Fighter of the year 2010 – Sergio Martinez
December 27th, 2010
by Mohammed Nasir: The award for fighter of the year is almost as prestigious as becoming a world champion and a good, albeit not perfect, method of distinguishing good fighters from the greats. The tail end of 2009 saw everybody biting at the chomp for Mayweather v Pacquiao and while it is disappointing that the fight never materialized it has left the gate wide open for a more deserving fighter to scoop the award for 2010. My personal nominations for fighter of the year 2010 are as follows.
Critics of Amir Khan have rightfully questioned his ability to take a punch for years and many American fight fans wondered if he would crumble as soon as he fought outside of England. 2010 saw Khan emphatically demonstrate that neither of above apply to him.
Khan started the year with his American debut, a solid TKO against a revitalized and slick former world champion in Paulie Malignaggi. While the Magic Man was in fine form coming off two great performances against Juan Diaz, his lack of punching power meant that there was no danger of being knocked out and the win did little to help Khans reputation of being yet another coddled European fighter.
Following 18 months of speculation Khan did the unthinkable and accepted the challenge of Marcos Maidana, easily the hardest puncher currently operating at 140lbs. In a brutal and dramatic encounter that was closely contested by both pugilists, Khan displayed tremendous heart and chin to win a unanimous decision. Had it not been for the 1st round knockdown and the generous point deduction the cards would have been a lot closer. The power of Maidana was evident from the first bell as were his intentions. As Khan moved towards the centre of the ring with his glove raised to touch Maidana’s, the Argentine lunged in with a hook which was inches from landing, this was the first 5 seconds of an action packed 12 rounds which should be nominated for fight of the year 2010.
Having fought 2 top 10 former champions in good form, no one can accuse Khan of coasting through 2010. A fine year for the 24 year old which has raised everyone’s expectations in what he can realistically achieve in the sport. 2 years ago following his 1st round KO loss to Breidis Precott Khan being touted as a future champ was laughable but now he looks set to unify the division and creep up the p4p rankings.
FOTY 2010
Sergio Gabriel Martinez
Sergio Gabriel Martinez had an amazing 12 months and accomplished more than any other fighter in the sport in 2010. After years of fighting in the shadow of his South American counter parts, Martinez found himself at the wrong end of two questionable decisions in the most important fights of his life against Kermit Cintron and Paul Williams. Coming into 2010 Martinez had everything to prove and he surpassed all expectations despite fighting only twice.
Martinez’s first fight saw him move up from Junior middle to middleweight and his introduction to the weight was Undisputed Middleweight Champion of the world Kelly Pavlik. Many pointed out that Martinez possessed the footwork and accuracy to attack sporadically from unorthodox angle’s to bamboozle the one dimensional champion. Despite this Martinez was an underdog fighting a much bigger and stronger opponent than anyone he had fought previously. As it transpired Martinez destroyed Pavlik over 12 rounds, If Hopkins gave him a boxing lesson – Martinez was the PHD.
For his first defence the Champion took on the most feared man in the sport Paul Williams, the man who has been avoided by Mayweather and Pacquiao for years. It was clear that Martinez saw the fight as his chance for redemption. The opportunity to avenge the disgraceful robbery he suffered 12 months earlier and to propel himself to the highest echelons of the sport, making up of the 15 years of blood, sweat and tears in exchange for precious little.
Martinez sacrificed once more to receive his dues as he was forced to give into some ludicrous demands from the Williams camp – He agreed to a catch weight of 158 lbs, he agreed to take a smaller purse, he agreed to come into the ring and be announced first and fight out of the challengers corner. While the first is becoming increasingly common, the last three are nothing short of a slap in the face. Martinez agreed to the conditions because like the true GOAT’s that he would be victorious come fight night.
Martinez’s sacrifices paid off as he scored a second round knock out which is not only the KO of the year, but will probably go down as one of the greatest KOs in the history of the boxing. The problem with his magnificent displays is that he can kiss goodbye to any chance of getting a piece of either Mayweather or Pacquiao but after his display against Williams its hard for me to not rank Martinez as no 1 p4p fighter in the world.
In 2011 I would like to see Martinez unify the titles and retire as one of the best Middleweights of all time.
Tags: 47 Responses to “Fighter of the year 2010 – Sergio Martinez”
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Fighter of the Year and being #1 Pound For Pound is Synonymous. As Pacquiao would say “IT’S COMMON SENSE!” you can’t be P4P unless you’re the best fighter and being the best fighter makes you the fighter of the year! Sure, he defeated Pavlik and Williams BUT Pacquiao defeated Clottey and Margarito which again as Manny would say “I can’t believe it, they are bigger and stronger than me and I defeated them”! You can’t blame Pacquiao for destroying his opponent and being that great of a fighter!
I thought that 2010 was rather dull for boxing and no particular boxer stood out from the rest for me.
Boxing really does need some new heroes and dominant champions again to make the sport great once more.
