BoxRec

WBO September ratings were recently released, and as expected the biggest shake up in the classifications took place in the 154-pound division. The junior middleweight division was one of two divisions in which new champions were crowned after Miguel Cotto won a unanimous decision over Yoshihiro Kamegai for the vacant belt on August 26th. With the win Cotto’s previous position as the #1 ranked contender passed over to the undefeated 22-year old Magomev “Black Lion” Kurbanov (12-0, 9 KOs). Kurbonov was arguably the biggest winner in the September rankings, jumping up from #8 to #1 on the heels of a unanimous decision victory over Stepan Horvath on September 9, 2017. That fight was for the vacant WBO International belt. Horvath, who was ranked at #5 in the August ratings, dropped out of the September rankings after his loss to the “Black Lion”.

Other big winners in the 154-pound division were Kanat Islam (25-0, 20 KOs) who moved up from #7 to #3 after his impressive stoppage over previously undefeated prospect Brandon Cook on September 9th. Cook entered the fight ranked #13 by the WBO but drops out of the classifications after the loss.

The other big development at junior middleweight was the entry of former champion Antonio Margarito (41-8, 27 KOs) into the world rankings, moving in at #9. Margarito struggled mightily in his last fight, winning a controversial technical decision over Carson Jones on September 2nd. Nonetheless he is coming in on the heels of a three-fight win streak which included wins over Jorge Paez Jr. in March of 2016 and Ramon Alvarez in a fight for the NABO belt in August of 2016. At 39-years old it is clear that time is not on Margarito’s side, but his entry into the world rankings does set up a possible third fight with Miguel Cotto in the near future.

Undefeated prospect John Vera Jr. (17-0, 10 KOs) also made major gains in the division, moving up from #12 to #5.

Cotto is not fighting Margarito again. He is not going to reward him with a payday.

If Cotto retires on a fight with Cheato I will be very disappointed.

It's a winnable fight.. they're 1-1 prior to this, Margarito is a known name... I mean it makes sense on a lot of levels.

Rather see Cotto go out like this then take on an opponent that's too much.

As I stated in the last thread I don't think margarito can fight in new York and I doubt HBO would televise this mismatch if he could.i still think Miguel is going to beat up lemieux.

JCS wrote:It's a winnable fight.. they're 1-1 prior to this, Margarito is a known name... I mean it makes sense on a lot of levels.

Rather see Cotto go out like this then take on an opponent that's too much.

Winnable? It's a win, Margarito is shot to bits.

armageto wrote:

JCS wrote:It's a winnable fight.. they're 1-1 prior to this, Margarito is a known name... I mean it makes sense on a lot of levels.

Rather see Cotto go out like this then take on an opponent that's too much.

Winnable? It's a win, Margarito is shot to bits.

Of course.. you know what I meant.

The fight makes no sense... Cotto would kill him... I don't want to see it and don't want Cheato making any money. He should have been gone for good.

Khan or Brook for Cotto.