Now that we’re officially inside the year 2007, we may look back at 2006 and assess which fighters, fights, etc.., need to be honored and recognized in various categories. 2006 was definitely an interesting year, and let’s go ahead and cross our fingers in unison hoping that 2007 outdoes it. Now on to the Best of the Best of 2006. Happy New Year Boxing Fanatics!
FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
MANNY PACQUIAO
Most of the boxing world knows that Erik Morales was past his prime when he defeated Pacquiao, but then again so was Marco Antonio Barrera when Pacquiao bested him. Nevertheless, Pacquiao should still be given great credit because Morales may still have had something left to give to the boxing world before Pacquiao took it all away from him. In 2006, Pacquiao racked up two dominant knockout victories over the legendary Morales and one against the respectable Oscar Larios. Many side with Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s victories over Zab Judah and Carlos Baldomir, however, overall Pacquiao’s quality and superior performances outweigh Mayweather’s edge in quantity (WBC title & linear bragging rights). The Filipino buzzsaw continued his excellent run in 2006 and practically retired a legend, and for that, Pacquiao is our choice as 2006’s Fighter of the Year.
FIGHT OF THE YEAR
SITCHATCHAWAL TKO10 MONSHIPOUR
Towards the end of the year, there was a lot of buzz that this was definitely the best fight to take place in 2006. Following my pugilistic duty as a boxing writer, I watched the fight and finally learned that all the buzz was indeed justified. If I had to compare this fight to other action packed fights of the past, I’d compare it to Morales vs. Barrera 1. For twelve rounds these two world class super bantamweights waged war hardly ever taking a step backwards. Most if not all the Boxing Fanatics inarguably concurred with this choice. Well, almost everyone.
I may get crucified for saying this, but I still almost choose Israel Vasquez vs. Jhonny Gonzalez as our choice for 2006’s Fight of the Year. I tend to be influenced more towards drama in a fight and the latter definitely had that. At one point it looked as if this fight would serve as Gonzalez’s coming out party. However, Vasquez’s heart, persistence, and power, shifted the momentum monstrously once he seated Gonzalez for the first time in the fight. Personally, for me, Monshipour/Sitchatchawal lacked the dramatic element although it had a ton of the Rock em’ Sock em’ element that many boxing fanatics tend to fall in love with. While watching the fight, I saw Sitchatchawal in control of the fight while slowly breaking down his hyper-active opponent. I was later shocked when I read other’s opinions of this matchup. Apparently, I was in the minority in believing that Sitchatchawal was ahead prior to him scoring the tenth round TKO. Go figure! All that said, Sitchatchawal/Monshipour takes the top honors in the end because it was a world class nail biting title fight between two combatants who left everything they had in that ring.
COMEBACK OF THE YEAR
BERNARD HOPKINS
Hopkins’ bouts with Jermain Taylor may have been debatable, however, one thing isn’t. In those fights he lacked the fire that once made him one of the most dominant middleweight champions in boxing history. But every great champion gets old, right? Well, that was the consensus after getting neutralized in both Taylor fights. Appearing stubborn and delusional, the 41 year old former middleweight champion decided to move up to light heavyweight and face the fighter that destroyed Roy Jones’ invincibility, Antonio Tarver. Many believed he was biting off more than he could chew seeing that he couldn’t even find it in him to dominate the much smaller Taylor. How would he be able to handle the much bigger and stronger Tarver? Perhaps that question should’ve been asked differently. How did we expect Tarver to handle a rejuvenated Hopkins?
Hopkins turned in one of the most picturesque and unexpected performances in recent times. Not only did he defeat his bigger opponent, he thoroughly dominated and embarrassed him. Talk about a great a comeback. Now there is talk of him squaring off against heavyweight titlist, Oleg Maskaev, or Super Middleweight King, Joe Calzaghe. Should we write him off again? I don’t think anyone can after this year’s performance.
UPSET OF THE YEAR
BALDOMIR UD12 JUDAH
Every once in awhile a fighter comes along and transforms himself from journeyman to world champion. In 2006, Carlos Baldomir assumed that role and pulled off the unthinkable when he upset Zab Judah. Virtually no one gave him a chance to win, but that didn’t matter to him. Baldomir entered that fight with an inner desire to bring it home and that he did. It took him several rounds to get warmed up, but in the middle rounds he finally decided to show that he belonged as Judah appeared more and more unsure of himself. In the seventh round, Baldomir finally took over when he landed a chin-checking right hand that gave Judah flashbacks of his TKO loss to Kostya Tsyzu years prior. When the fight was over and the cards were read, Baldomir had pulled off 2006’s Upset of the Year.
