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Boxing Shows Promise in 2006
WED December 27, JULIUS STECKER - Rocky Balboa is back. Oscar De La Hoya is back. What more could boxing want in 2006? Maybe a legitimate heavyweight champion, but that can wait until 2007. In a year highlighted by great fights and the rise of a boxing superstar, not named Floyd Mayweather Jr. Boxing made its presence felt over the sports world. As we always do every year, lets reflect back and hand out awards for some great performances, and some not so great ones.
Fighter of the Year
Manny Pacquiao
What more could you want out of a fighter, he has passion, guts, heart, and most of all he is exciting. Manny Pacquiao cemented his claim as one of the top 3 fighters in the sport with 2 resounding victories over the legendary Erik Morales, and another awesome win over the respected Oscar Larios. It is the sort of trifecta that most fighters dream about, but seldom accomplish. The Pacman not only achieved this, he dominated almost every round in the process. If it wasn’t for a few anxious moments early in the 2nd Morales fight, and the Larios fight, Manny may have dominated every round against top-flight opponents.
Pacquiao is the sort of fighter who needs no tune-ups. He just needs legacy fights. And if the trend of 2006 continues we may see more of those in 2007.
Fight of the Year
Kermit Cintron-David Estrada
I may take a lot of heat for this, because the Israel Vasquez-Jhonny Gonzalez fight was excellent as well, but you have to love it when 2 guys careers are on the line in a crossroads fight on regular cable TV. As a fight fan, it is seldom you will see good fights that don’t require a $49.95 price tag, or an HBO/Showtime subscription. That is why I chose Kermit Cintron-David Estrada as fight of the year.
This fight took place on April 19th on ESPN 2, and it turned out to be an excellent give and take affair. Early on it was Cintron controlling the action with his reach and power. The middle rounds belonged to Estrada as his pressure and relentlessness gained him control. From the 7th round on each guy was ready to go, but Cintron got the upper hand by round 9. After that he scored a spectacular stoppage win in a memorable fight that may go unnoticed by a lot of fight pundits.
Comeback of the Year
Oscar De La Hoya and Sugar Shane Mosley
Oscar De La Hoya and Sugar Shane Mosley both deserve this award. De La Hoya came back when boxing needed him most. His rousing knockout performance over wild man Ricardo Mayorga for the WBC Super Welterweight Crown in May was fantastic. And the PPV number of close to 1 million buys is a testament to the Golden Boy’s drawing power. There is a super fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. on the horizon in May 2007, in what could be the biggest non-heavyweight fight of all time.
Sugar Shane Mosley on the other hand, is the forgotten superstar. He will go down as a hall of famer when it is all said and done. But to start 2006 almost everybody who carried a boxing writers pen said he was finished as a world-class fighter. Message to all, Mosley is back and he is still an excellent fighter. Mosley scored 2 knockout victories over former Jr. Middleweight champion Fernando Vargas, setting the stage for a possible big 2007 for the modern day Sugarman.
Bonehead of the Year
Zab Judah
This honor goes to no one other then Zab ‘not so super’ Judah. First it was his debacle against Carlos Baldomir in January due to a lack of conditioning. Then it was his Malay against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in April. When will this guy ever learn he has the talent of an all time great? The trouble is he has the head of an all time bonehead. So instead of calling him an all-time great fighter we will call him an all-time bonehead until he proves otherwise. Maybe he can get things straight in 2007, because he still has youth and talent on his side. You just wish he could develop other talents, like attitude and common sense.
Contender and Prospect of the Year
Paul Williams
A 6’1” welterweight with an 82” inch reach, and a 32-0 record with 24 knockouts. You must think I’m crazy. But no I am not. There is a guy by the name of Paul Williams out there, and he is down right scary. If we come to learn that his whiskers are as good as his game, watch out. His destruction of former world champion Sharmba Mitchell in August served notice. If he can get Antonio Margarito in the ring, we may see a great fight in early 2007.
Time to Retire this Year
Fernando Vargas, Arturo Gatti, and Erik Morales
Memo to these fighters, you were all brilliant in your primes. You all stamped a legacy on the sport of boxing. Gatti, you gave us some of the best and greatest fights of the last 20 years, and for that you will be appreciated. Vargas, you displayed a heart seldom seen in athletics, and even in defeat you proved why fight fans loved your tenacity. Morales, your fights with Marco Antonio Barrera were breathtaking in their savagery. And your other ring wars were not to be scoffed at either.
You all made millions of dollars, millions of fans, and hundreds of memories. But when you take beatings like you have taken in 2006, it is time to go. Enjoy your money; enjoy your family, and 10 years from now at your Hall of Fame induction take a bow. You see you gave us fight fans great memories, and that is something nobody will every take away from you.
In 20 years from now when we talk about the distinguished fights of yesteryear at a local sports bar, we will bring up the comeback knock out win over Gabriel Ruelas, the back and forth rousing affair against Felix Trinidad, and the trilogy against Barrera. You might be in your late 40’s or 50’s then, without a title belt around your waist. But we will still call you champ, and you will still get an applause everytime we see you.
Julius Stecker can be reached at:jstecker@talkingboxing.com - and always enjoys receiving your thoughts, comments and questions
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