by James Slater – There is less than a week to go in the year, before 2010 will be upon us. And, with all the boxing action of the last 12 months now ready to be reassessed, there will soon be a number of “the best of 2009” lists surfacing both in print and on the net. The choices made when picking an award winner for things such as fighter of the year and fight of the year are down to personal opinion and nothing more.
With that said, here are my picks for five categories; the best of the last 12 months.
1: Fighter of the year: Manny Pacquiao.
Who else could it possibly be by the all-conquering Manny Pacquiao? The Filipino southpaw fought just twice this year – in May and in November – but how he made his wins count. Utterly destroying both Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto, the former inside just two-rounds, “Pac-Man” proved his greatness. Could 2009 even have been his very best year as a pro?
(honourable mention: Timothy Bradley. Having fought three times this year and each time against a top quality foe, “Desert Storm” is second only to Pacquiao in my opinion..)
2: Fight of the year: Paul Williams WM 12 Sergio Martinez.
These two warrior southpaws, who met at middleweight on December 5th, gave everything they had over 12 quite furious rounds of fighting. They traded knockdowns early in the fight, before settling into a brutal and gruelling war of a distance fight. Both men’s chins were severely tested, and the guts and heart on display by both men was also something to behold. Williams looked the worse for wear at the end, due to the two cuts he’d suffered during the war, but “The Punisher” had done enough to get the majority verdict. These two have to fight again!
(honourable mention: Shane Mosley TKO 9 Antonio Margarito. A splendid battle that took place in the year’s first month, the two welterweights went at it with gusto until the superior skills of underdog Mosley took over and saw to it that the Mexican warrior’s legendary chin could take no more. Of course, the fight became infamous shortly after it had ended, due to the “loaded gloves” scandal involving the loser.)
3: KO of the year: Manny Pacquiao KO 2 Ricky Hatton.
This one, in May of the year, was chilling. Hatton, who had only been stopped once, by the sublime Floyd Mayweather Junior up at 147-pounds, felt his natural size and strength at 140 would see him to victory over the man who began his pro career as a 106-pounder. Never expecting his usually reliable chin to be so violently shattered, or so quickly, Hatton went down from Pacquiao’s blistering left hand as though he’d been shot. Up there with Sugar Ray Robinson’s one-punch KO of Gene Fulmer, Pacquiao KO 2 Hatton instantly became highlight reel material of the highest quality.
(honourable mention: Randall Bailey KO 4 Francisco Figueroa. Known as “The Knock Out King,” light-welterweight Bailey showed why in April of this year, when he iced Figueroa with one perfect right hand that split his young opponent’s gloves. Downed hard, Figueroa had no chance at all of getting back up before the count of 30, never mind 10.)
4: Round of the year: Paul Samuels-Cello Renda Round-two.
Neither guy is a big name, but so what? This all-British middleweight battle, that took place in November, was short and sweet and a great little fight all the way through. However, round-two gave us something that is usually meant only for the movies. Both men, amazingly, landed with left hooks to the jaw at EXACTLY the same time! Both guys hit the mat, as the mouths of fans at ringside also dropped. Just like in Rocky II, both warriors had to beat the count. They both did, and the battle raged on until Samuels stopped Renda in the next round. The two are set to meet again in January.
(Honourable mention: Pacquiao-Cotto Round-three. Both men are light years ahead of the two fighters I’ve bestowed the round of the year award on, and it may seem odd having Pacquiao-Cotto round-three below Samuels-Renda. Round-three of the November super-fight was indeed a great three minutes. Cotto stood and traded with Pacquiao in the round, resulting in breathtaking action, and he also came back from a knockdown to push “Pac-Man” later in the session. A superb round of boxing.)
5: Comeback of the year: Floyd Mayweather Junior.
Away for almost two years, “Money” proved in his dominant, almost ridiculously easy points won over pound-for-pound entrant Juan Manuel Marquez that his skills are as sharply tuned and impressive even after he’s been out of action for a good while. Perhaps looking even quicker than before, the 32-year-old simply dazzled against the gritty Mexican. He may not have reclaimed his spot atop the P-4-P charts with the win, but Mayweather immediately went back in at #2 with the September shutout.
(Honourable mention: Carl Froch. This dramatic comeback occurred in an actual fight, as “The Cobra,” well behind of the scorecards against Jermain Taylor in April, rescued his WBC 168-pound title and unbeaten record with a sensational 12th-round stoppage win. With Taylor looking like he’d make it to the final bell and thus take his title with a decision, Froch put on a tremendous display of never giving up. Decking “Bad Intentions” with a right hand, the Brit finished Taylor off with a barrage near the end of the round, prompting the referee’s stoppage. How near to the end of the round? 14 seconds before the final bell, that’s how near!)