Wilder Gets a new opponent
Just four weeks before the scheduled heavyweight battle between Deontay Wilder and Andrzej Wawrzyk for Wilder’s WBC Heavyweight title, the bout received a shake up when Wawrzyk was pulled for a banned substance violation. In cooperation with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), the WBC notified Mr. Wawrzyk that the urine samples obtained on January 15th and 16th both came back positive for the steroid Stanozolol. The WBC has made great steps to help clean up the sport thanks to their Clean Boxing Program (CBP), though VADA is not compulsory fighting in the WBC ranks means de facto submission to random drug testing.
So, in steps undefeated heavyweight Gerald Harris (18-0-1, 12 KOs) a fighter on the bubble from Vallejo, California, USA who has fought a ‘who’s who’ of journeyman fighters. Most recently he defeated Eddie Chambers on April 30th last year by unanimous decision at the StubHub Center in Carson California.
Deontay Wilder remains undefeated as well. A veteran of 37 bouts, he has won 36 via KO.
However, like his British counterpart, Anthony Joshua has failed in some respects to catch fire with serious boxing fans due to the overall weakness of the heavyweight division. ‘The Bronze Bomber’ has convincing wins over men such as Malik Scott and Chris Aerrola, then latter this past July 16th in Wilder’s home state of Alabama at the Legacy Arena, the same venue that will now place host Wilder’s new dance partner the 6’6” ‘El Gallo Negro’ Gerald Washington.
Ironically, Wilder’s former challenger and the only man so far to survive 12 full rounds Bermane Stiverne had his own fight canceled last November after the WBC and VADA caught Alexander Povetkin for the second time in a year for a banned substance violation. Stiverne took the fight as a title eliminator to rematch against Wilder for the WBC title, why oh why then the WBC did not make Stiverne the mandatory I can’t say.
Lomachenko vs. Sosa for Unification
As always, the lighter weights are stacked with great fights and fighters, none more than at 130 pounds. This week it was announced that Vasyl ‘Hi-Tech’ Lomachenko will fight New Jersey slugger Jason Sosa for his piece of the Super Featherweight crown this April, most likely at the MGM National Harbor resort in Oxon, Maryland.
Jason Sosa (20-1-4, 15 KO) from Camden, New Jersey traveled all the way to Beijing China and dropped former champion Javier Fortuna in the 11th round with his potent left hook in June of 2016 to claim the WBA World Super Featherweight title.
He defended that belt against Liverpool, England native Stephen Smith by a convincing unanimous decision at the Salle des Étoiles in Monte Carlo, Monaco, you see it’s good to be champ!
However, standing across from Sosa will be Vasyl Lomachenko (7-1, 5 KO) the WBO World Super Featherweight champion and in my opinion and many others truly the best and most exciting boxer in the sport currently.
Now ‘Hi-Tech’ simply does not have the professional resume to justify Pound-for-Pound accolades if he fulfills his potential there is no reason to think the Ukrainian buzz saw will not continue to chop up his competition. Arguably the greatest amateur boxer of his era the two-time Olympic Gold medalist has continued to take on the best available competition, period. Should he beat Sosa and there is every reason to believe he will fascinating matchups to unify the division against newly crowned champions Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, Miguel Berchelt and WBA Super champion Jezreel Corrales. Should Lomachenko defeat Sosa and then close the year by taking out any of the other champions Lomachenko P4P status will not be denied.
Miguel Cotto – James Kirkland is off
This week heartbreaking news for troubled fighter James Kirkland surfaced when it was announced the scheduled HBO Pay Per View bout between the rugged south paw and former four division champion Miguel Cotto would be canceled due to a broken nose Kirkland suffered in camp preparing for the fight.
Miguel Cotto (40-5, 33 KO) is a living legend and was set to make his victory lap claiming 2017 to be his last in the sport as a fighter.
