A recap and a look at the next great Cruiserweight

Right a recap of the past few weeks and a new piece all rolled into one, I've been lazy with the world cup and a new addiction (oooh I'm a naughty boy).
Results of tipped guys:
Kenny Glarza L pts Brad Solomon
McWilliams Arroyo L pts Takashi Okada
Demetrius Andrade * Quandray Robertson
Maxim Vlasov WTKO3 Jerson Ravelo
Sherzod Husanov W pts Jhon Berrio
Mark Tucker W Pts Billy Bailey
Edwin Rodriguez WTKO5 Ibahiem King
Frankie Gomez WKO1 Jaime Orrantia
Jose Benavidez WKO1 Josh Beeman

The only losers were Puerto Rican power punchers.
*Denotes fighter didn't fight during the month despite being pencilled in. Not entirely sure what happened though.

So this week's fighter. How do you like the Cruiserweight division? Not much right? They're are just wannabe heavy's but not big enough right? Well here's a name to add to your boxrec “watch” list Rakhim Chakhkiev. A classy Russian amateur who has now turned his attention to taking over the professional ranks and he may well be one of those fighters that can really help establish the “bastard” division. With his amateur background being highlighted by Gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a Silver medal at the 2007 World Amateur Championships both at heavyweight he's turned to the professional ranks in a relative blaze of glory.

He started his career by stopping Tayar Mehmed in late 2009 and has stopped all 5 of his opponents as a professional with heavy hands, excellent technical abilities and a style possibly more suited the the pro ranks than the amateur one. With Michael Timm training him and a major German promoter behind him he'll likely remain hidden from American audiences for a while though this does have it's rather cool advantages. At the moment the top Cruiserweights are based in Europe which means that he'll get the competition he needs by facing the faded cruisers out there and the smaller heavyweights as he learns the trade and likely gets fast tracked to the top.

With fighters like Steve Cunningham, Marco Huck, Herbie Hide, Denis Lebedev, Alexander Alexeev, Ola Olafabi, Yoan Pablo Hernandez, Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, Grigory Drozd, Pawel Kolodziej, Giacobbe Fragomeni, Firat Arslan, Steve Herelius and Enzo Maccarinelli all based in or signed to European promoters it seems likely that the division will see the best fighters over here (I'm based in the UK so it's over here ;-)). With that in mind it's likely only a few fights before Chakhkiev will be stepping up in competition.

At the time of posting Rakhim is pencilled in for a bout on July 3^rd on the undercard of Firat Arslan v Steve Herelius and Ina Menzer v Jeannine Garside, though there is no opponent currently named. It's likely to be a solid step up in opponent for a fighter than some are seeing as the future of the division and at 27 years old he may well dominate for a while.

We want results

The failure of McWilliams Arroyo last week was an upset, though this week we had a host of prospects fighting as they dominated ESPN's Friday Night Fights. A mix of international talent and US talent were on the card with Sherzod Husanov and Maxim Vlasov both giving it an Eastern European feel whilst Demetrius Andrade was a stand out American amateur.. Though the card had been set for a while Kinglsey Ikeke had been taken off the card and replaced by Jerson Ravelo, which links us nicely to tomorrow. Ravelo has faced both Andre Ward and Allan Green who fight tomorrow, on that card is Mark “TNT” Tucker, another fighter who appears to be one to watch. Though Tucker's result will be featured next week, the others are here and now as we round off week 2 of Prospect Scotting.

The card started with the more experienced Jerson Ravelo (20-4 with 12KO's going in) facing Maxim Vlasov (17-0 8KO's going in). Ravelo did come into the bout with a weeks notice (due the the aforementioned Ikeke pull out, caused by a broken jaw in sparring) and at times looked a bit unprepared for the Russians style who was busier and better and seemed to have his foe much better scouted. Controversy at the end of the second saw Ravelo's face cut up from a clash of heads (that looked deliberate from Vlasov), that was the nasty side of Vlasov, but the beautiful side of him was shown the following round. A right hand hook effectively put Ravelo out of it whilst an uppercut merely rubbed salt into the round and helped result in a 3^rd round TKO to help the Russian climb to 18-0 (9).

