2010, in a lot of ways, was a frustrating test of patience for boxing fans. With large periods of time where, literally, no significant fight action took place and with stars who have taken to just fighting once or twice a year, boxing surely seemed on the ropes. Not helping matters any was the general disgust created when the sport’s two biggest draws, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, were selfishly unwilling to compromise on a bout for the sake of those who pay for their lavish lifestyles. But, like a fierce comeback from a classic warrior, boxing finished big with a brilliant a two-month period in November and December that left fight fans satisfied and looking for more in 2011. Welcome to another year in boxing:
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Fighter of the Year:
Sergio Martinez
After a frustrating 2009 which saw him drop a controversial decision to Paul Williams and get flat-out robbed against Kermit Cintron, Martinez came up big in 2010. First, he outclassed Kelly Pavlik for the lineal middleweight title in a truly gutsy affair. Then, he put Paul Williams to sleep with a monster shot in the second round of their rematch. Martinez’s willingness to fight all comers and execute to near perfection has earned him this top spot for 2010.
Runners Up: Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez, Floyd Mayweather Jr.
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Fight of the Year:
Giovani Segura KO8 Ivan Calderon
This was an especially tough category this year and there’s likely to be a wide array of different choices, but Segura-Calderon delivered in so many areas that it made the cut at The Boxing Tribune. Probably the most significant bout at jr. flyweight in over a decade, this title unification of the WBO and WBA belts saw a classic blend of styles with the slick, technically perfect Calderon taking on the aggressive, power-punching Segura. From the opening bell, Segura would pounce on Calderon, eventually taking the long-reigning WBO champ’s legs and forcing him into a war. Calderon, like a brave warrior making a last stand, fired back as best he could. In the end, though, Segura was just too big and strong for Calderon and the fight ended in an exciting eighth round stoppage.
Runners Up: Humberto Soto UD12 Urbano Antillon, Amir Khan UD12 Marcos Maidana, Juan Manuel Marquez TKO 9 Michael Katsidis
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Event of the Year:
The Mayweather-Pacquiao Saga
When the mainstream press decides to cover a boxing story, you know it’s a big deal. The Mayweather-Pacquiao debacle made headlines from TMZ to ESPN to every boxing website, message board, and chat room. Everybody was talking about the “Fight of the Millennium” that just couldn’t be worked out. The year started with lawsuits, court dates, and media fights, but nothing could be resolved. Months later, the saga was revisited with a public deadline issued to Mayweather from promoter Bob Arum, but still, nothing could be worked out. The fans are still arguing amongst themselves and the media still brings up the topic…Like it or not, Mayweather-Pacquiao talk has taken over the psyche of the boxing public.
Runners Up: Pacquiao vs. Clottey at Cowboys’ Stadium, Cotto vs. Foreman at Yankees Stadium
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Knockout of the Year:
Sergio Martinez KO2 Paul Williams
Some were predicting Martinez, some were predicting Williams, but everybody saw this rematch as an even-money battle between two pound for pound combatants. After a close and exciting first round, fans were settling in for a long, entertaining war. However, Martinez landed the boxing equivalent of the no-look pass in the NBA and knocked Williams out cold. It was a shocking and abrupt ending that captured headlines across the world.
Runner Up: Dmitry Pirog TKO 5 Daniel Jacobs
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Round of the Year of the Year:
Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Michael Katsidis (3rd Round)
Just as Juan Manuel Marquez seemed to be settling into a groove, Michael Katsidis connected with a monster left hook that sent Marquez to the canvas. Katsidis would put on the pressure while Marquez struggled to re-gain his composure. By the end of the round, both fighters were back on even terms with Marquez closing out the third with a brilliant combination.
Runners Up: Hugo Cazares vs. Nobuo Nashiro (12th), Antonio Escalante vs. Miguel Roman (9th)
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The Pernell Whitaker Virtuoso Award:
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (vs. Shane Mosley)
After a monster shot and a fierce follow up from Mosley in the second round, Mayweather settled into his groove and made the top rated welterweight and Top 5 pound for pound entrant look like a six-fight amateur. Mayweather showed why, when motivated to enter the ring, he is the very best in the sport.
