Oun Abbas Hussain – Managing Editor
Fight of the year – Takashi Miura vs Francisco Vargas
With much of the attention on the WBC middleweight main event between Miguel Cotto vs Saul Canelo Alvarez, the undercard fight between Takashi Miura and Francisco Vargas was my pick for fight of the year. With Miura’s WBC super featherweight title on the line, the fight produced excitement from the offset.
The fans were induced into a pulsating nine rounds of non-stop action. Miura was caught in the first round but looked to be controlling the fight thereafter, knocking down Vargas in the fourth.
The right eye of Vargas’ was cut open but in the ninth, and after taking much punishment throughout the fight, Vargas knocked down Miura with two flush rights. Muira survived the eight count but Tony Weeks shortly stopped the all-action fight after there was little resistance from Miura.
Vargas was hurt badly in the eighth but dug in deep to go on the attack in the ninth to take the WBC title.
Honourable mentions go to Marco Huck vs Krzysztof Glowacki, Andrzej Fonfora vs Nathan Cleverly and Roman Martinez vs Orlando Salido II.
My British fight of the year went to Dave Ryan vs John Wayne Hibbert II.
Fighter of the year – Floyd Mayweather
Floyd Mayweather faced his rival in Manny Pacquiao this year and ended the long-term dispute amongst the masses, beating the Philippines fighter comfortably. While the fight lacked the excitement some were looking for, Mayweather put on a masterclass in defence and counter punching to stop Pacquiao from fighting.
After winning the bout in May, Floyd faced Andre Berto to win again, equalling Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 unbeaten record. Gaining such a feat in his career and defeating Manny Pacquiao in the fashion he did makes him my fighter of the year.
Anthony Rivera- Social Media Coordinator and Staff Writer
Fight of the Year: Marco Huck vs. Krzysztof Glowacki
This was a tough one to choose between Huck/Glowacki and Miura/Vargas but I’m going to have to be a little bias since I was at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ for Huck vs Glowacki. It was a pro-Glowacki crowd going into the fight as the Poland represented big time in Newark. Glowacki stunned Huck to start the fight, however as the match progressed the champion started gaining steam. Huck eventually knocked down Glowacki with a punishing blow that almost ended the fight.
However, Glowacki was able to rebound and the fight continued. Leading in the scorecards into the eleventh round, Huck made a major mistake leaving himself open to a left hook followed by a straight right to send him to the canvas. Huck was unable to regain composure and Glowacki finished him off pounding him in the corner until the referee called for the bell. It was an amazing fight with an amazing atmosphere. Glowacki became the new cruiserweight champion and proved that he was not to be taken lightly in the division.
Fighter of the Year 2016: Saul “Canelo” Alvarez
As Floyd Mayweather’s illustrious career came to an end in 2015 a former opponent looked to take the mantle as the next big thing in boxing. Canelo Alvarez, who lost to Mayweather in 2013, has since been on a fire and cemented his name as “Fighter of the Year” in 2015.
Now even though Gennady Golovkin had a spectacular 2015 winning all three of his fights against Martin Murray, Willie Monroe Jr., and David Lemieux, Canelo still gets the nod having only fought twice this year. His fight with James Kirkland was a slugfest that ended in what quite possible could be the “Knockout of the Year” as Canelo put Kirkland to sleep in three rounds.
Canelo ended his year with the highly anticipated matchup with Miguel Cotto. An entertaining fight through out, Canelo proved that he is a star and bested Cotto with a 12 round unanimous decision victory. Canelo is heading in to 2016 on a high horse and we could be in store for a showdown between him and Golovkin. For now, Canelo should enjoy his reign at the top.
Samuel Constantinou-Coulter – Staff Writer
Fight of the year is Cleverly v Fonfara for me.
An all out war between two men who refused to give up. Incredible work rate and a fight that truly entertained.
My fighter of the year is Tyson Fury.
Fury has created history in defeating a man who has dominated the heavyweight division for over a decade. So many labelled him as nothing more then a loud mouthed trash talker. He proved all the doubters wrong by travelling over to Germany and out boxing the fighter who was considered the best in his division. This was a remarkable achievement and one which makes him the true fighter of the year.
Mike Rueda– Staff Writer
Fight of the year
Marco Huck vs Krzysztof Glowacki
It was a back and forth fight both men landing big Shots and hurting one another. Huck dropped Glowacki first and it looked like it would be a short night, but Glowacki not only survived, but got back into the fight. He started landing heavy shots and in the 11th round dropped Huck and once got up he didn’t let up and finished him. If not for Fury beating Klitschko, this would’ve been upset of the year as well
Fighter of the year
Saul Canelo Alvarez
It’s a tough choice there’s not really a clear cut winner, but I would go with Canelo. He has a knockout of the year candidate and he won arguably the biggest fight in beating cotto and possibly becoming the face of boxing. He showed vast improvement since losing to Mayweather. Now he has put himself into the next mega fight with GGG.
Emmily Simcock – Staff Writer
Fight of the year
Andrzej Fonfara Vs Nathan Cleverly
Andrzej Fonfara faced a revitalized version of Nathan Cleverly, in Chicago on October 16. Punch for punch, Cleverly used the jab well against Fonfara’s tight defence. Fonfara gained the upper hand in the seventh round after busting Cleverly’s nose. Fonfara won the battle by Unanimous decision, but both fighters come out of this fight looking better, Fonfara reasserted himself as a top light heavyweight and Cleverly’s performance gave him a promising future following two devastating loses.
Fighter of the year
I think Tyson Fury, had the biggest win of 2015 when he defeated Wladimir Klitschko in Germany, ending Klitschko’s nine-year run of dominance, a unanimous decision away from home over one of boxing’s greats, he surly deserves fighter of the year. Fury has everyone talking and excited about the heavyweight division again.
Kieran Hinphey – Staff writer
Fight of the year Kevin Mitchell v Jorge Linares
Amazing war and incredible display of courage, character, bravery, skill and will to win. All the things epitomise why we admire these great sportsmen.
Fighter of the year – Floyd Mayweather
Floyd Mayweather as he finally defeated former pound-for-pound no.1, current pound-for-pound top 3, future hall of famer, all time great and biggest rival Manny Pacquiao in the wealthiest and one the biggest fights of all time. The manner in which he did it, making it look so easy, and rising up to the mark like a true champion on the biggest occasion. Also for the level he performed at showed he is in another league to the rest in world boxing. Then finally to cap the year of equalling Marciano’s record and to leave his pro record still unbeaten, 49 – 0.
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