The WBC has issued a full list of updates on its title pictures. Plus, we have an updated on Magomed Abdusalamov and Isaac Dogboe signs an extension.
- Abdusalamov – The tragic 2013 case of Magomed Abdusalamov inched closer to resolution this morning when ringside doctor Dr. Gerard Varlotta had the family’s lawsuit against him dismissed by NY State courts. The state has determined that the doctor “did not deviate from standard medical practices” and therefore cannot be held accountable. The whole ordeal has been a real black on the sport. In short, the brain damaged fighter who had complained of headaches after his HBO fight was forced to hail a cab to the hospital rather than be taken by one of the ambulances at the arena. Surveillance video shows him vomiting on the sidewalk while struggling to get his ride. At the hospital they found a brain bleed and he underwent immediate surgery. The Russian then suffered multiple strokes and needed to be put in a medically induced coma. He remains paralyzed on his right side to this day and still does not speak, though he reportedly does seem at least somewhat aware of what is going on around him. Previously NY State settled with his family for $22 million dollars, but for now they won’t be getting any more from Dr. Varlotta without winning an appeal. I am not qualified to have an opinion on any of this. I just hope Magomed continues his steady progress over time as he reportedly has been, even if it remains a very slow battle.
- Dogboe Signs – In brighter news, young super bantamweight titleholder Isaac Dogboe has signed on with Top Rank. He’s been working with the American promotional giant since stopping their then titleholder Jessie Magdaleno, but now they deal is formalized over the foreseeable future. The only real detail that has been made public is that the contract calls for three fights a year. Sign me up for them too. The 24 year old Ghanaian is one of the most exciting fighters in the sport right now. I don’t think anyone is going to complain about seeing him three times a year on the ESPN family of networks.
- WBC Convention – The WBC made a plethora of announcements at their convention in Kiev this weekend. Let’s take a look at them:
- Former three division titleholder Jorge Linares has been ordered to fight former four division titlist Adrien Broner in a title eliminator for a shot at Jose Ramirez. While this is an intriguing matchup, it is not without its flaws and questions. How does Regis Prograis’s interim title factor into this? Also, this one will probably take a purse bid. Linares is co-promoted by Golden Boy and Broner remains with PBC. Those two entities do not work together on their own.
- David Benavidez has been stripped of his super middleweight title thanks to his failed cocaine test. The sanctioning body has ordered Anthony Dirrell and Avni Yildirim to meet for the now vacant belt while Benavidez will get an immediate shot upon returning to the sport. His title is now “Champion in Recess.” Yildirim is ranked a spot ahead of Chis Eubank Jr and getting the shot despite being blown out by Eubank last year because the British fighter somehow hurt WBC President Jose Sulaiman’s feelings. I wish I was kidding.
- Featherweight titlist Gary Russell Jr has been ordered to defend against Leo Santa Cruz. We should all be grateful for it too. Russsell only fights once a year to meet his mandatory obligations and his last couple haven’t been too compelling. Santa Cruz, however, is an outstanding matchup for him. Leo is my top ranked 126 lb fighter while Gary is third. This would also be a unification fight if it actually happens as Santa Cruz will bring the WBA belt to the dance as well. It is rare for a sanctioning body to order a unification fight, but the WBC does it every now and then.
- Pound for pound elite Mikey Garcia has been ordered to defend his WBC belt against British lightweight contender Luke Campbell next. Garcia has two belts and seems to be about to sign on to meet his IBF obligation against Richard Commey. While I love Mikey in against Commey and Campbell, his open desire for big money fights no matter how nonsensical they may be makes me skeptical that he’ll actually fight them back to back. Maybe fighting the Brit in the UK would make it worth it financially though.
- The WBC also ordered a very sensible first title defense against Shawn Porter in the form of Keith Thurman. Thurman was the sport’s top welterweight and the WBC titleholder, but he lost both positions by being forced out of the sport for the past year and a half due to injuries. The two men fought in one of the best fights of 2016 with Thurman pulling out the close decision win. A rematch makes all sorts of sense, but I doubt it happens any time soon. For one, Keith would actually have to get into a boxing ring for it to happen. He’s made it clear that he wants a soft tune up first when he does return too.
- Finally, the last bit of news both from the WBC and overall is my favorite, but I doubt anything comes of it. Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez just won their middleweight title from Gennady Golovkin on the last ever major HBO PPV a couple weeks ago. He eventually needs to unify with interim titlist Jermall Charlo, but the Sulaiman and company are going to give him a break after two grueling fights with GGG. He’s going to be allowed to make a mandatory defense in December. To fill the gap, the WBC has ordered Charlo to defend his interim belt against GGG. That is an absolutely incredible middleweight bout on paper, but I just don’t necessarily see it in reality. Golovkin is going to want a third fight with Canelo and he isn’t going to want to risk it in a potentially toss up fight with Jermall Charlo. It is possible they may fight, but more likely Canelo and GGG will just give up the green belt before their third fight rather than worrying about the Charlo complication.
