Ted Sares’s Top Boxing Awards for 2009: Pacquiao, Mosley, Roach, More!
December 27th, 2009
By Ted Sares:
1. Fighter of the Year: Manny Pacquiao
An easy choice this year. After retiring Oscar De La Hoya late in 2008, he rendered unconscious Ricky Hatton in two and then stopped Miguel Cotto after he finally chased him down in the 12th round. Manny is THE event fighter in boxing going into 2010.
2. Fight of the Year: Bernard Dunne vs. Ricardo “Maestrito” Cordoba
Dunne was dropped and hurt badly twice in the fifth round while his Panamanian opponent was decked in the third and then three times more in the eleventh round after which the fight was finally stopped in front of a roaring crowd in Dublin.
3. Round of the Year: Round twelve, Rogers Mtagwa vs. Juan Manuel Lopez
“Juanma” was almost taken out by “The Tiger” from Philadelphia by way of Tanzania, but fought back to survive the grueling round and win the fight with his title on the line. “The Tiger” is the kind of guy that can make this list in different categories every year.
4. Breakthrough Fighter of the Year: Yonnhy Perez
At 20-0, he first stopped Silence Mabuza in South Africa in the 12th round to win the IBF bantamweight title eliminator. Then, in a great fight which featured incredible punch volume, he beat Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko to win the title. Though born in Colombia, he has done all of his work in the U.S and mostly in California. This stylist will be tough to dethrone.
5. Upset of the year: Juan Carlos Salgado over Jorge Linares
Undefeated WBA super featherweight champion Linares is dropped twice in the first round by unknown Salgado and loses his title in Tokyo in a shocker.
6. KO of the Year: Pacquiao over Ricky Hatton in round two
It was decisive, scary and chilling. It was the kind that should make the victim think about other career options and left observers worrying about his future well being.
7. Most Exciting Fighter of the Year: Manny Pacquiao
Who else? With his speed, in-and-out whirlwind style, and malefic punches coming from every angle, he brings electricity into the ring every time he fights.
8. Comeback Fighter of the Year: Sugar Shane Mosley
After so-so performances against Miguel Cotto in 2007 and Ricardo Mayorga in 2008, Sugar Shane was seen as aging and was not expected to do much against the then imposing (but soon to be disgraced) Antonio Margarito who had demolished the same Cotto. Instead, he fought an almost perfect fight destroying the “Tijuana Tornado” in brutal fashion over 9 furious rounds. SSM is back and good to go.
9. Worse Decision of the Year: Ali Funeka vs. Joan Guzman
American judge Joe Pasquale had it right at 116-112. The two Canadian judges had it wrong at 114-114 for a majority draw. All one had to do was to look at Guzman’s face at the end of the fight to know how awful this decision was.
10. Trainer of the Year: Freddie Roach
He trains Manny Pacquiao. Enough said. But for some icing on the cake, he also has done a great job with Amir Khan.
11. Ugliest Boxing Moment of the Year
Heavyweight Joey Abell’s after-the-bell KO over fellow-Minnesota resident Raphael “The Silencer” Butler (35-8) in the first round on December 4 resulted in Butler being silenced with what looked to be a sucker punch. As Butler lay unconscious, his corner man ran into the ring after Abell upon which Abell’s corner joined the fray. What ensued was a mini-riot and a no-contest.
12. Ugliest Boxing story of the Year
“Wrap Gate” featuring Antonio Margarito and trainer Javier Capetillo who were suspended after their instantly infamous handwrap controversy in January.
13. Good Guy of the Year Award: Showtime announcer Nick Charles
Like a fighter, just give me one round at a time and I’ll eventually win. I have a positive attitude, a strong Christian faith, and an amazing support system especially within the boxing family.
–Nick Charles
Nick, a class act indeed has been behind the microphone to call hundreds of fights. Now, he has his own fight as he battles bladder cancer. Nick warrants the prayers of every boxing fan and our collective wishes for a full and complete recovery.
Tags: Hatton vs. Pacquiao, Hatton-Pacquiao ,Bernard Hopkins, Freddie Roach, Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosley68 Responses to “Ted Sares’s Top Boxing Awards for 2009: Pacquiao, Mosley, Roach, More!”
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Happy New Years to all.
Top Boxing Award. Goes to Ted, for the best freelance writer on the planet.
Geneva
Hey Paisano, Great to see you here. I wish I was in Genva right now, We could have some nice Groppa and then some real fun.
Thanks Ted for another excellent piece of work
Your italo-swiss-french-austrian friend
Thanks, Stink
Great picks here. I agree for the most part
F-16, that fight was a joke. A little guy blown up…this IS why Manny IS the greatest warrior of them all.
Pavlik vs Martinez should be a good one guys.
Ferrari 16 , good one. How about Pavlik vs Espino?
Mismatch of the year anyone?
Mayweather versus Marquez?
That makes me happy, Mullen
Uncle Ted, speaking of Brilliiant everytime I read your book Reelin’ In The Years Boxing And More/ I learn something new.
brilliant
Louie Ha Ha, I need the other 3 back.
This is an old school gangster article.
gOOD QUESTION, hE IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.
where IS Mr Bill?
ppfftt
Geez Blast, yeah–that’s all I got!
here in-prov, that’s all?
ok
Kid Blast, I fully acknowledged Charles is considered a great guy by everyone who has met him whom I have read or spoken with. I feel for him and hope he gets better.
