Fighter Of Year?

I watched a few back and forths on Twitter the other day on who should be FOY 2015 - with no-one managing to make a conclusive case for anyone!

It's been a poor year: who do you feel deserves this? Mayweather for his uninspiring wins over Pacquiao and Berto? Fury for his stunning upset of Klitschko? Canelo for wins over Kirkland and Cotto? Someone else?

Tough one (maybe they should leave it vacant!).

I still think Floyd for his win over Manny and retiring undefeated. Yes both fights were quite dull, but he did finally get the chance to settle the score with his main rival.

If Manny had of won, he would of had the reward in the bag, so I can't see why Floyd shouldn't get it.

The only problem with Floyd's win over Manny is it happened five years too late. Manny never quite the same since Cotto, and Floyd did everything he could to weasel the fight waiting till after the Marquez knock out which made Manny a more cautious fighter. Lesson to be learned for boxing is two fighters should never meet in person before a big fight, it can diffuse the tension. Stevenson's trying to do it now with Kovalev, what a joke him saying Kova is scared of him funniest thing I heard all year.

It could be a first but how about GGG not for his fights, but for all the fighters who wouldn't fight him. Can't remember a more avoided fighter in thirty years or more. Making the so called stars look like nonces.

And what a joke boxing is today with its inability to force the big fights the fans want to see!

GGG against anyone
Kovalev v Stevenson

Herman Jaeger wrote:And what a joke boxing is today with its inability to force the big fights the fans want to see!

GGG against anyone
Kovalev v Stevenson

I remember the time when every fight the fans wanted to see happened...oh wait!

I would give it to Roman Gonzales. He has been electric this year.

There was no messing around with Chavez and Whittaker. It was the hottest fight in boxing and the natural progression for both fighters. Real legends those two, I'm not missing Floyd already hope he never comes back.

With the fighters seemingly having more power today than ever, surely it's up to them to get the big fights made instead of hiding behind television networks and promotors.

Herman Jaeger wrote:And what a joke boxing is today with its inability to force the big fights the fans want to see!

GGG against anyone
Kovalev v Stevenson

The latter is on deck for 2016.

Herman Jaeger wrote:There was no messing around with Chavez and Whittaker. It was the hottest fight in boxing and the natural progression for both fighters. Real legends those two, I'm not missing Floyd already hope he never comes back.

With the fighters seemingly having more power today than ever, surely it's up to them to get the big fights made instead of hiding behind television  networks and promotors.

Unfortunately, Mayweather has set a precedent that most fighters will want to emulate (he made a frightening amount of money and retired with his health - which fighters ever managed that?).

June being mooted.

Are you saying you think it will actually come off now? Is there finally a glimmer of hope?

Herman Jaeger wrote:June being mooted.

Are you saying you think it will actually come off now? Is there finally a glimmer of hope?  

Plan is for Kovalev to face Pascal and then Stevenson - with Ward also in the queue. He's some fella.

May over Pac discredited for me.

Gonzalez probably fighter of the year, outside shouts Fury and Kov.

Pascal , Stevenson and Ward is some schedule

I'll believe it when I see it if Stevenson ever steps in a ring with Kovalev. Maybe he can get some therapy so never say never

Herman Jaeger wrote:Pascal , Stevenson and Ward is some schedule

I'll believe it when I see it if Stevenson ever steps in a ring with Kovalev. Maybe he can get some therapy so never say never

I guess he must be looking to cash out at some point (he's knocking on a bit if memory serves me right). Hopkins, Pascal and Stevenson would stand Kovalev in good stead for Ward. Ward's schedule of Paul Smith................probably not so much.

Kovalev's schedule is the kind that would ruin most fighters- Hopkins, Pascal twice, Stevenson, Ward.

If he comes through all that unscathed and victorious, you'll be looking at something of a modern day legend. Mind you before anyone starts you could say Hoppy was a middleweight and the others super middles !

Hard to class Superduck as a SMW, he's no career to speak of there.

Hoppo win only looks good by the manner of it and his old man achievements.

Ward would be the big one, probably the biggest win in boxing right now.

Herman Jaeger wrote:Kovalev's schedule is the kind that would ruin most fighters- Hopkins, Pascal twice, Stevenson, Ward.

If he comes through all that unscathed and victorious, you'll be looking at something of a modern day legend. Mind you before anyone starts you could say Hoppy was a middleweight and the others super middles !

Well, the first three were big enough to hold the linear 175 championship. Hell of a schedule - you'd have to think the ABCs will squeeze some pointless mandatories in there somewhere.

