26.12.06 – Ricardo Lois, BoxingConfidential.com: Los Angeles — I am not really sure what drives the need for human beings to develop and read year end awards and lists. Years and years ago some hack at a long defunct magazine or newpaper created the first of these lists to improve sales, I am sure of it. Who cares if the Clipse’s “Hell Hath No Furry” was the best Hip-Hop record of 2006. I want to know how it matches up against classic record such as, “The Low End Theory,” “Illmatic,” and “Straight Outta Compton.” Same thing with boxing..
I can give a damn if Fighter X is the boxer of the year. Who said a twelve month cycle should be used for evaluating any human endeveaour.
Creating these lists, in our modern twenty-four hour news cycle, can be harder than hell for me. With all the images and information that pass through my head during the span of three hundred sixty-four days, including dozens of unnecessary daily e-mails from BoxingConfidential.com editor and chief Michael Marley, I can barley remember what was going on in boxing during January, 2006.
Serguei Lyakhovich’s decision victory over Lamon Brewester was a fine fight, but did that really happen on April Fool’s Day 2006, it seems as if that fight took place two years ago. I bet Lamon Brewster wishes the result was an April Fool’s Day joke. Maybe it was bad kharma for dumping former trainer Jesse Reid like a bad Christmas gift.
In honor of that hack who invented these damn lists, I will just produce a year-end awards list for the boxing public.
Ricardo Lois’ Boxing Best for 2006
Fighter of the Year – Miguel Cotto.
Calm down Pacland. Do not send e-mails attached with viruses or envelopes full of anthrax to my home. Pacquiao had a fine year, but let’s face it. He beat-up on an over the hill, out of gas Erik Morales. His other victory comes over road warrior Oscar Larios, who was fighting two divisions over where he should be fighting. Remember, even half-retired, at the time, Wayne McCullough took Larios to hell and back, and Israel Vazquez had whacked out Larios before he even got to Pacman.
Meanwhile Miguel Cotto put his hands all over then up and coming Paul Malignaggi and took a clear decision. It is very easy to talk down on Malignaggi’s skills now, but many people thought he would give Cotto a tough fight, before the fight went down. Prior to Malignaggi had a workmen like knockout over the very professional Ginluca Branco.
To round out the year, Cotto moved up to welterweight to fight fellow undefeated Puerto Rican Carlos Quintana. Many within boxing, including myself, thought Quintana had the goods to give Cotto his first loss.
I quickly learned why Top Rank’s Bruce Trampler is one of the finest matchmakers in the World and Miguel Cotto trashed Quintana’s hopes to rule Puerto Rico with a five-round technical knockout.
So sorry General Santos City, your man Manny maybe the most exciting fighter, but to me, Miguel Cotto was the best.
Fight of the Year – Israel Vazquez TKO 10 Jhonny Gonzalez
Vazquez gets floored twice, in the second and then in the fourth, only to rally back and score a technical knockout in the tenth round. If you have not seen this fight, I will not to it the disservice of giving you a recap.
Go to your favorite fight peddler (Sorry Golden Boy and HBO, I am not condoning piracy, but you guys should really sell these things on DVD. UFC does it, sorry to throw mixed-martial arts in your face once again) and get a copy.
That is it.
Yes.
Done.
I told you I do not enjoy producing these sorts of lists.
Email – riclois@gmail.com (Remember Pacmaniacs, take it easy on me.)