Runners Up: Carl Froch (vs.Arthur Abraham), Devon Alexander (vs. Juan Urango), Joseph Agbeko (vs. Yonnhy Perez II)
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The Oliver McCall Puzzling Non-Performance in a Prime Time Drama Award:
Kendall Holt (vs. Kaizer Mabuza)
After a close loss where he nearly stopped Timothy Bradley in his previous bout, Holt was looking to rebound against unknown, unproven Kaizer Mabuza in an IBF title eliminator. Big money, high exposure fights awaited Holt in the talent-rich jr. welterweight division. For some reason, Holt just never bothered to put up much of an effort. He was beaten to the punch, battered from ring post to ring post in an effort that provoked his corner to stop the contest after the sixth.
Runners Up: Audley Harrison (vs.David Haye), Arthur Abraham (vs. Carl Froch), Joe Greene (vs. Vanes Martirosyan)
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Breakthrough Fighter of the Year:
Abner Mares
Mares’ career seemed to be stuck in neutral until he abruptly turned the corner in 2010. After a TKO win over journeyman, Felipe Almanza, Mares would go on to battle IBF bantamweight champ, Yonnhy Perez, to a spirited draw and then beat Vic Darchinyan as part of the Showtime bantamweight tournament.
Runners Up: Dmitry Pirog, Brandon Rios
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Upset of the Year:
Jason Litzau (vs. Celestino Caballero)
Caballero was dismissive of Litzau throughout the pre-fight publicity and even during the fight. While the former world champ looked to money bouts in the future and went through the motions, Litzau treated the contest like it was for a world title and pushed forward. Litzau’s aggression carried him to a split decision victory over the well-regarded Caballero.
Runners Up: Ricky Burns UD 12 “Rocky” Martinez, Gilberto Keb Baas MD12 Omar Niño Romero, Garth Wood KO 5 Anthony Mundine, Bryan Vera TKO3 Sebastien Demers
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Trainer of the Year:
Freddie Roach
Aside from his remarkable work with Manny Pacquiao, Roach has led Amir Khan to his two biggest wins (vs. Paulie Malignaggi and Marcos Maidana) and even managed to make the tough-to-handle Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. look nearly world class vs. John Duddy. Roach also handles a stable of young, talented fighters like Vanes Martirosyan, Lateef Kayode, and Jose Benavidez.
Runners Up: Emanuel Steward, Robert Garcia
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Robbery of the Year:
Beibut Shumenov SD12 Gabriel Campillo
When one judge has a guy winning 117-111 and another judge has the other guy winning by the same score, you know something strange is happening. Especially strange, in this case, is that Campillo clearly and decisively won. When the third judge ruled in favor of Shumenov, 115-113, the screw job was complete and Campillo had to relinquish the WBA light heavyweight crown he won from Shumenov months earlier.
Runners Up: Bernard Hopkins Majority Draw Jean Pascal, Mike Jones MD10 Jesus Soto Karass
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The George A. Romero Gore Award:
Antonio Margarito (vs. Manny Pacquiao)
Two years ago, the beating Margarito delivered to Miguel Cotto won Cotto this same award. The fact that it could’ve been administered by Margarito’s loaded wraps makes it all come full-circle. Some would suggest that the beating Margarito took from Manny Pacquiao on November 13th was a form of karma for past sins. Whatever the case, Antonio Margarito took such a beating that he needed surgery afterward. Pacquiao, with more than 400 unanswered shots, made Margarito look like Yory Boy Campas.
