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Avila’s Final Pound For Pound List For 2014
With only one more big fight card remaining, here’s my final Pound for Pound list for 2014. Only Timothy Bradley has business to attend in a couple of weeks in Las Vegas. All of the others on this list have submitted their resumes for the year. Dropping out was Bernard Hopkins after his decisive loss to Sergey Kovalev. Nonito Donaire’s loss to Nicholas Walter drops him off the list too.
1. Floyd Mayweather (47-0, 26 Kos) – The world wants Mayweather to fight Manny Pacquiao. Negotiations are going on but it’s laden with land mines ready to explode at the slightest touch. Though Mayweather seems to be running out of marketable opponents he still wants total control of any agreement. Will he allow Team Pacquiao to dictate anything? It could be a fight that dwarfs his fight with Canelo Alvarez in terms of money.
2. Wladimir Klitschko (63-3, 53 Kos) – The big Ukrainian hasn’t lost in 10 years and just recently destroyed Kubrat Pulev in Germany. Strangely he was booed and whistled before and after his last fight. Maybe it’s time to go for broke. His fights aren’t fun to watch with all of the holding and shoving. But he wins. Can Klitschko win in America? The younger Klitschko may be on the final leg of his race. He’s one of the least lauded heavyweights in the history of the heavyweight division because of his refusal to fight in the U.S. That can be remedied by one fight.
3. Andre Ward (27-0, 14 Kos) – At one time Oakland’s Ward was a shoo-in for being tabbed the best pound for pound fighter once Mayweather retires. But the super middleweight hasn’t fought in over a year and who knows what the inactivity will do to his reflexes. His contract disputes with Goossen Promotions have gone too far. Whatever advice he’s taking has kept him from entering the boxing ring at his prime.
4. Roman Gonzalez (41-0, 35 Kos) – Nicaragua’s Gonzalez is boxing’s best kept secret. The prizefighter known as “Chocolatito” has dominated the junior flyweights and now the flyweights. Twice he fought in the U.S. and this past month knocked out Rocky Fuentes in Japan. He has speed, power and strength. Gonzalez also can take a punch. Too bad he fights at the lower weights. The Nicaraguan bomber is fun to watch.
5. Juan Manuel Marquez (56-7-1, 40 Kos) – The Mexico City technician wants another big fight but has slowed down recently. His victory over Mike Alvarado this past spring was well deserved. Marquez is looking for one big payday before retiring. Pacman has been chasing him but refuses to fight in Mexico City. Marquez has tired of fighting under Pacman’s conditions and is too prideful to compromise. Does he still have his precise fighting skills?
6. Manny Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 Kos) – Speed, agility and his southpaw stance are Pacman’s greatest weapons today. You can forget about his power. He no longer possesses a knockout punch but can swarm anybody and force a stoppage with his speed. He wants Mayweather badly but may have to give up a lot to get in the boxing ring. One thing he may have to forego is implementing weight handicaps. Pacman may have to fight Mayweather straight up if they do fight.
7. Carl Froch (33-2, 24 Kos) – Outside of Europe the warrior from England gets little recognition. He can take a punch with the best and has heavy hands to go with his steel chin. A rematch with Andre Ward would be a great fight. He already avenged his loss to Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler. If Froch can convince Ward to a rematch they may have to meet at the light heavyweight division. Both are well past six-feet in height and can carry the extra weight with ease. It would pit Ward’s speed against Froch’s grit.
8. Gennady Golovkin (31-0, 28 Kos) – Golovkin may be unbeatable in the middleweight division. If he dropped down to junior middleweight, which his trainer Abel Sanchez says is his natural weight class, that would enable Golovkin to join the Mayweather sweepstakes. It’s a fight that many experts would make Golovkin the favorite. But don’t count on it happening. Instead, a showdown with the winner between Miguel Cotto and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez seems a natural fit. Or a proposed bout with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. seems more likely. Triple G is in the chips now.
