East Side Readers Choice 2002
By Wes Moore
20.12 - The year 2002 is just about over and with it goes another year in the heavyweight division. Many fighters have made statements for the future while some have proven that they don't have anything left to give. The time has come to make choices for the best and worst and the readers have spoken. Now without further circumstance here are your choices for the year 2002.
Heavyweight Fighter of the Year
Winner Wlademir Klitschko 56.82%
1st Runner Up Lennox Lewis 15.91%
2nd Runner Up David Tua 9.09%
2nd Runner Up Chris Byrd 9.09%
4th Runner Up Richel Hersisia 4.55%
4th Runner Up None 4.55%
This poll was an overwhelming mandate for Wlademir Klitschko as Fighter of the Year. A few readers felt that Lewis' win over Tyson was worthy of making him the winner. David Tua and Chris Byrd also made strong showings. Richel Hersisia, while a promising prospect, was obviously a "hometown" pick.
Best Heavyweight Fight of the Year
Winner David Tua vs. Fres Oquendo 27.28%
1st Runner Up Davarryl Williamson vs. Corey Sanders 22.73%
1st Runner Up None 22.73%
3rd Runner Up Francois Botha vs. Cliff Etienne 9.09%
3rd Runner Up Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson 9.09%
5th Runner Up Chris Byrd vs. Evander Holyfield 4.55%
5th Runner Up Hasim Rahman vs. Evander Holyfield 4.55%
It was a close race but eventually the stunning Tua win over Oquendo came out ahead. The slugfest that was Sanders-Williamson came in close as a runner up. Many fans equated that they did not think there was a good enough fight this year to be crowned Fight of the Year. The other choices were dwarfed by the popularity of Tua-Oquendo and Sanders-Williamson.
Most Improved Heavyweight of the Year
Winner Davarryl Williamson 40.91%
1st Runner Up David Tua 31.82%
2nd Runner Up Wlademir Klitschko 9.09%
2nd Runner Up None 9.09%
4th Runner Up Chris Byrd 4.55%
4th Runner Up Richel Hersisia 4.55%
It was quite a battle in this category. Touch of Sleep stormed out immediately but was caught in the voting by Tua. Williamson eventually won out by a small margin. Some thought that Klitschko's wins and Byrd's victory over Holyfield were enough to make him them the most improved while some thought that there was not a heavyweight who improved that much. While a more feasible pick for most improved, Richel Hersisia, was probably still too much of a sentimental pick for this category.
Comeback Heavyweight of the Year
Winner David Tua 70.45%
1st Runner Up Lou Savarese 9.09%
2nd Runner Up Evander Holyfield 6.82%
3rd Runner Up Lawrence Clay Bey 4.55%
3rd Runner Up Michael Grant 4.55%
3rd Runner Up None 4.55%
The most overwhelming margin of victory belonged to David Tua as Comeback Heavyweight of 2002. He did a lot this year to come back from a disappointing couple of years. Lou Savarese finished second on the strength of his victory of Tim Witherspoon. The voting might have been very much closer had Holyfield beaten Chris Byrd. Lawrence Clay Bey and Michael Grant also figured in the process.
Worst Heavyweight Fight of the Year
Winner John Ruiz vs. Kirk Johnson 63.64%
1st Runner Up Jameel McCline vs. Wlademir Klitschko 18.18%
2nd Runner Up Robert Davis vs. Terrence Lewis II 4.55%
2nd Runner Up David Tua vs. Michael Moorer 4.55%
2nd Runner Up Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson 4.55%
2nd Runner Up Chris Byrd vs. Evander Holyfield 4.55%
The obvious winner of this award was Ruiz-Johnson. The other choices were all second fiddle to the ultimate in ugly and bad. I believe that many of the others receiving votes were simply cases of fights that did not live up to their expectations.
There you have it: Readers Choice 2002. I want to thank everyone who voted. I would also like to thank the readers here at East Side Boxing. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. You can reach me at largedog@bellsouth.net and until next time in 2003 watch out for the upper cut behind the jab.