I just don’t consider him (or Farhood, but that is a much longer argument) to be a class act /professionally/, and question his worthiness for a good guy award based on his occasional lack of what I consider professional ethics vis a vis his broadcasting job.
I do wonder, at least a little, how much of Mosley/Margarito had to do with Shane and how much to a lack of Margarito; however, Shane did look great. Perez was a breakout force, no doubt, and I’m certainly looking forward to seeing him again. Didn’t see the Dunne fight, but I loved Williams/Martinez.
DRMULLEN , here is a drum roll for you.
Yeah, that was an aaold fashioned barn burner Irish style. None better
Have to agree wiyh fight of the year i was at it and it was a belter.
Thaty’ the best list I have seen yet. This guy thought this through.
The Boxing Geek , Nick is an all-around classy guy who is about as humble as one can get. I met him earlier this year in Worcester before he got sick and would have included him in this list at any rate. He impressed me that much with his class and humility–as did Farhood for that matter. I expected pompousity abd got the opposite,
above it says IS your bank collapsing?…..Nah, just my accounts. Wink. Dats all folks…
Years -N- years bustin’ my hump, what do I get? Chavez “Taxi” Jr…you see in all 5 burrows, I’m known….what IS he? A spoke on a wheel, even a one legged-mutt gets more respect and a warm piece of the side-walk..
Talk`n about European fighters and fights that could have made the Awards “list” I have to think of Jürgen Brähmer and Zolt Erdei. Both these guys had great and recent fights with both showing grit , courage and skill yet beating their opponent even when things looked very bad indeed.
One has to also comment on the “comback” of Vitali Klitschko as remarkable and very decisive in putting away foe after foe with seeming ease.
These three are only a few of the remarkable European talent that have made boxing enjoyable viewing for millions in the past year.
Great list and your piece on Nick Charles was great.
An unbeatng record don’t mean a champ is the greatest, most of the time it means they took they the eazy path. A real champ comes back from a loss, in devastating fashion..like Paul Williams did vs Carlos Quintana in fight #2.or Roy Jones vs Montell in fight #2 those are champs…or if these unbeating champS fought the best.
Eh. I am tremendously sympathetic to Nick Charles’ battle with cancer and I hope he wins. I also know from extensive reading that boxing writers throughout the print and electronic media consider Charles one of the nicest men in boxing.
On the other hand, I don’t know that being a nice guy with bad luck rates an award. Charles has not always proven to be a particularly good or honest broadcaster on ShoBox. He and color commentator Steve Farhood have thrown oil on otherwise calm waters in order to talk up the house fighter or generate controversy where none should have existed. Not necessarily a good guy /professionally./
I do hope Charles recovers, as bladder cancer is particularly ugly and unpleasant and Charles IS a nice guy.
Mosley, gave cheater margarito, a beat-down. Nap time, workouts at 10pm west coast time. Peace chaps.
Not to cause any confusion, just call me doc.
Uncle Ted, soon I will send you a picture of me, Domenico, mike.
Ted, I’m a brother of Mullen, not a nephew
Tua, Rocks!
I meant says = more hits. Wink.
Mama-mullen, say have a drink on her.
anonymous. ??
OK, Doc. And regards to your mother as well, mate
Merry Christmas to all on this cool board.
You Too, Goatsnake.
no ugliest boxing write-up of the year? Manuel Perez and Liam Santiago are vying for it.
Girlie fighter of the year should go to floyd or malignaggie though
Even though My 49ers won 20-6. Colts 14-1 – Jim, Browns won 23-9 – why did Peyton’s “Place” Manning leave in the 3rd Quarter? – New England won cheaters.
Goatsnake, Jamie Moore is never in a dull fight, never. Remember Moore-Maklin.
Hey Doc — Have a great new year mate!
I liked Tua’s comeback(?) also, brief as it was.
My 49ers Suck!
Solid list Ted. Marquez v Diaz was my personal favourite FOTY. Have you seen the Ryan Rhodes v Jamie Moore fight? Right up there too!
dont u have a spot for a fighter that has zero loss.
cherrypicker fighter
DUCK fighter
FrankinDallas, ggod one. Never even thought of it.
Where is the award for DUCKING…
Agree with most. Good write, #6 Abraham ko of Taylor. Hatton will be on his back again in 2010.
Froch-Taylor FOTY.
Comback of the Year… How about Paul Spadafora? Came back from jail time to win.
Merry Xmas Ted my man & a happy new year mate. Look forward to your great articles in 2010.
Well, he is certainly great
1st GOD Of War – Manny Pacquiao.
Thanks, Mullen
My prayers go out to Nick Charles.
Great picture of Nick Charles, Uncle Ted how is Nick doing? Thanks.
Fighter of the century, Manny Pacquiao.
Uncle Ewald , Rendo and Samuels alomst made my Fight of the Year, but aside from that, who else in Europe?
Okay lots of good choices here but what about some fighters out of Europe (other than Hatton)? There were lots of good fights with much talent across the big pond as well.
Great Article
Agree on almost everything on there expect fight of the year i’d go with Marquez-Diaz