Runner Up: Wladimir Sidorenko (vs. Nonito Donaire)
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Gutsiest Effort of 2010:
Yuri Foreman (vs. Miguel Cotto)
Not only was Foreman in the fight of his career in Yankees Stadium against Miguel Cotto, but he also had to deal with an injured right knee that completely blew out in the seventh round. Limping and unable to put any weight on his right leg, Foreman fought on. He would fall a few more times and was completely helpless, but he never gave up. His corner tried to stop the contest, but referee Arthur Mercante Jr. ordered the fight to go on. Foreman would keep fighting back on one good leg until Cotto sent him to the canvas with a body shot. At this point, Mercante had no choice but to wave off the contest.
Runner Up: Michael Katsidis (vs. Juan Manuel Marquez four weeks afterthe death of his brother)
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Comeback Fighter of the Year:
Daniel Ponce de Leon
When Ponce de Leon was knocked out in one round by Juan Manuel Lopez in 2008, many thought that the native of Chihuahua, Mexico was pretty much done. After a rebuilding year in 2009, Ponce de Leon came back strong in 2010 and even added some technique to back up his famous one-punch power. With four decisive wins over quality opponents (Orlando Cruz, Cornelius Lock, Antonio Escalante, Sergio Medina), he has made himself a major player at featherweight and, once again, among the elite.
Runners Up: Jorge Solis, Cristian Mijares, Steve Molitor, Cornelius Bundrage
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The Chris Brown vs. Rihanna One-Sided Beatdown Award:
Nonito Donaire vs. Wladimir Sidorenko
This wasn’t pretty. Donaire was able to hurt Sidorenko at will, turning the former world champion’s face into a red mess before the end of the first. The bout would go on for four brutally one-sided rounds before Donaire finally put the finishing touches on his opponent.
Runners Up: Vitali Klitschko (vs. Shannon Briggs), Manny Pacquiao (vs. Antonio Margarito)
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The Rat F*ck Douche Bag Award:
Margarito, Rios, and Garcia Mock Freddie Roach’s Parkinson’s
Antonio Margarito and Brandon Rios, with the encouragement of trainer, Robert Garcia, made the now-infamous video mocking Freddie Roach’s Parkinson’s disease. Just as sleazy, though, was the trio’s denials of wrongdoing, even at the press conference called to issue a public apology. Garcia would even go on to insist that Rios never even knew that Roach had Parkinson’s
Runner Up: The boxing media who tried to cover up the video and worked to repair the public relations damage caused by its release.
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The Jason Voorhees, “He just won’t die” Award:
Bernard Hopkins
Just when you thought that Bernard Hopkins was done, he comes right back to impress. After two back to back sluggish performance, most thought the 46-year old “Executioner” was just fooling himself into thinking he could hang with the top dogs in the light heavyweight division. And, after two early knockdowns against Jean Pascal in their bout, it looked like the end of the line for B-Hop. Then, Hopkins did what he has been doing for over 22-years now. Applying superb fundamentals and his genius-level boxing IQ, he slowly turned the fight around and ended it firmly in control and deserving of the win, despite the Majority Draw final decision.
Runner Up: Glen Johnson
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Comeback Nobody Asked For:
Jeff Lacy
It turned out to be a one-fight comeback for Lacy because journeyman, Dhafir Smith, would beat him decisively in his only 2010 fight. After being soundly beaten by a completely shot Roy Jones Jr. in 2009, why would Lacy even think that there was a market for his return to the sport?
Runners Up: Omar Sheika, William Joppy, Shannon Briggs
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The Avatar All Style, No Substance Award:
Victor Ortiz
He sure looks the part of a superstar crossover fighter and he does have the raw ability. But, somewhere along the way, Ortiz’s mind and soul override his ability and that’s when things get shaky for Golden Boy’s personal Mr. Potato head.