Where are all the new Robinson’s, Hagler’s, Duran’s Leonard’s, Hearn’s and Tyson’s to rule their weight divisions?
People go big on the Martinez vs Pavlik fight, it was Sergios first outing at 160, but the fact is, Pavlik WAS asserting himself after a shaky start, and if he wasn’t descending into alcoholism he could have maintained pressure on Martinez and done some damage.
The 2nd round knockout of Williams was a class punch, but Williams has been shown to be over rated and it’s become clear he hasn’t carried his power up with him. Kermit the Frog was doing fine against Williams up until the “dive” and for some reason didn’t want to get back in the ring.
@Bri
Why don’t you read the f***ing article huh, ever heard of that? You will see the author mentioned both Pac and Mayweather, I just quoted him.
Tool!
I just watched the pavlik martinez fight on HBO on demand.pavlik could have won that fight had he asserted himself more,threw many more good body shots.He hurt Martinez with some casual shots in close but never realy concentraed there.Martinez is smart.
Oh MoreHamHead, your blatant attempt to pump Khan in there can’t be ignored, the same Khan who has hidden from Maidana for over a year then needs Cortez in there just to edge passed the smaller fighter.
The cheek of it, crafty but not unnoticed!, old Khan’s not making any lists this year Hamhead, except for fighter with the best smashed up face and biggest honker of a nose after midget Maidana gave him some solid bambi legs in round 10.
Martinez did fairly well against a washed up alcoholic and then KO’s an over rated Williams and he’s fighter of the year?.
Khan waited until the WBA were going to strip him of his title before he barely beat Maidana, showed no defense, no chin and no inside game, but sneaked a win with the help of the referee, and he’s runner up.
Yeh sounds about right, no wonder people are watching MMA.
@ gogo so i guess anyone who critisizes martinez is just haiting????
@gogo who said anything about manny????? why would u mention him?????
The hate for Pacquiao is getting out of hand, it’s kinda funny though seeing people get so upset about someone being so good.
Even the article has a go……”Paul Williams, the man who has been avoided by Mayweather and Pacquiao for years.”
Oh really? A guy who has never weighed in at over 150 and has only fought above lightweight for two years, has been ducking Paul Williams “for years”?
Williams has never weighed under 145, started out at middleweight. You make out as if they fought at the same weight for years.
Don’t be a sheep!
martinez didnt just knock someone out. he knocked out one of the top 5 p4p fighters in the world. he took on two of the top fighters in the world and beat them both. what would make him great? fighting has beens and fighters coming off being knocked out?????? would u respect him then??????
@Pascal is #1 everybody knows about Trevor Graham we all know how he helped countless U.S. athletes dope and how he showed them how not to get caught, we also know about Graham working with Ariza and Manny and how he helped Manny put on size and speed sure we know about his history but that still wouldn’t make Pascal #1 he should rematch B-hop. Martinez gets the Nod because Williams was getting turned down by Super Middl to Welter and Pavlik has never tasted defeat at Middleweight.
Martinez has my vote. He fought Kelly Pavlik who was highly ranked and much avoided and took his middleweight crown. The he fight Paul WIlliams who was often avoided and ducked and made short work of him. And stop with all the hate calling it a lucky punch. He walked around for weeks saying he would knock Williams out, he does it, and now people want to say it was a lucky punch.
He is fighter of the year because he took on the best and most dangerous fights available to him and came out looking stunning in both fights. Nobody else did that. Manny and Floyd fought lesser competition, khan fought Maidana but barely escaped, Pascal was lucky to draw against Hopkins although he did upset Dawson. Only Martinez took on thr best and bested the best
Sorry to say but Pascal was the champ ,and a draw was not a gift.You guys are suggesting he was beaten up like khan ,and he wasn,t .He got knockdowns,not the challenger who got the gift.
Sorry, but i think the Khan / Maidana fight was a much better fight – in terms of action and excitement.
What a joke. Martinez lands ONE GOOD SHOT and knocks someone out and he is the man now???
He was a nobody before and still is in true boxing fans eyes!
martinez took on a true belt holder not a paper champion and beat him he then took on a top 5 p4p boxer and knocked him out. not only fighter of the year he should be ranked #1 p4p in the world. manny has not taken on the proper compatition to keep that title. u cant continue to fight washed up beat up fighters and proclaim ur self the best in the world.
Pascal is #1……
What fight were you watching??????????
Pascal got a gift draw. yes, the KD’s were great but after about the 4th round Hopkins took control and had Pascal befuddled and confused. He just couldn’t deal with Bernard. And this is a 45 year old Hopkins.
This just goes to show how very good Roy Jones and Joe Calzaghe actually were.
“As it transpired Martinez destroyed Pavlik over 12 rounds, If Hopkins gave him a boxing lesson – Martinez was the PHD.”
I thought the fight was dead even at about the 8th round and Martinez was also knocked down. How was that more impressive than Hopkins maybe losing one or two rounds against Pavlik total?
Either way, martinez deserves FOTY and is a special pugilist.
Do you think we will see a rubber match between Martinez and Williams?
