Did Ring Magazine Get It Wrong? The 2007 Fighter Of The Year

Did Ring Magazine Get It Wrong? The 2007 Fighter Of The Year

After watching the video below, I think Ring Magazine did get it wrong.
Even Miguel Cotto should have been more deserving than Floyd Mayweather Jr., but Pavlik was the best candidate IMO and in many other peoples opinion too.

:o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QJwtmv86x8

youtube.com/watch?v=8QJwtmv86x8

The 2007 Fighter Of The Year - Did Ring Magazine Get It Wrong?


30.12.07 - by James Slater: I'm not a guy to argue with the self proclaimed "Bible of Boxing." At least not usually. But this year, when it comes to the Ring magazine's selection for fighter of the year award, I do find myself thinking they got it wrong. As most fans will be aware, Ring chose "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather as the fighter of the year for the last 12 months, and not Kelly Pavlik - a fighter many felt would get the vote. But while Mayweather is undeniably the best right now, pound-for-pound, did he achieve more ($ dollars pocketed aside) than "The Ghost" this year? I don't think so..

Sure, Mayweather beat the excellent duo that was Oscar De La Hoya and the unbeaten Ricky Hatton, but then Floyd was expected to emerge triumphant in those bouts, wasn't he? What about Pavlik, though? Kelly was no expert's overwhelming favourite going into his superb KO win over unbeaten middleweight king Jermain Taylor, nor was the man from Youngstown a no-brainer of a winner approaching his fight with the dangerous Edison Miranda.

But Pavlik did win, in so doing proving that he is not afraid of taking on an opponent that is capable of taking away his unbeaten record. Pavlik also gave the fans some tremendous action. Should he then, have been rewarded with the fighter of the year award from boxing's most respected publication? For what it's worth, I think he should have been. No-one is saying middleweight Pavlik is an all-round better fighter than Floyd Mayweather, it's just that on terms of breakthrough impact, odds-defying wins and battling through adversity, Kelly Pavlik more than distinguished himself in 2007. Getting up off the canvas, taking some serious bombs, capturing a world title AND thrilling boxing fans while doing it was surely enough for 25-year-old Kelly to have gotten what a lot of us thought he would have done a month or so back.

Yes, Mayweather looked good, perhaps better than ever, when stopping the brave Hatton, but let's not forget that Ricky is really a light-welterweight. Pavlik, on the other hand, defeated genuine, if not actually massive (Miranda) and fully-fledged middleweights. In short, Kelly picked on no-one less than his own size. And with regards to Floyd's close win over De La Hoya. Yes, Oscar is an all-time great, but a past his best future Hall of Famer, surely? Pavlik, by comparison, met fighters at their absolute peak - with both Jermain Taylor and Edison Miranda still very much in the title picture as we speak.

Let's be clear, Pavlik did everything the hard way in 2007. After getting past the big-punching Jose Luis Zertuche in January (KO8) in a fight that he was assured going in was a final eliminator for the WBC 160 pound title, the middleweight contender locked horns with the equally lethal Miranda in May and won that too (TKO7). Finally getting his well deserved title shot this past September, after having earned it, in effect, TWICE - and without complaint at that - Pavlik got off the floor to become the first man to beat the highly regarded Taylor.

There is little doubt in my mind; in terms of impact made, odds-defying wins, crowd-pleasing performances AND a take-on-all-comers attitude, Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik was 2007's real fighter of the year. Despite what boxing's bible said.

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=13845&more=1

Nope.............



They got it 100% right. Mayweather vs. Delahoya was waay too big, and Mayweather proved all the critics who said that he was "boring, ran too much, couldn't knock anybody out, etc. etc.," wrong in the Hatton fight.


He got his 5th weight class title from Oscar Delahoya (who was right around the same age as Mosley when he fought Cotto), not some slouch. Then he went on to dominate Ricky Hatton to prove that he truly is the best from 154 on down.

