Bernard Dunne
photo courtesy
David Martinez
private collection
By David Martinez / Boxing Historian
 
 
I have assembled my personal choices in boxing for THE BEST OF 2009 in the major categories, which are:
 
 
FIGHTER OF THE YEAR:
Manny Pacquiao, who won his two “super” fights in 2009, Ricky Hatton (May 2) and Miguel Cotto (Nov 14). Pacquiao was my pick last year and no different this year and by far boxings best “pound for pound” boxer.
 
FIGHT OF THE YEAR:
Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Juan Diaz (Feb 28) WBA / WBO Lightweight Championship. The fight was anybody’s heading into the ninth round, with one scorecard even and each fighter by two points on one of the others, before Marquez wins by knockout in that round.
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By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

This past weekend, I witnessed simply the best lightweight championship fight I have seen since Corrales vs. Castillo, May 7, 2005; and certainly this is my fight of the year thus far for 2009.

Juan Manuel Marquez scored a spectacular 9th round knockout over Juan Diaz to win the vacant WBA and WBO titles, and retained his lineal and Ring Magazine championship belt.
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By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

I spoke to many boxing experts prior to the recent Bernard Hopkins vs. Kelly Pavlik light heavyweight fight and the answer to my question who would win – was the same … the undefeated middleweight champion Pavlik will win!

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By David Martinez / Boxing Historian
Photos – George Garcia

This past Saturday night at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, and for the millions watching on HBO/PPV, we were treated to a terrific fight between the two best welterweights in boxing today – Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito.

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By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

On Saturday night, April 19, 2008, in a much anticipated fight, unbeaten and Super Middleweight champion, Joe Calzaghe, made his debut in the United States by stepping up to light-heavyweight to challenge the crafty 43 year-old champion, Bernard Hopkins.

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By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

This past weekend proved to be another exciting and unpredictable weekend in boxing, as I personally picked two of the top three fights correctly. However, I was dead wrong with Nate Campbell’s upset split decision win over previously unbeaten Juan “The Baby Bull” Diaz.

Samuel Peter photo by George Garcia

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By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

This past weekend Showtime scored a big knockout with two outstanding fights shown on “live” home television.

On Friday evening, February 29, from Lemoore, California, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero was at his peak performance in successfully defending his IBF Featherweight Championship with an electrifying eighth round knockout over top contender Jason Litzau.

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By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

Now that the Floyd Mayweather vs. Ricky Hatton welterweight title fight is well behind us, let me respond to the many that have contacted me and have asked me for my post fight input.

Frankly, I thought the fight was one sided, and I had Mayweather winning every round but two. So when the 10th round knockout came, Floyd was comfortably well ahead on points – on my card.

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