Solid list and winners, except that Vitali was the Comeback of the Decade, De La Hoya-Mayweather should be the Event of the Decade, and Joan Guzman should be the Underachiever of the Decade.
It's a shamed you never got the chance to vote on this was Hector. But I'll tell you this, the end of year awards will be coming soon and I hope to make some adjustments to the presentation and whatnot of this list. I enjoyed doing this. As soon as the final "big fight" of the November/December calendar is over we'll get a list out.
1. Bernard Hopkins post Jermain Taylor (2005 onwards; LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT)
When Bernard Hopkins was controversially beaten by Jermain Taylor, the public called for a rematch. When Bernard Hopkins was beaten again, the public called for retirement. Hopkins never even considered it, instead he jumped 15lbs to take on the #1 light-heavyweight fighter in the world, Antonio Tarver. Hopkins preceded to hand Tarver the most dominant defeat of his career, teaching him a lesson in the art of boxing and crowning himself as the new #1 light-heavyweight in the world. He followed it up with a victory over Winky Wright and then took on the #1 super-middleweight in the world, Joe Calzaghe. B-Hop was beaten via a close split decision to Joe Calzaghe and once again faced calls for his retirement. Hopkins once again refused to listen, instead taking on the #1 middleweight fighter in the world, Kelly Pavlik. Hopkins was supposed to lose to the stronger, younger, fresher Pavlik but Hopkins had other ideas. He took Pavlik through the most painful and degrading 36 minutes of his life, teaching “The Ghost” a lesson in the sport of boxing. They say it takes a true champion to come back from a loss and Hopkins has come back from 5 of them.
RUNNER UP: VITALI KLITSCHKO POST-RETIREMENT.
EVENT OF THE DECADE (2000-2009)
1. Mike Tyson vs. Lennox Lewis (JUNE 8, 2002; HEAVYWEIGHT)
Quite simply the most heavily anticipated fight in years. Mike Tyson, the youngest heavyweight champion of all time, the explosive knockout king who tore through everybody in his path during the 80s. Lennox Lewis, the humble boxer who felt he never got the recognition he deserved. For years the fight had been talked about but it never materialized. Tyson refused to fight Lewis in 1996, Lewis got KO’d by Hasim Rahman preventing the fight from happening a year earlier, legal and financial problems prevented the fight from happening in the later part of the 90s. It was as if the two were just never destined to meet. In early 2002, they finally did agree to meet and the stage was set for the biggest heavyweight fight in history. The build-up to the fight was simply immense. Press conference brawls, controversy, talk of camp unrest, real animosity between the fights, boxing licenses being refused, cities bidding against one another to host the fight. Wherever you were, you knew that Tyson and Lewis were going to fight. Opinion was split… the purists knew the ageing Tyson never stood a chance whilst casuals felt that if Rahman could do it – then so could Mike! When all was said and done, Lewis dished out a one sided beating for 8 rounds before landing the knockout punch that solidified his legacy as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. The fight may not have been a classic, but the event sure was.
RUNNER UP: FLOYD MAYWEATHER, JR. VS OSCAR DE LA HOYA
PUNCHER OF THE DECADE (2000-2009)
1. MANNY ‘the pacman’ PACQUIAO
It’s pretty difficult to argue against Pacquiao as puncher of this decade. Pacquiao started this decade with a KO victory at 119lbs. He’s ended this decade with a TKO victory at 147lbs. He’s had 26 fights this decade, compiling a record of 23-1-2 with 21 wins coming by way of knockout against some of the sports modern day greats. Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya as well as KO victories over some of the sports top contenders, such as; Jorge Solis, David Diaz, Lehlohonolo Ledwaba, Jorge Julio, Fahsan 3K Battery and Hector Velasquez. Only Oscar Larios and Juan Manuel Marquez went the distance and lost. Erik Morales went the distance and picked up a sound decision victory. Nonetheless, there is a roll call of champions from the super bantamweight division right through to the welterweight division and only three of them managed to see the final bell against Manny Pacquiao in 26 fights.
RUNNER UP: EDWIN VALERO & SHANE MOSLEY (TIE)
OVERACHIEVER OF THE DECADE (2000-2009)
1. CARLOS ‘tata’ MANUEL BALDOMIR
Few could argue with the choice of Baldomir. Few have gone onto achieve so much in the sport of boxing on such a limited skills set. He entered the decade with a record of 29-9-4 (8 KOS), hardly the stuff of champions. He didn’t look like a spectacular boxer, or even an average one. He didn’t have the one punch KO power to turn a fight around so you could wonder what he had going for him. Well, for all the things he lacked he made up for it with sheer heart, determination and a granite chin. A tainted DQ victory over Joshua Clottey at the end of the 90s sent him into the current decade with some hope. Victories over journeymen and two draws brought him into the mid stages of the decade, still no championship shot in sight until a victory over Alpaslan Aguzum sent him into a WBC welterweight title eliminator with Miguel Angel Rodriguez. Baldomir was the underdog, but he fought his way to a unanimous decision and now had a shot at superstardom against the heavily favoured yet inconsistent Zab Judah. Baldomir entered the ring with a record of 41-9-6 (12 KOS), he left the ring with an improved record of 42-9-6 (12 KOS) when he upset the heavy favourite and shocked the boxing world to become WBC welterweight champion of the world. Not content to sit on his laurels, Baldomir fought and stopped one of boxings toughest fighter, the warrior Arturo “thunder” Gatti to retain his crown. Had the man paid his WBA sanctioning fees, he’d have been a unified welterweight champion of the world. A man with the limit skill set of Baldomir achieved a lot more than perhaps he should have, but take nothing away from his accomplishments because he did it his way and he never stopped fighting.
RUNNER UP: RICARDO MAYORGA
Pacquiao is the best Filipino boxer ever. Stronger and Fast puncher of the decade. But the best of the best between the undefeated Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is the most awaited fight ever. Pacquiao vs Mayweather is the most people want to watch.
Pacquiao is the best Filipino boxer ever. Stronger and Fast puncher of the decade. But the best of the best between the undefeated Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is the most awaited fight ever. Pacquiao vs Mayweather is the most people want to watch.
In the world of boxing, Khan and Peterson will face inside the ring on December 10, 2011, we will find out who will be the next, Enjoy watching boxing.
BoxingForum.com END OF DECADE AWARDS! THE RESULTS!
Linear Mode