Pavlik beat a prospect (admittedly a fight that I thought Miranda would win) and beat Jermain in a great fight. Keep in mind that this is the same Jermain Taylor that many (myself included) thought lost his fight against Cory Spinks not too long before the Pavlik fight.

As for Cotto................. I gave him some credit for beating Judah, but this was a post Mayweather Judah and Mayweather has a tendency to ruin his opponents. Cotto vs. Mosley was great, but I don't give Cotto any more credit for beating Mosley than Mayweather for beating Oscar. Perhaps even less credit for Cotto being that Mayweather went up yet another weight class to fight Oscar, where as Cotto stayed within his comfort zone for Mosley.


Ring Magazine did a great job in this year's fighter of the year award.

Nah...Floyd was the fighter of the year, IWHO.

I liked Pavlik vs Taylor as fight of the year though.

You just have too much hate on you for industrial soap to wash off.

Deal.

:-*

Happy New Years, slut. ;) :lickish:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wacko3205

Nah...Floyd was the fighter of the year, IWHO.

I liked Pavlik vs Taylor as fight of the year though.

You just have too much hate on you for industrial soap to wash off.

Deal.

:-*

Happy New Years, slut. ;) :lickish:

---

I think the hate would come off faster off me than the blind LUST stank some of you are wearing.

Getting a questionable split decision over an OLD ODLH and beating a midget with HELP from Cortez, are not sufficient enough accomplishments from a so called pound for pound king to warrant such a prestigious award such as fighter of the year.
I would give Floyd "Defensive fighter of the year" if anything.

All I can say is: Stop wearing Floyd JockStrap Cologne because it impares your judgement something awful.
;D

How can you have a fighter of the year award when you don't even have any FIGHT of the year bouts?

LMAO!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Floyd_Fears_Cotto

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wacko3205

Nah...Floyd was the fighter of the year, IWHO.

I liked Pavlik vs Taylor as fight of the year though.

You just have too much hate on you for industrial soap to wash off.

Deal.

:-*

Happy New Years, slut. ;) :lickish:

---

I think the hate would come off faster off me than the blind LUST stank some of you are wearing.

Getting a questionable split decision over an OLD ODLH and beating a midget with HELP from Cortez, are not sufficient enough accomplishments from a so called pound for pound king to warrant such a prestigious award such as fighter of the year.
I would give Floyd "Defensive fighter of the year" if anything.

All I can say is: Stop wearing Floyd JockStrap Cologne because it impares your judgement something awful.
;D

How can you have a fighter of the year award when you don't even have any FIGHT of the year bouts?

LMAO!

---

Here in Vegas it will be 2008 in 45 minutes Danny, it's the new year trade the hater tag in for a new one, by the way Pavlik should have been fighter of the year with Floyd second.

I think Its pretty accurate with mayweatter as # 1.As much as I only watch his fights with the anticipation of a bug hitting the windsheild...You cannot with reason deny his talent and all over Ability.Trust me I cant stand the mouth of self-convincing king midas Mayweather but He Is the Fighter of 07'.Top notch ring generalship and streak
Lets not forget the Diva DLH & Floyds apparent Closeness in promotion.

All due respect to Pavlik ... just because his win was considered an upset does not make him more a candidate for boxer of the year than Mayweather, whose wins were "expected." The logic doesn't persuade.

I think they got it right. Floyd earned and deserves the respect.

When I say he earned it, I mean he earned it. No nut-huggin here.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NuthaPug

All due respect to Pavlik ... just because his win was considered an upset does not make him more a candidate for boxer of the year than Mayweather, whose wins were "expected." The logic doesn't persuade.

I think they got it right. Floyd earned and deserves the respect.

When I say he earned it, I mean he earned it. No nut-huggin here.

---

It's not just what Pavlik did, it's how he did it. He destroyed all three of his opponents.
He knocked all 3 fighters the phuk out, put them to sleep even. No one expected this.

