight for this contest and looks to be in search of a showdown with Sergio Martinez. He is removed from the 168 pounds rankings and now holds down the number nine spot at 160.

Also on the same evening, at Domo de la Feria, Leon. Guanajuato, Mexico, Chris Arreola scored his fifth win of 2011 with a third round TKO of Raphael Butler. Arreola improved to 34-2 (29). Butler dipped to 35-12 (28).

Arreola held down his SecondsOut heavyweight ranking at number seven. Arreola has proven his intent to re-establish himself among the elites at heavyweight, but is still in need of a more marketable victory to go a long with his new waistline.

Also on this date, at Auditorio Municipal, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, Tomas Rojas stopped Feliciano Dario Azuaga Lesdesma in two rounds to get back in the win column since losing his 115 pound title to Suriyan Sor Rungvisai in August. Rojas scaled a career high 119 in improving his dossier to 37-13-1 (25). Ledesma dropped to 82-22-2 (67).

Rojas remains number five among SecondsOut’s super flyweights, but he will be watched carefully as a move to bantamweight to join Hugo Cazares is also a distinct possibility.

Also on November 5, at Pepsi Coliseum, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, Lucian Bute added the ninth defense to his IBF title reign at 168 pounds with a comprehensive unanimous decision over Glen Johnson. Bute prevailed by scores of 120-108 twice and 119-109. Bute won for the third time in 2011 and eagerly awaits the winner of the Andre Ward-Carl Froch Super Six Championship final. Bute enhanced his numbers to 30-0 (24). Johnson dropped to 51-16-2 (35), but you never can tell when we will see the last of "The Road Warrior" at the world championship level.

Bute reclaimed the number two spot at 168 by outperforming Carl Froch against Johnson. However, the line between Ward, Bute, Froch, and Mikkel Kessler is as fine as they come in the sport today. Oddly enough, Johnson remains number six since number seven ranked Kelly Pavlik has not made much of a presence at 168. Peter Quillin exits the top ten to compete at 160 pounds. Sakio Bika exits due to inactivity and not winning a bout since 2009. The newbies climbing aboard all lack the experience of Johnson and would likely get schooled at this point. Edwin Rodriguez is now ranked eighth. George Groves climbed aboard a ninth. Marco Antonio Periban rounded out the top ten.

On Sunday, November 6, at Yoyogi #2 Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan, Takahiro Ao edged Devis Boschiero by split decision in a WBC super featherweight bout. Ao was awarded the decision by two counts of 115-113 and a dissenting score of 113-116. Ao’s record grew to 22-2-1 (10). Boschiero fell to 29-1-1 (14).

Ao added to his victories by his close call with a relatively unproven fighter cost him one spot in the SecondsOut 130 pound rankings. He fell from third to fourth. Argenis Mendez replaces him at third up from fourth.

Also on the card, Toshiyuki Igarashi earned a career best win over Wilbert Uicab by taking a unanimous decision by scores of 116-111, 116-112, and 114-113. Igarashi improved his record to 15-1-1 (10). Uicab fell to 33-6-1 (18).

Igarashi entered the top ten of SecondsOut’s flyweight rankings for the first time. He climbed aboard at ninth. Uicab fell out of the top ten for the time being.

SecondsOut ranked fighters in action through Sunday, November 13:

On Friday, November 11:

In Nong Khai, Thailand: Wanheng Menayothin versus Crison Omayoa in a twelve round minimumweight bout

On Saturday, November 12:

At MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA: Manny Pacquiao versus Juan Manuel Marquez III in a twelve round WBO welterweight title bout; Timothy Bradley versus Joel Casamayor in a twelve round WBO light welterweight title bout; Luis Cruz versus Juan Carlos Burgos in a twelve round super featherweight bout

To check out Derek’s SecondsOut rankings Click here