Lightweight Rankings
February 24, 2007
1. Joel Casamayor
After calling out several lightweight contenders, Casamayor still has not gotten himself a fight and was stripped of the Interim WBC title. ”El Cepillo” has not had a fight since his last SD win over the overweight Diego Coralles. He is number one for now since he is the only lightweight to have faced the best out there in the division. Look for him to drop if he cannot get a fight with another worthy contender.
2. Juan Diaz
After the disposing of unworthy contender Fernando Angulo last summer, Diaz has not fought in another fight since this past summer. Many have questioned his punching power and and skills since many say he has not fought the best in the business. Diaz is the most skillful fighter in the division and although he power may not be there, he speed and accuracy blows the other fighters out of the water. Diaz will finally get the chance to prove himself on April 28th against Acelino Freitas.
3. Julio Diaz
There is now another Diaz champion in the Division. Julio Diaz won the title in a unspectacular form against Jesus Chavez, in which Chavez was unable to continue to fight after a knew injury, awarding Diaz the title. Diaz as of now has not proven to be a real champion. Diaz did call out Juan Diaz after the fight, but Julio will most likely have to face the winner of Ricky Quiles-Nate Campbell.
4. Acelino Freitas
Freitas has been on a near 10 month layoff since beating former contender Zahir Raheem. After potential fights with Joel Casamayor and David Diaz fell through, Freitas Layoff continued. Finally the Juan Diaz camp and Freitas camp have agreed on a fight for Diaz’s WBA title on April 28th. Which will mark a 11 month 30 day layoff for Freitas. Many will wonder if such a long layoff will affect Freitas in his fight with Diaz. Freitas must bring his A game and not bring in any ring rust to the fight.
5. Nate Campbell
In Campbell’s last fight he won a one sided IBF title eliminator over Matt Zegan. He has been an underachiever his whole career and has yet to win a World Title. He will have his chance March 2nd on a ESPN nationally televised card against Ricky Quiles, another journey man who is seeking his 1st world title. A loss will virtually end his career.
6. Michael Katsidis
Katsidis won a part of the WBO title with his 5 round Technical Decision win over Graham Earl. It was a action packed fight and Katsidis’ power proved to be more powerful. This was the biggest step up in competition for Katsidis. Before this fight he had not fought anyone near the top of the division. Now being the WBO Interim champ, look for him to fight the winner of the Diaz-Freitas fight in a unification bout in late 2007.
7. Kid Diamond
Kid Diamond seemed to be on his way to the top of the lightweight division. After had a controversial draw with Joel Casamayor he fought Nate Campbell and was TKO in the 10th round. Kid Diamond won his last fight in a one sided schooling of journeyman Emmanuel Augustus. And before that fight he had a TKO win over Jairo Ramirez for the NABF title. Diamond needs one legitimate win to get him into the lightweight mix .
8. David Diaz
Diaz has now been titled champion of the WBC after being interim champ. We now have a 3rd Diaz as champion. Diaz last fought on the Maskaev-Rahman undercard vs. Jose Armando Santa Cruz. He was being dominated though the first nine rounds and out of no where came back to knockout Santa Cruz in that round. His will to win was proven that night. There have been talks of a Diaz-Erik Morales fight this coming may or summer. A win of this caliber would solidify his spot in the division.
9. Ricky Quiles
Quiles will be fighting Nate Campbell in a IBF eliminator match. A win would set up a rematch with IBF champion Julio Diaz. If Quiles loses this bout his career could be over. He like Campbell has yet to win a World Title
10. Jose Armando Santa Cruz
In his comeback fight after being upset by David Diaz, Santa Cruz got up from a 1st round knockdown to win a one sided decision over Luis Antonio Arceo. Santa Cruz needs another fight and hopefully we can see him get a rematch with David Diaz.
