Philippines, 18 Jul 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Split-T Management Hits Grand Slam With Four BWAA Awards

PhilBoxing.com





Teofimo Lopez - Fighter of the Year
David McWater - Manager of the Year
Ivan Baranchyk involved in Fight of the Year
Teofimo Lopez Sr. - Trainer of the Year

NEW YORK (January 22, 2021) - Split-T Management was awarded the highest honors in the sport, solidifying itself as the premiere management organization by sweeping all of the major awards in an announcement by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) today.

Undisputed Lightweight World Champion Teofimo Lopez took home the coveted Fighter of the Year; Split-T Management CEO David McWater was named Manager of the Year; Ivan Baranchyk took part in the Fight of the Year, and Teofimo Lopez Sr. was named Trainer of the Year.

Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs) took his honors on the strength of his sensational performance on October 17th when he added the WBC Franchise, WBA and WBO Lightweight titles to his IBF Championship. The win by Lopez further exemplified that Split-T Management is one of the most powerful entities in boxing as it now handles one of the top Pound-for-Pound fighters in the sport.

“I’m very appreciative of this,” Lopez said. “It’s been a long journey and this is just the beginning. What I can say is this is a true big win for us. It’s surreal. Sometimes I still think this is a dream for us, but we turned that dream into reality.

“When I look down on the list of past BWAA Fighter of the Year award winners, they are all in the Hall of Fame, or going into the Hall of Fame. Now I’m a part of that group and that history. It’s something no one can take away from me. And there is so much more that we will accomplish.”

Under McWater, Split-T outperformed the industry in 2020, featuring its fighters in 40% of the bouts it had participated in the year prior (the industry average was 13%). Split-T Management fighters amassed a record of 44-6-1, winning four world titles that included Lopez, Kali Reis, Raquel Miller and Christina Linardatou as well as four more regional titles, with fights televised or streamed on all of the major boxing platforms such as ESPN/ESPN+, SHOWTIME, DAZN, NBC Sports and FOX. Other Split-T boxers, such as Charles Conwell, Brian Ceballo, Abraham Nova, Stephan Shaw and Janelson Bocachica continued their rise in the sport from prospects to bonafide contenders.

“Getting this award is pretty exciting and very vindicating,” McWater said. “It involved a lot of hard work, and it’s especially sweet because I felt last year Keith Connolly (the 2019 BWAA Manager of the Year) deserved it so much, which I felt gave the award more credibility than in the past.

“It’s a tribute to our whole company at Split-T. Everyone at Split-T has so much to be grateful about for Teofimo and his father. Their awards couldn’t be more deserving.”

Baranchyk's October 3rd eight-knockdown thriller with Jose Zepeda was broadcasted on ESPN+ had fans in awe in one of the most exciting and sensational back-and-forth fights in recent memory. Baranchyk displayed both the renowned heart and tenacity that has made him beloved by fans.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by the BWAA as a participant in the Fight of the Year,” said Baranchyk. “I only watched the bout once so I can fix my mistakes and come back stronger for my next fight, which I would love to be a rematch with Jose - something I know the fans would also want.”

Lopez Sr. made good on his prediction of his son defeating the highly acclaimed Lomachenko. Lopez Sr. was magnificent in devising a game plan for which his son carried out almost flawlessly in the October 17th bout.

“I never expected this,” Lopez Sr. said. “This is a tribute to all of the hard work that we put in. I was thinking about my son. I wasn’t thinking about any awards, so to get this from the BWAA makes me a part of history and I’ll be in the boxing books forever. It’s a great honor and I don’t plan on letting anyone down.”




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Diego Pacheco and Immanuwel Aleem Tip Scales for Carson Showdown
    , Sat, 18 Jul 2026
  • Weights From ‘Flores vs. Navarro’ and 'Suarez vs Avila' at NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, CA &  Live on ProBoxTV
    , Sat, 18 Jul 2026
  • Tickets on Sale Now for Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Damian Knyba at Prudential Center, Newark, NJ on Sept 4 – Live on TNT and DAZN
    , Sat, 18 Jul 2026
  • Golden Boy Promotions and Vergil Ortiz Jr. Reach Settlement, Focus on Biggest Fights Ahead
    , Sat, 18 Jul 2026
  • Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Blu Girls Pull Off Stunning Comeback Against World No 3 Puerto Rico, Split Doubleheader in Lima
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 17 Jul 2026
  • "Pipino" Cuevas: 50 Years as Mexico's Youngest World Champion
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 17 Jul 2026
  • IBA Secretary General & CEO, Chris Roberts OBE: Regulation is how IBA pave the way forward for Bare-Knuckle Boxing
    , Fri, 17 Jul 2026
  • EVERY WORD FROM THE FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE FOR PACHECO VS. ALEEM IN CARSON, CALIFORNIA
    , Fri, 17 Jul 2026
  • WBO Youth Champion Esteban Garson Signs Agreement with Tuto Zabala Jr.'s All Star Boxing, Inc.
    , Fri, 17 Jul 2026
  • Wheels and Waves 2026 at August 8 & 9 in Samal
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 17 Jul 2026
  • FM Rico Salimbagat leads IIEE Chessmasters team in Bundesliga
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 17 Jul 2026
  • MCGIRT: WE HAVEN’T SCRATCHED THE SURFACE OF PACHECO’S TALENT
    , Fri, 17 Jul 2026
  • Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame Announces Tickets Are Now on Sale & Special Guests Confirmed for 10th Annual Awards & Induction Weekend
    , Fri, 17 Jul 2026
  • Puma Half Marathon kicks off July 19
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 17 Jul 2026
  • Asian Youth Chess in China
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 17 Jul 2026
  • NONSTOP ACTION ADDED TO ROACH VS. ZEPEDA WITH STACKED UNDERCARD
    , Thu, 16 Jul 2026
  • Heavyweight Dainier Pero Looks to Continue His Climb Against Aleem Whitfield Live on ESPN
    , Thu, 16 Jul 2026
  • Ryan Garcia Set to Defend World Title Against Conor Benn in Paramount+ Global Bout at T-Mobile Arena on September 12 over Mexican Independence Day Weekend
    , Thu, 16 Jul 2026
  • Fight Result: Yuga Ozaki Stops Jerry Francisco in Tokyo
    By Dong Secuya, , Thu, 16 Jul 2026
  • Bruno Tarimo returns to Headline Dragon Fire Boxings next event; BOXINGMANIA August 8th in a WBA Championship clash with Junlun Zhao
    , Thu, 16 Jul 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: The WBC Reaps Rewards in Uruguay
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 15 Jul 2026
  • Risky proposition for Charly
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 15 Jul 2026
  • Michael Zerafa opponent revealed as August 12 tickets go on sale for Gold Coast blockbuster
    , Wed, 15 Jul 2026
  • Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Blu Girls Stay in the Hunt Despite Opening Setback, Shift Focus to Japan Showdown
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 15 Jul 2026
  • BiYu Promotions' Yusniel Abrahante Ready to Shock Undefeated Luis Coria on ProBox TV This Saturday
    , Wed, 15 Jul 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.