2010 IN BOXING FROM THE FRIGID “BIG APPLE”
New York, NY– The new millennium has produced some of the most incredible action the great sport of boxing has ever seen. History making epics such as the Arturo Gatti-Mickey Ward trilogy, instant classics like the Israel Vazquez/Rafael Marquez saga, accompanied with the buzz created from international superstar pugilists such as; Marco Antonio Barrera, Joe Calazaghe, Joel Casamayor, Jose Luis Castillo, Diego Corrales, Miguel Cotto, Juan Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Vernon Forrest, Carl Froch, Naseem Hamed, Ricky Hatton, Evander Holyfield, Bernard Hopkins, Glen Johnson, Roy Jones Jr., Zab Judah, Vitali Klitishcko, Wladimir Klitishcko, Juan Manuel Lopez, Lennox Lewis, Sergio Martinez, Juan Manuel Marquez, Floyd Mayweather, Erik Morales, Shane Mosley, Manny Pacquiao, Kelly Pavlik, Antonio Tarver, Jermain Taylor, James Toney, Felix Trinidad, Kostya Tszyu, Mike Tyson, Fernando Vargas, Andre Ward, and Paul Williams, (regardless of future endeavors, outcome or controversy) have propelled extravagant events and intense battles of epic proportions over the past ten years. Despite starting off the year in lackluster fashion, 2010 produced some tremendous moments and is a year worthy of closing out a memorable and pivotal decade in the sport. Below is my opinionated list for the “Best of the year for 2010.”
Fight of The Year: Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Michael Katsidis (W Marquez TKO 9)
Honorable Mentions: Juan Manuel Lopez vs. Bernabe Concepcion (W Lopez TKO 2)
Marcos Maidana vs. Amir Khan (W Khan UD 12)
Humberto Soto vs. Urbano Antillon (W Soto UD 12)
Carl Froch vs. Mikkel Kessler (W Froch UD 12)
Juan Manuel Lopez vs. Rafael Marquez ( W Lopez TKO 8 )
Juan Marquez vs. Israel Vazquez (W Marquez TKO 3)
Knockout of the year: Sergio Martinez KO 2 Paul Williams
Honorable Mentions: Daniel Ponce De Leon KO 3 Antonio Escalante
Randall Bailey TKO 1 Jackson Bonsu
Ed Paredes KO 2 Joey Hernandez
Saul Alvarez KO 6 Carlos Baldomir
Freddie Hernandez KO 5 De Marcus Corley
Nonito Donaire KO 4 Volodymyr Sydorenk
Round of The Year:
Juan Manuel Lopez vs. Bernabe Concepcion round 1
Honorable Mentions:
Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Michael Katsidis round 3
Marcos Maidana vs. Amir Khan round 10
Performance of the year:
Carl Froch vs. Arthur Abraham (W Froch UD 12)
Prospect: Saul Alvarez
Upset: No fight between Manny Pacquaio and Floyd Mayweather
Comeback: Glen Johnson
Decline: Kelly Pavilk
Event: Manny Pacquiao vs. Antonio Margarito
Trainer: Freddie Roach
Network: HBO
Top 12 ‘Pound for Pound’:
1. Manny Pacquaio (52-3-2, 38 KOs)
2. Floyd Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs)
3. Juan Manuel Marquez (52-5-1, 38 KOs)
4. Sergio Martinez (46-2-2, 25 KOs)
5. Miguel Cotto (35-2, 28 KOs)
6. Juan Manuel Lopez (30-0, 27 KOs)
7. Rafael Marquez (39-6, 35 KOs)
8. Paul Williams (39-2, 27 KOs)
9. Lucian Bute (27-0, 22 KOs)
10. Vitali Klitschko (41-2, 38 KOs)
11. Wladimir Klitschko (55-3, 49 KOs)
12. Nonito Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs)
Fighter of the year:
Manny Pacquiao (2-0, in ’10)
SPORT KEPT GOING SANS SHUNNED PACQUIAO/MAYWEATHER MEGA FIGHT
Despite the disappointment of the highly anticipated contest between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather being cancelled and put on the shelf, boxing survived saving a rather dismal year by putting on big shows in the last quarter that displayed the type of artistic warfare that personifies the bravado of boxing. Riding the momentum of its previously showcased storm of entertainment; 2011 looks to be an even bigger year for the sport. Stay tuned!
John Signorella