A triumphant return. Continued confirmation of pound-for-pound supremacy. Ascendancy of the Eastern European heavyweights. The exciting culmination of a super-featherweight trilogy.
Boxing storylines proved abundant in 2006 and for a change, most originated inside the ropes instead of scandal and politics which often affect the sport.
Oscar De La Hoya remains boxing’s most popular fighter and his return to the ring in May after a 20-month absence proved why the six-division world champion continues to reach outside the sport’s fan base.
De La Hoya knocked out Ricardo Mayorga in five rounds, attracting a year best $43.8 million of pay-per-view revenue and setting up a highly-anticipated mega fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. next May.
While De La Hoya captivates the masses, Mayweather continues to win acclaim as the sport’s best fighter thanks to his convincing performances. Mayweather again verified invincibility with victories against Zab Judah in April and Carlos Baldomir in November.
But lacking De La Hoya’s marquee appeal, Mayweather continued to seek wider acceptance.
What boxing fans have come to accept is the emergence of fighters with links to the former Soviet Union as the dominant force of the heavyweight division. Wladmir Klitschko, Nicolay Valuev, Sergei Liakhovich and Oleg Maskaev won heavyweight titles — a prize once considered sole property of American fighters.
At year’s end three of the heavyweight champions still originated from Eastern Europe. Brooklyn-born Pembroke Pines resident Shannon Briggs broke the stranglehold following his dramatic 12th round TKO over Liakhovich Nov. 4.
NEW RIVALRIES
Throughout boxing’s storied eras, rivalries were commonplace. The current fighter whose career will be defined by rematches is Mexico’s Erik Morales.
First, Morales completed a grueling three-fight set against countryman Marco Antonio Barrera earlier in the decade and this year ended a trilogy with Manny Pacquiao.
But after his first bout victory over Pacquiao in 2005, Morales suffered consecutive knockout losses to the emerging Philippines star in January and last month. Despite culminating in a third round Pacquiao knockout victory, the third match drew comparisons to the memorable brawl between Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns 21 years ago.
Pacquiao eventually may become the sport’s most popular fighter after De La Hoya retires and concentrates solely on his successful promotional company. Pacquiao’s fights in his native country already rival Super Bowl-like attention.
Defying father time became part of Bernard Hopkins’ legacy during the peak of his 10-year middleweight title reign.
The 41-year-old Hopkins again surprised fans with his move to the light-heavyweight division and hard-fought victory over Orlando’s Antonio Tarver in June. Hopkins now has shelved retirement plans and will continue to seek additional milestones, perhaps even in the heavyweight division.
Tarver, however, could become the beneficiary of an elevated profile, thanks to his starring role in Rocky Balboa, which was released Wednesday.
When he ruled the light-heavyweight class, Pensacola’s Roy Jones Jr. enjoyed the praise now directed at Mayweather as the sport’s top fighter.
But after two losses against Tarver and Miami’s Glen Johnson, Jones’ lofty status crumbled. Jones finally broke the winless drought with a lopsided decision over Prince Badi Ajamu in July in the remote boxing outpost of Boise, Idaho.
Jermain Taylor maintained his place as top middleweight but not before a grueling 12-round match against St. Petersburg’s Ronald ”Winky” Wright, which ended in a draw. Taylor and Wright each enjoyed easy victories earlier this month, intensifying the hype toward a possible rematch next year.
LOCAL CHAMPS
Briggs was not the only local fighter to capture a world title in 2006. Juan Urango won a version of the junior-welterweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Naoufel Ben Rabah at the Hard Rock Live arena in June.
Former super-featherweight champion Joel Casamayor of Miami now owns a lightweight belt following his split decision victory over Diego Corrales in October. The bout earned Casamayor two victories over Corrales in their three fight set.
A fourth local fighter nearly captured a crown, but Johnson lost a disputed split decision against Clinton Woods as the Miami resident sought to reclaim the light-heavyweight title in September.
Hard Rock Live and Miccosukee Indian Gaming were the busiest local venues with fight cards. Gulfstream Park showcased professional boxing two weeks ago in the first of a five-card series during the winter months.
Boxing was not totally spared of controversy in 2006.
For the second time in three attempted fights against Corrales, Mexico’s Jose Luis Castillo failed to make the 135-pound lightweight limit. Although Corrales accepted the first Castillo mishap and fought their second bout in October 2005, the third fight scheduled for March was canceled after the weigh-in.
HISTORY PASSES
Symbolic 10-bell salutes and countless tributes were deservedly given to Willie Pep, one of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport. Pep, who held the featherweight title in the late 1940s and participated in 242 fights over a three-decade career, died in November.
Floyd Patterson, who became the youngest heavyweight champion at age 20 in 1956 and was the first fighter to reclaim the heavyweight crown, died in May.
Miami also lost one of its most popular fighters when Bobby Dykes died in May. Dykes headlined South Florida cards from the late 1940s through the late 1950s.
Dykes, a lanky white left-hander, lost a split decision to then welterweight champion Kid Gavilan at Miami Stadium in 1952. The bout was the first title fight between a white and black fighter in then-segregated Miami.