Five nominees in for BWAA award:

1. Unified middleweight titleholder Gennady Golovkin (also on last year's ballot).
2. Middleweight world champion Canelo Alvarez
3. Flyweight world champion and consensus pound-for-pound No. 1 Roman Gonzalez
4. Newly crowned world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury
5. Floyd Mayweather Jr., who retired in September and vacated the top spot on the pound-for-pound list.

Here are the nominees for the rest of the awards:

•Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier Fight of the Year: Krzysztof Glowacki's dramatic upset knockout of long-reigning cruiserweight titlist Marco Huck; the blazing junior welterweight brawl between Lucas Matthysse and Ruslan Provodnikov; Francisco Vargas' stunning, come-from-behind rally to stop Takashi Miura and win a junior lightweight title; Leo Santa Cruz's action-packed decision to win a vacant featherweight title against Abner Mares; and light heavyweight Andrzej Fonfara's decision against Nathan Cleverly in a fight in which they set four light heavyweight division CompuBox records, including most combined punches thrown (2,524). With a few notable fights remaining before the end of the year, the BWAA might add a sixth nominee, if warranted.

•Eddie Futch Trainer of the Year: Eddy Reynoso, Abel Sanchez, Joe Gallagher, Floyd Mayweather Sr. and Peter Fury.

•Cus D'Amato Manager of the Year: Egis Klimas, Monica Bradley, Cameron Dunkin, Al Haymon and no award.

•Sam Taub broadcast award: Mark Taffet (longtime HBO Sports executive), Marc Payton (retired longtime director of HBO's boxing broadcasts), Jim Watt (British commentator), David Dinkins Jr. (Showtime Sports executive producer) and Peter Nelson (HBO Sports executive vice president).

•Bill Crawford award for courage in overcoming adversity: Tom Casino (Showtime Sports photographer), Kathy Duva (Main Events CEO), Mauro Ranallo (Showtime blow-by-blow announcer), Oscar De La Hoya (Golden Boy CEO) and Brian Campbell (ESPN.com boxing editor).

•Barney Nagler Long and Meritorious Service award: Bill Caplan (publicist), Bob Canobbio (CompuBox founder and owner), Lou DiBella (promoter, former HBO Sports executive), Bernard Fernandez (former Philadelphia Daily News boxing writer) and Bill Dwyre (former Los Angeles Times columnist and sports editor).

•Marvin Kohn Good Guy award: Don Chargin (Hall of Fame promoter and matchmaker), Sugar Ray Leonard (Hall of Fame fighter, NBC broadcaster), Canobbio, Wladimir Klitschko (former heavyweight world champion) and Andy Olson (Magna Media owner, longtime event coordinator).

Can't have Canelo anywhere near this after his catchweight nonsense depriving the fans of perhaps the second hottest fight in boxing right now.

Looking at it - I'd probably go with Fury. He's the poorest fighter on the list but dethroning Klitschko in Germany. Massive that.

Especially as no one was giving Fury a prayer!

Lot of revisionists around suddenly saying Wlad was past it, probably been cheating for years with the sponge, gentleman my arris.

Whether people like him or not, surely it has to be Fury; he went to Germany and defeated (quite comfortably) one of the most dominant HW champs in history when nobody gave him a prayer.

Hard to argue against Fury. His victory over the heavyweight champion will be remembered for years to come

Bill Crawford award for courage in overcoming adversity: Tom Casino (Showtime Sports photographer), Kathy Duva (Main Events CEO), Mauro Ranallo (Showtime blow-by-blow announcer), Oscar De La Hoya (Golden Boy CEO) and Brian Campbell (ESPN.com boxing editor).

How about Anthony Crolla?

Peter Fury a great shout for trainer of the year - given what he had to work with and what he was up against.

Watt getting anywhere near an award discredits the whole thing though.

Unlike last year where you had Crawford as the outstanding candidate, there has been no one who has stood out.

I am going to go with Golovkin. I think he's stepped up this year with good wins over Murray and Lemieux and he may finally get a crack at Canelo.

Tyson Fury for upsetting the odds so well or Mayweather for seemingly easily handling his nearest competitor (looked to me like he could up his game anytime he wanted)

Fight of the year, I'd get them to add Ryan/JWH 1 to that, but as it's not Glowacki/Huck

Trainer - Probably Peter Fury, we've seen Tyson box a variety of different ways and I think we saw how important he was when he wasn't there for Cunningham.

Manager of the Year - no idea

bcast award only know Jim watt and that's a definite No

Overcoming Adversity - I'd go for Crolla there too, dunno what the others did to do it and can't be bothered looking it up.

and don't really care about the other 2

Many of you are saying how great Fury is in dethroning Klitschko but don't forget that two others had already beaten him both by stoppage,one a second round knockout.Granted it was pre Manny Steward but he was a lot younger and hungrier.

He was also undefeated for 10 years though...

