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Blog Archive:

Seasonal sensations

Adam Smith hands out his worldwide awards for the year in boxing

Adam Smith Posted 28th July 2009 view comments

As it's the end of the season now, it is time to hand out some awards and following on from my last blog, where better to start than Amir Khan?

Unquestionably he wins the Comeback of the Season title. Much of the praise must go to Freddie Roach, who saw his young charge become his 25th world champion. Freddie's enjoyed a remarkable career that seems to be getting better and better.

Pacquiao and Roach: winners

Pacquiao and Roach: winners

What a season Freddie has had! He took, what looked at the time, a massive risk of putting Manny Pacquiao in with Oscar De La Hoya. Some people were calling the fight a 'circus show' or a 'cynical encounter'.

Many gave the Filipino whirlwind no chance whatsoever. Freddie called it exactly, saying that despite the size difference, Pacquiao's speed and movement would prove decisive. He even told us it would end around the eighth or ninth. Hardly anyone believed him!

Freddie Roach's gem, Manny Pacquiao, is my Fighter of the Season - those two sensational wins in superfights cement Pacquiao's position as pound-for-pound the best fighter on earth. Wonderful performances, and amazing that the sweet southpaw has climbed right through the weights. He's such a great guy too.

Adam Smith
Quotes of the week

Add to that Pacquiao's stunning dismantling of Ricky Hatton, plus this latest success of re-building Amir Khan, and Freddie Roach is of course the Trainer of the Season.

Roach's gem Manny Pacquiao is my Fighter of the Season - those two sensational wins in superfights cement Pacquiao's position as pound-for-pound the best fighter on earth. Wonderful performances, and amazing that the sweet southpaw has climbed right through the weights. He's such a great guy too.

Charismatic

Pacquiao may well have sent both Oscar and Ricky into retirement. Certainly we have said goodbye to the Golden Boy. Oscar De La Hoya has dazzled us ever since he struck Olympic gold in Barcelona. An unprecedented six-weight world champion, we will sorely miss the super-skilled and highly charismatic man, whose smile will still fortunately light up press conferences in his role as a promoter.

Ricky Hatton's boxing career is of course still in limbo. There has been much speculation of an Autumnal return, and maybe a future showdown with north west friend and rival Amir Khan. Ricky has nothing left to prove to anyone. A multi-belt, two-weight world champion, Hatton has thrilled us.

The Hitman's been Britain's most popular fighter of recent times, and he's only lost to the two outstanding fighters of his generation. Earlier this season Hatton looked good beating Paulie Malignaggi, and after a disjointed build-up, was then taken apart by Pacquiao.

Whichever direction Ricky goes, he will stay in the sport with many hats on! If he's no longer a fighter, he will be a manager, promoter, trainer and probably a commentator or analyst too.

Unfortunately for Hatton, the chilling ending to the Pacquiao fight - and maybe to his boxing career - is surely the Knockout of the Season.

We have already bid a fond farewell to the supreme Joe Calzaghe, who after 46 fights retires, unbeaten. The Welsh southpaw has been sensational, and in my opinion one of the finest British boxers of any era, of all time. He bowed out after overcoming an early scare, and cruising to a facile win over the once great Roy Jones Jr (who will probably reach the end against Jeff Lacy over the summer).

Nervous

As Joe exited stage left, the talented super-middleweight who has been chasing the Welshman for years, finally got his moment. Carl Froch brilliantly out-pointed the previously unbeaten Canadian Jean Pascal to become a world champion, before a nervous start almost saw him throw away the belt against decent American Jermain Taylor.

Yet Froch never gave up, and amazingly knocked out Taylor with 14 seconds to go. It was an incredible finish and that dramatic late victory is my Turnaround of the Year. The Nottingham favourite now enters this six-man super-middleweight tournament, and his challenge will begin with an October clash against another unbeaten prospect, Michigan's Andre Dirrell.

One of the most surprising elevations was that of Ireland's Bernard Dunne. Rather like Amir Khan, Dunne had to pick himself up after that devastating night against Kiko Martinez. Few gave him a hope against Ricardo Cordoba in March but, despite being floored twice, Dunne kept dropping Cordoba in the 11th round and finally got the stoppage.

Those who were at the O2 in Dublin say it was an unforgettable night. So, as good as Froch-Pascal was, Dunne's dramatic victory over Cordoba is one of my Fights of the Season.

Worldwide, there is little question that the five-knockdown, six-round thriller when Marcos Maidana stunned Victor Ortiz was the Overseas Fight of the Season - although the Juan Manuel Marquez wins over Joel Casamayor and Juan Diaz were great too.

