In a lot of ways, 2012 was the best of times and the worst of times for fight fans. Competition for the eyeballs of fight fans created at least the hint of an effort to deliver good fights to the public and, although Golden Boy and Top Rank still insist on playing promotional turf war, both companies did a decent job of making some of the best fights within their power to make. 2012 also saw the return of boxing to network TV as both CBS and NBC aired afternoon shows. On the negative side, the sport was forced to deal with the dark shadow of PEDs use and come to terms with the fact that with no centralized authority for the sport, pretty much all meaningful reforms are well out of reach.
Here’s a look at boxing’s best, worst, and strangest moments of 2012:
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Fighter of the Year:
Juan Manuel Marquez
Up until December 8, Juan Manuel Marquez was having a fairly uneventful year with the highlight being a dull, but dominant unanimous decision win over Serhiy Fedchenko for the interim WBO junior welterweight title. Things changed drastically after fight number four with arch-rival Manny Pacquiao. Despite scoring a knockdown in the third round, Marquez was behind in the bout and sustaining some serious damage until he landed a perfectly-timed right hand with two seconds left in the sixth round. The shot sent Pacquiao face first to the canvas and immediately pushed the Mexican to the top of the Fighter of the Year race.
Runners Up: Nonito Donaire, Danny Garcia, Sergio Martinez
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Fight of the Year:
Brandon Rios TKO 7 Mike Alvarado
The Home Depot Center in Carson, California played host to this hellacious back and forth Fight of the Year battle. From the moment the bout was signed, fight fans knew that something special was bound to happen, but the actual fight surpassed most expectations. Alvarado was defending his junior welterweight turf and Top Five ranking against a Rios who was making his official debut at the 140 lb. limit. In the early rounds, it looked as if Alvarado would be successful in defending against the hard charge, but as time passed, Rios’ relentless pressure wore down the Denver native and eventually forced a stoppage after seven brutally beautiful rounds.
Runners Up: Juan Manuel Marquez KO 6 Manny Pacquiao, Orlando Salido TKO 10 Juan Manuel Lopez
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Event of the Year:
Mexican Independence Day Weekend
For the first time ever, a major pay-per-view event and a high-profile premium cable card were broadcast at the same time and staged just a couple of miles apart in Las Vegas. At the Thomas & Mack Center, Sergio Martinez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. met in a long-awaited battle for Chavez’s WBC middleweight title on HBO PPV while, at the MGM Grand, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez defended his WBC junior middleweight title against Josesito Lopez on Showtime. While critics predicted doom for the competing events, both shows played to sold out arenas and produced good TV numbers.
Runners Up: The Haye-Chisora Fiasco, Mayweather-Cotto
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Knockout of the Year:
Juan Manuel Marquez KO 6 Manny Pacquiao
Juan Manuel Marquez’s perfectly-timed right hand at the end of the sixth round of his bout with Manny Pacquiao was, literally, the shot heard ´round the world. The picture-perfect punch was not only technically beautiful, but it managed to shake the sport like no other one-shot KO in recent memory.
Runners Up: Mikkel Kessler KO 4 Allan Green, Danny Garcia KO 4 Erik Morales
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Round of the Year of the Year:
Orlando Salido vs. Juan Manuel Lopez II (9th Round)
Juan Manuel Lopez pushed hard in the rematch with Orlando Salido to negate his loss from the last time they met. The heavy-handed Puerto Rican almost succeeded in doing so, until the blue collar Mexican battler once again managed to withstand the heavy leather and eventually close the show. The back-and-forth ninth round of Salido-Lopez II saw the official turning point in the contest when Lopez ran out of both reserve and resolve and Salido took full control. After this high octane three-minute period, Lopez would be stopped the following round.
Runners Up: Sergio Martinez vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (12th), Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Manny Pacquiao (5th), Brandon Rios vs. Mike Alvarado (5th), Marco Huck vs. Ola Afolabi (12th)
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The Pernell Whitaker Virtuoso Award:
Adrien Broner (vs. Antonio DeMarco)
The 23-year-old Broner rubs a lot of people the wrong way outside the ring, but even the harshest of Broner critics had to love the masterful performance he delivered against defending WBC lightweight champion, Antonio DeMarco. That night, in stopping the tough Mexican, Broner displayed pure brilliance.
