As I continue throwing in my bids for the best boxing had to offer during 2009, the focus turns to Performance of the Year.
Many fighters came up with big time performances inside the ring during the last twelve months.
Carl Froch dug deep within his fighting soul to knockout razorback Jermain Taylor with fourteen seconds left in the 12th and final round of their April battle.
Manny Pacquiao began his romp within the welterweight division by blasting out Ricky Hatton with one wicked one-punch in May.
Yet the fighter who put on the most memorable performance during 2009 was grizzled gladiator Juan Manuel Marquez.
With his back against the wall, the then 35 year old Mexican was found himself in a tough scrap against young Mexican American Juan Diaz, having lost several of the first rounds in Diaz’s hometown Houston, Texas.
Though Diaz was banking rounds under his belt, Marquez started landing sharp counter-punches that were taking their toll on Diaz as the middle rounds came around.
When the ninth round had begun, the tides had turned and Marquez was in control of Diaz, who was bleeding profusely from a cut caused by a strong Marquez left. A five punch flurry, punctuatedwith a wicked right hand, marked the end of Diaz, as the young fighter ended up face first on the canvas and knocked out.
Marquez dug deep for the best performance of 2009 and the most memorable victory of his long and prestigious sixteen year career.
