Axum Ezana
Driving in the fast lane
Canelo out of WBC ratings, Arreola reenters at #9
The new WBC ratings for June have been released and former middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is not currently rated in either the middleweight or super welterweight division. After Canelo relinquished his WBC title to Gennady Golovkin, the WBC contacted Canelo’s promoter to confirm which division he is planning to continue his career in, but didn’t receive a response. Consequently, Canelo will not be rated this month as the WBC waits to receive official confirmation about his status.
Heavyweight Chris Arreola has been returned to his previous #9 rating as the WBC Ratings Committee has verified that an administrative suspension imposed in Texas has been lifted. Arreola, who tested positive for marijuana after his last fight, will challenge WBC heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder on July 16 in Birmingham, Alabama.
Heavyweight Alexander Povetkin remains rated #1 with an asterisk as the WBC Clean Boxing Program continues to investigate his positive drug test. The investigation is expected to be resolved during the month of June.
Super middleweight Lucien Bute is rated #9 with an asterisk, as his positive drug test is also being investigated by the WBC Clean Boxing Program.
The WBC, WBA and IBF have all issued ratings updates for the month of June
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Chop Chop Corley back in action tonight
It will be experience vs. youth tonight at the Chinese Benevolent Association Auditorium in Kingston, Jamaica, as 44-year-old former world champion DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley (45-27-1, 27 KOs) takes on 22-year-old Michael “The Wasp” Gardner (2-0, 1 KO) in the Season 6 semi-final of the “Wray & Nephew Jamaican Contender Series.” Corley blew out Revlon Lake (9-14-2, 1 KO) in 55 seconds in his opening round bout on May 25. Both of Gardner’s wins have come in this competition. The Corley-Gardner winner will face Richard “Frog” Holmes (11-5, 6 KOs) in the final.