9. Tim Bradley (31-1, 12 Kos) – The Desert Storm has only one loss and that came to Pacquiao. Anyone who discounts Bradley from the top dozen pound for pound lists is making a grave mistake. Beating Juan Manuel Marquez was no fluke. He also beat Ruslan Provodnikov, Devon Alexander, Kendall Holt, and Junior Witter. How easily people forget. Bradley fights Argentina’s Diego Chaves on Dec. 13 in Las Vegas.
10. Mikey Garcia (34-0, 28 Kos) – Garcia turns 27 on Dec. 15, and has been off for nearly a year but his last victories were pretty impressive. Winning a featherweight world title and a junior lightweight world title is heady stuff. Garcia has the ability to out-box opponents or lay them out. That combination makes him a tremendous force in boxing. He’s the youngest fighter on this list.
11. Miguel Cotto (39-4, 32 Kos) – The Renaissance of Cotto has been remarkable but there are only certain kind of middleweights he can defeat. Now 34, the superb Puerto Rican boxer will probably fight Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in a middleweight showdown that should bring big money. Should he win, Gennady Golovkin awaits him and he’s not Sergio Martinez on a gimpy leg.
12. Robert Guerrero (32-2-1, 18 Kos) – One loss to Mayweather sent Guerrero tumbling down the ratings on most other pound for pound lists. But the Northern California prizefighter only has two losses in his career and won world titles as a featherweight, and junior lightweight, then jumped up three weight divisions and handled Andre Berto at welterweight. Guerrero can be successful at welterweight and possibly even at junior middleweight. One thing he did lose was his power at the higher weights.
Honorable mention: Guillermo Rigondeaux, Danny Garcia, Sergey Kovalev, Nicholas Walter, Terence Crawford, Leo Santa Cruz, Jhonny Gonzalez, Saul Alvarez.
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Japan’s Budding Superstar Junto Nakatani KOs ‘Petch’ Chitpattana in Tokyo
Japan’s budding superstar Junto Nakatani knocked out Petch Chitpattana in a battle of southpaws to retain the WBC bantamweight world title on Monday in Tokyo.
It was the first time the rugged Thai fighter was ever stopped.
“This was not my first time knocking out that kind of opponent,” Nakatani said.
The three-division world champion Nakatani (29-0, 22 KOs) became the first fighter to knock out Chitpattana (76-2, 53 KOs) and performed the feat in front of a large Japanese audience at Ariake Arena in Japan. It was also his third consecutive knockout as a bantamweight.
“I’m happy about it,” Nakatani said.
The left-handed boxer-puncher expected to be in a firefight from the Thai fighter who had 78 pro fights of experience.
“He was a strong opponent,” said the champion.
During the first three rounds, Nakatani merely probed Chitpattana’s defense and style of fighting. Though he throttled the Thai boxer with a lead left cross in the first two rounds he did not commit until the fourth round.
Then things got interesting.
Chitpattana, who also goes by the name Tasana Salapat, opened up his attack in the fourth round with blistering body shots and short combinations. Both fighters freely exchanged body shots and blows to the head. As if measuring who was tougher.
In the fifth round the furious exchanges continued with both fighters connecting with right hooks. Nakatani began concentrating with uppercuts to the chin as Chitpattana belted the Japanese fighter’s body. Both fighters looked to hurt the other and jabs were a memory. Only power shots were fired by both.
Now it was total war.
The challenger was eager to see who was tougher and determined it was now or never. Both exchanged with abandon in the sixth round with Nakatani firing three and four-punch combinations. It was one of these combinations that saw the Japanese star deliver Chitpattana to the canvas for a count of eight. He got up and fired back looking to score his own knockdown. Nakatani measured his challenger carefully and unleashed a three-punch combination that violently sent Chitpattana reeling. The referee quickly stopped the fight.
Nakatani was declared the winner by technical knockout. The official time of the stoppage was 2:59 of round six.
“Please keep an eye on me,” said Nakatani to the crowd and those watching on international television.
