The BoxRec News Awards of 2009
BoxRec News correspondent Greg Paterson plays compere to the inaugural BoxRec News awards...
Boxing is looking bright for the new decade as 2009 comes to a close. This year promised a lot of success for British boxing. Undisputed cruiserweight champion David Haye moving up to heavyweight; Froch taking the WBC super-middleweight title; Ricky Hatton sitting atop of the light-welterweights once again; Rendall Munroe controlling the European super-bantamweight title; as well as lots of other prospects.
The year delivered on these promises but had a lot of up and downs on the way. At the end of the year we have had David Haye crowned WBA heavyweight champion; Froch entering the Super Six Tournament and getting off to a winning start; Rendall Munroe on the verge of a world title tilt; Jason Booth becoming mandatory challenger for the European super-bantamweight title; Amir Khan capturing and successfully defending his WBA light-welterweight title; among other things.
Boxrec News' writers have compiled a list of awards and deemed who we think are the most worthy recipients.
British Fighter of the Year – Carl Froch
Having captured his WBC title late in 2008 he sought out the toughest challenges and looked to establish himself as the best in the world. In April, Froch travelled to Jermain Taylor’s hometown to make his first defence, after getting outboxed and dropped early Froch turned it on at the end and showed champion’s class by taking out Taylor with 14 seconds remaining in the fight. Seeking yet more challenges Froch entered the Super Six tournament. With a hard first round draw against the talented but untested Andre Dirrel, again Froch showed his championship will as he eked out a close split decision win. With this victory, Froch is in a great position to go through to the semi-finals but he has a tough next fight against Mikkel Kessler. With his hard work ethic, exciting style and desire to be the best Froch is the worthy recipient of the award.
British Fight of the Year – Ryan Rhodes vs Jamie Moore
With many great fights happening in 2009 this was a hotly contested award, but this fight was our writers' pick. In a fight that had been well anticipated since the start of the year – this (photo right and below by Chris Royle) was between the two best light-middleweights in the country who both were nearing a world title shot. A risky fight for both to take but it just confirmed to the fans how willing both were to prove their worth and mettle by testing each other, and both men should be applauded for taking such a match up. Rhodes had given up his British title to focus on a world title shot and Moore, European champion, the bout had high stakes. For both men a win would propel them to their dream world title fight but a loss would effectively end their hopes of a world title tilt.
The fight started with Moore showing a relentless pace and did not seem to let up while Rhodes landed classy counters but just could not keep Moore off. Rhodes had a bit of success in the fifth before Moore coming roaring back in the sixth. With Moore in seeming control of the fight a short right in the seventh round that dropped Moore came as a huge shock and suddenly Rhodes looked on the verge of victory. Moore seemed to recover quickly and turned his pressure up a few notches as Rhodes unloaded on him. At the end of the round a huge shot from Rhodes spun Moore round and a follow up flurry forced the referee to stop the fight. With Rhodes on the verge of a world title shot and Moore moving up to middleweight the future is varied but interesting for these two warriors.
British Young Fighter of the Year – Nathan Cleverly
(N.B. Fighters aged under 22 on 01.01.09) The young Welsh boxer started out his career with the Calzaghe stable where he was proclaimed the ‘Next Calzaghe’. Today he looks to be living up to those expectations but he is making his own mark in the boxing world. The young man from Cefn Forest is the proud owner of the British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight titles. With only 18 pro fights many are tipping this man to be a future world champion and he certainly has the talent. This year has seen a real progression from boy to man for Cleverly as he has become physically stronger and won some great fights domestically. His four fights this year have all ended early as his punching power has increased.
The year started off good for Cleverly as he defended his Commonwealth title with a first round stoppage over Samson Onyango. A second round stoppage over the tough Billy Boyle sent waves around the British fight scene. In his next fight he claimed the vacant British title as he thoroughly dominated the brave and touted Danny McIntosh for seven rounds before stopping him. And in his last fight boxed patiently for a seven rounds before stopping Courtney Fry in the eight. Cleverly really has showed his class this year and is a deserving winner.
British Upset of the Year – Ryan Rhodes vs Jamie Moore
A double award for this great bout. With Moore the defending European champion and many thinking Rhodes was ‘past it’, Moore was the logical favorite, expected by many to grind down the veteran Rhodes and stop him late.
However, Rhodes forgot his role in the act and sensationally stopped Moore. Despite not being the biggest underdog to win a fight this year – that being Tom Glover when he beat Jon Thaxton – it was more the manner of his victory as Moore was seemingly wearing Rhodes down and taking command of the fight.
International Fighter of the Year – Manny Pacquiao
The Filipino sensation has taking the world by storm this year. With his blistering performances and charming personality you can understand why. At this moment Pacquiao is considered the pound-for-pound best boxer on the planet, and you can see why as a former world flyweight champion now competing and beating welterweight title holders. Riding high from last year with his upset win over Oscar De La Hoya, Pacquiao fought our very own Ricky Hatton, for the highly prestigious Ring Magazinelight-welterweight world title. Many felt Hatton could pose Pacquiao some problems but Pacquiao hastily proved these people wrong as he dropped Hatton twice in the first before knocking him out cold in the second round.
After the massive victory over Hatton he fought the teak tough Miguel Cotto for the WBO welterweight title. Again many people doubted the ‘Pacman’ calling him ‘too small’ or thinking Cotto had the style and intensity to prove the downfall in the Filipino fighter’s ambitions. Again people were proved wrong as Pacquiao thoroughly dominated Cotto, dropping him two times before stopping him in the twelfth, in a performance worthy of an all-time great.
Right now, Manny stands on the threshold of greatness his place in history has been secured but he is still in his prime and has the potential to become one of the ‘Gods of War’, one of the top ten boxers of all-time. Let’s see if his fight with Mayweather happen and that is one more step on the road to eternal greatness.
International Fight of the Year – Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto
The greatest performance by one fighter since Roy Jones Jr out sped and out boxed John Ruiz to win the WBA heavyweight title, and Manny was every bit as flawless. With what appeared to be a very tough fight for Pacquiao due to his size disadvantage and the style of Cotto really brought out the best in the little man from General Santos City. Pacquiao was instilled as a slight favourite but many experts thought the move to welterweight was a bridge too far for Manny and Cotto was a very determined and strong opponent to face.
The fight started cautiously as Cotto looked to out box Pacquiao and give him some tactical problems. The early success of Cotto was soon thwarted as Pacquiao put him down in the third and fourth rounds and the tide had changed. What followed was a relentless pounding as Manny showed his full armoury of skills as he let the artillery loose and battered the brave but out gunned Cotto. After the eleventh round Cotto wanted to quit in his corner but he went out for the twelfth full of pride and with the crowd admiring his courage but Pacquiao showing ruthlessness and the finishing instinct ,that makes fighters great, forced a stoppage. A great fight and a great night for a great fighter.
With Pacquiao as explained in another section is on the verge of greatness, Cotto is at the door to the wilderness as he struggles to keep his place among the packed Welterweight weight class.
Well, that concludes the 2009 votes from the BoxRec News jury and we offer our thanks and congratulations to all the winners.
