Adam Smith looks back at some of the highs and lows of 2009 in part one of his boxing review.
Part One of best of British in 2009
There's no better place in which to end our live coverage of 2009 than in the spit and sawdust of York Hall, Bethnal Green - the spiritual home of British boxing.
Our final Friday Fight Night of the year features a solid double title show, as Liverpool's amiable and decent Carl Dilks enjoys an unexpected chance to become Commonwealth super-middleweight champion against Ghana's very tough Charles Adamu, and there's an interesting European heavyweight meeting between popular Pole Albert Sosnowski and Italy's experienced Paolo Vidoz.
It's been a feel good year for British boxing. David Haye has captured our hearts with his charisma and charm. Our first World heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis went on the mother of all promotions to highlight his fascinating 'David v Goliath' clash with Nikolai Valuev.
The former World cruiserweight champion even found time to get himself into superb shape before executing the perfect strategy. Despite giving away seven stone to the 7ft-tall Russian giant Valuev, Haye demonstrated an icy cool exhibition of implementing tactics to give us a famous win in Germany and bring home the WBA heavyweight crown.
Carl Froch has had a very productive 2009. Despite suffering a nervous start, and trailing on points to classy American Jermain Taylor, the Cobra exploded with a dramatic last round rally to retain his World super middleweight crown.
His 'Super 6' performance against tricky Andre Dirrell was tight and didn't make for spectacular viewing, but Froch got the win to remain unbeaten. The brash Nottingham man tackles Denmark's Mikel Kessler in Copenhagen in 2010 - despite the Dane's shocking defeat to potential new world star Andre Ward.
Hitman heartbreak
It wasn't a happy 2009 in the ring for our Hitman. After a chaotic Vegas build-up, in which trainer Floyd Mayweather Snr seemed rather disinterested in the whole situation - and Lee Beard subsequently ran out of time -
Ricky Hatton was crushed by the fast fists of Manny Pacquiao. The second round knockout gave us the most dramatic shots of the year; Hatton was laid out, and the screams of his girlfriend Jennifer at ringside were haunting.
Debate has raged about whether Hatton should fight again - especially as he has so many other 'hats' - from promoting to training to after dinner speaking.
Recent talk has drummed up the possibility of a showdown with Juan Manuel Marquez, or bizarrely even tempting Oscar De La Hoya out of retirement. Although I am not sure about that one...
It was good to see the Golden Boy decide to call it a day; Joe Calzaghe too - who hangs the gloves up with a perfect slate of 46-0 - and looks so much more relaxed since his time has been filled with dancing!
So will Ricky follow suit and retire? As a mate, I think he should. I don't believe he has anything left to prove, and it is no disgrace at all to lose to Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao - the two outstanding boxers of his generation. But my gut feeling is that Ricky will fight on - because he doesn't want to 'go out on his back.' Very tough call.
The Hitman's future as a fighter is in limbo - but his conquerors just go from strength to strength. Unsurprisingly, the brilliant Floyd Mayweather came out of retirement and after a whistle-stop tour to London - when hundreds ventured to get a glimpse of the superstar - Mayweather eased perfectly back into the fold with an exhibition of genius against Juan Manuel Marquez.
Yes, he was bigger, and no it wasn't brutally exciting, but I thought Floyd was simply sensational against a very very good 3 weight world champion.
Mayweather didn't have a mark on him afterwards, and we are now hoping his super fight with Manny Pacquiao to decide the true pound-for-pound king will happen on March 13th.
The Filipino whirlwind has been the outstanding fighter of 2009. Off the back of his superb dismantling of De La Hoya, he iced Hatton, and then became a five weight world king by outclassing the great Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto with his super speed. It's just a fabulous success story for Pacquiao and 'his master' - the wonderful Freddie Roach. Manny is so humble, and loves his people so much, that he is a brilliant role model.
So too are the Klitschko brothers, who continue to dominate the heavyweight world. Their fights with David Haye might not have happened yet, but Wladimir and Vitali keep going about their business and stylistically are very tough for anyone to face. The elder Klitschko, Vitali, has fired back from his long lay off with a string of four wins, and is one of the fighters who's been re-inventing themselves in 2009.
Bernard Hopkins keeps going - well into his forties, Shane Mosley's back in January for a tasty clash with Andre Berto, but it is surely all over for one-time icon Roy Jones after that first round demolition by Australia's Danny Green.
Others back home have also been falling away. The excellent career of Sheffield's former world champion Clinton Woods seems to be over. What a great ride Clinton enjoyed - he's a top guy, and just did everything the tough, traditional way. Another ex title holder Enzo Maccarinelli lost serious ground in 2009 - but has decided to fight on.
Nicky Cook's World super-featherweight reign was ended by Puerto Rican Roman Martinez, and Junior Witter came a cropper in the States against rising star Devon Alexander. Alex Arthur's endured a poor year, Michael Brodie tried again but looked a long way past his best, Michael Hunter's fading, and Danny Williams is clinging on by his fingertips.
Sad goodbyes
Unfortunately 2009 was also a very dark year in terms of losses in our beloved sport.
Boxing has been particularly shocked and saddened by the death of Irish hero Darren Sutherland - at the age of just 27. Promoter Frank Maloney suffered horribly by finding the body, and none of us can really get our heads around the passing of such a friendly, talented fighter who had the world at his feet. A tragic, tragic shame.
Farewell too to our revered colleague Reg Gutteridge - who, like many others, I grew up listening too. Reg was a supreme wordsmith, a very funny man, and helped me to learn the ropes at Sky. There will never be another Reg, and I can only try my best to keep my friend Jim Watt happy alongside me.
We also sadly lost the brilliant Finnegan brothers Chris and Kevin.
On the world scene we said goodbye to Alexis Arguello - the Explosive Thin Man, who of course ended Jim's career.
There were also two tragic deaths - that of the wonderful warrior Arturo Gatti, who we lost at just 37, and the two time conqueror of Shane Mosley - Vernon Forrest, who was only 38.
I was particularly upset, and disgusted at Vernon's brutal murder. The Georgian was not only a fabulous fighter, but so much more. He had a company called Destiny's Child which helped underprivileged adults find hope, shelter and a life. Vernon worked tirelessly for others, and his death was just a terribly sad waste.
To all those who have passed, may you rest in peace. We'll never forget the memories.....
Part Two coming soon to include Amir Khan and our bright hopes for 2010...
