The Liverpuncher.com boxing community 2008 Year End awards are officially in! Using a mathematical system, find out which boxer was named LP’s BOXER OF THE YEAR!
These 3 categories were used to determine this years winner. Click for More...
10 points Max for each category:
Quality of Opposition
Win/Loss record for the year
Ring Generalship
The three boxers nominated for 2008 are:Antonio Margarito, Manny Pacquiao, Joe Calzaghe
Quality of Opposition:
Margarito: Opposition: Kermit Cintron and Miguel Cotto
The quality of Miguel Cotto as an opponent is as top notch as you can get at the welterweight division. Undefeated, young, big strong welterweight. However Cintron is more of a contender than the world ranked Cotto. Both Puerto Ricans are huge hitters with KO power but because Cintron has been KO’d before by Margarito, this brings his tally down a bit. Cintron had made a comeback up in the ranking but his quality of opposition was questioned. Score: 9pts
Pacquiao: Opposition: Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz, Oscar de la Hoya
Marquez is world class material, and gave Pacquiao all he could handle in their draw in 2004. Marquez is a tough, counter punching technician who has not lost since Freddie Norwood 1999 and Chris John in 2006.
David Diaz was a step up to 135lbs for Pacquiao, though he beat Erik Morales, Diaz was not the force in the division. He stood his ground and took a beating for it.
Oscar de la Hoya had lost to Mayweather via Decision but the size difference alone gave the edge to the Golden Boy. Overall Pacquiao fought world ranked champions and A class opposition all around. Score: 10 pts
Calzaghe: Opposition: Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones Jr
Both Hopkins and Jones Jr. are part of the 90’s generation of boxers. Both past their primes and not at the level they once were. Jones Jr. especially after his move up to the heavyweight division gaining and losing the weight took a toll on his body. Plus Jone’s previous two KO losses really brings the opposition points down a bit.
Hopkins is no longer at the upper echelon of his game but is still at the top. He showed it with his win vs. Kelly Pavlik, being able to turn back the clock. However because none of his opposition this year is currently in their prime we’ll dock 2 points. Score: 8pts
Win/Loss 2008 Record:
Margarito: 2008: TKO, TKO 2-0 Record
Going 2-0 in any year is time for celebration, especially two KO wins. Score: 9pts
Pacquiao: 2008: SD, TKO, TKO 3-0 Record
3-0 record is astonishing, giving most fighters fight 2 times per year. And to beat world ranked fighters is excellent. Score: 10 Pts
Calzaghe: 2008: SD, UD 2-0 Record
2 Decision wins over future boxing hall of famers is nothing to be ashamed of. Score: 8pts
Ring Generalship:
Margarito:
The Cintron fight was nearly the same as their first fight. Margarito landed his bodyshots and took Cintron out.
Cotto hit Margarito with everything except the kitchen sink for 7 rounds, and Margarito kept coming. Margarito took two to give one. In the end, he pressured Cotto to take a knee to end the fight. He took some punishment early on but the pace and pressure from Margarito was too much to bear. Score: 9pts
Pacquiao:
The Marquez fight was a game of chess with Pacquiao getting the “CheckMate” for the win. Marquez was dropped early and Pacquiao took a few shots himself but his lightening quick handspeed and 10-8 round put Pacman over the top. Despite the technical counter punching style of Marquez, Pacquiao was able to put together enough points for the win.
The David Diaz fight was a bloody massacre with Diaz at the end asking what the “number was to the bus that hit me.” Diaz stood his ground, attempting to out muscle the smaller Pacquiao but in the end speed does kill. Diaz had no answer
In the de la Hoya fight, it was like a bee stinging Oscar until he could not take it anymore. Pacquiao made Oscar twist and turn, trying to look for the speedy Pacquiao. You can’t hit what you can’t see. Manny was too quick and landed his straight left with impunity against his much larger foe with the size and reach advantage. The Philippine warrior pulled off the upset and gets a perfect score for the wins. Score 10 pts
Calzaghe:
The Bernard Hopkins fight was a fight of two veterans using every trick in the book to pull off the win. Calzaghe went down early in the fight with a flash knockdown but like a true champion came back up to finish the job in the later rounds. He outworked Hopkins, landing his jab and left hand, befuddling Hopkins with speed, workmanship and tenacity. Hopkins tried to use his wily tactics but could not pull it off this time around
The Roy Jones Jr. fight was more of the same. Calzaghe again was knocked down early via a flash knockdown. He got back up and began to “Out-Jones Roy Jones Jr.” In the end, the speed and work rate of Calzaghe was too much for Jones Jr. to handle. Jones was cut midway through the fight and the veteran fighter could not put the punches together necessary to keep Joe at bay. Calzaghe was not able to knock out Hopkins and Jones Jr. but did put on a boxing clinic to pull off the wins in 12 rounds of action. Score 9pts
Fighter of the Year:
2008’s FIGHTER OF THE YEAR honors with a perfect total of 30pts goes to
Manny Pacquiao: 30 Points
A truly deserved warrior who fought the quality opponents, showcased his skills, and pulled off the victories over his foes. Pound for pound, the best fighter in the world.
Antonio Margarito: 27 Points
Joe Calzaghe: 25 Points
2009 is shaping up real well with lots of fights planed this year. We’ll have the fantasy league up soon so you can cast your vote on Margarito vs. Mosley!
Keep them Liverpunches flyin’!
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