Too many people expected Floyd to beat an OLD man and a midget. He did nothing extraordinary. The old man he supposedly beat, came out of that farce OOOPS I mean fight..unscaved.
He beat a midget with help from the ref who took Ricky out of his game and Floyd Ducked below the waist line <----ILLEGAL as phuk... over and over again and then just caught the midget running at him due to frustration. I was not impressed and neither were a lot of people.

Now that ODLH owns the ring mag, It can not be trusted.

>:mad

didnt golden boy productions buy ring magazine, and werent we expecting big changes in favor of goldenboy
flloyd fought all fights produced by golden boy

i give fllloyd credit the ko of hatton was awesome but the fight aganist odlh was not so special.


it should of went to pavlik

people slate floyd for not fighting someone his own size in hatton but DO NOT give him half the credit he deserves for fighting sumone bigger than him in de la hoya

They got it wrong. Mayweather has 2 good wins but none relevant to his rankings as a 147 pounder and he was heavy favourite in both.Or at least expected to win.

Pavlik went into his fights v a then thought of murderous punching Miranda,who was seen as THE dangerman and HOT favourite and Kelly ripped him to shreds and smashed his myth. Now Miranda is "1dimensional" and"can't fight going backwards" yet NO-ONE said that before the Kelly fight. Then he fights the LINEAR AND TRUE 160 pound champ who had 3 close fights with 2 Hall of Famers and made them both look bad and Kelly KTFO him out.2 HUGE,shock wins,earning him the lineal title. THAT is FOTY for me. I'd have Mayweather joint second with Cotto at best.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Floyd_Fears_Cotto

Did Ring Magazine Get It Wrong? The 2007 Fighter Of The Year

After watching the video below, I think Ring Magazine did get it wrong.
Even Miguel Cotto should have been more deserving than Floyd Mayweather Jr., but Pavlik was the best candidate IMO and in many other peoples opinion too.

:o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QJwtmv86x8

youtube.com/watch?v=8QJwtmv86x8

The 2007 Fighter Of The Year - Did Ring Magazine Get It Wrong?


30.12.07 - by James Slater: I'm not a guy to argue with the self proclaimed "Bible of Boxing." At least not usually. But this year, when it comes to the Ring magazine's selection for fighter of the year award, I do find myself thinking they got it wrong. As most fans will be aware, Ring chose "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather as the fighter of the year for the last 12 months, and not Kelly Pavlik - a fighter many felt would get the vote. But while Mayweather is undeniably the best right now, pound-for-pound, did he achieve more ($ dollars pocketed aside) than "The Ghost" this year? I don't think so..

Sure, Mayweather beat the excellent duo that was Oscar De La Hoya and the unbeaten Ricky Hatton, but then Floyd was expected to emerge triumphant in those bouts, wasn't he? What about Pavlik, though? Kelly was no expert's overwhelming favourite going into his superb KO win over unbeaten middleweight king Jermain Taylor, nor was the man from Youngstown a no-brainer of a winner approaching his fight with the dangerous Edison Miranda.

But Pavlik did win, in so doing proving that he is not afraid of taking on an opponent that is capable of taking away his unbeaten record. Pavlik also gave the fans some tremendous action. Should he then, have been rewarded with the fighter of the year award from boxing's most respected publication? For what it's worth, I think he should have been. No-one is saying middleweight Pavlik is an all-round better fighter than Floyd Mayweather, it's just that on terms of breakthrough impact, odds-defying wins and battling through adversity, Kelly Pavlik more than distinguished himself in 2007. Getting up off the canvas, taking some serious bombs, capturing a world title AND thrilling boxing fans while doing it was surely enough for 25-year-old Kelly to have gotten what a lot of us thought he would have done a month or so back.

Yes, Mayweather looked good, perhaps better than ever, when stopping the brave Hatton, but let's not forget that Ricky is really a light-welterweight. Pavlik, on the other hand, defeated genuine, if not actually massive (Miranda) and fully-fledged middleweights. In short, Kelly picked on no-one less than his own size. And with regards to Floyd's close win over De La Hoya. Yes, Oscar is an all-time great, but a past his best future Hall of Famer, surely? Pavlik, by comparison, met fighters at their absolute peak - with both Jermain Taylor and Edison Miranda still very much in the title picture as we speak.

