Via Ken Hissner: Although a date has not been set, IBF and WBC Welterweight champion Errol “The Truth” Spence, Jr. 27-0 (21), beat Desoto, TX and WBA Super World champion Cuban Yordenis “54 Milagros” Ugas, 27. -4 (12), of Miami, FL, is in talks for the first time hoping for more unification in 2022.
It’s been a year since Spence fought when he defeated former WBC champion Danny “Swift” Garcia, 36-3 (21), who also hasn’t fought since. In August, Ugas defeated former WBA and WBO champion Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao, 62-8-2 (39), of General Santos City, PH, who talked about retiring but was always in a state of disrepute. melee.
With December’s defeat at number one, the IBF ranks Kudratillo “The Punisher” Abdukakhorov, 18-1 (10), of UZB and Malaysia, ahead of Cody “The Crippler” Crowley of Canada, 20-0 (9) , of Las Vegas, NV, and former IBF and WBC world champion No. 2 IBF ranked Shawn “Showtime” Porter, 34-4-1 (17), of Las Vegas, NV, who was stopped by the champion WBO Terence “Bud” Crawford, 38-0 (29), of Omaha, NEB, in November when it retired Porter, it was leaving the No. 1 spot in the IBF open. Crawford talks about gaining weight now.
1st place IBF will go to 3rd place Jaron “Boots” Ennis, 28-0 (26), of Philadelphia, PA, the most feared contender in the league. In October, Ennis scored against Thomas Dulorme, 25-6-1 (16), of Puerto Rico in the first round.
Dulorme is back from a decisive loss to WBA No. 1 runner-up Eimantas Stanionis, 13-0 (9), Lithuania, who in August went undecided with former WBA champion Luis Collazo, 39-8 (20 ). In April, Ennis also stopped former IBF lightweight champion, Sergey “Samurai” Lipinets, 16-2-1 (12), of KAZ.
Dulorme’s other loss was against former WBA champion Jamal “Shango” James, 27-2 (12), of Minneapolis, MN, who lost to Radzahab “No Mercy” Butaev, 14-0 (11), of Russia, in overtime in October.
Also included is the #1 ranked WBC and WBO as Vergil Ortiz, Jr., 18-0 (18), of Grand Praririe, TX, who fought twice in 2021, stopping the former lightweight champion WBO Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker, 27-2-3 (18), in March. Then in August, Ortiz stopped Lithuanian Egidijus Kavaliaukas, 22-2-1 (18), to defend his WBO International title.
Always on this list is former IBF lightweight champion Mikey Garcia, 40-2 (30), of Moreno Valley, CA, which placed 3rd by the WBO in October despite being stopped by the EBU Euro champion Sandor Martin, 39-2 (13), of Spain.
Former WBA and IBF champion Keith “One Time” Thurman, 29-1 (22), of Clearwater, FL, who hasn’t fought since July 2019, lost to Pacquiao, is scheduled to take on Mario “El Azteca” ” Barrios, age 26 -1 (17), in San Antonio, TX, in February. Barrios is about to lose to WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “The Tank” Davis in June.
WBA 3rd place contender Abel Ramos, 27-4-2 (21), of Casa Grande, AZ, was also in the game, coming in from Omar “Panterita” Figueroa, Jr., 28- 2-1 (19), in May. Ramos is scheduled to face WBA 10th place contender Josesito “The Riverside Rocky” Lopez, 38-8 (21), of Riverside, CA, in February.
Others on the combined list are WBC 3rd ranked David “Ava” Avanesyan, 28-3-1 (20), of Russia and England, who won twice in 2021, stopping Josh ” Pretty Boy” Kelly, 10-1-1, in February and Liam “Dynamo” Taylor, 24-2-1, in October.
4th WBO candidate Michael “The Problem” McKinson, 21-0 (2), British, wins twice in 2021. He stopped Chris “2Slick” Kongo, 12-1, in March and beat Przemyslaw Runowski, 19-2, in August. Two impressive wins.
Interim WBA champion Gabriel Maestre, 4-0 (3), of VZ, in December, stopped rival Mykal “The Professor” Fox, 22-3. Former IBF lightweight champion Amir “King” Kahn, 34-5 (21), of Great Britain, and IBF champion Kell “Special K” Brook, 39-3 (27), of Great Britain scheduled to play in February. The winner can play against up-and-coming prospect and No. 7 WBC contender Conor “Terminator” Benn, 20-0 (13), of Great Britain.
So as you can see, split weight welding is full of possibilities and fusions. The best bet to end 2022 is a showdown between Crawford and Ennis, the winner being Spence and Ugas.
