Fight of the Year: Amir Khan UD12 Marcos Maidana
For the last year and a half, boxing scribes were accusing “glass chinned” Amir Khan of ducking dynamite fisted Marcos Maidana. Khan, the WBA Junior Welterweight titleholder, had been viciously stopped a few years back in less than a minute by unknown Breidis Prescott. Naturally, Khan and his handlers took their time before risking a fight with the dangerous Maidana.
The wait turned out to be well worth it.
Last month, Khan and Maidana produced a twelve round thriller packed with non-stop action. Khan appeared close to scoring a knockdown in the opening round after a monstrous body shot, but Maidana battled back valiantly, showing tremendous heart and grit. Both fighters were hurt during this twelve round warfare and Maidana came close to turning the tides down the stretch. Khan managed to whether the storm and finished strong in the twelfth round of a bout that had the boxing world buzzing.
Fighter of the Year: Sergio Martinez
Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez went from being a junior middleweight known mostly for holding one of the many available championship belts to the sport’s newest superstar in 2010. In a matter of twelve months – less than that technically – Martinez won the middleweight title by slicing up Kelly Pavlik and scored one of the best knockouts in recent memory, dramatically stopping a top five pound for pound in Paul Williams. Maravilla’s 2010 was a treat for boxing fans to say the least!
Prospect of the Year: Saul Alvarez:
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is being billed as the next great fighter in a country that has produced hundreds of boxing greats and rightfully so.
He’s already 36-0 as a professional, beat two former world champions, multiple contenders and is only getting better. In 2010, Alvarez defeated Brian Camechis, Jose Cotto, Luciano Cuello, Carlos Baldomir (viciously knocking out the iron chinned Argentinean) and Lovemore N’dou.
Although he is not legally allowed to drink in the United States, Alvarez has many people sipping the kool-aid after defeating 5 solid opponents with a combined record of 169-27-9 record this pat year. Alvarez is definitely on the fast track to becoming a future pound for pound superstar.
Trainer of the Year: Gabriel Sarmiento
Trainer of the Year could once again go to Freddie Roach, but since it’s so close, Gabriel Sarmiento gets it for a change of pace.
Sarmiento had a marvelous year, guiding the Fighter of the Year, Sergio Martinez to two marquee victories, and in doing so, capturing and retaining the WBC and Ring Magazine middleweight championships.
Days before his fighter’s Nov. 20 rematch with Paul Williams, Sarmiento couldn’t sleep, he had noticed flaws in William’s game. He called Martinez and two days before the fight their entire game plan was scrapped, a new one implemented.
Martinez will move to his right and throw a looping overhand left. Williams won’t see it coming.
That was the plan. That was what happened.
Three times in the bout, the third being the KO, Martinez moves his body to the right, while a looping left hand trails. About 20 seconds before the final left hand lands on Williams chin, Martinez lands the exact same punch. Only difference was Williams saw the first one and took it well.
He didn’t see the Knockout Punch of the Year, though. For his guidance of Martinez, Sarmiento earns Trainer of the Year.
Sarmiento also works with Lucas Matthysse, who almost upset Zab Judah in November. He is also the primary trainer of up and coming Dominican prospect, Javier Fortuna, who scored a scary one-punch KO a-la Martinez only one week after the Martinez-Williams rematch.
Story — Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather unable to agree on terms:
When two sides have to split up $60-80 million dollars 50/50, there shouldn’t be much to bicker over. Boxers can only fight on for a certain number of years so why not go for the most money, especially if it’s a fight the entire world is salivating over?
Here’s the shortest possible explanation; Olympic style drug testing and arrogance.
Between Pacquiao’s refusal to take the strictest possible drug tests and Mayweather’s attitude along with his out of the ring issues, the biggest fight of 2010 never happened. Mayweather is currently facing a number of criminal charges and could end up in jail while Pacquiao is fighting on in bouts few care to see him in.
If the two never manage to meet in the ring regardless of circumstances, drug tests or jail time, it will severely hurt the great sport of boxing.
Fight we want to see in 201 besides Pacquiao-Mayweather: (Tie)—Andre Ward- Lucian Bute & Juan Manuel Lopez-Yuriorkis Gamboa
Since it doesn’t look like we’ll witness a match up between the two best fighters in the world (see above), it’d sure be great to see bouts between undefeated world champions that are in their prime and at the top of their weight class.
Andre Ward, the WBA Super Middleweight champion, is likely gong to win the coveted Super Six Tournament. He was a 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and is quickly moving his way onto pound for pound lists. He has few if any flaws and is yet to miss a beat. Bute, like Ward, has a super middleweight title (IBF) and never suffered a loss as a pro. Bute has good skills, massive drawing power in his adopted home country of Canada and US fans have quickly taken an interest in his career.
In addition to being one of the most notable fights possible, the Ward-Bute winner would become a megastar.
A Gamboa-Lopez fight has been discussed during the last year or so and understandably so. Both fighters have solid punching power, dynamic skills, excellent toughness, are relatively young and the backing of premium cable networks. Much like in a potential Ward-Bute fight, the winner in this bout would definitely become a big time star.
Upset of the Year: Jason Litzau SD10 Celestino Caballero
Celestino Caballero fought his way off of many top ten pound-for-pound lists when he dropped a split decision to Jason Litzau.
In the weeks leading up to his fight with Litzau, the lanky Panamanian was seemingly consumed with making YouTube videos taunting JuanMa Lopez. He called him a “chicken” and told him that he has “no heart.” His lack of focus showed during the fight — as he seemed even more awkward as usual (if that’s possible) and didn’t seemed prepared for someone close to his height. The fight on the whole reflects poorly on both Caballero and his trainer, Jeff Mayweather.
Litzau was coming off a nice string of victories, included one against Rocky Juarez, and he was able to keep his momentum rolling when he scored a split decision victory of Caballero. Scores were 96-94, Caballero and 96-94, 97-93 Litzau.
All things considered, this was not a fight Caballero should have lost. As Larry Merchant pointed out in the HBO broadcast, Caballero was a 13-1 favorite.
Fighter Most Likely to Have a Breakout Year in 2011: David Lemieux
Canadian power puncher David Lemieux is quickly becoming a name in boxing. He’s stopped 24 of his 25 opponents, is already a draw in his home country and has a style made for television. Much like Alvarez, the 22 year old Lemieux is taking steps in the right direction, having defeated respected opponents in Walid Smichet, Elvin Ayala and Hector Camacho Jr. With another solid victory or two, Lemieux should become a fighter on every fan’s radar.
Kyle Kinder contributed to this article