Let's be clear, Pavlik did everything the hard way in 2007. After getting past the big-punching Jose Luis Zertuche in January (KO8) in a fight that he was assured going in was a final eliminator for the WBC 160 pound title, the middleweight contender locked horns with the equally lethal Miranda in May and won that too (TKO7). Finally getting his well deserved title shot this past September, after having earned it, in effect, TWICE - and without complaint at that - Pavlik got off the floor to become the first man to beat the highly regarded Taylor.

There is little doubt in my mind; in terms of impact made, odds-defying wins, crowd-pleasing performances AND a take-on-all-comers attitude, Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik was 2007's real fighter of the year. Despite what boxing's bible said.

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=13845&more=1

---

He deserves it. Floyd's been a busy boy this year, you just have a problem with him... ;)

Floyd deserved it but Pavlik did have a great year perhaps Pavlik or Cotto can get it next year.

I can imagine the guy's at Ring Mag spent as much time choosing as we will debating.

Personally I wanted Pavlik to get it.

But PBF has been part or 2 of the bigest boxing events in years.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Floyd_Fears_Cotto

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wacko3205

Nah...Floyd was the fighter of the year, IWHO.

I liked Pavlik vs Taylor as fight of the year though.

You just have too much hate on you for industrial soap to wash off.

Deal.

:-*

Happy New Years, slut. ;) :lickish:

---

I think the hate would come off faster off me than the blind LUST stank some of you are wearing.

Getting a questionable split decision over an OLD ODLH and beating a midget with HELP from Cortez, are not sufficient enough accomplishments from a so called pound for pound king to warrant such a prestigious award such as fighter of the year.
I would give Floyd "Defensive fighter of the year" if anything.

All I can say is: Stop wearing Floyd JockStrap Cologne because it impares your judgement something awful.
;D

How can you have a fighter of the year award when you don't even have any FIGHT of the year bouts?

LMAO!

---

Espn voted Hatton mayweather as fight of the year and it was shortlisted in most other sites awards.

And another thing what does being the pre fight favourite have to do with measuring an acomplishment? You can't downgrade someone's acheivements just because you thought they would win beforehand. Using that logic the best fighters could never be eligible to win fighter of the year and that is a logical absurdity.

To be honest, Pavlik, Mayweather, and Cotto ALL had a great year. I don't think any one of them is a clear cut winner. Thus, although the topic will certainly generate excellently articulated opinions, such as that of Frozen Solid, I will simply give thanks for ALL THREE entertaining me this year and hope the powers that be continue to put all three in the ring against the best, for my sake, but for boxing and the fans' sake.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bilbo

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Floyd_Fears_Cotto

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wacko3205

Nah...Floyd was the fighter of the year, IWHO.

I liked Pavlik vs Taylor as fight of the year though.

You just have too much hate on you for industrial soap to wash off.

Deal.

:-*

Happy New Years, slut. ;) :lickish:

---

I think the hate would come off faster off me than the blind LUST stank some of you are wearing.

Getting a questionable split decision over an OLD ODLH and beating a midget with HELP from Cortez, are not sufficient enough accomplishments from a so called pound for pound king to warrant such a prestigious award such as fighter of the year.
I would give Floyd "Defensive fighter of the year" if anything.

All I can say is: Stop wearing Floyd JockStrap Cologne because it impares your judgement something awful.
;D

How can you have a fighter of the year award when you don't even have any FIGHT of the year bouts?

LMAO!

---

Espn voted Hatton mayweather as fight of the year and it was shortlisted in most other sites awards.

And another thing what does being the pre fight favourite have to do with measuring an acomplishment? You can't downgrade someone's acheivements just because you thought they would win beforehand. Using that logic the best fighters could never be eligible to win fighter of the year and that is a logical absurdity.

