What is next in the Junior Middleweight Division?

Floyd “Money” Mayweather jr. 45-0 26 KO holds the WBC Light Middleweight title and the WBA Super World Light Middleweight title. Mayweather Jr.  Just recently put on a boxing clinic on the inexperienced, highly protected, and media creation Saul “Canelo” Alvarez 42-1-1 30 KO. I don’t see Mayweather jr. fighting anyone again at 154 lbs. unless it’s a Miguel A. Cotto 38-4 31 KO in a rematch and that it’s very unlikely due to the fact that Cotto looks like he wants to remain under Top Rank until he finishes his career. All boxing media reports indicate a Cotto vs. Sergio Martinez at a catch weight for the WBC Middleweight title. 

Now, there are fights at 154 lbs. that will have a great impact in the Jr. Middleweight / Super Welterweight division.

On November 9^th, 2013 at Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.A for the vacant WBO Light Middleweight title. Vanes “Nightmare” Martirosyan height 6’ 0” reach 73” and a record of 33-0-1 21 KO’s will face Demetrious “Boo Boo” Andrade height 6’ 1” and a record of 19-0 13 KO. This will be an interesting match for some time Andrade has been a well-kept secret within the 154 lbs. division and has faced the last 5 opponents with a combined record of 138-46-2. Martirosyan has faced in his last 5 fights opponents with a combined record of 129-37-5 among those 5 opponents was the Cuban Erislandy Lara 18-1-2 12 KO who both fought to a technical draw in 9 rounds. I predict a victory for Demetrious “Boo Boo” Andrade, however, since the fight is in Texas. I would not be surprised that there will be another controversial decision. Boxing for some time now has been more and more involved in controversies with boxers not making weight, drug testing, judges etc. So I would advise not to be surprised in the outcomes of any of the fights. 

The return of Victor “Vicious” Ortiz for the IBF Light Middleweight title on December 14^th 2013 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Victor “Vicious” Ortiz height 5’9” a reach 70” with a record 29-4-2 22 KO’s moves up to 154 lbs. a move that was expected before his defeat at the hands of a tough boxer Josesito Lopez in 2012. Victor “Vicious” Ortiz will challenge the newly crowned IBF Light Middleweight champion Carlos Molina height 5’9” reach 70” with a record 31-1 27 KO. Carlos Molina is a very crafty boxer with good experience in the ring, and I don’t expect it to be an easy night for Ortiz who is moving up a weight class after a long time of inactivity. I do believe Ortiz will obtain the victory and set up the fight between a Saul “Canelo” Alvarez sometime during late March of 2014, against another Jr. Welterweight moving up to 154 lbs.

This is one interesting fight. On December 7^th, 2013 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NYC which is becoming the new Mecca of Boxing there it will be the Interim WBA World Light Middleweight title in play. When the Cuban Erislandy Lara height 5’9” a reach 75” with a record 18-1-2 12 KO’s faces Austin “No Doubt” Trout height 5’9 ½” a reach 72” with a record 26-1 14 KO’s. Erislandy Lara is coming of a TKO victory over Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo 22-3 18 KO’s, however, Lara was down twice in that fight once in the 4^th round and in the 9^th. Austin “No Doubt” Trout last fight was a defeat against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and was dropped in the 7^th round of that fight, but recovered and fought all 12 rounds in a fight that many saw very close. I predict a Lara victory by a split decision. What will be next for the winner?

A fight to keep an eye on Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo height 5’ 9 1/2” a reach 69” with a record 22-3 18 KO’s versus a KO artist Jorge “Destroyer” Melendez height 5’11 with a record 27-3-1 26 KO’s. Angulo has not been the boxer that many expected him to become after the defeat at the hands of Kermit Cintron, long layoff, the destruction at the hands of James “Mandigo Warrior” Kirkland 31-1 27 KO’s, then long inactivity in detention center , and a recent TKO defeat to Erislandy Lara it will be seen. As for, Jorge “Destroyer” Melendez who is a powerful puncher with 26 KO’s in 31 pro bouts, but has been KO’d twice before early in his career and just two fights ago was defeated by a boxer with a record of 14 wins 1 defeat and 2 draws, consequently, this led to Melendez changing trainers to Puerto Rican Great Wilfredo Vasquez Sr. How will this move improve Melendez it remains to be seen a victory over an opponent with 14 wins and 10 defeats doesn’t really show much. This fight will be interesting because Melendez is a powerful puncher and Angulo is also a powerful puncher but is there to be hit. This fight ends in a KO or TKO. Angulo will be the odds on favorite by the fans and bettors to win the fight.  The question is Angulo on a decline? Can Melendez have enough stamina to survive Angulo pressure? Can Melendez hurt Angulo enough to KO him?  The winner of the fight is likely to move on and challenge Lara or Trout in 2014 possibly in a Victor Ortiz vs. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez event.

While these 154 lbs. fight each other at the top moving up the ranks there are three dangerous Jr. Middleweights. The 24 year old Puerto Rican Jonathan “Mantequilla” Gonzalez height 5’11” with a record of 16 victories 1 draw and 13 KO’s who will return back to the ring in December after a long layoff. Gonzalez last 5 opponents have a record of 122 – 22 – 2 in 6 more fights he should be ready to challenge for a world title. Then there is Glen “Jersey Boy” Tapia height 5’11”  a reach 73” with a record of 20 victories 0 defeats and 12 KO’s , but has not many rounds and his last 5 opponents have a combined record of 95-33-6 Tapia within 5 to 7 more fights should be ready to challenge any of the 154 lbs. title holders. One boxer that is ready to challenge any of the top 154 lbs. is the 27 year old from Belarus Sergey Rabchenko height 5’10”  with a record 24-0 18 KO’s. One of his best victories was against Ryan Rhodes with a 7^th round TKO victory for the WBC Silver Light Middleweight Title.