Philippines, 17 Jun 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Mexican Hernan "Tyson" Marquez is WBA fighter of year


PhilBoxing.com




PANAMA CITY, Panama - The World Boxing Association (WBA) held its 19th Annual Awards Dinner attended by over 40 champions and former champions who enjoyed the gala held at the plush Intercontinental Miramar Hotel in Panama City, Panama.

And the WBA annual wards went to:

Top honor Boxer of the Year was awarded to Mexican Hernan "Tyson" Marquez, WBA flyweight champion. "Tyson" Marquez will defend his world title against Filipino Rodel Mayol on March 24 in Ciudad Obregon, Mexico.

First runner up as fighter of the year went to undefeated WBA light flyweight champion Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez (30-0, 25KOs) of Nicaragua.

Best female fighter was for the beautiful undefeated light flyweight world champion "La Titu" Yessica Yolanda Bopp (19-0, 9KOs) of Argentina.

Best fight of the year was awarded to the first thrilling all out power combat between heavy sluggers Hernan "Tyson" Tyson and Luis "El Nica" Conception of Panama.

KO of the year was taken by undefeated WBA junior lightweight champ Takashi Uchiyama (18-0, 15KOs) of Japan, for his devastating knockout victory over Mexican former world champion Jorge "Coloradito" Solis last December 31 in Yokohama.

When Takashi Uchiyama in his first trip to Panama was announced as winner of the KO of the year, the confident tall Japanese world champion stood up and went to the podium to deliver his thank you speech in excellent Spanish which was celebrated by the astonished audience with a huge applause.

Hall-of-fame KO artist former super flyweight world champion Khaosay Galaxy (47-1 41KOs) of Thailand received a WBA award and was a special WBA guest of honor in Panama.

The Most Dramatic Fight of the year was the one starred by undefeated Brandon "Bam Bam" Rios (29-0-1, 22KOs) and Venezuela's Miguel "Aguacerito" Acosta for the WBA lightweight world title in February 2011 in Las Vegas. Rios prevailed by technical KO in the tenth round and is now scheduled to face dangerous undefeated Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa (21-0, 16KOs) on April 14 in Las Vegas.

The Surprise of the year was the title fight between Mexican Hugo "El Increible" Cazares and Japanese Tomonubo Shimizu. In this fight in Tokyo, unheralded Shimizu captured the WBA super flyweight world title by split decision. Shimizu will unify the WBA super flyweight title against Tepparith Singwancha Abril 4 in Yokohama.

American ring announcer Jimmy Lennon received a special award from the WBA for his contributions to the sport of boxing.

Undefeated Venezuelan light welterweight figher Johan Perez (15-0-1, 12KOs) took the Prospect of the Year award.

Female World champion Jackie Navas of Mexico received her WBA super bantamweight belt during the gala. Navas, know as "La Princesa Azteca" won her WBA belt after defeating Panamanian former world champ Chantall Martinez.

In a special moment, Gilberto Jesus Mendoza handed a WBA belt to former world champion Jaime "Cieguito" Rios of Panama. Rios was WBA light flyweight champion from 1975-1976.

In addition, WBA replica belts were given to former champions Eusebio Pedroza, Jorge Lujan, Hilario Zapata, Alfonso Frazier, Ismael Laguna, Ernesto Marcel, Rafael Concepcion, Rcardo "El Maestrito" Cordoba, Alfonso Lopez, Enrique Pinder, Rigoberto Riasco and Ernesto Marcel among others.

Former world champions Donny Lalonde, John Ruiz, Ricky Hatton, Kahosai Galaxy, legendary trainer don Ignacio "Nacho" Beristain of Mexico, and judge Stanley Christodoulou of South Africa were among of the honorees.

Also, the WBA honored latina female world champions in attendance Hanna Gabriels of Costa Rica, Kina Malpartida of Peru and Jackie Navas of Mexico.

Also in attendance was Panamanian ring legend "Hands of Stone" Roberto Duran.

Other guests included former champion Amir Khan of England, as well as the three Panamanians current world champions Anselmo "Chemito" Moreno (bantamweight world champion), Guillermo "El Felino" Jones (cruserweight world champion) and Celestino "Pelenchin" Caballero (featherweight world champion).

Finally, undefeated featherweight super champion Chris John (46-0-2, 22KOs) of Indonesia was handed the prestigious WBA Fighter of the Decade award. John has been a continuous champion of he WBA since 2003 and is a current champion with 14 title defenses.

WBA's Gilberto Jesus Mendoza, thanked guests by saying "never before we had so many boxing celebrities brought together in one night for this type of event. I really thank everyone for coming."



Top photo: WBA fighter of the year Hernan "Tyson" Marquez of Mexico (L) with first runner up Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez during the WBA annual gala yesterday in Panama.




Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Apolinar, Santisima to fight on June 19 in Japan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • Canoy still waiting for his US visa for June 20 fight against Collazo
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • "Hand of Stone" Roberto Durán celebrates 75th birthday
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • Sy-Tancontian excited on Asia and Oceania Sambo Championships
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • Jean Henri Lhuillier Backs RP Blu Girls' Intensive Japan Training Camp Ahead of Women's Softball World Cup
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • Digos 2 Malita 70km Ultramarathon on June 20
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 17 JUNE 2026: Bam Stops Vargas in 6; Wins by Michel Soro, Wilkens Mathieu, Elif Nur Turhan, Nataly Delgado and Abraham Perez
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 16 Jun 2026
  • Undefeated world champion Ataev faces experienced Venezuelan puncher Uzcátegui at IBA PRO 19
    , Tue, 16 Jun 2026
  • Full Fight Card Set for MF Pro’s “Pugilist Revolution” June 19 at Thunder Studios in Long Beach
    , Tue, 16 Jun 2026
  • Campbell son of Ricky Hatton confirms ring return
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 16 Jun 2026
  • Deaño to fight for ABF super feather title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 16 Jun 2026
  • Former champ Andy Ruiz could return against Huggie Fury in 2026
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 16 Jun 2026
  • Mexican legend Jackie Nava inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 15 Jun 2026
  • Ronnie Alvarez Dominates Filip Stankovic, Scores Seventh-Round TKO at Desert Diamond Arena
    , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • THE CROWNING OF BAM: Rodriguez Overcomes Early Storm to Detonate Vargas in Six, Eyes Inoue Super-Fight
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • New York Knicks win the NBA Championship with historic comeback
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • Panamanian superstar Nataly Delgado wins 115lb female WBA world championship in Orlando, Florida
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • IBA Bare Knuckle to make historic United States debut in Miami
    , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • Laurente remains undefeated, TKOs Aguan in Gensan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • Foundation stone laid for the first-ever IBA arena in Dushanbe
    , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • Jerick Faeldonia Wins One Chess Movement Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • Bam Rodriguez vs Antonio Vargas & Martinez vs Cardenas Preview and Picks
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 13 Jun 2026
  • Popper vs. Seldon Jr. Official Weights for June 13 in Atlantic City
    , Sat, 13 Jun 2026
  • GLENDALE, AZ FIGHT WEEK: OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS FOR BAM VS VARGAS – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Sat, 13 Jun 2026
  • Undefeated Middleweight Amir Anderson Meets Jonas Sylvain in Battle of Unbeatens on DAZN
    , Sat, 13 Jun 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.