BoxingFan88 wrote:He was also undefeated for 10 years though...

Hoping he flattens the peg selling, car thiefing idiot in the return.

Can't stand and don't rate Wlad but longevity is all his record has going for it. Not top 30 in my eyes, just hasn't fought anyone that people will remember or rate in 20 years time.

The fact people think Wlad can win the rematch shows how good fury was

Or what a bad showing Wlad gave???

Think Fury needs to do it again to show everyone it wasn't just a lucky break (Wlad getting old etc) and Wlad needs to come out with a bit more fire to show he's still up for it.

Hope Fury wins though

Right it was nothing to do with fury not letting Wlad land his jabs or the fact that fury kept feinting him to stop him getting off

It was what fury did not what Wlad didn't

If Wlad goes gung Ho he is getting knocked out

Fury for me...most didn't give him a prayer and he did the worst possible think to Wladimir (and most impressive) by simply outboxing him. He took away the very thing that Wladimir prided himself on - better boxing ability than any other heavyweight.

Got to be Mayweather, he won the big one.

I'd say the rematch is a reverse of my thinking for the first fight. Wlad is now the one I think has a punchers chance and that tells me how impressive Furys skills and tactics were in the first.

I think if Wladimir goes for it on the rematch then he will still effectively be fighting outside his norm which has been for over a decade. I still favour Fury to outbox him simply because I can't see Wlad taking much more of a risk..he didn't throw his right very much because Fury simply wasn't in position to do so. Unless he is quite a bit quicker..and all things being equal Furys camp will no doubt factor this possibility in (Peter Fury being a pretty good trainer imo )...I can't see the result being much different.

Fury took from Wladimir the very thing he hung his hat on...being a superior "boxer" and not a knockout merchant. Being outboxed over 12 rounds with no excuses had dented his confidence much more than if Fury had ko'd him mid rounds as this could have been viewed as rectifyable by Wladimir over 12 rounds in a rematch

I'd give it to Fury.

I accept accusations of bias - given I have previously defended him in the face of repeated criticisms. I would be lying if I said I saw him beating Klitschko - I didn't see it coming at all.

He shook up the world and he deserves his reward.

On a side note - it is hugely sad that the new heavyweight king of the world is not as big a deal in terms of global coverage or awareness as Mcgregor stopping Aldo in 13 seconds. Both sports can coexist together as martial arts - but boxing needs to get its act together and cut the PPV cards for non-PPV events. Whyte Joshua for instance - its been said before but its criminal to expect people to pay

apologies - writing from phone -

its criminal to expect people to pay twice - an extra 16 pounds on top of subscription - to watch 2 unproven prospects fight.

Never really followed MMA but that McGregor is something else. Must see tv.

catchweight wrote:Never really followed MMA but that McGregor is something else. Must see tv.

https://mobile.twitter.com/theoddsbible/status/676101050269614080

Fury - fighter of the year. He can legitimately claim to be the best boxer on the planet. (Madness, my little nephew has better fundamentals).

catchweight wrote:Never really followed MMA but that McGregor is something else. Must see tv.

The man is something else. He mouths off, but does it with a smile. And he can f....g fight.

Don't follow mma. Saw the KO, though. I presume Aldo is better known for his groundwork... Not knocking mcgregor's counter... But the two fisted square on windmill assault from Aldo was reminiscent of Andrew flintoff's pro debut... With a bit of Carl froch thrown in!

No Aldo is better known for his stand up.

McGregor talks a lot of smack but he backs it up. Floyd talks sh1t and jabs and grabs his way to victory. Floyd is a genius, but at least when McGregor gets in there, he puts on a show.

He is a far bigger star than anyone currently boxing.

Manny is on the way out and Floyd is retired for now.

McGregor could fight John Doe in his next fight and it would probably still be huge.

If he keeps winning, he will become as big, if not bigger than Floyd. A bold claim, I know, but he is something else.

hmmn to be 10 years unbeaten then do we conclude that boxing isn't the core skill set of most mma fighters... or was this an out of character rush of blood?

McGregor broke him mentally.

Also McGregor has amazing movement and could box a bit when he was younger.


MMA fighters throw punches from a different stance than pro boxers.

If Conor fought any current pro boxer form the Middleweight division down in a striking match. He would kill them.

AdamT wrote:McGregor broke him mentally.

Also McGregor has amazing movement and could box a bit when he was younger.


MMA fighters throw punches from a different stance than pro boxers.

If Conor fought any current pro boxer form the Middleweight division down in a striking match. He would kill them.

So he broke him mentally... AND it's normal to throw shots in that manner?

I appreciate the stance is different and has to be.

The comment that he'd take any pro fighter from 160 down out in a striking competition seems a bold claim.

Hey I don't watch it, you do. Just curious.