Sherzod Husanov an unbeaten (14-0-1 with 7KO's)* Uzbek who was a former top amateur was making his US debut for the shows main event when he took on hard hitting Colbian Jhon Berrio (15-6 with 11KO's) who was also making his US debut. Husanov impressed midway through the opening round, through deadly accurate straight right hands that connected sweetly on Berrio's chin as he the Uzbek took the centre of the ring trying to establish himself straight away. The second seemed to be a more brawling round, that should have suited Berrio but his slow looping wide punches were ineffective against a better schooled and faster foe. Although Husanov had dominated the early part of the fight he wasn't being particularly intelligent about it, and Berrio although lacking in finesse was turning the the fight to be a brawl, and seemed to be earning his way into the fight. The score cards gave the decision in the end to Husanov who managed to just about do enough to deserve the majority decision he got though he seemed to lack that spark that a truly great prospect has.

Overall the prospects looked good but not great whilst Andrade was kept of TV sadly and at time of posting his result wasn't known publicly though he had a late change of opponent from Quandray Robertson to Dumont Welliver, probably on paper an easier opponent. Like Tucker his result will be mentionedat the start of next week.


*ESPN reported that Husanov was 9-0-1 (5) boxrec have him at 14-0-1

Midweek Prospect Spotting Tucker, Vlasov and Husanov

Although thus weeks Prospect Scotting is about Demetrius Andrade there is several other names worth looking thus this secondary column for this week. Firstly, on the same card as Andrade v Robertson is a Russian 23 year old who's got some people talking and is taking on a solid if faded name. Maxim Vlasov (17-0 with 8KO's) faces Kingsley Ikeke (27-3 with 14KO's) who faced Arthur Abraham in an IBF Middleweight title fight in 2005. Vlasov won't be well known to most and his record looks like he lacks a punch but the 6 foot 3 Super Middleweight has scored 7KO's in his last 8 fights and seems to be growing into his power. Though against the tough Ikeke it won't be his power that's getting tested but his stamina heart and skill, of which only the skill has been shown so far.

Vlasov's record so far only features one recognisable name, Jonathan Reid (former WBA Middleweight contender) who was by then a faded force and having been a professional for 5 years this is a bit disappointing for Vlasov. Though he is regarded as a super prospect, one of many signed by Banner Promotions who seem to be getting themselves a nice stable of youngster. A victory over Ikeke would help Vlasov get his foot in the door and his names on the tongue of fight fans, though it's not a given that he will win. Ikeke is tough and the fight will be Vlasov's first 10 rounder, if the Russian fails to establish a pace that helps him Ikeke could well springing an upset.

The main event of the card in the Northern Quest Casino sees yet another unbeaten fighter that some are tipping in Uzbek fighter Sherzod Husanov (14-0-1 (7)) who faces Jhon Berrio (15-6 (11)). At 30 Husanov, a Light Middleweight will have to be fast tracked if he intends to make an impact, sadly though it's been over 3 years since he turned professional and he's been taking his time so far. Despite a deep amateur career Husanov failed to win the big ones though regularly medalled in world championships.

Maybe the most notable prospect for the weekend outside of Andrade is Mark “TNT” Tucker (13-0 with 7KO's), who fights on the undercard of the fight between Andre Ward and Allan Green (WBA Super Middleweight fight as well as part of the “Super 6”). 22 year old Tucker faces Billy Bailey (10-7 with 4KO's) in what should be an easy tests but one that comes on a high profile card. So far Tucker has been able to fight mainly at home in Maryland, hidden away from vast swathes of the boxing public. Although popular at “home” this should be a good day out for the 6 foot 1 Light Heavyweight prospect who many are tipping to be a star. Apparently a quiet man his website has the excellent motto “When in doubt knock 'em out”, although he failed to do so against Rubin Williams he did out point the former IBF Super Middleweight contender. Although his record features 7KO's his last 5 fights have gone the distance, and this one likely will as well.

So there you go the mid week “Prospects Scotting”