2007. Aaah?What a year for boxing. We got almost every bout we wished for-unification matches and fights between the best, pound for pound.
As the year closes, it?s time to belt the cr?me de la cr?me of the sweet science. Here are my choices:
BEST JAB
WORLD?Wladimir Klitschko. The fact that he?s 6 feet 5 inches tall and he can poke you with it while you?re still parking your car makes him a menacing proposition for all the other heavies. Of course, its no secret that the best jab in the business compensates for one of the worst chins.
LOCAL?Z GORRES. Z likes to unload some stylish combinations. But he never fails to apply the basic rule?set these up with a jab.
BEST LEFT HOOK
WORLD?Miguel Cotto. He tamed slick boxers Zab Judah and Shane Mosely with it. Enough said.
LOCAL?Nonito Donaire. If you believe otherwise, I suggest you take this matter up with Vic Darchinyan.
BEST DEFENSE
WORLD?Floyd Mayweather Jr. I have it on good authority that after he recently announced his retirement (again!), Floyd Jr. was immediately wooed to replace US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. You couldn?t hit the Pretty Boy in the butt with a fistful of sand.
LOCAL- Z Gorres. Fleet of foot and hand, Z made Mexican opponents Fernando Montiel and Eric Ortiz look so bad by swinging at nothing but thin air. Sure, he gets tagged- sooner or later everybody does- but for every punch that lands, count two or three that miss.
UPPERCUT
WORLD?Juan Manuel Marquez. He?s a terrific counter-puncher. But what gets the job done for him are those mean uppercuts.
LOCAL?Gerry Penalosa. Watch this master at work. When he gets close enough to throw his sterling combos, look for the uppercut to do the damage. It?s brain-rattling. HONORABLE MENTION. Donnie Nietes. The snakeman?s worst bite comes from below. Hold on to your necks people.
LEFT STRAIGHT
WORLD: JOE CALZAGHE. There are lots of reasons why this Welshman remains to be undefeated and on top for so long. A deadly left straight is one of them. LOCAL?Manny Pacquiao. Drinking buddy Erik Morales swears by it. ?Wala itong katulad Manny?
HONORABLE MENTION?AJ Banal. Not even Nostradamus can see it coming.
RING GENERALSHIP
WORLD?FLOYD MAYWEATHER. Oscar dela Hoya had some success. Even Ricky Hatton had his moments. But Floyd Jr. knows how to beat his opponent and make the proper adjustments mid-fight. He always knows what?s happening in the ring and what he needs to do to get the job done. His undefeated record just about sums it all up.
LOCAL?Gerry Penalosa. Johnny Gonzales was winning the fight by keeping the smaller Gerry at bay with jabs and right straights. But technical master Gerry simply bided his time and waited for the right moment. A newbie would have panicked. Not a ring general like Gerry.
STAMINA
WORLD?Floyd Mayweather. Let?s put it this way. The day Floyd Jr. gets tired is the day you remove the ?O? from his record.
LOCAL?Manny Pacquiao. I saw him train for three straight hours in the mid-afternoon heat, sparring nine rounds non-stop with three different opponents. Afterwards he hit the mitts, skipped the ropes, shadowboxed, did some ab work etc?. I had to leave as I got tired. He wasn?t.
(Tomorrow: Best right hand, best bodypuncher, best ring entrance, best quote and more..)
