By Conrad Primero
I consider Manny Pacquiao the most exciting boxer today, but after a weak 2010 and picking a disgraced former champion Antonio Margarito as his opponent for his last fight of 2010 it should automatically remove him from this years ballot of nominees for “Fighter of the Year.”
Manny isn’t fighting the best possible opponents and for 2011 it looks like he is heading the same way as 2010 by fighting Sugar Shane Mosley who is nearing 40. I think Pacquiao is capable of great things in the boxing ring but he doesn’t live up to his potential by fighting easy tailor made opponents coming off losses. Knowing the politics involved with boxing, I wouldn’t be shocked that Pacquiao wins 2010 “Fighter of the Year” on popularity and name value alone. But fighting Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito at catch-weight shouldn’t earn you a nomination.
I feel there are other worthy more deserving fighters for the award. Fighters who’ve fought the best possible opposition and dominated them in 2010.
My top four worthy nominees for 2010 Fighter of the Year Are:
Sergio Martinez – He had a stellar year. Moved up in weight from 154 to 160 pounds and defeated the Middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik in an upset and became Middleweight champion of the world. Next he beats Paul Williams in 2 rounds with a perfectly placed one punch knock out that sent the 6 foot 3 inch Paul Williams falling face first to the canvas. His one punch KO of Williams in their rematch also deserves KO of the year.
Juan Manuel Lopez – The next great Puerto Rican boxing star. Juan Ma is exciting and a crowd pleasing fighter who isn’t happy unless he can put his opponent on the seat of their trunks. Lopez fought 3 times in 2010 he won the WBO featherweight title against Steven Luevano by 7th round TKO. He then defended his title twice, first, against tough Filipino boxer Bernabe Concepcion TKO in round 2, then, he defeated Mexican boxing legend Rafael Marquez in an all out war forcing Marquez to retire in his corner not coming out for round 9.
Giovanni Segura – Pulled off what is the equivalent to someone stopping Floyd Mayweather Jr. when he stopped the undefeated Mayweather style boxer Ivan Calderon in the 8th round. Segura was an underdog and many felt Calderon would have out-boxed the crude pressure fighter, but styles make fights and the type of pressure that Segura put on Calderon made the slick boxer crumble. To me this win is the best of the year, and completely overlooked because it was in the flyweight division.
Jean Pascal – The undefeated Haitian-Canadian defeated Bad Chad Dawson handing Dawson his first loss and taking the 175-pound belt. Before Pascal beat Dawson he was considered the future American boxing star and praised by Floyd Mayweather Jr. as being one of the most talented boxers today and best in the light-heavyweight division.
As you can see all four of the fighters I’ve listed above have real significant meaningful wins against top level opposition. Manny Pacquiao hasn’t fought a top level guy in 2010, and the disgraceful decision to reward Antonio Margarito a big money fight after being suspended for illegal handwraps should automatically take Manny Pacquiao out of the running for “Fighter of the Year.”
*Please refrain from leaving any Racist, Profane or Derogatory comments*
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