A fight with James Kirkland, though not particularly meaningful in terms of rankings was nevertheless an exciting matchup on paper. Or so it would seem, due to Cotto’s salary demands HBO was forced to make it PPV instead of being on a regular HBO card where it belonged. Cotto is coming back after over two years on the sidelines when he last dropped a unanimous decision to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
James Kirkland (32-2, 28 KOs) has struggled to find his footing in the sport as well as receiving the respect he deserves. Tough as nails and never afraid to go out on his shield, Kirkland seemed to be back on track since he received a one-sided pummeling from “Canelo” and was stopped in just the 3rd round of their fight back in May 2015. Kirkland had reunited with former women’s Champion Ann Wolfe and the pair were set to make a run at relevance again with this legacy bout against Cotto. Kirkland’s immediate future is unknown.
The real loser here may be Guillermo ‘El Chacal’ Rigondeaux. The undefeated Cuban Ex-pat was scheduled to take on WBA interim champion Moises Flores (25-0-0-1, 17 KO) for his piece of the Bantamweight title in the undercard.
Labeled ‘boring’ by many casual and seasoned fans of the sport ‘El Chacal’ is the most misunderstood and avoided fighter in the entire sport of boxing. Rigondeaux will now miss out on the modest paycheck he would have earned by fighting Flores.
Chocolatito vs. Cuadras next for winners
The biggest news this week featured ‘the little guys!’
Pound for Pound Best Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez (46-0, 38 KO) will rematch Carlos Cuadras (35-1-1, 27 KO) provided they each get by their respective opponents on the GGG-Jacobs undercard scheduled for March 18th at Madison Square Garden.
(HOLD LINE FOR PIC_Roman_GonzalezWBA)
Cuadras takes on fellow Super Flyweight David Carmona (20-3-5, 8 KO) whose biggest claim to fame might be surviving all 12 rounds against Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue the WBO champion. It appears a for gone conclusion that Cuadras will have a chance at redemption.
Meanwhile, Chocolatito has Thailand native Wisaksil Wangek (41-4-1, 38 KOs) AKA Srisaket Sor Rungvisai on the menu. Most are looking well past Wangek and that’s understandable, his resume does not impress at first blush, however Wangek is very likely well-schooled in The Art of War; the national sport of Thailand is Muay Thai, a style of kickboxing known for the savage use of knees, elbows along with fists and vicious kicks. At only 30 years of age, Wangek is likely the veteran of many dozens of Muay Thai bouts, he would have been involved in the sport from a very young age, it’s not uncommon for sanctioned bouts to involve children as young as five or six.
Most of us have run out of adjectives to describe Chocolatito’s ability and accomplishments. However, there is no doubt that his victory over Cuadras last September was close, Chocolatito’s eyes were swollen shut by the end of the fight, though not as controversial a decision as Ward/Kovalev was last year if Chocolatito defeats Cuadras for a second time that will remove all doubt. I would then make the argument that Chocolatito’s next opponent ought to be fellow Super Flyweight champion Inoue and hopefully by the end of 2017.
Last but Not Least
The confusing and befuddling career of British prospect Chris Eubank Jr (23-1, 18 KO) took another odd turn this week when he declared that he was coming for everyone from GGG to Light Heavyweight Andre Ward. Or rather his daddy did.
I never want to get into the rumor and speculation business dear reader but sometimes in the strange world that is boxing certain fighters and stories stand out. Time for some controversy NOT involving Angel Garcia.
Son of British boxing great Chris Eubank, “Junior’s” short career has been marred by some bizarre antics and outlandish claims by both. Later this evening in the UK (early afternoon EST) Eubank Jr., takes on Renold Quinlan (11-1, 7 KO) for the lightly regarded IBO World Super Middleweight title at the Olympia in Kensington, London. This will be Eubank Jr’s first fight at 168 pounds but the talk coming out of the Eubank camp this weekend would have made Floyd Mayweather sit up in his chair. Eubank Jr claimed he wanted the rest of James Degale’s teeth, that he would happily give up the 15-pound difference to take on Andre Ward and once again claimed he’d flex his weight and move down to fight Genady Golovkin, a fight that could have happened last year but Matchroom boxing promoter found the demands and attitude of the Eubanks (especially Sr.) so insufferable the fight was cancelled.
Many parents live vicariously through their children and is relatively innocuous if odd, in this case, not every child is in a boxing ring with a grown man who could potentially do lifetime harm with one blow.
2017 is shaping up to be a fun and exciting year in just the first quarter! Stay with us on DeepishThoughts.com for all the action!