---

Exactly, it's boxer of the year, not underdog of the year.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Floyd_Fears_Cotto

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NuthaPug

All due respect to Pavlik ... just because his win was considered an upset does not make him more a candidate for boxer of the year than Mayweather, whose wins were "expected." The logic doesn't persuade.

I think they got it right. Floyd earned and deserves the respect.

When I say he earned it, I mean he earned it. No nut-huggin here.

---

It's not just what Pavlik did, it's how he did it. He destroyed all three of his opponents.
He knocked all 3 fighters the phuk out, put them to sleep even. No one expected this.

Too many people expected Floyd to beat an OLD man and a midget. He did nothing extraordinary. The old man he supposedly beat, came out of that farce OOOPS I mean fight..unscaved.
He beat a midget with help from the ref who took Ricky out of his game and Floyd Ducked below the waist line <----ILLEGAL as phuk... over and over again and then just caught the midget running at him due to frustration. I was not impressed and neither were a lot of people.

Now that ODLH owns the ring mag, It can not be trusted.

>:mad

---

And not only did he knock out his 3 opponents last year, he knocked out 3 guys who had never been ktfo before, so that is saying something. I don't recall with Miranda and Zertuchi, but I know JT had never even touched the canvas before much less been put to sleep.

But fair play to Floyd, he won and nothing we can do about it now. Personally I thought Pavlik should have won as he beat the most feared MW in Miranda and also the long standing champ in Taylor, and did it very impressively for that matter. Though, Floyd did make Ricky headbutt the post, which could have affected the voting ;D Pavlik will win this year hopefully, or Cotto, with the way these future fights could line up and if they win.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Floyd_Fears_Cotto

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wacko3205

Nah...Floyd was the fighter of the year, IWHO.

I liked Pavlik vs Taylor as fight of the year though.

You just have too much hate on you for industrial soap to wash off.

Deal.

:-*

Happy New Years, slut. ;) :lickish:

---

I think the hate would come off faster off me than the blind LUST stank some of you are wearing.

Getting a questionable split decision over an OLD ODLH and beating a midget with HELP from Cortez, are not sufficient enough accomplishments from a so called pound for pound king to warrant such a prestigious award such as fighter of the year.
I would give Floyd "Defensive fighter of the year" if anything.

All I can say is: Stop wearing Floyd JockStrap Cologne because it impares your judgement something awful.
;D

How can you have a fighter of the year award when you don't even have any FIGHT of the year bouts?

LMAO!

---

I'll ignore your utter hatred for Floyd & the way it over comes you pressing you into total blindness...& reiterate the point : How about Hatton vs Floyd?

Several voted that one as fight of the year...& it was certainly an option...blindness on your behalf or not.

You can LYAO profusely on that note...because, believe you me, you do indeed come off as a blind hater. I know for fact that once Floyd handles Cotto...you'll fade off into the sunset.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by oakleyno1

people slate floyd for not fighting someone his own size in hatton but DO NOT give him half the credit he deserves for fighting sumone bigger than him in de la hoya

---

You call that a fight?
LMAO!

No wonder the people from MMA are laughing at this sport.
Next.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by El Gamo

They got it wrong. Mayweather has 2 good wins but none relevant to his rankings as a 147 pounder and he was heavy favourite in both.Or at least expected to win.

Pavlik went into his fights v a then thought of murderous punching Miranda,who was seen as THE dangerman and HOT favourite and Kelly ripped him to shreds and smashed his myth. Now Miranda is "1dimensional" and"can't fight going backwards" yet NO-ONE said that before the Kelly fight. Then he fights the LINEAR AND TRUE 160 pound champ who had 3 close fights with 2 Hall of Famers and made them both look bad and Kelly KTFO him out.2 HUGE,shock wins,earning him the lineal title. THAT is FOTY for me. I'd have Mayweather joint second with Cotto at best.

---

CC bro.

