FIGHT of the Year for 2017 came down to these two matchups: Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin and Wladimir Klitschko vs. Anthony Joshua.
And please don?t embarrass yourself by invoking Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor. There?s another category apropos to that exhibition bout.
But all things considered, I had to give it to Klitschko-Joshua. Golovkin-Alvarez was a great fight, but it lacked the sizzle and the explosive finish of the former.
PASSING OF THE TORCH. Joshua came into the fight already a champion as he was the reigning IBF heavyweight titleholder. But he had a lot to prove.
He was being touted as the next big thing in boxing, but to confirm this rather bullish and robust proposal, he had to overcome and convincingly defeat the man who had held the division in a vise-like grip for about a decade.
Klitschko had just been beaten by Tyson Fury in 2015?s upset of the year, but he had vowed to come back strong and prove that he was still the top dog in the division.
Though he would not get the chance to do it against his conqueror, Joshua was thought to be an even more fearsome opponent, and if Klitschko wanted redemption, this had to be it.
As it turned out, the fight lived up to expectations. Both men, known for their strength and punching power, didn?t pull any punches and threw heavy leather at each other.
Klitschko was especially lauded for the way he fought in this fight. Gone was the safety-first, pawing-jab approach. In its place was an experienced and dangerous champion, who skillfully placed and timed his punches, resulting in Joshua being knocked down in the 6th round from a huge, old-man-strength right hand.
And though Joshua?s youth would be served in this fight, by no means did he completely dominate the old, battle-scarred lion.
It was a true passing of the torch, and Joshua fittingly had to go through hell-fire and more.
EVENT OF THE YEAR. Due in part to Floyd admitting that he carried Conor for most of the fight, the farce that it purported to be only gained regrettable confirmation.
It was an interesting match-up, but its appeal came not from the actual display of skill from both fighters during the match, but rather, from the intrigue and the hype that surrounded it from its inception.
After all, it isn?t everyday that the perceived best MMA fighter at present crosses over to the world of boxing to fight the best it had to offer.
Sure it was a circus and a show, and it was the richest fight of 2017 but that?s why it?s the Event of the Year and not Fight of the Year.
LAST ROUND. It?s on a dear friend, Mimi Maureen Co-Lim, who celebrates her birthday this week. Cheers!