Other Bouts
South Africa’s Phumelele Cafu (11-0-3) floored four-division world titlist Kosei Tanaka (20-2) and out-fought the WBO super fly champion to become the new champion by split-decision.
“Its something I always dreamed about,” said Cafu.
It was quickly evident that Cafu was able to easily land the left hook. But after several rounds of connecting with the left, it was a right-hand counter that dropped Tanaka for an eight-count in the fifth round.
Tanaka rallied furiously with body shots and volume punching. But he could not avoid the power shots coming from the South African fighter who had never fought outside of his country. After 12 rounds one judge scored it 114-113 for Tanaka but two other judges saw it 114-113 for Cafu.
WBO flyweight titlist Anthony Olascuaga and former WBO light flyweight titlist Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez accidentally clashed heads in the first round and a cut over the eye of the challenger forced the fight to be stopped at 2:25 of the opening round. It was ruled a No Decision.
Former kickboxing champion turned boxer Tenshin Nasukawa (5-0) defeated Gerwin Asilo (9-1) handily to win a regional bantamweight title after 10 rounds by unanimous decision.
Nasukawa, a southpaw, showed off his quick hands and floored Filipino fighter Asilo in the ninth round. It was a battle between quick counter-punchers, but it was Nasukawa’s power that seemed to intimidate Asilo. After 10 rounds the scores were 98-91 twice and 97-92 for Nasukawa.
Nasukawa is known by American fans for fighting an exhibition with Floyd Mayweather.
Sunday in Japan
Seiya Tsutsumi (12-0-2, 8 KOs) upset Takuma Inoue to win the WBA bantamweight world title by unanimous decision. Tsutsumi scored a knockdown of Inoue and won by scores 117-110, 115-112, 114-113.
Kenshiro Teraji (24-1, 15 KOs) knocked out Cristofer Rosales (37-7) to win the vacant WBC flyweight world title at six seconds of the 11th round. He moved up in weight after a lengthy hold of the WBC light flyweight title.
Shokichi Iwata (14-1, 11 KOs) knocked out Spain’s Jairo Noriega (14-1) at the end of the third round to win the WBO light flyweight world title.
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Results and Recaps from Riyadh where Artur Beterbiev Unified the 175-Pound Title
For the first time in the history of the 175-pound class, all four meaningful belts were on the line when Artur Beterbiev locked horns with Dmitry Bivol today at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. When the smoke cleared, Beterbiev prevailed on a majority decision, adding Bivol’s WBA and lineal title to his own collection of belts to emerge as the undisputed light heavyweight champion.
This was a classic confrontation between a boxer and a puncher. Beterbiev had won all 20 of his pro fights inside the distance. Bivol was also undefeated but had scored only nine stoppages among his 23 wins and nine of his 10 previous fights had gone the full 12 rounds. As an amateur, Beterbiev had lost twice to Oleksandr Usyk, the second of those setbacks in the quarterfinal round of the 2012 London Olympics, and it was no surprise that the 33-year-old Bivol, the younger man by six years, went to post a small favorite.
This proved to be a tactical fight that was a disappointment when measured against the pre-fight hype. Neither man was ever in jeopardy of going down and at the conclusion both acknowledged they could have done better.
In the first two rounds, Bivol was credited with out-landing Beterbiev 26-10. But the template was set. Although Bivol landed more punches in the early-going, one could see that Beterbiev was stronger and that his straight-line pressure would likely pay dividends over his opponent who burned up more energy moving side-to-side.
Beterbiev showed no ill effects from the torn meniscus that forced him to withdraw from the originally scheduled date (June 1). At the conclusion, two of the judges favored him (116-112, 115-113) and the other had it a draw (114-114).
IBF Cruiserweight Title Fight
Australian southpaw Jai Opetaia, widely regarded as the best cruiserweight on the planet, took charge in the opening round and wore down Jack Massey whose trainer Joe Gallagher wisely pulled him out at the two-minute mark of the sixth round.
