*** Saddos 2008 Boxing Awards ***

[ICB]

1. Fighter of the year: Manny Pacquiao
2. Fight of the year: Rafael Marquez vs Israel Vasquez 3
3. Round of the year: Kendall Holt vs Ricardo Torres Round 1
4. Knockout of the year: Edison Miranda vs David Banks
5. Upset of the year: Nate Campbell vs Juan Diaz
6. Comeback fighter of the year: Vitali Klitschko
7. Event of the year: ODLH vs Manny Pacquiao
8. Worst fight of the year: Zab Judah's last fight
9. Prospect of the year: Yuriokris Gamboa ? Don't know really
10. Robbery of the year: Humberto Soto vs Francisco Lorenzo

Edited.

[CFH]

Could anyone give me a list of the prospects you think qualify for Prospect of the Year?

[C-Lo]

Could anyone give me a list of the prospects you think qualify for Prospect of the Year?

Dude! I'm on the same boat. I can't decide on who I think should be prospect of the year either. I see flaws in a bunch of them, it's just up to me to figure out which would be the easiest to work on. I don't know why my indeciseveness on this is bothering me...

[CutMeMick]

A few threads listing prospects...

http://www.saddoboxing.com/boxingfor...ight=Prospects

http://www.saddoboxing.com/boxingfor...ight=Prospects

[CGM]

1. Fighter of the year: Manny Pacquiao
2. Fight of the year: Rafael Marquez vs Israel Vasquez 3
3. Round of the year: Kendall Holt vs Ricardo Torres Round 1
4. Knockout of the year: Edison Miranda vs David Banks
5. Upset of the year: Nate Campbell vs Juan Diaz
6. Comeback fighter of the year: Vitali Klitschko
7. Event of the year: ODLH vs Manny Pacquiao
8. Worst fight of the year: Zab Judah's last fight
9. Prospect of the year: Yuriokris Gamboa ? Don't know really
10. Robbery of the year: Humberto Soto vs Francisco Lorenzo

Edited.

ICB, I'm a little surprised at your pick for round of the year (Holt Torres, rd 1). What's your take on the headbutt controversy? Did this affect your decision?

cheers.

[RozzySean]

1. Manny Pacquiao
2. Margo/Cotto
3. Jones/Calzaghe 1 (Joe was legit hurt and came back)
4.Prescott/Khan
5. Oscar/Pac
6. Vitali
7. Margo / Cotto
8. Judah/Johnson
9. Tim Bradley
10. I'm with Amat - Guzman not making weight and robbing Campbell of a payday.

[Julius Rain]

Could anyone give me a list of the prospects you think qualify for Prospect of the Year?

its even harder cause people seem to have different definition of the word prospect. But anyway just vote for Bernabe Concepcion.

[amat]

Prospect is so tough because it's so vague. Some guys like Jacobs for instance look incredibly talented but not tested yet. I think one person who should get consideration is Andre Dirrell. I'm big on Andre Ward but Dirrell has been explosive this year and he has showed grit after being hurt by Hanshaw and coming back to win in spectacular style and then looked very good twice more this year against good fighters.

Another one that not a lot of people know about, Beibut Shumenov has been great this year. He bailed on the 2008 Olympics and went pro instead and started off his career knocking both Donnell Wiggins and Lavell Finger out in the first round in his 3rd and 4th fights and then outpointed Montell Griffin.

He fights Kelvin Davis yet. Unfortunately, since he's fighting in Kazachstan there isn't much video out there on him as a pro but there is plenty from his amateur days and I think his pro debut is somewhere on youtube.

[Pugilistic]

1. Antonio Margarito
2. Margarito/Cotto
3. Holt/Torres II
4. Khan/Prescott
5. Hopkins/Pavlik ( even though i knew he would win. )
6. Vitali Klitschko
7. DLH/PAC
8. Wlad Klitschko/Sultan Ibragimov
9. Kell Brook
10. Soto/Lorenzo

[XaduBoxer]

• Fighter of the Year: Manny Pacquiao
• Trainer of the Year: Freddie Roach
• Boxing Event of the Year: De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao
• Upset of the Year: Manny Pacquiao TKO8 over Oscar Dela Hoya
• Fight of the Year: Mtagwa vs. Villa
• Round of the Year: Round One: Holt vs. Torres II
• KO of the Year: Edison Miranda KO David Banks
• Prospect of the Year: Bernabe Concepcion
• Comeback Fighter of the Year. Vitali Klitschko

[Otley]

Here are the categories:
1. Fighter of the year Manny Pacquiao
2. Fight of the year Pascal v Froch
3. Round of the year was round was the 12th round against Mosley v's Mayorga
4. Knockout of the year Breidis Prescott destruction of Khan - Brilliant
5. Upset of the year Breidis Prescott destruction of Khan - Brilliant
6. Comeback fighter of the year Vitali Klitschko. Came back after injury to beat a formidable opponent
7. Event of the year Margo / Cotto
8. Wlad Klitschko/Sultan Ibragimov
9. Kell Brook
10. I can't really say there has been any robberies


Job Biscuit (That was tough)!!!


eh eh!!