Runners Up: Sergio Mora, Billy Dib
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Scandal of the Year:
Danny Green KO1 Paul Briggs
Billed as some sort of all-Aussie Super Fight, Green-Briggs captured the attention of fight fans in Australia and caught the eye of hardcore fight fans in other parts of the world. The fight itself was a 29-second farce where Briggs would stumble to the canvas after a grazing jab to the top of the head. Green would throw a post-fight tantrum, but later “,after reviewing the tape,” claim that it was a legitimate punch that dropped Briggs. Various agencies and media sources called for an investigation, citing a late influx of bets for Green to KO Briggs in one round. But, like most investigations into boxing’s shady side, nothing has ever been resolved.
Runners Up: The Margarito/Parkinson’s Video and the effort to cover it up, The controversial Hopkins-Pascal draw in Quebec
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Tragedy:
The Edwin Valero Murder/Suicide
Going well beyond the boundaries of the sport, the news of Edwin Valero’s brutal stabbing of his wife, Jennifer Carolina, brought shock and sadness to fans who had been following the volatile lightweight’s career climb. Then, a day later, when the news came that Valero had hanged himself in a jail cell in his native Venezuela, followers of the story received a chilling follow-up. For the full story, click HERE.
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Jekyll and Hyde Inconsistent Performance Award:
Omar Niño Romero
Niño Romero went from a dominant performance against Rodel Mayol for the WBC jr. flyweight title to a sluggish, sloppy loss to journeyman Gilberto Keb Baas– all in the span of about five months.
Runners Up: Devon Alexander, Matthew Macklin, Anthony Peterson
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Worst Pay Per View:
“The Legend Returns”
Throughout the last couple of years, Integrated Sports has been responsible for sending more crap programming into American households than Jerry Springer, but this one set new standards. “The Legend Returns,” featuring Evander Holyfield vs. Frans Botha for the ridiculous WBF heavyweight title is enough of a bad joke, but when the 300 year old “King” Arthur Williams is, by far, the biggest star on the undercard, you know you’re in for a horrible night. Just imagine– Somebody, somewhere paid 30 bucks for this garbage!
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WWE Moment of the Year:
Randall Bailey Launches Said Ouali Out Of The Ring
In a bout where he was well on his way to beating, and likely stopping Ouali, Bailey made the bad decision to lift his rival into the air during a second round clinch and place him on top of the corner turnbuckle. Ouali, with nothing to grab on to, tumbled over the top rope and crashed on to a table at ringside, resulting in a two round No Contest.
Runner Up: Kermit Cintron goes sailing through the ropes vs. Paul Williams
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Piss Or Get Off The Pot:
Matt Remillard
Remillard turned down an offer to fight Celestino Caballero on HBO in favor of Oscar Cuero and has seemed to settle into his role as a regional champ on the Northeast club circuit. Despite an abundance of press releases announcing his goal to take on the world, Remillard is still stuck on the club circuit fighting journeymen.
Runners Up: Alexander Povetkin, Tomasz Adamek, Peter Quillin, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
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The “Hey, That Guy Works At Footlocker” Award:
Rich Power (vs. Tyson Fury 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. Power!
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The Unfortunate Name Award:
Semen Uporov
The staff at The Boxing Tribune has never seen Mr. Uporov fight, but we understand he is one of Kazakhstan’s top prospects and with a name like “Semen,” you know he has to be tough…Just do yourself a favor and don’t try to do a Google image search to find out what he looks like…Yuck!
Runners Up: Elvis Presley, Brad Pitt, Gayrat Ahmedov
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Should’ve Happened:
Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao
Wladimir Klitschko-David Haye
Juan Manuel Lopez-Yuriorkis Gamboa
Andre Berto-Miguel Cotto
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Stick a Fork in ’em, They’re Done:
Cory Spinks, Roy Jones Jr., Jeff Lacy, Audley Harrison, Joel Casamayor, Vivian Harris, Samuel Peter, Enzo Maccarinelli, Jesus Chavez, Emanuel Augustus
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2011 Should Be Their Year:
Brandon Rios, Wilfredo Vazquez Jr., Nonito Donaire, Miguel Angel Garcia, Saul Alvarez, Miguel Vazquez
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From The Staff at The Boxing Tribune:
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