BLOG: A DECEMBER TO REMEMBER

The first two weekends of December have been littered with massive cards on both sides of the Atlantic, with the biggest story being the shaking up of the Welterweight division, with two new world champions crowned in Marcos Maidana and Shawn Porter.

– Maidana upset the odds this past weekend to capture Adrien Broner’s WBA belt, beating Broner in just about every department and knocking the previously unbeaten American down to the canvas on two occasions his way to a unanimous points victory.

Options for Maidana’s next fight include interim champion and mandatory challenger Keith Thurman who, on the same bill in San Antonio, delivered a KO loss to Jesus Soto-Karass. Former champion Paulie Malignaggi – who targeted the winner of Broner vs. Maidana – is also in the frame after a one sided points win over Brooklyn rival Zab Judah a week prior. An all Argentine showdown with compatriot Lucas Matthyssé is also a mouthwatering prospect. Unified 140lbs champion Danny Garcia, who is set to move up to 147lbs next year, is also a potential opponent for Maidana or indeed Malignaggi.

Shawn Porter also upset the odds, as he captured Devon Alexander’s IBF title on the December 7 show at the Barclays Center. Porter has six months to face mandatory challenger Kell Brook, so he might look to make a voluntary defence in the mean time.

– In other results from the Barclays Center bill on December 7, Erislandy Lara floored former world champion Austin Trout on his way to a UD win, in a bout for the WBA interim light middleweight title. Lara has now targeted a bout with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.

WBC super middleweight champion Sakio Bika fought to a split draw with Anthony Dirrell, in a close affair in which Bika hit the canvas and was also deducted a point by the referee. Bika is due a voluntary defence although it’s unclear as to who is in the frame to face him.

–  December 7 also saw a card on HBO topped by unified super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux shutting out Joseph Agbeko in a not-too-entertaining contest. By contrast, James Kirkland’s demolition of Glen Tapia was the fight of the night on any platform, and Kirkland puts himself in line for a future shot at a world title. The opening bout on the televised portion of the card saw Matthew Macklin win a 10 round contest over Lamar Russ.

– That same night in Stuttgart, Germany, Darren Barker saw his IBF world middleweight title reign, and possibly his career, come to an end after injuring his hip in the opening round before being stopped in the second by now 4 time world champion Felix Sturm. The feeling is that Barker, who has suffered from hip injuries in the past which required surgery, will not box again. As for Sturm, he has said he will honour the rematch clause if Barker does continue, but Matthew Macklin has targeted a rematch with Sturm following his controversial loss to the German two years ago.

– Also on December, Frank Warren presented a show from the Echo Arena in Liverpool. Super Flyweight Paul Butler topped the bill with a 12 round win over Mexican Ruben Montoya, as he sets his sights on a world title shot in 2014. Derry Mathews lost for the first time this year, losing a 10 round contest to WBO European lightweight champion Stephen Ormond. Mathews has targeted a rematch early next year. Liam Smith impressed with a 4th round stoppage of Mark Thompson in a defence of his British light middleweight title.

– December 14 saw Jurgen Braehmer collect the vacant WBA ‘regular’ light heavyweight title, with a UD win over Marcos Oliveira.

– Matchroom’s final show of the year from the ExCel in London, saw Lee Purdy fall short against European welterweight champion Leonard Bundu, being stopped in the final round of the contest. Meanwhile, Kevin Mitchell impressed with a 9th round stoppage of Karim El Ouazghari in a defence of his IBF inter-continental lightweight title. Mitchell could meet IBF international champion Tommy Coyle in a final eliminator for Miguel Vasquez’ World title, should Coyle come through his fight in Hull on February 22. The card also saw low key wins for Martin Murray, Jamie McDonnell, Paul Smith and Anthony Ogogo. Murray is set to fight for the vacant WBA ‘regular’ title on February 1 in Monaco.

– The December 14 card from San Antonio, featuring the aforementioned wins for Maidana over Broner and Thurman over Soto-Karass, also saw two more successful world title defences. WBC super bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz was below his best, but saw out a points win over tricky southpaw Cesar Seda, whilst WBA Super World light heavyweight champion Beibut Shumenov needed less than three rounds to see off Tamas Kovacs. Santa Cruz has since called out Carl Frampton, whilst Shumenov is set for a March unification bout with IBF king Bernard Hopkins.

– This weekend sees two world title fights. The vacant IBF bantamweight title is on the line at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, as Stuart Hall faces Vusi Malinga. I feel it might just be a step too far for Hall and see Malinga stopping him. Over in Spain, Kiko Martinez defends his IBF super bantamweight title against Jeffrey Mathebula. It’s a close one to call, but Kiko’s hometown advatange might just prove key. WBA champion Scott Quigg and Carl Frampton, who stopped Martinez back in February, have both targeted the winner of the fight.