Opetaia, who repeated his win over Maris Briedis in his previous bout, sending the talented Latvian off into retirement, improved to 26-0 (20 KOs) in what was his third straight appearance in this ring. A 31-year-old Englishman, Massey lost for the third time in 25 pro starts.
Opetaia’s next fight is expected to come against the winner of the forthcoming match between Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez and Chris Billam-Smith. They risk their respective belts next month on a Golden Boy Promotions card here in Riyadh.
Other Bouts of Note
The bout between heavyweights Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke was the semi-wind-up. It was a rematch of their March 31 tussle in London. At the end of that bruising 12-round barnburner, Wardley was more marked-up but remained undefeated and retained his British title when the judges returned a draw. Clarke likewise skirted defeat after opening his pro career 8-0.
Today’s sequel was a brutal, one-sided fight that never saw a second bell. It was all over at the 2:22 mark of the opening round, dictating a long intermission before the featured attraction even though it would commence 15 minutes ahead of schedule, going off at 3 pm PT.
Both men came out swinging but the Ipswich man, Wardley, had heavier ammunition. A big right hand left Clarke with a visible dent near his left ear. When the end came, Clarke, was slumped against the ropes, his eyes glazed and his jaw looking as if it may have been broken. (He was removed to a hospital where he was reportedly being treated for a fractured cheekbone.)
Wardley, who carried 242 pounds on his six-foot-five frame, never had a proper amateur career, but having knocked out 17 of his 19 opponents, he stands on the cusp of some big-money fights. “I’d be shocked if he’s not fighting for a world title next year,” said his promoter Frank Warren.
In a battle between two 35-year-old middleweights, Chris Eubank Jr advanced to 34-3 (25 KOs) with a seventh-round stoppage of Poland’s Kamil Szeremeta (25-3-2). A 25/1 favorite, Eubank had his Polish adversary on the canvas four times before the bout was halted at the 1:50 mark of the seventh frame. The match played out in a manner mindful of Szeremeta’s bout with Gennady Golovkin in 2020, another bad night at the office for the overmatched Pole.
The knockdowns came in rounds one, six, and twice in round seven. The final knockdowns were the result of body punches. Szeremeta had his moments, but these were due largely to Eubank’s lapses in concentration; he was never really in any danger.
After Eubank had his hand raised, Conor Benn entered the ring and confronted him. The sons of British boxing luminaries were initially set to fight on Oct. 8, 2022. That match, expected to draw a full house to London’s 20,000-seat O2 Arena, was shipwrecked by the British Boxing Board of Control. Benn’s antics in Riyadh are an indication that it may yet come to fruition.
In a 10-round contest, Skye Nicolson outclassed Raven Chapman, winning by scores of 99-91 and 98-92 twice. The Aussie was making her fourth start of 2024 and the third defense of her WBC featherweight title.
Nicolson, who improved to 12-0 (1), hopes that her next title defense is in Australia where she has fought only once since turning pro, that back in 2022, but she would gladly put that on the backburner for a date with Amanda Serrano. It was the first pro loss for Chapman (9-1), a 30-year-old Englishwoman.
Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank
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Avila Perspective, Chap. 300: Eastern Horizons — Bivol, Beterbiev and Japan
Avila Perspective, Chap. 300: Eastern Horizons — Bivol, Beterbiev and Japan
All eyes are pointed east, if you are a boxing fan.
First, light heavyweights Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol meet in Saudi Arabia to determine who is the baddest at 175 pounds. Then a few days later bantamweights and flyweights tangle in Japan.
Before the 21st century, who would have thought we could watch fights from the Middle East and Asia live.
Who would have thought Americans would care.
Streaming has changed the boxing landscape.
Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs), the IBF, WBC, WBO light heavyweight titlist meets WBA titlist Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs) for the undisputed world championship on Saturday Oct. 12, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The entire card will air on DAZN pay-per-view. In the United States, the main event, expected to start at 3:15 pm PT, will also be available on ESPN+.
