The Combat Asia team had a long meeting this week to determine who would be the winners of the inaugural annual awards ceremony.
There were a few disagreements along the way but in the end we were able to settle on a list of the fighters, gyms and promotions which we feel have set the standard in 2012.
BOXING
Nonito Donaire ? Fighter of the Year
The ?Filipino Flash? is in line for the world boxer of the year award so the decision to make him the winner was a no brainer. Chris John and Pungluang Sor Singyu were also contenders.
ALA Boxing Gym ? Camp of the Year
Although AJ Banal fell short in his world title shot 2012 was a good year for ALA boxers such as Jason Pagara, Albert Pagara, Rey Bautista, Milan Melindo and Rocky Fuentes.
Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez ? Fight of the Year
The ending might not have been the one Asian fight fans hoped for but the fight more than lived up to expectations and the Mexican?s dramatic defeat of boxing?s pound for pound king will live long in the memory.
Dragon Fire Boxing, Marina Bay Sands, 9th November ? Card of the Year
Marina Bay Sands in Singapore was sold out for this card which saw Indonesian Chris John make the fifth defence of his WBA Super Featherweight title against unbeaten Thai Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo. The main event was an entertaining if one sided affair with John winning decisively but the co-main event was even more action packed as brave Mongolian Choi Tseveenpurev took the fight to eventual winner Daud Yordan for 12 rounds.
Muay Thai
Singdam Kiatmoo9 ? Fighter of the Year
?The Black Lion? began the year with a loss to Nong-O and a draw with Wanchalerm but went on to win seven out of his next eight fights, beating Nong-Ov Gaiyagandao (twice), Wanchalerm Udonmuang (twice), Saketdao Petphayathai, Watcharachai Rajanon and Saenchai PKSaenchaigym. He currently holds the Lumpinee 135 lbs belt and is set to face Saenchai again on January 4th. His team mate Superlek Sungprapai was also a contender as was Sam-A Kaiyanghadaogym.
Sing Patong ? Camp of the Year
In February Damian Alamos decisioned Kongfah Udonmueang to win the Lumpinee Super Lightweight belt, in March Penthai Singpatong stopped Mondam Sor.Weraphon in round three to win the Lumpinee flyweight belt and in July Peneak Sitnumnoi dropped Sam-A with an elbow en route to winning the Lumpinee featherweight belt. With three current Lumpinee champions Sing Patong is a clear winner in this category although Kiatmoo9, where Superlek, Singdam and Petmanomrung all had good years, deserves a mention.
Phetwisanu Por.Tongburan vs Silangern Mor.Watanachai – Fight of the Year
This won?t win many awards elsewhere because neither of the fighter involved are big names but Phetwitsanu (red) and Silangern (blue) went to war at Lumpinee Stadium on a Saturday night. The fight finished with both exchanging a non stop barrage of elbows with Phetwisanu ultimately prevailing in round three. Wanchalong Sitzornong vs Chokprecha Kor.Sakooncher and Wanchalong Sitzornong vs Penthai Singpatong were both contenders.
Wanmitchai Promotions, Rajadamnern Stadium, 4th October ? Card of the Year
The return of Olympic boxing gold medalist Somluck Kamsing made the headlines but this card was stacked from top to bottom and completely sold out Rajadamnern Stadium for the first time in many years. Saenchai avenged his earlier loss to Singdam in the main event, Petboonchu FA Group snapped a run of four straight defeats to Nong-O and Pokaew Fongchonburee prevailed in a war with Petpanomrung.
MMA
Eric Kelly ? Fighter of the Year
The only disappointment for Kelly was that he didn?t get to fight more often but he had the biggest year of his career to date beating Bae Young Kwon and Jens Pulver for ONE FC and, most recently, showing incredible powers of endurance to overcome Brad Terrey at URCC. His record currently stands at 9-0 and he is set to fight for the ONE FC featherweight title on February 2nd.
Ole Laursen vs Eduard Folayang ? Fight of the Year
Eagerly anticipated fights frequently fail to live up to expectations but this one was everything the fans had hoped it would be and more. The two men went to war and traded strikes for three full blooded rounds at ONE FC: ?War of the Lions? which left them both with bruised and battered faces, it could have gone either way but two of the three judges ultimately voted in favour of Laursen.
Evolve MMA ? Camp of the Year
Evolve MMA played host to Rich Franklin prior to his hard fought win over Wanderlei Silva in Brazil and Evolve MMA Fight Team member Rafael Dos Anjos has his best ever year, recording three straight UFC wins. Zorobabel Moreira?s brutal KO of Roger Huerta, Shinya Aoki?s quickfire submission win over Arnaud Lepont and Leandro Issa?s dominant decision win over Masakatsu Ueda were other highlights and Evolve MMA also deserves credit for the role it has played in introducing Singaporeans to MMA and raising the profile of the sport in that country.
ONE FC: ?Rise of Kings, Singapore Indoor Stadium, 6th October ? Card of the Year
ONE FC?s final card of 2012 was also it?s best and had a little bit of everything. Major upsets as Soo Chul Kim and Kotetsu Boku stopped Issa and Moreira respectively to win ONE FC belts, big KOs from Melvin Manhoef and Gianni Subba and a trademark submission win from Shinya Aoki just to finish the night off and send the 9,000 or so fans in the Singapore Indoor Stadium home happy.
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