Bantamweights & Below - Boxing's Other Five Weight Divisions Vol. 12

El Chocolatito watching and waiting for a Superfight

By Derek "DBO" Bonnett ~ The health of all of boxing's divisions depends largely upon the best fighting the best at any given weight class. Champions can build their legacies against their best challengers, but eventually a Superfight or top match-up becomes natural and the fighters must do their utmost to see that matters get sorted out one way or the other. Most obviously, boxing fans are still agitated by the failure to launch promotion of Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao. Right now, that caliber of fight at its height does not exist at Bantamweight and Below, but there have been other monumental match-ups that did not materialize such as Ricardo Lopez versus Michael Carbajal or Humberto Gonzalez. Recently, a mega little fight between Brian Viloria and Roman "El Chocolatito" Gonzalez was waited out and Viloria was eventually upset by a Gonzalez opponent. Now, the rematch between Gonzalez and Juan Francisco Estrada stands high on the list of potential meaningful fights among the lighter weights that could, conceivably, never happen.

Kameda vacated rather than face Chemito Moreno

Koki Kameda vacated his WBA bantamweight title rather than face WBA Super Champion Anselmo Moreno. The WBA mandated the fight, as what could be more natural than co-champions in the same division settling a score to find out who the real champ is? Kameda opted to drop down to super flyweight instead. This broke the three link chain of Kameda brothers who were currently holding world titles. Daiki Kameda lost his last fight, but was allowed to retain his 115-pound title after Liborio Solis failed to make weight. Tomoki Kameda retained his bantamweight title without controversy. Even family legacy was not enough to encourage Kameda, who's had his share of questionable verdicts in recent years, to step things up and put himself into a legitimate big-time fight at bantamweight. If the little men are to become giants, they must give the fans something to look forward to and talk about. Kameda short-changed the sport and did not do his part to advocate for equal attention for boxers competing at Bantamweight and Below.

World Class Boxing Results at Bantamweight and Below:

Cuadras and late WBC President Jose Sulaiman

On Tuesday, December 31, at Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan, for world champion Kohei Kono stopped Daut Manopkanchang in three rounds of a bantamweight bout. The time of the stoppage was :50 of the round. Kono upped his dossier to 29-8 (12). Manopkanchang fell to 0-1 in his professional start. Kono is slated to fight for his former title against former flyweight titlist Denkaosan Kaovichit on March 26. The WBA super flyweight title is now vacant. Kono kept his number three ranking among my top-flight super flyweights on SecondsOut.  

Also on the card, Carlos Cuadras scored a second round stoppage of Songseanglek Phosuwangym in a bantamweight bout. The end came at the 2:22 mark. Cuadras raised his stats to 29-0 (24). Phosuwangym fell to 1-10 (0). Cuadras is rumored to be meeting Srisaket Sor Rungvisai for the WBC belt in February. Cuadras retained his number five ranking among my top-performing super flyweights.

Also on this date, at Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka, Osaka, Japan, Kazuto Ioka defeated Felix Alvarado in a twelve round WBA light flyweight title bout. The unanimous scores favored the champion 119-109, 119-110, and 115-113. Ioka defended his title for the third time. Alvarado fell to 18-1 (15). Ioka affirmed his number one status amid my best junior flyweights in the world. Also on the card, Ryo Miyazaki suffered and upset third round KO loss to Fahlan Sakkreerin Jr. in an eight round light flyweight non-title bout. Miyazaki was halted at the 2:22 mark. Sakkreerin's win raise his ledger to 23-2 (15). Miyazaki lost his unbeaten record and fell to 20-1-3 (11). Miyazaki vacated the WBA 105-pound title. Miyazaki fell out of my minimumweight rankings and remains unranked at 108.

El Finito Lopez is #1 all time

Bantamweight and Below Featured Rankings: All-Time Best Retired Minimumweights:

1.) Ricardo Lopez (105, 108) 51-0-1 (38) ~ Former WBC/WBA/WBO, Minimumweight and IBF Light Flyweight Champion ~ Best Wins at 105: TKO2 Saman Sorjaturong, TKO5 Alex Sanchez, SD12 Rosendo Alvarez

2.) Ivan Calderon (105, 108) 35-3-1 (6) ~ Former WBO Minimumweight and Light Flyweight Champion ~ Best Wins at 105: W12 Alex Sanchez, W12 Roberto Carlos Leyva, W12 Isaac Bustos

3.) Rosendo Alvarez (105, 108) 37-4-2 (24) ~ Former WBA Minimumweight and Light Flyweight Champion ~ Best Wins at 105: W12 Chana Porpaoin, KO3 Kermin Guardia, TKO11 Jose Bonilla