Runners Up: Andre Ward (vs. Chad Dawson), Brian Viloria (vs. Hernan Marquez), Abner Mares (vs. Anselmo Moreno)
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The Oliver McCall Puzzling Non-Performance in a Prime Time Drama Award:
Devon Alexander, Randall Bailey
For twelve rounds, defending IBF welterweight titlist, Randall Bailey and challenger, Devon Alexander put on a mind-numbingly dull title bout that had the boxing faithful at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center checking their email and balancing their checkbooks in order to stay awake. Alexander threw punches at air, grunted, and ran for the full twelve rounds against a 38-year-old Bailey who simply couldn’t pursue and, seemingly, wasn’t interested in doing so. Amid a chorus of boos, Alexander was eventually awarded the IBF welterweight belt. Combined, both fighters landed a total of 165 punches– a feeble 13.75 per round. By contrast, Brandon Rios, alone, landed 161 punches in his seven round TKO of Mike Alvarado the previous week.
Runner Up: Toshiaki Nishioka (vs. Nonito Donaire)
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Breakthrough Fighter of the Year:
Adrien Broner
Broner looked increasingly dominant in each of his three wins in 2012 (vs. Eloy Perez, Vicente Escobedo, and Antonio DeMarco) and, equally as important, proved to be a growing attraction, delivering solid TV ratings to HBO and creating true internet buzz with his controversial out-of-ring antics.
Runners Up: Danny Garcia, Austin Trout, Leo Santa Cruz, Peter Quillin, Scott Quigg, Yoan Pablo Hernandez
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Upset of the Year:
Josesito Lopez (vs. Victor Ortiz)
Natural junior welterweight, Josesito Lopez, was supposed to be a tune-up fight for Victor Ortiz, who was slated to face Saul Alvarez later in the year. However, nobody informed the blue collar mid-card fighter that he was supposed to lose spectacularly as publicity for Ortiz’s coming title shot. Lopez would put forth a stellar effort, breaking Ortiz’s jaw, and forcing the heavy betting favorite to remove himself from the contest between rounds nine and ten.
Runners Up: Sonny Boy Jaro TKO 6 Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, Denis Grachev TKO 8 Ismayl Sillakh
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Trainer of the Year:
Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain
The Hall of Fame trainer has been a blessing to the sport for decades and is currently one of the few old school trainers left in boxing. His guidance of Juan Manuel Marquez over Manny Pacquiao gets him the Trainer of the Year honors for 2012.
Runner Up: Robert Garcia
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Robbery of the Year:
Timothy Bradley SD 12 Manny Pacquiao
Expected to be a competitive contest, Bradley-Pacquiao turned out to be a solid victory for Pacquiao– or, at least, that’s what most people thought until the judges’ scorecards were read. The outrage following this odd decision would stir up talk of a government investigation and possible judging reform.
Runners Up: Brandon Rios SD 12 Richard Abril, James Kirkland DQ 10 Carlos Molina, Tavoris Cloud SD 12 Gabriel Campillo
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The George A. Romero Gore Award:
Tony Bellew (vs. Roberto Bolonti)
An utterly forgettable fight between British light heavyweight contender, Tony Bellew and Argentina’s Roberto Bolonti resulted in the ugliest of gashes over the Brit’s eye. Bellew would go on to take a one-sided unanimous decision against his overmatched foe despite the “eye-gina” that threatened to end the contest.
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Gutsiest Effort of 2012:
Josesito Lopez (vs. Saul Alvarez)
Josesito had earned this shot at the WBC junior middleweight champ, Alvarez, by breaking Victor Ortiz’s jaw in a set-up bout three months earlier. However, Lopez’s Cinderella boxing story ended as soon as he found himself matched-up against the hungry, offense-minded “Canelo.” Despite a a gutsy effort to withstand the barrage of punishment, the natural junior welterweight– two full divisions above his best weight, was dropped three times en route to TKO 5 loss.