I don't want to fight a true Welter weight. LMAO!
How can you be called fighter of the year if you don't want to fight any real fighters?
Fight midgets and old men and let's call this the greates circus awards.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wacko3205

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Floyd_Fears_Cotto

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wacko3205

Nah...Floyd was the fighter of the year, IWHO.

I liked Pavlik vs Taylor as fight of the year though.

You just have too much hate on you for industrial soap to wash off.

Deal.

:-*

Happy New Years, slut. ;) :lickish:

---

I think the hate would come off faster off me than the blind LUST stank some of you are wearing.

Getting a questionable split decision over an OLD ODLH and beating a midget with HELP from Cortez, are not sufficient enough accomplishments from a so called pound for pound king to warrant such a prestigious award such as fighter of the year.
I would give Floyd "Defensive fighter of the year" if anything.

All I can say is: Stop wearing Floyd JockStrap Cologne because it impares your judgement something awful.
;D

How can you have a fighter of the year award when you don't even have any FIGHT of the year bouts?

LMAO!

---

I'll ignore your utter hatred for Floyd & the way it over comes you pressing you into total blindness...& reiterate the point : How about Hatton vs Floyd?

Several voted that one as fight of the year...& it was certainly an option...blindness on your behalf or not.

You can LYAO profusely on that note...because, believe you me, you do indeed come off as a blind hater. I know for fact that once Floyd handles Cotto...you'll fade off into the sunset.

---

I will not ignore your love fest triangle you have going on here for Floyd and neither will some of the rest of us.

Thank you and Happy Holidays.

PS.

You keep loving him and I will keep hating him.

When Cotto beats down Floyd (If Floyd has the nuts to get in there that is), you will again have to admit how wrong you were about Cotto.
You have been betting against Cotto since for ever and losing for ever and forever will you be having to eat your specialty dish = "crow".
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7...g20crowzg9.jpg
which is fine by me because it makes me laugh.

http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/2...30otvswcw9.jpg
What makes me laugh even more is that you guys actually think Floyd is stupid enough or brave enough to face Cotto. I still remember how terrofied Floyd was of Tony Margarito. DUCKED!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Floyd_Fears_Cotto

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wacko3205

Nah...Floyd was the fighter of the year, IWHO.

I liked Pavlik vs Taylor as fight of the year though.

You just have too much hate on you for industrial soap to wash off.

Deal.

:-*

Happy New Years, slut. ;) :lickish:

---

I think the hate would come off faster off me than the blind LUST stank some of you are wearing.

Getting a questionable split decision over an OLD ODLH and beating a midget with HELP from Cortez, are not sufficient enough accomplishments from a so called pound for pound king to warrant such a prestigious award such as fighter of the year.
I would give Floyd "Defensive fighter of the year" if anything.

All I can say is: Stop wearing Floyd JockStrap Cologne because it impares your judgement something awful.
;D

How can you have a fighter of the year award when you don't even have any FIGHT of the year bouts?

LMAO!

---

Oh right,the Hugman would have knocked out PBF if not for Cortez! I'm sick of people finding any absurd excuse.

I agree Pavlik has had one hell of a year but as much as a despise him........Floyd gets my vote. He beat an undefeated top ten p4p guy (sod it if he was smaller) and thats still good in my view. But DLH (even if he is past his best) was a risky fight. Floyd did what everyone wanted him to do this year and prevailed. Beat a bigger guy and beat a top 10 p4p fighter. This time last year I had no respect for him. I do now.

Now I'm gonna throw up for praising him :D

Yes I think they did get it wrong. Pavlik deserves it way more imo, he knock outed zatuchi a very tough chinned fighter and he literally put him to sleep. Then he went in against Miranda, most thought he would lose but he prove how much better he is by knocking him out. Miranda is also a very tough fighter that can hit hard. On top of that, Pavlik challenge the undisputed champion Taylor and also knocked him out after surviving a small error he made early on. Pavlik was dominant this year, having three huge knock out wins against great competition in his division which should mean more then fighting someone smaller (hatton) or going up in weight to fight a past it dela hoya and just barely winning by s.d.