Outclass

There were some real upsets Stateside as Bernard Hopkins rolled back the years to outclass Kelly Pavlik, Shane Mosley surprised Antonio Margarito (who was shamed and banned after that hand-wrapping incident) and Joseph Agbeko's recent victory over Vic Darchinyan was interesting too.

On the world scene, the Klitschko brothers continue to rule the heavyweights, Chad Dawson goes from strength to strength, Paul Williams is winning, but is still very much in the 'who needs him?' club.

Edwin Valero, Andre Berto, Jorge Linares, Joan Guzman, Timothy Bradley and Chris John are all still unbeaten, but the dynamite Puerto Rican puncher Juan Manuel Lopez is my Outstanding Hope for the Future. Keep an eye on him next season!

Next time out, we will look at the British scene over the past season...

Do you agree with Adam's choices? If not, let us know your picks for Comeback of the Year, Fighter of the Year, Trainer of the Year, Turnaround of the Year, Overseas Fight of the Year and Hope for the Future. Just fill in the feedback form below...

Comments (6)

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Gari Jones says...

Agree alot with these awards of Adams, Knockout, Trainer and Turnaround of the year. Another award would be most disappointing year and that would go to Enzo Maccrinelli, after the Haye KO loss he has'nt been the same since Afolabi and Lebedev badly beat him up and that has made his mind up to retire. Worst Tatics in a fight Ricky Hatton for fighting Pacman head on and forgetting to basically box.

Posted 06:10 3rd August 2009

Andrew Davies says...

Most of Adam Smith's choices you cant argue with, Pacquaio and Freddie have been the success story of the past 12 months. I agree with Mohamed Loc in picking J M Marquez KO of Juan Diaz as fight of the year. J M Lopez is sure thing to keep looking out for along with Danial Jacobs. Very disapointed in Victor Ortiz loss - it was a great fight, I hope he comes back stronger!! Cant wait for the Super 6 Tourny to begin its a great thing for boxing. I dont like Carl Froch but credit to him for putting it all on the line. Staying on a British note, the Olympians are coming along nicely, Tyson Fury is definatly worth a watch and real impressed with Nathan Cleverly - Hope this man goes all the way!!! Good Luck.

Posted 21:20 31st July 2009

Bog Hed says...

im not sure if ricky sdhoudl retire, every one is writing him off, hes only lost twice, but this 2nd lost mya show that he really could en up like roach or Ali, which no one wnats to see, regardless of wether he is liked or not, its bad publicity for the sport, all so, im sick of junior "the quitter" whitter, he feels it neccersery to fight all over britains best evern tho hes poo, its completely ridicoulous, he coudn't beat ricky even if ricky was 50, or khan, he shoudl maybe retire, hes doing nothing but spoiling boxing

Posted 03:48 29th July 2009

Mohamed Loc says...

fight of the year so far is juan diaz v juan manual marquez

Posted 02:08 29th July 2009

Karl Beale says...

im surprised you havnt mentioned britains up and comeing talents with khan of course as you mentioned but also cleverly,brook,saunders looks a treat,degale,franky gavin,jeffries,fury all have the potential to goto bigger and better things but i would have to agree with most of what you have said

Posted 14:51 28th July 2009

Elliott Noble says...

I agree with many of the points made. This year has been a good year for boxing and Amir Khan and Carl Froch have made it a fantastic year for British Boxing (lets hope David Haye can keep things going). However I personally feel that the froch Pascal fight was fight of the year, they just tried to tear each other up all fight and they both threw and took some heavy punches, a brilliant fight. I fell that the outstanding hope for the future should go to, despite losing, victor Ortiz. He is a fantastic boxer and despite his recent loss you can see he is goign to work hard for his next fight and i think he could be a unified world champion some day. But for the future of Boxing, britiah boxing in particular, we are should be looking forward to Tyson Fury, the charismatic giant, Frankie Gavin, the first britihs Amateur World Champion and our golden boy James Degale. But many people have not been talking as highly about Billy Joe Saunders, who to me has the workrate and determination to push himself far in the sport. However I think we have a good prospect of three future world champions there. Also Look out for fast eddie chambers, although I don't think he will beat Wladamir Klitschko, I think he will give a good account for himself. Lastly lets all get behind Paulie malignaggi, he is a great boxer and has the charisma to make boxing that little bit more interesting. I still think, if his hands hold out, he can become a world Champion.

Posted 11:36 28th July 2009

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