[holmcall]

1) Pound for Pound Fighter of the Year: Manny Pacquiao

Joe Calzaghi became a Legend Killer in 2008 and Tony Margorito was ultra compelling, but Pacquiao brought to mind the great Henry Armstrong as he dismantled Oscar De La Hoya, slaughtered David Diaz and beat super tough Juan Manuel Marquez. And he did this in three different weight classes.

2) Fight of the Year: Mtagwa vs. Villa (November 7, 200

In a fight that gave new meaning to the words “fury” and “courage,” Rogers “The Tiger” Mtagwa (25-12-2) and Mexican warrior Tomas “El Norteno” Villa (20-6-4) engaged in almost ten rounds of wild ebb and flow savagery. The battle was held in Tucson..

3) Round of the Year: Round One: Holt vs. Torres II (July 5, 200

After decking Kendall Holt twice and nailing him with a hard shot on the break that referee Jay Nagey missed (as it happened behind his back), Ricardo “Mochuelo” Torres maneuvered Holt into a corner for the quick kill, but then he himself was rocked by either a punch or Holt’s head. Whatever it was (and it looked to be a head butt), it hurt Diaz badly and then a savage right sent him to “Barranquilla Dreamland.” It all took place in just 61 seconds.

4) Best breakthrough Fighter of the Year: Juan Manuel Lopez

“Juanma” left no doubts as he surged to prominence in 2008 with a first round KO over dangerous Daniel Ponce De Leon. He sports a complete arsenal of weapons topped by a gaudy KO percentage of 91.6 and a spotless record of 24 (KO 22)-0. The latest in a long line of Puerto Rican champions, this bomber has only fought six rounds in 2008 knocking out opponents like they were ten pins, but his first round blow out over Sergio Manuel Medina on December 6 affirmed his status as a major force to be reckoned with.

5) Upset of the year: Brian Vera TKO over Andy Lee (March 21, 200

2008 was the year of the upsets. Spinks lost Philips, Karmazin was upset by Bunema, Matthews lost to Choi, Sidorenko was shocked by Moreno as was Diaz by Campbell. As well, Williams was out pointed by Quintana, Forrest was upset by Mora, Lorenzo lost to Marquez, and Mijares was iced by Vic.

Yes, Pavlik was surprised by an inspired Hopkins, but that would be my choice for Most Inspired Performance of the Year. And, of course, should Rahman do the unthinkable against Wlad Klitchko on December 13 and Holyfield shock “The Beast from the East,” one week later, all bets are off!

The hyped and undefeated Lee, trained and highly touted by Manny Steward, was a heavy favorite to take out the brawling Vera who lacks technical skills but not a heart muscle. Lee entered the ring waiving to fans in the crowd and had a big smile on his face. The Texan, however, had other ideas as he hung tough and finally tired and stopped the Irishman in the seventh round before a stunned crowd at the Mohegan Sun Casino. Andy lacked any semblance of a back-up plan once he was in trouble. The fact that Vera would later be slaughtered by James Kirkland while Lee would stop Willie “The Gladiator” Gibbs in his next outing attested to the quality of the upset.

6) KO of the Year: Edison Miranda’s KO of David Banks (January 11,
200

Super middleweight “Pantera” Miranda scored a devastating third round icing over The Contender's David Banks at the Seminole Hardrock LIVE Arena. After moving Banks straight back, a big right hand left him sprawled through the bottom two ropes. He was counted out at the 1:15 mark, but no count was necessary. Banks was in “Contender’s Dreamland.” Mosley’s dramatic KO over Mayorga was a great one, and Urango’s fully leveraged ending over Vilches was concussive, but the suddenness of Pantera’s was downright scary..

7) Most exciting fighter of the year: Antonio Margarito

It’s difficult not to pick Pac Man, but Tony’s ability to stalk, trap and then finish off his prey with one heavy shot after another is better than anything you will see on the Discovery Channel. This monster’s style of starting slow but using a high punch volume and incoming pressure to wear out his opponents setting them up for brutal closure is as exciting as it gets.

