Amir Khan and James DeGale all earn plaudits from Adam Smith in part two of his 2009 boxing review.
Part Two of the best of British 2009
At the end of the first part of this article, rounding up 2009, I mentioned the very sad deaths the boxing community had suffered over the past twelve months.
However, despite the loss of so many great names in 2009, the boxing world turns and several of our good fighters are now coming through giving us all something to look forward to in the New Year.
Matthew Macklin's had an excellent twelve months, exploding onto the European middleweight scene. Paul McCloskey's still unbeaten and is now the European light-welterweight king. Meanwhile, the old spice boy, Ryan Rhodes, continued his Cinderella story by wrenching the European 11-stone title from Jamie Moore in one of the best domestic dust-ups of the year.
Leicester binman Rendall Munroe still has his European crown at super-bantamweight, and will be hoping for a world title shot in 2010. Kevin Mitchell moved up in weight for a super victory over Amir Khan's worst nightmare - Breidis Prescott - and the popular Essex boxer will be looking to fight for major honours in 2010.
The aptly-named Cardiff University maths student Nathan Cleverly has had a superb 2009; so too the British Boxing Writer's Young Boxer of the Year, Kell Brook, who has brought power, character and electricity onto the scene - much like his idol Naseem Hamed.
Special mentions go to John Murray and Darren Barker who will both be looking for big fights in 2010, and to the terrific Jason 'Too Smooth' Booth, who has fought back from rock bottom in life when he was drinking a bottle of sherry every morning, to really shine again. I admire and respect Jason very much.
Likewise Paul Smith, who's hung in there to finally become a British champion; big nights on Merseyside lie ahead. I'm also expecting good things from the bright, articulate and technically-astute Martin Lindsay who had that excellent win over Paul Appleby.
Prizefighter
Prizefighter has lit up our screens - particularly the big boys! We were treated to action-packed nights at Earls' Court when Ovill McKenzie upset the cruiserweight applecart and in the Docklands where deeply frustrating heavyweight Audley Harrison finally got it right. It's been good to see Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather involved in the draws too. We have high hopes for Prizefighter!
Martin Rogan was the inaugural winner - and the amiable Belfast cab driver was also in some of the most gruelling domestic battles of the year; against Matt Skelton, and twice with Sam Sexton.
Other really notable fights on our shores were the short, dramatic war between Paul Samuels and Cello Renda (both incredibly went down simultaneously from left hooks!), the five-knockdown cruiserweight meeting of Rob Norton and David Dolan, the two bloody wars that Paul Truscott and John Simpson had in the North East, and the fascinating undercard clash between Gary Sykes and Anthony Crolla.
One of the most talked about fights of the year was, of course, the English heavyweight title tussle between Tyson Fury and John McDermott and the debate about the man in the middle, Terry O'Connor. I have made my opinion clear on my blog before. No-one's really at fault; I just think we should use this as an example that three judges should be present at every title fight in the UK. The referee has enough to do.
We'll draw a line over the stinkers between Anthony Small and Thomas McDonagh, and Lee Haskins and Don Broadhurst - we can't get crackers every time!
Young guns
What we have got is a clutch of hot youngsters emerging fast. Olympic Gold medallist James DeGale's leading the way. I like 'Chunky' and think he has the X-factor needed. Bronze medallists Tony Jeffries and David Price have made steady starts, and our only ever world amateur champion, Frankie Gavin, could be the most talented of the bunch. Don't forget Joe Murray, Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves, whose styles look made for the pros. We have the most exciting young crop for many a year.
Worldwide, keep your eyes on Juan Manuel Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa. I also like the look of Freddie Roach's new 17-year-old Jose Benevidez. There are several Cubans coming through too; heavyweight Odlanier Solis could really be one to watch. Victor Ortiz is back on track after losing that thriller with Marcos Maidana - watch out for 'Vicious' Victor inch closer towards a great showdown with his amateur rival Amir Khan.
Amazing Amir
What a year it's been for Amir! The Bolton youngster beat ageing legend Marco Antonio Barrera, and then claimed his first world title in July with a punch-perfect display of speed to dethrone Andreas Kotelnik. Khan finished his year in style by demolishing Brooklyn's previously unbeaten Dmitriy Salita in a sizzling 76-second sensation.
So Khan, Froch and Haye are flying the flag for Britain, and some mouth-watering matches lie ahead. All in all boxing is in a great place. I'll sign off for 2009 with the year's real highlight...
Muhammad Ali paid a special visit to our shores. A rapturous reception followed Ali's every move, as we welcomed the world's greatest fighter, from the world's greatest sport.
Everyone on the Sky boxing team wishes you a happy, fun and safe Christmas - and a super 2010!
