After 12 great months of prizefighting, we have a decision, most likely considerably less than unanimous, but “You can’t please everyone, so you got to please yourself.” We’ve seen some really great fights this year, and that was just the promoters.
Here’s my take on the outstanding achievements of 2006, with a few choice opinions along the way:
Fighter of the Year: Manny Pacquiao The Filipino superstar stopped Erik Morales twice in ’06, a 10th round TKO in January and a third-round KO in November. Either fight could easily have been the Fight of the Year. In between, he floored Oscar Larios twice en route to a decisive unanimous decision. The Pac-Man has speed, power, accuracy and tenacity and is at his peak both in the ring and at the box office.
Little wonder is it then that he is the apple of every promoter’s eye. He successfully sued to rid himself of Murad Muhammad, dumped Gary Shaw after his two-fight commitment was up, his own MP Promotions promoted Larios — and then it really became complicated.
He signed a seven-fight deal with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, then sent the money back “return to sender” so he could sign a four-year contract with Bob Arum’s Top Rank, pitting the two companies in litigation. You know a guy is a valuable piece of white hot property when a third promoter, Don King, feels compelled to issue a press release denying media reports that he was courting Pacquiao.
Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, was quoted as saying Pacquiao could nullify both deals and become a free agent because Pacquiao signed both contracts without notifying Shelly Finkel, his manager of record, at least until Jan. 31, when his contract expires.
This seems to be the most innovative solution, providing Manny doesn’t sign with someone else before the matter is litigated.
Fight of the Year: Sergei Liakhovich dec. Lamon Brewster, April 1 These two guys exchanged heavy artillery for 12 rounds, something you don’t see every day in the heavyweight division. Brewster’s chances were diminished when he suffered a detached retina in Round 1, but he never let it keep him from going toe to toe with the lesser-known Liakhovich. It was a thrilling bout that was fought with grit and determination by both men from start to finish.
Brewster distinguished himself as a warrior, fighting with the left detached retina and a badly swollen right eye, taking shots he couldn’t see and still returning fire. Liakhovich took a strategic knee with 16 seconds left in the seventh to avoid the “game over” blow after Brewster pummeled him relentlessly. Then Brewster showed his mettle in the ninth when he was staggered with a left, and Liakhovich had him pinned in a corner, firing away with impunity. Only the ropes and a champion’s heart kept Brewster from being knocked out.
Who would ever think that there could be that much excitement on a Saturday night in Cleveland?
Best Trainer: Freddie Roach Freddie gets my vote for taking a great Filipino southpaw with a terrific knockout punch in his left hand and adding an effective right that turned him into an even greater fighter with two dangerous hands. But he also has a list of other quality fighters who benefit from his tutelage, including James Toney and Israel Vasquez. He has made Peter Manfredo Jr. look impressive enough to be matched with Joe Calzaghe and has prospects such as Vanes Martirosyan on the right track to stardom.
Best Prospect: Andre Berto He is 16-0, 14 KOs and had to impress the fans as well as the suits with his explosive sixth-round TKO of Miguel Figueroa on the undercard of Taylor-Ouma.
Biggest Upset: Bernard Hopkins dec. Antonio Tarver Moving up two divisions after two razor thin losses to Jermain Taylor, Hopkins won practically every round with his guile and a variety of offensive weaponry, to take the decision 118-109 on all three cards. Talk about taking him to school. No wonder Tarver wanted to fight Tyson.
Best KO: Shannon Briggs in 12 over Sergei Liakhovich If a gasping asthmatic scoring two knockdowns, the second knocking his opponent out of the ring and out at 2:59 of round 12 while behind on all cards isn’t snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, then what is?
Biggest Disappointment: Jeff Lacy
Everyone thought that Lacy was going to go to England and chop down Joe Calzaghe with ease. Instead he was pounded like a cube steak and lost by scores of 119-107 (twice) and 119-105. Then in his comeback fight with Vitali Tsypko, he received a gift decision and a torn rotator cuff.
