The end of 2010 did not go quietly in the night for boxing fans who saw three consecutive classic prizefights contend for fight of the year, including Bernard Hopkins proving he’s among the best of all time.
Every year it seems the last three months provide the most riveting action for the sport of professional boxing. This year was especially so.
Here is a list of the best performers and performances that took place worldwide and locally in Southern California. First off is the boxer who recently visited San Bernardino to collect an award for exactly this category:
Fighter of the Year
Middleweight champion Sergio Martinez came to the United States from Spain several years ago to compete “with the best fighters in the world,” and that’s putting it mildly. The Argentine-born prizefighter beat Kelly Pavlik for the middleweight world championship, then defended it against the much-feared Paul Williams. In less than two rounds, he knocked out Williams with a left cross. Those were two huge wins.
Others who deserve mention are Indio’s Timothy Bradley, Manny Pacquiao, Andre Ward and Robert Guerrero.
Best Fight
Of all the exciting fights we saw this past month, the Dec. 11 junior welterweight clash between Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana had the most drama. In the beginning, it looked like Khan was going to cruise to victory. Then Maidana clubbed his way back into the fight and fans were on the edge of their seats wondering if Khan could hold off the savage assault. Khan won by unanimous decision.
A close second was Humberto Soto’s 12-round title defense against Urbano Antillon in a lightweight rumble that was like watching two rams going full speed against each other. The match took place in Anaheim on Dec. 4.
The third-best contest happened over the weekend when the old wizard of boxing, Hopkins, fought to a majority draw against Canada’s Jean Pascal, who holds the WBC light heavyweight title. Most felt Hopkins won easily, though the judges ruled it a technical draw. Once again, Hopkins, 45, proved to be a master boxer in the ring.
Best Round
Round 10 between Soto, the WBC lightweight champ, and challenger Antillon exemplified boxing at its best. Both 135-pounders refused to wilt under a barrage of punches that would have made other fighters seek shelter. It made fans squeamish, yet it was amazing to watch. It was a great example of how two technically proficient fighters can make brutality look like art.
Best Knockout Story continues below
AP photo Sergio Martinez, left, uses his left hand to put Paul Williams on the canvas for the best knockout of the year.
With a single left hand, Martinez proved superiority over Williams with finality. Williams was short-circuited and could not get up for 30 seconds after that blow. Martinez had predicted before the fight that he would knock out Williams, who had never been stopped before. The replay of the knockout showed Martinez putting his whole body behind the blow and Williams doing the same thing. Martinez reached him first.
Upset of the Year
Jason Litzau beating Celestino Caballero has to rate the biggest upset of the year. Litzau was a decided underdog against Panama’s Caballero. Litzau took the Nov. 27 fight and showed that with heart and self-confidence an athlete can do wonders. The junior lightweight from St. Paul, Minn., was ecstatic following the fight. Rightly so.
Most exciting fighter
Every time Alfredo “Perro” Angulo steps in the ring, fans can expect the Mexicali boxer to look for a decisive win. Angulo’s wins against Joel Julio and Joachim Alcine were brutal affairs that saw the Mexican fighter trace his opponents’ movements like a heat-seeking missile. Both ended in impressive knockout wins.
Michael Katsidis, Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez also deserve mention in this category.
Best Technical fighter
It’s close between Hopkins, Marquez and Floyd Mayweather Jr. But with Hopkins going on 46 years of age next month, I’ll defer to experience. Hopkins not only fought Pascal to a disputed draw this past weekend, but he also beat old nemesis Roy Jones Jr. decisively to avenge a defeat 16 years earlier. The Philadelphia boxer does so many little things in the ring that go unnoticed. Look at Saturday’s fight and watch how he slips Pascal’s left hook by moving into the blow instead of away from it. Most boxers would try to duck under it or block it. The Canadian boxer was baffled.
Most inspirational
Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero’s ability to halt all training to assist his wife battle leukemia and then go back into training to fight the best prizefighters in the world successfully is legendary stuff. He’s a great fighter and an even greater person.
Honorable mention goes Colombia’s Yonnhy Perez, who spends most of the year here in Southern California pursuing his dream. He has a large family back in his country and uses boxing to feed and house all of them.
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