03.01.04 – By Wes Moore: The year 2003 is 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 of this past year. I took votes for a month on the categories listed below and the readers who chose to vote have made their choices. Now without further circumstance here are your choices for the year 2003.
Heavyweight Fighter of the Year
Winner Vitali Klitschko 84%
Runner Up James Toney 13%
Also receiving votes: Dominick Guinn
Last year’s Winner: Wlademir Klitschko
Best Heavyweight Fight of the Year
Winner Klitschko/Lewis 86%
Runner Up Guinn/Dokiwari 7%
Also receiving votes: Guinn/Grant, Jones/Ruiz
Last year’s Winner: Oquendo/Tua
Most Improved Heavyweight of the Year
Winner Vitali Klitschko 33%
Runner Up Dominick Guinn 30%
Also receiving votes: James Toney, Corrie Sanders, Michael Sprott, Joe Mesi, Jameel McCline, Fres Oquendo, and Audley Harrison.
Last year’s Winner: Davarryl Williamson
Comeback Heavyweight of the Year
Winner Corrie Sanders 54%
Runner Up Andrew Golota 21%
Also receiving votes: Vitali Klitschko, James Toney, Monte Barrett, John Ruiz, and Ray Mercer
Last Year’s Winner: David Tua
Upset of the Year
Winner Sanders/Klitschko 92%
Runner Up Holyfield/Toney 8%
Also receiving votes: None
Last Year’s Winner: Not a category last year
Worst Heavyweight Fight of the Year
Winner Ruiz/Rahman 38%
Runner Up Oquendo/Byrd 11.5%
Rahman/Tua
Also receiving votes: Oquendo/Harris, Manley/McDaniel, Kirkland/Bryant, Gomez/Samil Sam, Frazier/Humphries, Lewis/Ahunanya, and Tyson/Etienne.
Last Year’s Winner: Ruiz/Johnson
There you have it: Readers Choice 2003. I will leave any analysis up to whoever wants to provide their take. I want to thank everyone who voted. I would also like to thank the readers here at East Side Boxing. I hope everyone has had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. You can reach me at largedog@bellsouth.net and until next time in 2004 watch out for the upper cut behind the jab.