By Alexis Aviles: The first major boxing match of 2011 was the lackluster affair between Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander, and just like that the year started off slow. Soon thereafter a potential Fight of the Year candidate ended in two rounds when Nonito Donaire KO’d Fernando Montiel on an episode of HBO B.A.D.

The following week Showtime put on a great card which saw Brandon Rios pull off an entertaining victory over Miguel Acosta to win the WBA Lightweight Title. That night was a sign of things to come. Although there were some less than interesting (Alvarez/Hatton, Klitschko/Solis), the entertaining outweighed the not-so-entertaining.

The trend started with Miguel Cotto taking on Mayorga on Showtime PPV. The fight which was expected to be a quick and easy victory for Cotto, became a contest of discipline and stamina, where finally Cotto got the 12th round TKO. The same night on HBO Andy Lee defeated Craig McEwan in an intense ten round battle, followed by Sergio Martinez handing Sergiy Dzinziruk his first loss via 8th round TKO. Yuriorkis Gamboa’s explosive victory over Jorge Solis. Marcos Maidana and Erik Morales’ epic FOTY caliber match-up that was nearly an upset in the making, but Maidana pulled off the decision. The next week another Fight of the Year candidate took place when a seesaw battle between Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto took place, which ended with the Vicious one taking away Berto’s title. The other title change and upset took place the same night after Orlando Solido shocked the crowd in Puerto Rico after stopping the former undefeated Juanma Lopez.

The rest of the year is looking bright with even more potential FOTY candidates in this upcoming weeks Pacquiao/Mosley. Later this years, Klitschko/Haye. The yet-to-be-announced rematch between Margarito and Miguel Cotto. The possibility of Pac/marquez III. Fantastic lightweight fights of Matthysse/Alexander and the possible Khan/Bradley fight. Whatever is next for young fighters Berto, Ortiz, Maidana and the old favorites who can still bang such as Morales, and Marquez. This year looks very promising and better than recent years on paper. Let’s all hope as boxing fans that it delivers.