But there are three additional factors that accentuate his particular brand of seek and destroy. First, his granite-like chin allows him to keep the pressure on; secondly, his stamina is great and he gets stronger as the fight progresses; and thirdly (and most startling), is his unique way of virtually jogging after his tiring foes, something guaranteed to deplete anyone’s spirit as Miguel Cotto found out.

There is no such thing as a boring Margorito or Pacquiao fight.

Comeback Fighter of the Year. Vitali Klitschko

After suffering a devastating KO at the hands of Nonito Donaire, Vic Darchinyan made a great comeback in 2008, but Klitchko overshadowed it by coming back after four years to dominate and stop The Nigerian Nightmare, Sam Peter. This was a truly amazing feat.

9) Mismatch of the year: Wonjongkam vs. Sutton (October 31, 200

Thai southpaw, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam stopped Indonesian Danny Sutton in two brutal rounds. Wonjongkam was 68-3-1 coming in and had lost only once in his last 41 bouts. As for Sutton, this was his professional debut! Disgraceful match up.

10) Worse Decision of the Year: Figuero SD over Augustus (Nov. 8 200

Judges Frank Lombardi had it right at 77-75. Judges Billy Costello and John McKaie did not. They had it 77-75 for the Bronx -based “El Gato.” The fight was at Madison Square Garden. Interestingly, both of Figuero’s losses came outside of NYC. Oh yes, last year’s worse decision (Cassamayor vs. Santa Cruz) also took place at the Garden.

Of course, Bute’s UD over Andrade was highly controversial as well. And Soto comes to mind as well.

11) Trainer of the Year: Freddie Roach

He wins hands down for the manner in which he guided Pacquiao to his three big wins in 2008. He even called the De La Hoya fight on the money. Freddie studied the Steve Forbes fight films and plotted the perfect strategy. Seemingly alone in his findings, he concluded an aged Oscar could no longer pull the trigger, nor could he or his now tender skin handle Manny‘s pressure.

12) Boxing Event of the Year: De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao (December 6, 2008)

Given the difference in size, it had the makings of a mismatch, but as it turned out, size (as in height) was the only thing in Oscar’s favor. Still, when he fights, it is a major event including ultra-hype, 24-7 ad nauseam, adoring female fans, expensive PPV, the ethnic factor, Golden Boy Promotions, etc, But the thing is, none of this seemed to have anything to do with the fact he is well passed his prime. Like Mike Tyson, fighting the “Golden Boy” guarantees gold in an opponent’s pockets. And like Tyson toward the end of his career, Oscar is an “event fighter.”

[Ky7le]

1-Pacman
2-Marquez-Vasquez III
3-Marquez-Vasquez III RD 12
4-Marquez Casamyor 11 rd ko
5-Hopkins Pavlik
6-Hollyfield(Hopefully)
7-Cotto Margarito
8-Klitschko Rahman(i may have to change this to a different Wlad fight)
9-Gamboa
10-Lorenzo Soto

[bzkfn]

Sorry I haven't been around much this year guys. Working overtime just kills me atm.

1. Fighter of the year: Manny Pacquiao
2. Fight of the Year: Pac vs. JMM II - I was on the edge of my seat.
3. Round of the year: Holt vs. Torres II Round 1
4. Knockout of the Year: Martin Lindsay KO'ing Derry Matthews
5. Upset of the year: Pac over Oscar...I just didn't think it possible
6. Comeback fighter of the year: Has to be Vic Darchinyan!
7. Event of the year: Haye-Maccarinelli (They made a big deal on Setanta and I went to the fight)
8. Worst fight of the year: Wladimir Klitschko vs. Sultan Ibragimov (Piss poor excuse for a unification title fight)
9. Prospect of the year: Kell Brook
10. Robbery of the year: Holt over Torres for me. Unintentional headbutt or not, that is a shitty way to lose a world title.

I'd like to add my own moment of the year. Thank you to Timothy Bradley for snatching Junior Witters dream away. When he knocked him down with that punch, I must confess I was extremely jealous.

[kingfrnk]

1. Fighter of the year = Pac
2. Fight of the year - Vazquez vs Marquez
3. Round of the year - Torres - Holt
4. Knockout of the year - Vic over Mijares for me
5. Upset of the year - Pav vs Hopkins
6. Comeback fighter of the year - Vitali
7. Event of the year - Dream Match lol
8. Worst fight of the year - im gonna be like ICB and say Zabs last fight as well.
9. Prospect of the year - Gamboa
10. Robbery of the year - Soto - Lorenzo