FIGHTER OF THE YEAR… Carl Froch and Amir Khan. Dead heat. Impossible to separate. Froch proved he belongs in the elite class in November, Helsinki, when he regained the WBC super-middleweight title, while Khan proved every one of his critics wrong by weathering a ferocious storm in Las Vegas, against mandatory challenger Marcos Maidana, to hold onto the WBA light-welterweight title.
Khan, 24, emerged at the end of a war with deserved plaudits in a ?fight of the year? contender. Froch cemented his position with a commanding performance against Armenian Arthur Araham, arguably the hardest man in boxing. Rather than standing toe-to-toe, Froch chose clever tactics to comprehensively outbox Abraham.
CONTEST OF THE YEAR… Amir Khan v Marcos Maidana, WBA light-welterweight title defence. Khan?s debut in Las Vegas against Maidana was a thriller. Sin City has long been a graveyard for a succession of British fighters, but Khan came of age.
For periods of the fight Khan was under huge pressure, but it points to greater success as the Bolton fighter continues his progression under trainer Freddie Roach and head conditioning coach Alex Ariza. In 12 riveting rounds, Khan had Maidana down in the first, and in a torrid 10th round, refused to buckle. Khan captured the hearts and minds of the US market with this performance.
UNSUNG HEROES OF THE YEAR… Froch. The Nottingham boxer had lost the WBC 168lb title in a razor-close split points decision to Mikkel Kessler in Denmark, but came back to regain the title against Abraham, after it had fallen vacant due to an injury to Kessler. Related Articles Klitschkos pledge to take on Haye 25 Dec 2010 Haye closes in on Wladimir Klitschko fight 21 Dec 2010 Khan in no hurry to face Mayweather 19 Dec 2010 Khan: Maidana never hurt me 14 Dec 2010 Haye v Klitschko talk gathers pace 12 Dec 2010 Roach: Mayweather fight for Khan 12 Dec 2010
Froch is a proven world class fighter, yet promoter Mick Hennessy has been unable to secure a mainstream television deal for him. The BBC and ITV have pulled out of screening the sport, and Sky Sports claim they have been unable to programme Froch in?thus far. Yet he has had five fights in a row against elite, world-class opposition. The British public is being deprived of witnessing a top level boxer who deserves respect and recognition.
Ricky Burns also deserves an honourable mention for taking the WBO super-featherweight title in ballsy fashion from champion Roman Martinez and defending it late in the year against Andreas Evensen.
RUNNER-UP OF THE YEAR… Rendall Munroe. Munroe, a bin man from Leicester, went to Tokyo to face Toshiaki Nishioka, a supreme champion at super-bantamweight. Munroe strained every sinew in the contest and had his moments early in the fight, but Nishioka?s vicious left hand and superior boxing skills caught up with Munroe. He was back on the bins around a week later.
Dereck Chisora, a London heavyweight, also drew the short straw. Chisora, a massive underdog, had got himself up to face Wladimir Klitschko for the world heavyweight title in Germany, only for the giant Ukrainian to pull out with a torn abdominal muscle 72 hours before the fight.
BEST THING THAT HAPPENED IN THE YEAR… Manny Pacquiao being elected a Congressman for the province of Sarangani in The Philippines, and then returning after the elections to show he had lost nothing of his desire in a pulsating 12-round contest with Antonio Margarito. With the victory, Pacquiao secured another world title, and his climb up in weight now spans eight divisions, over 12 years as a professional.
Pacquiao?s story of rags to riches, from selling donuts on the streets of General Santos City, to the ambition he now has to eradicate poverty in his country in the political sphere, remains boxing?s most compelling story.
WORST THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE YEAR… Floyd Mayweather Jnr earning a reported $40 million dollars for defeating Shane Mosley in Las Vegas in May, and for not having another contest in the year.
David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko failing to come to the negotiating table and bring the biggest heavyweight fight out there since Lennox Lewis and Vitali Klitschko met in 2003.
The photographs and video of Ricky Hatton in a Sunday tabloid newspaper sting showing an alcohol and drugs binge on a night out.
The saddest moment of the year was the suicide of Darren Sutherland in his south London flat. Promoter Frank Maloney, who found him, suffered a heart attack as a result.
ARGUMENT OF THE YEAR… Floyd Mayweather Jnr demanding that Pacquiao adhere to a drug-testing procedure if they were to fight, and then failing to show interest in the contest. Later in the year, Mayweather let loose a rant on the internet, calling Pacquiao ?little yellow chump?. He said: ?Once I stomp the midget, I?ll make that mother****** make me a sushi roll and cook me some rice.?
Antonio Margarito being granted a licence, after being banned for a year for illegal hand wraps.
There was debate over whether Mike Tyson should be inducted into boxing?s Hall of Fame? My view is that on boxing alone, it is merited. Tyson was indeed included, alongside the great Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez, Kostya Tszyu, and ?Rocky? himself, Sylvester Stallone. All four will be inducted in June 2011.
I WANT TO SEE MORE OF… Froch on mainstream television; The BBC and ITV make a return to broadcasting boxing; meaningful contests, like Haye v Klitschko, and Pacquiao v Mayweather. These are the fights which need to be signed for the good of boxing, and the future security of the sport, not just for the bank accounts of the boxers. The public wants to see The Best versus The Best.
I WANT TO SEE LESS OF… Ageing boxers like James Toney believing they can make it in mixed martial arts.
The long break in boxing of any note between April and September, as there was in 2010.
Audley Harrison. He needs to take a long look at himself and realise he is kidding both himself and the public
Boxers taking a dive. In July, world-ranked light-heavyweight Danny Green took on Paul Briggs in Perth, Australia. Green fired a jab in the opening round which brushed Briggs? forehead. Briggs went down on all fours, and was counted out at 29 seconds. Check it out on YouTube. Briggs claimed he hadn?t taken a dive, but was fined a third of his $200,000 purse.
LESSONS FOR 2011… Amir Khan needs to return to the drawing board and progress steadily before moving from world class to elite class. Too many boxers have moved up too quickly and have found themselves in deep water.
Khan should take his time unifying the light-welterweight division, as there are several compelling rivals in the 140lb weight class, arguably the strongest division at present.
There is a public appetite for genuine world title fights. Casual sports fans have always loved a big fight; they are part of the staple of the sporting calendar. Promoters have a place in the sport. Boxers promoting themselves at the top level has led to far too much self-interest, and boxing will suffer in the long term.
RISING STAR IN 2011… Hard to make just a single call. If I were to pick one, it would be James DeGale, the Beijing Olympic Games gold medallist, who became a British super-middleweight title holder in his ninth professional fight and looks very good indeed.
George Groves, who won the Commonwealth super-middleweight title, also made great strides in 2010, but needs more work on his defence. There will be great excitement with Groves versus DeGale on the cards in 2011. Super-bantamweight Scott Quigg, who is 21-0, from the Hatton Promotions stable, is progressing well.
Overseas, Saul Alvarez, known as ?El Canelo?, or ?cinnamon?, a 20 year-old red-haired Mexican welterweight, is set to become a major star. He looks more like a Celt than Mexican, but is already drawing 65 million television viewers from his homeland, and already has 35 wins, no losses.