Runner Up: Carson Jones (MD Loss, Kell Brook), Juan Manuel Marquez (KO 6, Manny Pacquiao)
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Comeback Fighter of the Year:
Carl Froch
Froch could’ve gone off the deep end after his loss to Andre Ward last year. He could’ve settled into his spot as super middleweight top contender and milked his hometown Nottingham fans for a lifetime’s worth of easy touches for quick cash. Instead, Froch dusted himself off and knocked the crepe out of Lucian Bute in a surprisingly one-sided TKO 5 demolition. “The Cobra” would then steamroll former world title challenger, Yusaf Mack, to cap off a very solid 2012.
Runner Up: Gabriel Rosado
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The Chris Brown vs. Rihanna One-Sided Beatdown Award:
Nonito Donaire vs. Jorge Arce
Nonito Donaire walked into Houston’s Toyota Center as a heavy betting favorite against a bloated, battle-weary Jorge Arce and proceeded to do exactly what most expected. Arce served as a light snack for “The Filipino Flash” and found himself down and out as soon as Donaire decided he had enough HBO face time.
Runners Up: Wladimir Klitschko vs. Jean Marc Mormeck, Carl Froch vs. Yusaf Mack
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The Rat F*ck Douche Bag Award:
The Boxing Media
Biased, inept, and often on the take, a good majority of the boxing’s media could take this award each year, but 2012 was an especially vile year for those who cover the sport. From selective “outing” of certain fighters as PEDs cheats to rumor mongering to serving as promoter errand boys, the boxing media blew it in so many ways this year. However, the lowlight of 2012 came when members of this less-than-elite group crawled over one another to get the “scoop” on Emanuel Steward’s death– even as Steward’s family pleaded for privacy and compassion.
Runners Up: Jose Sulaiman, The Azerbaijan Olympic committee
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The Jason Voorhees, “He just won’t die” Award:
Bernard Hopkins
When Bernard Hopkins lost decisively to Chad Dawson earlier this year, it was assumed that we had seen the last of “The Executioner.” By the end of the year, though, rumors of B-Hop’s return to the title scene began to surface. A title bout against IBF light heavyweight champ, Tavoris Cloud, is tentatively planned for March, two months after his 48th birthday.
Runner Up: Frank Warren, Hasim Rahman
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Comeback Nobody Asked For:
Ricky Hatton
Ricky Hatton had been retired decisively via Manny Pacquiao knockout in 2009, but inner yearnings and an addiction to the limelight brought him back to active duty. Arena seats were sold and plans for a world title shot were already being discussed, but light-hitting Vyacheslav Senchenko ruined the ill-advised comeback by stopping the former junior welterweight kingpin in nine rounds.
Runner Up: Winky Wright
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The Avatar All Style, No Substance Award:
Kevin Johnson
“Kingpin” Kevin Johnson sure talks a good game and, on the surface, it looks like he might have the goods to back up the flapping lips. However, when push comes to shove, Johnson converts into a timid, tepid second tier presence. 2012 saw Johnson lose a bid to take the UK’s Prizefighter tournament and then passively stand by while Tyson Fury slapped him around the ring in their WBC heavyweight eliminator.
Runner Up: Seth Mitchell, Devon Alexander
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Scandal of the Year:
PEDs in Boxing
Despite the yellow journalism that came from this issue, performance enhancing drugs became a major topic for discussion this year. In 2012, Lamont Peterson, Andre Berto, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., and Antonio Tarver all tested positive for banned substances, making the issue of drug testing reform something real and pressing.
Runners Up: Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley Decision, The David Haye-Dereck Chisora Fiasco
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The Erin Andrews, Totally Exposed Award:
Seth Mitchell
Seth Mitchell was getting plenty of attention as the “Next Great American Heavyweight” until Johnathon Banks let the world know just how fragile his chin is. Banks would stop Mitchell in the second round of an HBO showcase bout and completely derail the Mitchell Express.