4.) Yutaka Niida (105) 23-2-3 (9) ~ Former two-time WBA Minimumweight Champion ~ Best Wins at 105: W12 Chana Porpaoin, W12 Noel Arambulet II, W12 Ronald Barrera

"Koon Motma" Porpaoin is #5

5.) Chana Porpaoin (105) 53-4-5 (19) ~ Former two-time WBA Minimumweight Champion ~ Best Wins at 105:
W12 Hideyuki Ohashi, W12 Carlos Murillo I, W12 Carlos Murillo II

6.) Eagle Den Junlaphan (105) 18-2-0 (6) ~ Former two-time WBC Minimumweight Champion ~ Best Wins at 105: W12 Jose Antonio Aguirre,
UD12 Akira Yaegashi, UD12 Rodel Mayol

7.) Jose Antonio Aguirre (105) 35-10-1 (21) ~ Former WBC Minimumweight Champion ~ Best Wins at 105: W12 Wandee Singwancha,
W12 Manny Melchor, W12 Juan Palacios

8.) Noel Arambulet (105) 23-8-1 (11) ~ Former two-time WBA Minimumweight Champion ~ Best Wins at 105: W12 Yutaka Niida, W12 Joma Gamboa,
W12 Jose Garcia Bernal II

9.) Muhammad Rachman (105) 64-11-5 (34) ~ IBF and WBA Minimumweight Champion ~ Best Wins at 105: W12 Daniel Reyes and W10 Bert Batawang

10.) Zolani Petelo (105) 64-11-5 (34) ~ Former IBF Minimumweight Champion ~ Best Wins at 105:
TKO 4 Ratanapol Sor Vorapin, W12 Juanito Rubillar, KO1 Eric Jamili

Honorable Mentions: Napa Kiatwanchai, Fahlan Sakkreerin, and Joma Gamboa

Bantamweight and Below: Give That Man a Title Shot!

Lopez waits for another opportunity

Ganigan Lopez looked at the end of his days as a 105-pound contender after his crushing second round KO loss at the hands of Denver Cuello in 2012. Truth be told, he was. Since that loss, Lopez has been working his way up the 108-pound ladder with four straight victories. Lopez closed out 2012 with wide decision over Luis Ceja to re-establish himself as a fighter not to be trifled with. He then scored three knockdowns en route to a third round stoppage of Josue Vega in January 2013. He followed that up with a decision over top-rated spoiler Matthew Handig without much trouble. Lopez started 2014 right with a near shut-out over former world champion Mario "Dragoncito" Rodriguez to affirm his place among the world's best at junior flyweights. Lopez is currently ranked number three at 108 by the WBO, up one ranking from last month. Lopez also carries a number five ranking by the WBC.

A showdown with either Donnie Nietes or Adrian Hernandez for their respective titles could be in Lopez' future. However, Lopez is ranked behind fellow countryman Pedro Guevara in each of these rankings. Guevara is rumored to be poised for his own shot at Hernandez. Nietes may be equally indisposed as he will likely rematch his interim titlist Moises Fuentes after their controversial draw in 2013. Lopez has earned his chance, but now looks to be on the waiting list.

Bantamweight and Below — On the Horizon:

Zhong goes for his third WBC title defense in February

On February 1, at Salle des etoiles, Monte Carlo, Monaco, Nkosinathi Joyi versus Rey Loreto in a twelve round light flyweight bout. On February 5, at City Hall, Haikou, China, Xiong Zhao Zhong versus Oswaldo Novao in a twelve round WBC minimumweight title bout.

On February 7, at Bang Rajan, Singburi, Thailand, Pungluang Sor Singyu versus TBA in a six round bantamweight bout. On February 8, in Mexico, Adrian Hernandez versus Janiel Rivera in a twelve round WBC light flyweight title bout; Julio Ceja versus TBA in a twelve round bantamweight bout.

On February 15, Hotel El Panama, Panama City, Panama, Liborio Solis versus TBA in an eight round bantamweight bout.  On February 15, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Juan Carlos Reveco versus Manuel Vides in a twelve round WBA light flyweight title bout. On February 15, at Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa, Hekkie Budler versus Karluis Diaz in a twelve round minimumweight bout. On February 20, at Centro de Convenciones Figali, Panama City, Panama, Luis Concepcion versus Carlos Fontes in a twelve round flyweight bout.

Written by Derek "DBO" Bonnett - exclusively for KO Digest

You can find more of Derek's writings & ratings at www.SecondsOut.com 

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