A few decades ago, only Europeans and Asians would care about this fight card. And only the most avid American fight fan would even notice. Times have changed dramatically for the worldwide boxing scene.
In the 1970s and 80s, ABC’s Wide World of Sports would occasionally televise boxing from other countries. Muhammad Ali was featured on that show many times. Also, Danny “Lil Red” Lopez, Salvador Sanchez and Larry Holmes.
Howard Cosell was usually the host of that show and then denounced the sport as too brutal after 15 rounds of a one-sided match between Holmes and Randall Cobb at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas in 1982.
That same Cobb would later go into acting and appear in films with Chuck Norris and others.
Streaming apps have brought international boxing to the forefront.
Until this century heavyweights and light heavyweight champions were dominated by American prizefighters. Not anymore.
Beterbiev, a Russian-born fighter now living in Canada, is 39 years old and has yet to hear the final bell ring in any of his pro fights. He sends all his opponents away hearing little birdies. He is a bruiser.
“I want a good fight. I’m preparing for a good fight. We’ll see,” said Beterbiev.
Bivol, 33, is originally from Kyrgyzstan and now lives in the desert town of Indio, Calif. He has never tasted defeat but unlike his foe, he vanquishes his opponents with a more technical approach. He does have some pop.
“Artur (Beterbiev) is a great champion. He has what I want. He has the belts. And it’s not only about belts. When I look at his skills, I want to check my skills also against this amazing fighter,” said Bivol.
The Riyadh fight card also features several other world titlists including Jai Opetaia, Chris Eubank Jr and female star Skye Nicolson.
Japan
Two days later, bantamweight slugger Junto Nakatani leads a fight card that includes flyweight and super flyweight world titlists.
Nakatani (28-0, 21 KOs), a three-division world titlist, defends the WBC bantamweight title against Thailand’s Tasana Salapat (76-1, 53 KOs) on Monday Oct. 14, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. ESPN+ will stream the Teiken Promotions card.
The left-handed assassin Nakatani has a misleading appearance that might lead one to think he’s more suited for a tailor than a scrambler of brain cells.
A few years back I ran into Nakatani at the Maywood Boxing club in the Los Angeles area. I thought he was a journalist, not the feared pugilist who knocked out Angel Acosta and Andrew Moloney on American shores.
Nakatani is worth watching at 1 a.m. on ESPN+.
Others on the card include WBO super flyweight titlist Kosei Tanaka (20-1, 11 KOs) defending against Phumelele Cafu (10-0-3); and WBO fly titlist Anthony Olascuaga (7-1, 5 KOs) defending against Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez (28-3-1, 14 KOs) the WBO light fly titlist who is moving up in weight.
It’s a loaded fight card.
RIP Max Garcia
The boxing world lost Max Garcia one of Northern California’s best trainers and a longtime friend of mine. He passed away this week.
Garcia and his son Sam Garcia often traveled down to Southern California with their fighters ready to show off their advanced boxing skills time after time.
It was either the late 90s or early 2000s that I met Max in Big Bear Lake at one of the many boxing gyms there at that time. We would run into each other at fight cards in California or Nevada. He was always one of the classiest guys in the boxing business.
If Max had a fighter on a boxing card you knew it was trouble for the other guy. All of his fighters were prepared and had that extra something. He was one of the trainers in NorCal who started churning out elite fighters out of Salinas, Gilroy and other nearby places.
Recently, I spotted Max and his son on a televised card with another one of his fighters. I mentioned to my wife to watch the Northern California fighter because he was with the Garcias. Sure enough, he battered the other fighter and won handily.
Max, you will be missed by all.
Fights to Watch
(all times Pacific Time)
Sat. DAZN pay-per-view, 9 a.m. Beterbiev-Bivol full card. Beterbiev (20-0) vs Dmitry Bivol (23-0) main event only also available on ESPN+ (3:15 pm approx.)
Mon. ESPN+ 1 a.m. Junto Nakatani (28-0) vs Tasana Salapat (76-1).
Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank
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