For the second time in three years, an Orlando “Siri” Salido fight has been selected by Yahoo Sports as the “Fight of the Year”. In 2014, it was his all-action battle against Terdsak Kokiegym that was selected. This year, it is his toe-to-toe affair against Francisco “El Bandido” Vargas that is being recognized as the best of this year.

“I am very proud of this type of recognition for my fights, because when I say that I fight for the fans and that I want to give them fights that they will remember for a long time, I mean it. And the fight against Vargas is an example of my commitment,” said Salido.

The Salido-Vargas fight was also selected as the best of the year by the World Boxing Council (WBC) during its convention in Miami this month.

“These types of accolades make me want to fight harder for the fans and deliver the kind of fights that they want to see. I am all about giving everything I can in the ring all the time, and my last five fights are proof of that,” said Salido.

Boxing scribe Kevin Iole wrote, “By definition, the Fight of the Year is a two-person award. But it seems like sooner or later, someone might want to name it “The Orlando Salido Fight of the Year,” because the gritty warrior from Mexico has put his stamp on it.”

Iole also wrote, “He won it previously in 2014, for his brawl with Terdsak Kokietgym, and if the truth would be told, he could have won it in any of five or six other years. Salido doesn’t have the most skills, nor is he a particularly gifted boxer. But this modern-day raging bull is the epitome of a fighter, a man willing to stand toe-to-toe in the center of the ring and trade for three minutes a round, 12 rounds a fight.”

What is ironic is the Salido should be the WBC and WBO super feather champion at this time. However, in his last two fights against Rocky Martinez in September of 2015 in Las Vegas and againts Vargas in June of this in Carson, California, Salido was given draws in fights that should have been victories for the tough luck Mexican.

“I know - and most people know - that Orlando won both fights. It’s a shame that all that hard work he did in those fights was not rewarded as it should have been: With a victory. But Orlando will be ready to come back in 2017 to give us get another memorable fight, of that I am sure,” said Sean Gibbons, Salido’s manager.