On the Move: SecondsOut World Rankings 9/4/11

By Derek Bonnett: In the sport of boxing, we often forget that win-streaks are not necessarily the most effective tool when measuring a fighter for his true value. Unbeaten records and quick KOs surely impress, but it’s the way a fighter reacts to adversity or rebounds from defeat which teaches us the most. We find out just exactly what the fighter’s constitution is made of and then some. Andre Berto has struggled in Fight of the Year candidate caliber fights with Luis Collazo and Victor Ortiz, winning the first narrowly and losing the latter in thrilling fashion. Without a tune-up victory to separate Berto from his first professional defeat, the former world champion took on, reigning IBF 147 pound king, Jan Zaveck and became a two-time champion at welterweight. Although the contest was cut short due to cuts and swelling around Zaveck’s eyes, the two were putting together a stirring show of strength and determination. Berto’s naysayers have had their reasons for complaint through his career. I would be remiss if I didn’t identify myself as one of them, but Berto showed us tremendous heart in losing to Ortiz and exceptional bravery in taking on Zaveck, who, although little known amongst American fight-fans, is a credible former world champion and still a top welterweight. Regardless of the outcome of Mayweather-Ortiz, Berto-Ortiz II is a fight that makes as much sense in boxing as Mayweather-Pacquiao. It needs to happen. Andre Berto has more than earned his shot at redemption.

On Friday, September 2, at Club Once Unidos, Mar Del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Luis Alberto Lazarte outpointed Nerys Espinoza in a twelve round light flyweight bout to put himself back in the win column after losing his title to Ulises Solis in April. Lazarte previously defeated Espinoza prior to his two-bout series with Solis. Lazarte improved his record to 49-10-2 (18). Espinoza dropped to 29-7-1 (20).

Lazarte hung on to his SecondsOut number four ranking with the win. After winning this IBF title eliminator, we very well may see Lazarte in a third contest with Solis.

On Saturday, September 3, at Karen Demirchyan Sports Complex, Yerevan, Armenia, Vic Darchinyan dropped Evans Mbamba to capture a near shut-out in a twelve round bantamweight bout. Darchinyan has put together a strong two-fight win-streak over Mbamba and Yohnny Perez and appears to have a lot of world class action left in him. Darchinyan elevated his ring credentials to 37-3-1 (27). Mbamba dropped to 18-2 (9).

Darchinyan remained fifth in the stacked bantamweight division in the eyes of SecondsOut. Rematches with Abner Mares, Joseph Agbeko, and Nonito Donaire all loom as possibilities for the thrill-a-minute Armenian great.

On the same date, at Centro de Convenciones, San Luis Patosi, San Luis Patosi, Mexico, Marco Antonio Rubio stopped Mohammed Akrong in five rounds of a middleweight bout. Rubio kept busy while awaiting a shot at Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.’s WBC middleweight title. He is nine fights removed from his last defeat at the hands of Kelly Pavlik. Rubio’s venom has carried him to 52-5-1 (45). Akrong fell to 13-4 (10).

Rubio maintained his SecondsOut number four ranking among the world’s best 160 pounders. While he may never get his chance at Chavez Jr., the Mexican power-puncher is long overdue a shot at one of the titlists.

Elsewhere on the same evening, at Estadio Centenario, Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, Humberto Soto made short work of Jose Alfaro in a junior welterweight bout. Soto has abandoned the lightweight division to compete full-time as a 140 pounder. Soto was awarded a second round TKO victory and could line up one of the world champions by early next year. Soto enhanced his ring record to 56-7-2 (33). Alfaro dropped to 25-8 (22).

Soto, previously ranked third at 135 pounds, debuts as SecondsOut’s number four junior welterweight. For the time being, Mike Alvarado exits the top ten to accommodate Zorrito.

Also on September 3, at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, USA, Jan Zaveck lost to Andre Berto after five rounds of an IBF welterweight title bout. Berto and Zaveck competed on even terms for five rounds, but serious cuts to the champion and ample swelling forced his corner to pull him out of the action. Zaveck was distraught by the move and wanted to continue. Berto annexed his second world championship and improved his dossier to 28-1 (22). Zaveck’s ledger dipped to 31-2 (18).

Andre Berto positioned himself for a rematch with Ortiz and moved to number three in the SecondsOut 147 pound rankings. Zaveck dropped one place to fourth.

Also on the card, Randall Bailey decisioned Yoryi Estrella in a ten round welterweight bout. Bailey was originally considered as an opponent for Zaveck and is rumored to be in line for a shot at Berto now. Bailey now stands at 42-7 (36). Estrella fell to 10-6-2 (7).



SecondsOut ranked fighters in action through Sunday, September 11:

On Saturday, September 10:

At Coliseo Olympico de la UG, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico: Argenis Mendez versus Juan Carlos Salgado in a twelve round vacant IBF super featherweight title bout

At Jose Cuervo Salon, Polanco, Distrito Federal Mexico: Ganigan Lopez versus Josue Vega in a ten round light flyweight bout

At Cebu City Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines: Milan Melindo versus Francisco Rosas in a twelve round flyweight bout

At Stadion Miejski, Wroclaw, Poland: Vitali Klitschko versus Tomasz Adamek in a twelve round WBA heavyweight title bout; Mateusz Masternak versus Carl Davis in a ten round cruiserweight bout; Ola Afolabi versus TBA in a ten round cruiserweight bout

At Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA: Yuriorkis Gamboa versus Daniel Ponce De Leon in a twelve round featherweight title bout

To check out Derek’s SecondsOut rankings Click here

For further boxing discussion, contact Derek "DBO" Bonnett on Facebook or at mabfan@comcast.net.


September 4, 2011