By David Martinez, Boxing Historian
I have assembled personal choices in boxing for THE BEST OF 2010 in the major categories, and they are:
FIGHTER OF THE YEAR: Sergio Martinez
On April 17, Sergio scored an impressive upset victory over Kelly Pavlik to win the WBC / WBO Middleweight Championship. Then on November 20, he avenged a previous loss to Paul Williams with a spectacular second round knockout to retain his middleweight belts.
FIGHT OF THE YEAR: Humberto Soto vs. Urbano Antillon (Dec 14)
This was 12 rounds of toe-to-toe non-stop action and a fight fans dream fight. Soto retained his WBC Lightweight Championship by a close, unanimous decision in this fight for the ages.
Runners Up: Amir Khan vs. Marcos Maidana … Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Michael Katsidis … Carl Froch vs. Mikkel Kessler
ROUND OF THE YEAR: Amir Khan vs. Marcos Maidana / Round 10 (Dec 11)
This fight started off with Khan registering a first round knockdown over Maidana. With Khan ahead on all scorecards going into the 10th round, a desperate Maidana landed a huge right hand to Khan’s jaw. THis buckled Khan’s legs and it appeared he would be knocked out. A vicious right hand followed by a left literally had Khan out on his feet. He weathered the storm to retain his WBA Junior Welterweight title with a unanimous, but close, 12 round decision.
Runners Up: Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Michael Katsidis / Round 3 … Juan Manuel Lopez vs. Bernabe Concepcion / Round 1 … Humberto Soto vs. Urbano Antillon / Round 3
KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR: Sergio Martinez vs. Paul Williams (Nov 20)
Sergio retained his WBC Middleweight title with an overhand left that knocked Paul Williams out cold. This spectacular knockout came early and unexpectedly in the second round. Most boxing fans anticipated another 12 round battle, as in their (2009) first bout.
Runner Up: Juan Manuel Marquez over Michael Katsidis
FIGHTER COMEBACK OF THE YEAR: Glen Johnson
After two losses to Chad Dawson (2008 and 2009) and to Tavoris Cloud (2010), all Light-Heavyweight title fights, 41 year old Johnson was considered by many as little more than a aging trial horse. But, in November, he won an 8th round knockout over favorite Allan Green in a Super Six Super Middleweight tournament bout to resurrect his career.
Runner Up: Bernard Hopkins
FIGHTER PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR: Manny Pacquiao
Manny, the number one pound-for-pound fighter, had two outstanding performances. In a WBO Welterweight title fight on March 13, he shutout a tough Joshua Clottey in 12 rounds. On November 13, he gave up five inches and seventeen pounds to Antonio Margarito in a dominating performance to win the WBC Junior Middleweight Championship, his eighth title in a different weight class.
4 Comments
I am The last (cpbf) Canadian boxing featherweight champion ever!…Congratulations to Sergio Martinez, Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan and all the other good fighters Soto and Glen Johnson…God bless and hold them tight.
To whom it is concerned,
I am Barrington Francis the former World boxing Federation(world champ), Commonwealth champ, NorthAmerican boxing council champ, and Eastern Canadian champ, and the last (cpbf) Canadian boxing featherweight ever! Check my record. If you have a question, Please ask and don’t add to my words!
To whom it may concern (politely),
Now might I add that I was WBF fighter of the year in 1992 & Canadian fighter of the year in 1988. In the dictionary the definition of a champion is, a person who has defeated or surpassed all rivals in a competition. Canada! Barrington Francis as a Canadian boxing featherweight champ, “Barrington Francis” again, for Canada “I AM”.
Mr. David Martinez (boxing historian),
If you are the one responsible for adding to my words (it may be a member of your staff)?, please sir i really don’t approve of such an act. My record speaks for itself i worked very hard towards my accomplihments and titles and need no other person added to my resume. For this reason i believe it was Gods will for me to retire from the boxing ring still a champion for all eternity. Again i hope you had a joyful christmas…Happy 2013! and may you have a prosperous life.
Yours, most respectfully.
The new
Ras.Barrington Francis