Burns and Groves head BoxRec News' awards for the second consecutive year
Coatbridge’s Ricky Burns has been voted BoxRec News’ Boxer of the Year 2011 – a repeat of his victory in the same category last year.
In 2010, Burns (pictured left with fellow 2011 winner Kevin Mitchell) narrowly pipped Carl Froch and Amir Khan but this year he won easily, picking up almost half the votes cast by BoxRec News’ writers.
As in 2010, the Scot has had two relatively easy wins and one stand out performance against a man who was widely expected to beat him. Last year the lesser opposition came in the form of Youssef Al Hamidi and Andreas Evensen and in between was a hard fought points victory over Roman Martinez. This year he smashed Joseph Laryea and Nicky Cook before an outstanding boxing performance secured him a points win over Aussie warrior Michael Katsidis.
An even easier winner than ‘The Rickster’ was George Groves in the Young Boxer of the Year category (must be 23 or under on 31/12/11) – an award he also won in 2010.
Last year he picked up the Commonwealth belt and defended it against Kenny Anderson; in 2011 he did even better by halting Daniel Allotey in a make time fight before pipping James DeGale over the distance in a highly anticipated chess match of a double title fight (Groves’ Commonwealth and DeGale’s British). ‘Saint’ George then halted tough Scouser Paul Smith in two.
Kevin Mitchell’s high-octane eighth round stoppage of brave John Murray in July won our Fight of the Year. The showdown was officially for the vacant WBO Inter-continental lightweight title but few will remember that in the future – unlike the fight itself.
Talented Mitchell was coming off a one-sided loss against the aforementioned Katsidis whilst Murray was then still unbeaten at 31-0. Many pundits thought the tough Mancunian might be outboxed in the early stages before walking his opponent down but Mitchell put in a career-best performance to halt Murray and begin what will hopefully be his path to world title honours – he proved in this match that he has great skills and heart to match.
Andre Ward only boxed twice in 2011 but his dominant, back to back performances against two world class operators in Arthur Abraham and Carl Froch was enough to convince our writers that he should win the International Boxer of the Year. ‘Son of God’ barely put a foot wrong against either fighter and is a worthy winner.
Miguel Cotto’s redemptive beating of disgraced Antonio Margarito topped the votes for our International Fight of the Year. There was a widespread feeling of goodwill towards the Puerto Rican for this fight after he was subjected to an eleventh round stoppage by the Mexican in 2008. Of course, Margarito was then banned from the sport after he was spotted in the changing rooms prior to a subsequent fight with a plaster of paris type substance in his hand wraps. It can never be proved that ‘Margacheato’ had benefited from this outrageous and potentially fatal breach of the rules but many fans felt he should never have been re-licensed which might have increased the enjoyment felt when Cotto forced his opponent to retire at the start of the tenth round.
Upset of the Year was Amir Khan’s loss in Washington DC to home town hero Lamont Peterson. Khan was a 1/14 favourite with the British bookies and most observers seemed to feel this was a stepping stone to a genuine mega-fight for the Bolton man. Peterson had other ideas and put in a courageous performance to win a split points verdict. Khan is disputing the decision and has lodged appeals with both the WBA and IBF.
BoxRec News Awards 2011
Boxer of the Year – Ricky Burns
Young Boxer of the Year – George Groves (Must be 23 or under on 31/12/2010)
Fight of the Year – Kevin Mitchell WRSF8 John Murray (Fights between two Brits)
Upset of the Year – Amir Khan LPTS Lamont Peterson (Fight must include a Brit)
International Fighter of the Year – Andre Ward
International Fight of the Year – Miguel Cotto WRTD10 Antonio Margarito
