IS ANDRE WARD THE FIGHTER OF THE YEAR?
Los Angeles, CA– It’s clear that WBA and WBC super middleweight king and former Olympic Gold Medalist, Andre “SOG” Ward(25-0, 13 KOs), with his complete and utter domination of Englishman Carl “The Cobra” Froch (28-2, 20 KOs) earns the honor for 2011 Fighter of the Year. Andre Ward took Carl to school on the inside and outside in a bout that the Englishman would have been lucky to win two rounds. Ward landed just about every punch in the playbook, however two of the judges whom I will name later, kept the fight so close it was possible that the outcome of the Super Six World Boxing Classic, the 168lb tournament that took about 2 1/2 years to complete would have turned out inconclusive.
PROBE NEEDS TO BE LAUNCHED
Two of the judges had it an eye opening 115-113, a scorecard that was out of the realm of possibility. Their attempts to swing the fight the other way needs to be looked at. Ward took home the trophy and solidified himself as one of the top “pound for pound” fighters in boxing with last nights victory, and his one sided annihilation of Arthur Abraham earlier in the year.
SHOULD WARD “SHARE” FIGHTER OF THE YEAR HONORS WITH GENARO HERNANDEZ
The other fighter who deserves this award, was not only a great fighter in the ring but outside of it.
2011 Fighter of the Year
Genaro Hernandez who ended a stellar career in 1998 with a record of 38 wins, 2 defeats, and one draw, was a two time champion at 130 lbs, and while he was a great professional prizefighter, “El Chicanito” was also remembered as a boxing analyst on many Top Rank shows, as well as working for CompuBox as a punch counter. But even more for being a great human being. A fighter until the end, Hernandez unfortunately succumbed to a long battle with cancer this year. While I did not know him personally, he is a special part of the Ringtalk.com family, and even while sick, he would never turn down the opportunity to appear on our weekly radio show. An extrordinary, husband, father and human being who deserves to be recognized and not forgotten.
THE TREND CONTINUES…BAD OFFICIATING & BAD JUDGING
WORST JUDGES: John Stewart, Craig Metcalfe– Both scored Froch vs Ward 115-113 in favor of Ward (7-5 in rounds), in a bout where Froch won probably two rounds. The fight was practically a shutout. I think an investigation is warranted.
Donald Givens, Hilton Whitaker, Al Bennett-Givens and Whitaker both scored Erislandy Lara(15-1, 10 KOs) vs Paul Williams(40-2, 27 KOs) in favor of Williams in a bout where Williams’ head was a tetherball for Lara’s overhand lefts. Bennett had the fight even, also unthinkable. At least all three judges received suspension. All of the judges mentioned here were appointed fights in New Jersey. Coincidence?
WORST REFEREE Of 2011 WE NEED LESS OF
Russell Mora– Mora basically ignored Abner “Low Blow” Mares (23-0-1, 13 KOs) shots below he belt in his battle with Joseph Agbeko (28-4, 22 KOs), damaging blows that were consistent throughout the rounds of their twelve round battle for the IBF bantamweight(118lb) title. In round 11, Mares landed a vicious low blow that put Agbeko down, and although Mora was in perfect position to see the obvious infraction, started counting. A round that Agbeko was clearly winning turned into a three point swing and a 10-8 round for the Mexican. To make it worse, in his post fight interview he refused to accept responsibility for missing the call. Another jerk who doesn’t deserve big assignments.
EXAMPLE # 2 OF NO NEED FOR MORA
In my mind, his thoughtfulness, I call it stupidity, in the Nonito Donaire one-punch KO over Fernando Montiel in February was harrowing for fans watching and Montiel himself, this after watching leg his twitch as he lay prone apparently concussed. He somehow beat the count and Mora allowed him to take a number of additional blows,
KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR
Nonito Donaire’s (27-1, 18 KOs) aforementioned second round knockout of Fernando Montiel(46-4-2, 36 KOs) to unify the WBC and WBO bantamweight( 118) titles.
-Kevin Perry