On the Move: SecondsOut World Rankings 8/31/11

By Derek Bonnett: The hardest hits this week came from Hurricane Irene as she worked her way up the East Coast of the United States. Causing major damage in 12 states, Irene was reduced to Tropical Storm designation and went out to sea late on Sunday. However, many states, including my home state of Connecticut, have been without power for days. This, and only this, kept me from updating SecondsOut fans with the latest developments in the world of boxing and outlining which contenders are On the Move. Two new champions were crowned in unlikely upsets and heavyweight naysayers just might have the contender they have been waiting for. Out with August and in with September!

On Saturday, August 27, at Messehalle, Erfurt, Thüringen, Germany, Robert Helenius broke down Siarhea Liakhovich for a ninth round TKO in a heavyweight bout. The Nordic Nightmare is quickly establishing himself as one of the hottest contenders in the division with back to back stoppages of Samuel Peter and Liakhovich. Helenius remained focused in spite of an excellent effort from Liakhovich and dropped the former WBO champion in the eighth round. The White Wolf’s nose was broken in two places. Helenius enhanced his ring credentials to 16-0 (11). Liakhovich, though a noble loser, fell to 25-4 (16).

Helenius’ power and chin appear to be among the greatest threats to the Klitschko reigns. With further challenges like Peter and Liakhovich, he should be ready to try for a world title in the next twelve months. Helenius moves from ninth to eighth in the SecondsOut heavyweight rankings, but should be closing the gap quickly. Alexander Dimitrenko is pushed down to ninth.

Alexander Povetkin defeated Ruslan Chagaev by twelve round decision for the vacant WBA (regular) heavyweight title. The scores favored Povetkin, who put in a workman-like performance, 117-113 (twice) and 116-112. Chagaev was Povetkin’s first real test since his 2008 victory over Eddie Chambers. Evander Holyfield is likely to be the opponent for his first defense. Povetkin improved his record to 22-0 (15). Chagaev dipped to 27-2-1 (17).

Povetkin validated his SecondsOut number four ranking in the division, which became questionable after he avoided two title fights with Wladimir Klitschko and fought mid-level opposition. Chagaev, previously eighth, drops out of the rankings for the time being. Replacing him in the top ten is Kubrat Pulev. Pulev, 13-0 (6), enters at tenth.

On the same day, at Auditorio Benito Juarez, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Ulises Solis outpointed Jether Oliva in a twelve round IBF light flyweight title bout. Solis made his first successful defense of his second reign as champion by posting lopsided scores of 118-110, 119-109, and 120-108. Solis augmented his ring record to 34-2-3 (21). Oliva gained valuable experience in dropping to 17-1-1 (11).

Solis held onto his number two ranking among SecondsOut’s best 108 pounders. A unification bout with WBA boss Roman Gonzalez does not seem likely.

Raul Garcia was surprised by Moises Fuentes in a twelve round WBO minimumweight title bout. Fuentes brought in a ring record worthy of Titles Shots Here! Getcha’ Free Title Shot attention, but the thinly experienced challenger made the best of his opportunity and proved that a record isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. Garcia was dropped in the eighth, while Fuentes hit the deck in the ninth. Fuentes received the split verdict by scores of 114-112 (twice) and 112-114. Rematch anyone? Fuentes improved his dossier to 14-1 (6). Garcia dipped to 30-2-1 (18).

Fuentes became one of boxing’s latest fly in the ointment and crashes the SecondsOut 105 pound rankings at fifth. Garcia, previously third, drops to sixth. Juan Palacios is pushed to third from fourth. Cuello D. Singwancha jumps from fifth to fourth, but may be campaigning at 108 and is being watched closely. Wanheng Menayothin exits the SecondsOut top ten for the time being. Juan Hernandez, a recent loser to Kazuto Ioka, jumps from tenth to eighth given the fact that he narrowly edged Fuentes in a previous bout.

On August 31, at Derwent Entertainment Centre in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, Daniel Geale marked the first defense of his IBF middleweight title with a unanimous decision over Eromosele Albert by scores of 116-112, 117-11, and 119-109. Geale improved his ledger to 26-1 (15). Alberto fell to 24-5-1 (12).

Geale holds on to his number three ranking among middleweights at SecondsOut.

Also on August 31, in Nihon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan, Tomonobu Shimizu upset Hugo Fidel Cazares by the narrowest of split decisions. Cazares, a previous topic of mine concerning his soft title challengers, apparently bit off more than I had estimated in Shimizu. Shimizu now holds his first world title and improved his ring statistics to 19-3-1 (9). Cazares dipped to 35-7-2 (25).

Shimizu attacks the rankings by stealing the number two position. Cazares falls from second to third. All the remaining contenders in the top ten fall one ranking. The recently added Leo Santa Cruz exits for the time being.

At the same venue, Koki Kameda remained the WBA regular bantamweight champion with a narrow victory over David De La Mora by scores of 114-113, 115-113, and 115-112. Kameda notched his second defense of the title and improved his record to 26-1 (16). De La Mora fell to 23-1 (16).

Kameda maintained his number eight ranking among SecondsOut top 118 pounders.



SecondsOut ranked fighters in action through Sunday, September 4:

On Friday, September 2:

At Club Once Unidos, Mar Del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina: Luis Alberto Lazarte versus Nerys Espinoza in a twelve round light flyweight bout

On Saturday, September 3:

At Karen Demirchyan Sports Complex, Yerevan, Armenia: Vic Darchinyan versus Evans Mbamba in a twelve round bantamweight bout

At Centro de Convenciones, San Luis Patosi, San Luis Patosi, Mexico: Marco Antonio Rubio versus Mohammed Akrong in a twelve round middleweight bout

At Estadio Centenario, Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico: Humberto Soto versus Jose Alfaro in a ten round junior welterweight bout

At Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, USA: Jan Zaveck versus Andre Berto in a twelve round IBF welterweight title bout; Randall Bailey versus Yoryi Estrella in a ten round welterweight bout

To check out Derek’s SecondsOut rankings Click here



Contact Derek "DBO" Bonnett on Facebook or at mabfan@comcast.net for further boxing discussion.