SONAHR: December 28, 2015 – In future annals of boxing history, the year 2015 will be remembered as one in which the old order ? ?old? meaning a status quo that had lasted at least a decade ? ended, and a new era began to emerge. At the beginning of the year, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao perched at the pinnacle of the pound-for-pound ranks in the sport, and Wladimir Klitschko reigned supreme among the heavyweights. As 2015 draws to a close, Mayweather is in retirement, Pacquiao is on the shelf, and Klitschko is a former champion.
Pacquiao and Mayweather finally faced each other in the superfight of all superfights ? but in the end, more than a few fight fans wished the bout had never occurred, because Pacquiao went into the bout with a shoulder injury he didn?t disclose beforehand, and for which he is undergoing treatment. Klitschko was dethroned by the brash Briton, Tyson Fury, but the Ukrainian champion?s long title tenure ended with a whimper rather than a bang, as the two big men fought cautiously rather than ferociously.
So now there?s room at the top in boxing?s elite precinct. Fortunately, there?s no shortage of young ? and not-so-young ? talent eager to pick up where Mayweather and Pacquiao have left off. Fighters such as middleweights Gennady Golovkin and Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez, junior-welterweight Terence Crawford, flyweight Roman Gonzalez, junior-featherweight Guillermo Rigondeaux, and light-heavyweight Sergey Kovalev and heavyweight Deontay Wilder are all potential superstars who can dominate the sport?s next decade, and perhaps reach and surpass the achievements of their predecessors.
Here are the highs and lows of a turbulent twelve months ?
Fighter of the Year: Roman Gonzalez Several of the above-named comers did well in 2015, but no one left the rest of the pack behind ? at least not in the way that Mayweather and Pacquiao did during their primes. Golovkin, Alvarez, Crawford, Gonzalez and Kovalev performed as expected, but none of them was forced to pass a major test. Pressed to choose, though, I would have to go with the littlest big man ? Roman ?Chocolatito? Gonzalez, king of the 112-pounders. Gonzalez began the year with a non-title KO of journeyman Valentin Leon. Then he upgraded his competition, stopping Edgar Sosa in May and the highly-esteemed Brian Viloria in October. Along with his personal accomplishments, Gonzalez is bringing much-needed attention to the smallest weight divisions. Recently, The Ring magazine elevated him to the top of its pound-for-pound ratings ? a well-deserved honor.
Fight of the Year: Floyd Mayweather Jr. W 12 Manny Pacquiao I know I?m going to have to dodge a lot of brickbats for this one, considering Mayweather?s dominance of the fight and Pacquiao?s undisclosed injury. But really ? what else can a fight every fan was desperate to see, was five years in the making, and set records for the highest-grossing bout and biggest purse of all time? Pacquiao didn?t go into the fight in 100% condition, but imagine the outcry that would have occurred if the bout had been postponed, or perhaps cancelled. Pacquiao may have believed he could win regardless. But Mayweather?s style negated Pac-Man?s aggression, and may well have done so even if both of Manny?s shoulders had been in proper working order. Bottom line: This was the fight fans wanted, and for better or worse, we got it. At least now we don?t have to spend the rest of our days lamenting a dream fight that never happened.
Upset of the Year: Tyson Fury W 12 Wladimir Klitschko Yes, it was a sleepwalk. Yes, it was a bore. And it was not the way one would have expected the House of Klitschko to finally fall. Still, Klitschko had dominated the division for a period of time that rivaled the reigns of Joe Louis and Larry Holmes, and had long since overcome the weaknesses that had plagued him earlier in his career. He hadn?t lost in more than 10 years. But when he faced Fury in November, he simply couldn?t execute the tactics that had worked so well for such a long time. Fury took full advantage of the opportunity, and the rest is history.
Progress of the Year: Viktor Postol For much of the year, Postol was considered a promising prospect in the junior-welterweight division. When he was matched with Lucas Matthysse for the vacant WBC 140-lb crown, Postol went in as an underdog. Matthysse had fallen short in other title bouts, but even in defeat he was always dangerous. Perhaps this was his time. As it turned out, however, it was Postol?s time, not Matthysse?s. The Ukrainian dominated the Argentine dangerman, knocking Matthysse out in the tenth round. Matthysse was outpunched and outmanned. His days as a top contender appear to be over. Postol?s future, on the other hand, has just begun.
Comeback of the Year: In the wake of a humiliating decision loss to Guillermo Rigondeaux and a shocking knockout at the hands of Nicholas Walters, it looked as though the ?Filipino Flash? had come to the end of the road as a championship-caliber fighter. Yet at the end of 2015, Donaire once again holds a world title ? WBO junior featherweight, courtesy of a decision win over Cesar Juarez for the vacant championship. Whether or not this victory signals a return to the form Donaire displayed during his pre-Rigondeaux heyday is yet to be known. Still, the acquisition of another world-title belt has to be gratifying.
Rip-off of the Year: Last year, the aforementioned Nicholas Walters had the aspect of a star in the making. His knockout of Donaire was electrifying, and the Jamaican, nicknamed ?The Axe,? looked to be a dominating force. But that promise hasn?t fully panned out. Walters lost his title on the scales, even though he continues to be undefeated. But in a December bout with Jason Sosa, the decision was a draw ? possibly the most disgusting draw since the gift Evander Holyfield received in his first bout with Lennox Lewis back in 1999. The scoring begs the perennial question: Just what fight were the judges watching?
Pointless Extended Career of the Year: Roy Jones Jr. Holyfield extended his days in the ring long after he should have hung up his gloves, which he finally did a few years ago. Jones seems determined to follow in Holyfield?s footsteps. Once upon a time, Jones was the pound-for-pound king, winning titles in the middleweight, super-middleweight, light-heavyweight, and even heavyweight divisions. His talent seemed other-worldly: he punched with awesome power, yet he was also elusive. Then his one weakness was exposed: a fragile chin, first exposed by Antonio Tarver and then Glen Johnson. Jones never regained his earlier form, yet he keeps on fighting ? and getting knocked out. His most recent setback came at the hands of Enzo Maccarinelli, a former cruiserweight champ who is also on the skids. Quit now, Roy, before all your marbles fall out of their bag.
So, 2015 was a year of transition. Opportunities have opened, and the young lions are stalking ach other, ready to pounce on some big paychecks. If the promoters make the fights, 2016 will mark the beginning of an exciting new era.
Charles R. Saunders is the author of several books including Sweat and Soul: The Saga of Black Boxers in the Maritimes from the Halifax Forum to Caesars Palace, as well as the Imaro series of fantasy/adventure novels. Considered by many to be one of the leading authorities on boxing in Canada, he is the current Vice-President of Boxing for the Society of North American Sports Historians and Researchers. His novels, Imaro, Damballa, and Abengoni: First Calling are available at Amazon.com.