Atleast Majority of us here in Saddoland got it right and in CUTMEMICKS poll we have Pavlik as SADDO's FIGHTER OF THE YEAR. Whats weird is I just notice at our homepage here on saddo, DAXX KAHN made an article that it was FLOYD that is our SADDO FIGHTER OF THE YEAR ??? what is up with that? Didn't we already voted Pavlik as our FIGHTER OF THE YEAR?

Can someone explain?

Mayweather was involved in the two biggest fights all year and won both of them. Like someone said before, its boxer of the year not underdog of the year. Mayweather truly was the boxer of the year.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Floyd_Fears_Cotto

Did Ring Magazine Get It Wrong? The 2007 Fighter Of The Year

After watching the video below, I think Ring Magazine did get it wrong.
Even Miguel Cotto should have been more deserving than Floyd Mayweather Jr., but Pavlik was the best candidate IMO and in many other peoples opinion too.

:o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QJwtmv86x8

youtube.com/watch?v=8QJwtmv86x8

The 2007 Fighter Of The Year - Did Ring Magazine Get It Wrong?


30.12.07 - by James Slater: I\'m not a guy to argue with the self proclaimed \"Bible of Boxing.\" At least not usually. But this year, when it comes to the Ring magazine\'s selection for fighter of the year award, I do find myself thinking they got it wrong. As most fans will be aware, Ring chose \"Pretty Boy\" Floyd Mayweather as the fighter of the year for the last 12 months, and not Kelly Pavlik - a fighter many felt would get the vote. But while Mayweather is undeniably the best right now, pound-for-pound, did he achieve more ($ dollars pocketed aside) than \"The Ghost\" this year? I don\'t think so..

Sure, Mayweather beat the excellent duo that was Oscar De La Hoya and the unbeaten Ricky Hatton, but then Floyd was expected to emerge triumphant in those bouts, wasn\'t he? What about Pavlik, though? Kelly was no expert\'s overwhelming favourite going into his superb KO win over unbeaten middleweight king Jermain Taylor, nor was the man from Youngstown a no-brainer of a winner approaching his fight with the dangerous Edison Miranda.

But Pavlik did win, in so doing proving that he is not afraid of taking on an opponent that is capable of taking away his unbeaten record. Pavlik also gave the fans some tremendous action. Should he then, have been rewarded with the fighter of the year award from boxing\'s most respected publication? For what it\'s worth, I think he should have been. No-one is saying middleweight Pavlik is an all-round better fighter than Floyd Mayweather, it\'s just that on terms of breakthrough impact, odds-defying wins and battling through adversity, Kelly Pavlik more than distinguished himself in 2007. Getting up off the canvas, taking some serious bombs, capturing a world title AND thrilling boxing fans while doing it was surely enough for 25-year-old Kelly to have gotten what a lot of us thought he would have done a month or so back.

Yes, Mayweather looked good, perhaps better than ever, when stopping the brave Hatton, but let\'s not forget that Ricky is really a light-welterweight. Pavlik, on the other hand, defeated genuine, if not actually massive (Miranda) and fully-fledged middleweights. In short, Kelly picked on no-one less than his own size. And with regards to Floyd\'s close win over De La Hoya. Yes, Oscar is an all-time great, but a past his best future Hall of Famer, surely? Pavlik, by comparison, met fighters at their absolute peak - with both Jermain Taylor and Edison Miranda still very much in the title picture as we speak.

Let\'s be clear, Pavlik did everything the hard way in 2007. After getting past the big-punching Jose Luis Zertuche in January (KO8) in a fight that he was assured going in was a final eliminator for the WBC 160 pound title, the middleweight contender locked horns with the equally lethal Miranda in May and won that too (TKO7). Finally getting his well deserved title shot this past September, after having earned it, in effect, TWICE - and without complaint at that - Pavlik got off the floor to become the first man to beat the highly regarded Taylor.