Runner-up: Hasim Rahman for trying to give his title away to James Toney before succeeding with Oleg Maskaev. Maskaev? My Lord, I would rather Rahman had lost the title to Toney. No wonder Hopkins wants to fight Maskaev. No quality fighter loses to Maskaev. Except Hasim, who has now lost to him twice.
Best Promoter: Golden Boy Promotions If income is the major criteria, then it has to be GBP. CEO Richard Schaefer estimated gross revenues of $175 million this year, and that certainly qualifies them for consideration as the top promotional company of ’06.
Although the accomplishment is somewhat tainted by the botched signing of Juan Diaz, and the lawsuits concerning Pacquiao and Diego Corrales, their success brought them the best HBO dates, the best cards, the most sponsors and the best overall stable of fighters. Even their detractors have to concede their arrival as the major player in boxing promotion.
If they lose one or both of their lawsuits, recognition could be withdrawn faster than it was for Miss Nevada. But as long as they have the Big Four — Oscar, Shane Mosley, Bernard Hopkins and Marco Antonio Barrera — along with a deep lineup of stars, these guys are going to make money and deserve to be the best of 2006.
Having said that, I would be remiss if I didn’t comment on a prickly issue that rankles me, one that is not so much a condemnation of Golden Boy as it is the way the world goes around.
The De La Hoya-Mayweather Jr. fight is scheduled for May 5 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The Grand seats approximately 16,000 people, and the ticket prices will range from $350 to $2,000. Reportedly the live gate will be $19.3 million, eclipsing the U.S. record of $16.83 million for Lennox Lewis-Evander Holyfield II in 1999.
I understand the price structure, and I’m sure that the PPV will be inflated as well, probably in the $60-$70 range with an estimated 2 million buys. I have no complaints here; after all, it’s the most anticipated fight in the PPV era. PPV revenues figure to pump in a whopping $100 million-$150 million.
According to Dan Rafael, Schaefer said that 12,832 tickets are already committed to casinos, sponsors, HBO, Golden Boy and the Mayweather camp, even before they have been placed on sale. And that, dear readers, is my complaint. That means that there are 3,000 tickets for the folks that are just good old-fashioned, unconnected fight fans who would be willing but unable to purchase a ticket. And that figure will most likely drop before they do go on sale. It looks as if more income will be on the way from the closed circuit showings for the out-of-towners.
This will not be the first or last sporting event that is geared to the affluent, privileged few, and the ticket brokers stand to make a killing. GBP has been consistently loyal to MGM, but if there was ever in recent times a fight that cried out for an outdoor venue, this was it.
Also on the topic of Golden Boy, who is going to be in Oscar’s corner on May 5? Will Floyd Sr. be in the opposite corner of his son? Rumors have persisted that Senior’s presence may prove to be a distraction and he might be replaced. There are also whispered rumors that he might be replaced, but for other reasons, possibly over money, possibly other issues. Freddie Roach has been rumored as a replacement, but don’t bet on it unless the Pacquiao situation comes to a speedy resolution.
Contacted Wednesday, Floyd Sr. declined to comment for now.
You just got to love Larry. At 75, he is crankier than ever, still speaks his mind, and asks the hard-hitting questions, a rarity not only in boxing but all sports. Anytime you need proof of Merchant’s value to HBO Boxing, tune in to Boxing After Dark and watch Max Kellerman as he takes Larry’s chair. Max’s reaction to the camera is almost Nixonian.
Merchant is insightful, confrontational and can turn a phrase better than anyone with a headphone and mic. His interview with Mayweather Jr. after the Carlo Baldomir fight was classic Merchant at his very best. He gave “Pretty Boy” a better battle than Baldomir did. Maybe that was why Floyd was so emotional at the post-fight press conference.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Don and Lorraine Chargin Nobody has done more for the sport than Boxing’s Golden Couple. Hopefully this time next year, we’ll be celebrating Lorraine’s impending induction into the Hall of Fame to join her husband. Don began his career in boxing in 1945, and he and Lorraine are still promoting great boxing shows from coast to coast. Lorraine handles the business end, and there has probably never been a better matchmaker than Don Chargin. The Golden Boy people were shrewd to hire him as a consultant to help get their company off the ground, a position he still holds. Not only that, but you’ll never meet nicer people.
