BoxRec

Yes, that's right fight fans. According to the boxrec schedule, AA will next fight former Transcontinental World Boxing Association world featherweight champion Sergio Palomo in a defence of his EBU title on September the 8th.

Wonder what's happened to the Peden fight. Don't begrudge Arthur a keep busy fight anyway. And besides, Palomo does boast an impressive 24-0 record, which includes 5 opponents with .500 records.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=049294

Don't know why Bento isn't the opponent. He was definitely talked about, but maybe he's busy. I suppose there's time for mandatories and all that nonsense.

Talk about a padded record....those 5 .500+ fighters are 7-5, 7-3, 3-1, and the other two have 15 losses and 19 losses....nothing to be impressed at, the guys a bigger fake than JD Chapman.

Its always hard to tell with guys like this, either their managers know they don't have it and are protecting them, and they get found out as soon as they step up, or they come over and are competitive or even win.

Samuel Kebede anyone?

glahn wrote:Samuel Kebede anyone?

Yep, but every now and again you get a Tshifhiwa Munyai

Yes, but how many people would consider a guy with the TWBA belt a world champ? Talk about building hype...

Awww man, beatdown for Peden.

More worringly, it would appear the new IBF champion (who Arthur is #3 contender for), Cassius Baloyi, is making a defence against the decent Gary St Clair. Who, ironically I suppose, was supposed to fight another SN fight Scott Harrison for the WBO feather belt.

The ratings are very question, Medina gave Alvarez a lesson but lost in agonising way vs Baloyi.... However Alvarez is #4 and Medina is now #8 with the IBF.

The way the rankings have changed - It looks like Arthur might have to fight an eliminator as #1 and #2 are currently vacant. Team Arthur better be careful that the IBF don't just anounce an eliminator and not include Arthur (don't be surprised to see IBF favourite Medina involved despite him being dropped).

Arthur could face the same situation as James Hare did a couple of years back. Here was ranked #4 with the organisation, with the #3 rank fighter taking a different route and #1 and #2 vacant. Hare didn't get nominated for an eliminator (this was before the Rivera defeat).

It could slip Arthur by if not careful, cause its looking that way.

Arthur needs to go after the WBA or IBF belts, definitely. Baloyi and Mosquera are good, but they are the weakest champions in the division. Barrios is fighting Guzman for the WBO title (foty anyone?) and Barrera is rematching Juarez, so if Arthur can get his hands on one of the other straps there is a big unification fight waiting for him down the line.

To be honest I'd even rule out the WBA. Mosquera imo has the beating of him, and if it's Valero...who knows. We'll see what he can do against Mosquero.

IBF has to be the route. Wekaest champion, who I'm sure would travel to the UK. In saying that, looking at the rankings, Arthur is #11? WTF?

1 NOT RATED
2 NOT RATED
3 Joan Guzman Dominican Republic
4 Javier Alvarez Argentina
5 Bobby Pacquiao Philippines
6 Robbie Peden United States
7 Manuel Medina Mexico
8 Mzonke Fana South Africa
9 Gairy St. Clair Australia
10 Nedal Hussein Australia
11 Alex Arthur United Kingdom
12 Francisco Lorenzo Dominican Republic
13 Kevin Mitchell IBF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION England
14 Tommy Browne IBF PAN-PACIFIC CHAMPION Australia
15 Ivan Fiorletta Italy

He's obviously not going to be the mandatory anytime soon, so they should just make Baloyi a good offer and see if they can't get him over here. The IBF belt would give Arthur good leverage in making a big fight in America against one of the top guys. He'd probably lose of course (especially against the winner of Guzman-Barrios), but those are the fights he has to be aiming for at this stage of his career.

Fightnews IBF ratings have Arthur at #3.

hmm. Well that's July ratings from the IBF site.

EDIT: That is ridiculous. I went back to look at the IBF's June ratings. Arthur is indeed #3. What a joke. Go with the WBU Arthur, far more credible title.

(JUNE)1 NOT RATED
2 NOT RATED
3 Alex Arthur United Kingdom
4 Javier Alvarez Argentina
5 Joan Guzman Dominican Republic
6 Bobby Pacquiao Philippines
7 Robbie Peden United States
8 Manuel Medina Mexico
9 Rocky Juarez United States
10 Gairy St. Clair Australia
11 Nedal Hussein Australia
12 Mzonke Fana South Africa
13 Lamont Pearson United States
14 Francisco Lorenzo Dominican Republic
15 Ivan Fiorletta Italy

jomothepure wrote: hmm. Well that's July ratings from the IBF site.

EDIT: That is ridiculous. I went back to look at the IBF's June ratings. Arthur is indeed #3. What a joke. Go with the WBU Arthur, far more credible title.

(JUNE)1 NOT RATED
2 NOT RATED
3 Alex Arthur United Kingdom
4 Javier Alvarez Argentina
5 Joan Guzman Dominican Republic
6 Bobby Pacquiao Philippines
7 Robbie Peden United States
8 Manuel Medina Mexico
9 Rocky Juarez United States
10 Gairy St. Clair Australia
11 Nedal Hussein Australia
12 Mzonke Fana South Africa
13 Lamont Pearson United States
14 Francisco Lorenzo Dominican Republic
15 Ivan Fiorletta Italy

The rankings I saw Arthur at #3 was week starting July 12th

Give up. I can only conclude that the brains at the IBF alter the ratings depending on what the weather's like out today rather than merit of a particular boxer.

jomothepure wrote:Give up. I can only conclude that the brains at the IBF alter the ratings depending on what the weather's like out today rather than merit of a particular boxer.

Or perhaps some of the promoter's cheques bounced

THis fight is a disgrace. Palomo is woeful. I saw palomo fight in spain against journeyman frederick bonafai a few years back and he was soundly beaten but was given a hometown decision. Some of the worst decisions i've ever seen come from spain....Esham Pickering against some undefeated lightweight springs to mind - Esham easily won every round!

Is Mitchell in the IBF ranking then????...one post said he is then on anothe he wasnt...somone clear this up...CHEERS?!?

Hold up. The IBF has just excelled itself by ranking Raymond Joval both #5 and #9 in their middleweight rankings. Superb.

I sincerely hope that this has been caused by a typo on the part of the web guy and not an adacious double ranking payment done by Jovals management.

http://www.ibf-usba-boxing.com/index.php

Well, just as Baloyi's win over Medina could be termed a bit of an upset, so to could last night's result. St Clair beats Baloyi by UD, although fairly close on all cards.

Not seen the fight, or even St Clair for that matter other than the odd snippet or two, but this has got to be Arthur's best shot at a title now. Remember St Clair was actually pencilled in as a commonwealth opponent for AA just before the Gulyakevich fight got signed. Not saying it will be easy, but probably his best chance nevertheless. I'm sure St Clair would come over if Frank waves a big cheque in front of him.

I'm sure Manuel Medina is looking at this result aswell as an avenue back. St Clair isn't a destructive puncher and can get outboxed.

Definately the easiest route for any would be contender.

Warren should scrap Arthur's EBU defence and get St Clair NOW!

topper123 wrote:Yep, but every now and again you get a Tshifhiwa Munyai

Sounds nasty topper, maybe the chemist has some cream for that?

Only messing, is the Palomo mentioned Sergei Teti Palomo? If so i seem to recognise the name for some reason from a distant Eurosport undercard in Spain. Bit sad really.

And how does this work? Soto is down as fighting a WBC SF eliminator against...#14 Ivan Valle? How does that work?

The worst African import I have seen in a title fight over here was that guy who fought Mark Hobson for the Commonwealth title.