There is little doubt in my mind; in terms of impact made, odds-defying wins, crowd-pleasing performances AND a take-on-all-comers attitude, Kelly \"The Ghost\" Pavlik was 2007\'s real fighter of the year. Despite what boxing\'s bible said.

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=13845&more=1

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I think Pavlik should of won. But why do you think Cotto would be a better choice than Mayweather? All Cotto did was beat an old Shane Mosley, Zab Judah (a fighter who hadn\'t won in over 2 years going into the Cotto fight), and Oktay Urkel (a completely undeserving challenger). Shouldn\'t the criticism you place on Mayweather be also be placed on Cotto?

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Originally Posted by Snakey

Mayweather was involved in the two biggest fights all year and won both of them. Like someone said before, its boxer of the year not underdog of the year. Mayweather truly was the boxer of the year.

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Erm...being an underdog makes the win EVEN bigger than it is. When no-one expects you to win,(in fact in the Miranda fight,people thought Kelly would get destroyed) and you go and KTFO the other guy out,nothing is more impressive than that. He also won the Linear 160 pound championship.It's no contest imo.

I do think RIng got it wrong.Kelly Pavlik all the way for me

Pavlik wasn; even in the Top three for me...

Hardly anyone really rated pantera, he was a banger and nothing more. Now Taylor, sure he was the undisputed MW champ, but shit that guys reputation was getting worse by just about every fight since his last hopkins fight... The guy was showing by fight how clearly overrated he was and how ring lazy he was. He got knocked out of the top 10 p4p list before the fight, and was knocked out during it. It was a GREAT year for pavlik, but hardly a FOTY worthy imo, not by a long shot.

Mayweather beat an all time ring legend at his first shot and a new Weight. Oscar was not ring active sure, was he the best Oscar that had graced the ring? nop... but this guy doesn;t need to be fighitng 3 times a year now, he has faced so many greats, worked with so many great trainers there isn;t much more he can learn. Floyd impressed the hell out of me beating him. He then goes on to fight a top 10 p4p fighter, a Ring and undisputed champion at the weight below... The fact hatton was stepping up in weight had little baring on the outcome IMO... Floyd could of gone down and schooled him down there to. Didn't matter.

Let's compare to previous fighters of the year

2007: PBF
Ricky Hatton - TKO 10th round - previous Fighter of the year
ODLH - SD - PBF wins a title in his 5th weight class - previous fighter of the year

2006: Manny Pacquiao
Erik Morales - KO 3rd round - closed out the trilogy
Oscar Larios - UD - Not much to be said here
Erik Morales - TKO 10th round - set up a rubber match with the legend Morales

2005: Ricky Hatton
Carlos Maussa - KO 9th round - unification match Hatton heavily favored
Kostya Tszyu - RTD 11th round - Tszyu quits on his stool

2004: Glen Johnson
Antonio Tarver - SD
Roy Jones Jr - KO 9th round - Previous fighter of the Year
Clinton Woods - UD

2003: James Toney
Evander Holyfield - KO 9th round - Previous fighter of the Year
Vassiliy Jirov - UD

2002: Vernon Forrest
Shane Mosley - UD
Shane Mosley - UD

2001: Bernard Hopkins
Felix Trinidad - TKO 12th round Previous Fighter of the year
Keith Holmes - UD

2000: Felix Trinidad
Fernando Vargas - TKO 12th round
Mamadou Thiam - TKO 3rd round
David Reid - UD


By the standards of "The Ring Magazine" I can see how they would have two of their "Fighters of the Year" worth more than
Cotto or Pavlik's performances, I'm not trying to take anything away from either fighter they both had phenomenal years.
But by the standards of this publication they had 2 of their "BEST" fighters taken out in one year by a guy who just won a title in his 5th weight class.

Yeah I don't see the problem of having PBF as fighter of the year, he had a good year.

I wouldn't really have a problem with any of those three getting it to be honest, not like its that big of a deal and they all had good years.

I'm not fond of Floyd at all, but I do feel he deserves the accolade.