Or will Williams not want it?
Oh dear, no Americans in your list? This is bad
Knockout of the year, not fight of the year!
PAUL WILLIAMs #1…….
Maybe Knockout of the Year but not fighter of the Year… that is somewhat a lucky punch and Sergio needs to prove more not by judging the last fight alone.
How can Martinez get FOTY?
He got knocked down in 7th by Kelly Pavlik who is seriously in decline and Martinez spent most of the time back pedalling.
He was knocked out Margarito back in in 2000 and his only impressive fight this year was against Paul Williams, a blown up skinny welterweight.
Yes seriously, Martinez of course, great rematch with Williams and a peach of a shot after a great outing against the straight to rehab Pavlik, but Khan #2!.
Praying to the same god gets in the way for a lot of fans, it’s called being objective. Khan barely beat his mandatory opponent after a great start, he went to pieces and nearly got stopped by the referee who gave Khans corner a heads up to get him back in check.
Martinez has proved he’s doing things at the business end, and unlike Khan deserves a shot at PBF, now onto another subject.
Lots of towel heads are trying to sneak Khan in there and pretend his resume doesn’t smell like an Arabs sandal. It’s not working in the slightest, the 1000+ word essay on how legit Khan is doesn’t fly.
Yes, I’m liking the way “Mohameed” is trying to legitimise Khan by sliding him in as an also ran with Martinez.
YEH RIGHT!!!
Nice try fellow towelly, NO SALE. Khan waited till he was forced into the fight then got his nose smeared across his face and snudged through with some Cortez help to take an emphatic win by maybe a round. Khans already back to cherry picking.
bang on with this article.
@Pascals#1
There’s no proved evidence for Manny and his willing to take a blood test 14 days before and after the fight, and now you accusing manny like a version of Trevor Graham.. Your a F……kng IDIOT!!’
Danny Green should get FOTY if pascal doesn’t..
Sergio is a class act and deserves this. He never seems to have “convenient”excuses or distractions. IN and out of the ring, he is a professional and dedicated. Good for him.
~T
Dudes, Pacquiao will be fighter of the year and of the decade.
Sergio Martinez will get the knock out of the year.
Khan – Maidana could be the fight of the year but not so sure, maybe it will be Dawson – Pascal.
I agree with Sergio Martinez being fighter of the year, but your runner up is pathetic. That choice just showed how little about boxing this writer knows, and how he follows and believes the hype surronding this chump Khan, c’mon he shouldn’t even be mentioned on the top 10, he survived a war with Maidana, he didn’t win, winning means beating the other guy until the fights ends, not running around and being hit like a punching bag and waiting until the round ends. Golden Boy must be brain washing you with all the hype.
Pascal won’t get it cos hrs Canadian.
Yes..I would say yes. His two fights against better opponents should get him the award over Pacquiao.. Khan did a lousy job against Maidana..though he won but it wasn’t that impressive to merit runner-up honors. He barely survived..Pascal was also lucky to have knock Hopkins twice..so he can’t be considered.
Frighten of the year…Floyd M.
Seriuosly, I’d rather wait for the result.
part from dan rafael’s blog.
Pacquiao: I think I’d like to fight Marquez.
Arum: Did you say Mosley?
Pacquiao: No, Marquez. We have unfinished business and we had two great fights.
Arum: Did you say Mosley, or did I hear you say Miguel Cotto for a rematch?
Pacquiao: Well, maybe Berto. He’s a good, young fighter. He’s very fast.
Arum: Mosley, that’s what I thought you said.
Pacquiao: Bob, I think I definitely want the third fight with Marquez. That’s what my coach, Freddie Roach, wants. That’s what the fans want. That’s what I want.
Arum: So if it’s the fight with Mosley you want, then the fight with Mosley it shall be.
Pacquiao: Lock up Marquez, please. Let’s get it done.
Arum: Fine, we’ll get Mosley, whatever you say. You’re the boss. Someone get me James Prince on the phone so we can lock this up.
PASCAL WILL BE KING!!
@Pascal is #1: LMAO!!! Stop it man!! Seriously!! You got me cracking up over here!!
fighter of corpses of the year……..manny pacquiao
Martinez should get the Nod. he was under dog against Williams 1 against Pavlik and against williams in the rematch by as much as 4-1. in each of the fights. not too mention he was under dog can you believe against that frogger cintron. pascal ohh boyyy!!!!
Y would I be joking?? Pascal is genuinely goin to be a legend of th sport.. They will make movies about him and write books.. U wait and see!!!
@Pascal is #1, you kidding right? I mean seriously, you joking right? I mean like, for real? You pulling my leg right?
RJJ would’ve got chopped up in his prime Vs Pascal.. Pascal is the real deal.. Believe it!!
judging by title
one would be thinking
this guys got his shyt together
and posted the fighter of the year result
but still a load shyt
getting off on a dream result
Martinez is really good!! He be a champ for a long long time. Mayweather is next if hes got the balls to face Martinez.