Runners up: Mike Jones, Mercito Gesta
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Jekyll and Hyde Inconsistent Performance Award:
Victor Ortiz
A back to back winner in this category, nobody quite confuses the boxing mind like Victor Ortiz– A world class fighter with world class talent…until he completely falls apart.
Runners Up: Amir Khan, Erislandy Lara
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Worst Pay Per View:
“Coming to America– Mundine vs. McKart”
The promo for this Wealth TV PPV had, possibly, the dumbest line in the history of boxing promotion: “Anthony Mundine has what it takes to beat Floyd Mayweather Jr., but only one man stands in his way— Bronco McKart!” Ultimately, not many cared that Mundine was coming to America and even fewer probably bought this show from the Palms Casino in Las Vegas. Although buy numbers were never released, it might be safely assumed that more fans were actually in attendance than willing to pay to see it from home.
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WWE Moment of the Year:
The David Haye-Dereck Chisora Press Conference Brawl
In the press conference following Vitali Klitschko’s win over Dereck Chisora, David Haye made an impromptu entrance and stirred up some testosterone-driven angst in the Zimbabwe-born British resident. A scuffle ensued, a bottle was broken, Chisora threatened to shoot Haye, and a Haye-Chisora promotional tour took its first step forward.
Runner Up: The Floyd Mayweather-50 Cent Twitter Beef
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Piss Or Get Off The Pot:
Beibut Shumenov
After an aggressively underwhelming 2011, WBA light heavyweight champ, Shumenov somehow found a way to top himself in 2012. The Kazakhstan native only fought once this year, taking a decision over Enrique Ornelas. Shumenov’s 2012 campaign ups his level of championship insignificance, proving that not only do paper champs fight weak, undeserving opposition, but they might not even have to fight at all.
Runners Up: Deontay Wilder, Nathan Cleverly
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The “Hey, That Guy Works At Footlocker” Award:
Chris Fitzpatrick (vs. Daniel Jacobs on Showtime)
This is The Boxing Tribune’s annual award given to the most pedestrian fighter who somehow finds his way on to a major network. Congrats on making the Showtime telecast, Mr. Fitzpatrick!
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The Unfortunate Name Award:
Semen Uporov
We’re going with the same winner three years in a row because, really, how can you top this? The super middleweight from Kazakhstan continues to be one of the nation’s top prospects and continues as the sport’s most unfortunately named fighter. He was inactive in 2012, but in 2011, Semen came out on top of Orphius Waite in a four round contest. Yeah, we realize how bad that sounds…
Runners Up: Inocente Fix, Elvis Presley, Brad Pitt, Gayrat Ahmedov, Mike McFail, Hu Die
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The Walking Dead:
Hasim Rahman (vs. Alexander Povetkin)
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Should’ve Happened:
Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao
Amir Khan-Lamont Peterson II
Nonito Donaire-Abner Mares
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UK Fighter of the Year:
Carl Froch
Froch demolished former no.2 super middleweight in the world, Lucian Bute and made his status as an elite, world class fighter absolutely beyond debate. Add in a three-round destruction of Yusaf Mack and there’s no doubt as to who takes UK top honors this year.
Runners Up: Ricky Burns, Kell Brook, David Haye
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Mexican Fighter of the Year:
Juan Manuel Marquez
Juan Manuel Marquez takes top Mexican honors for obvious reasons. His one-punch knockout of Manny Pacquiao earned him overall Fighter of the Year honors and, so, it obviously makes him king of the hill among Mexican fighters.
Runners Up: Abner Mares, Orlando Salido, Miguel Vazquez
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Stick a Fork in ’em, They’re Done:
Ivan Calderon, Rafael Marquez, Jorge Arce, Roy Jones Jr.,Erik Morales, Danny Williams, Robin Reid,
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2013 Should Be Their Year:
Gennady Golovkin, Leo Santa Cruz, Kell Brook, Ray Beltran, Gary Russell Jr.
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From The Staff at The Boxing Tribune:
Thanks for joining us in our quest to establish boxing’s first 100% independent source of boxing news and editorials. 2012 has been an outstanding year for The Boxing Tribune and we hope to keep growing in reach and influence next year.
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