by David P. Greisman
Photo © Mary Ann Owen/FightWireImages.com
For boxing fans, 2006 was a year wholly worth viewing.
From January through December, hardcore followers had access to scores of quality matches. In the United States, the Sweet Science was seen on HBO, Showtime, the ESPN family of networks, Fox Sports Net, Versus, Telemundo, Telefutura and regional broadcast outlets. If that wasn’t enough, the dedicated could devote additional funds to numerous pay-per-views.
The Internet played a major role as well, shrinking the world through YouTube, a resource that opened eyes to the idea that great boxing exists around the world. Not only could people express amazement as they watched the year’s best fight – which occurred not in America, but in France – but they could show anger at one of the year’s worst decisions, as the videotape shined light on early reports from Thailand that otherwise may have gone unchallenged.
It was also a year that, for boxing journalists, was wholly worth reviewing.
There were compelling stories both inside of the ring and out, from amazing comebacks between the ropes to awe-inspiring stories of fighters’ upbringings. And as usual, the sanctioning bodies, promoters and even occasionally the fighters themselves made news that shook heads. For every fighter stripped of a title for silly reasons, there was a champ forced to drop his belt at the scales, unable to make weight. This year’s top star could barely have time to celebrate a successful completion of a trilogy before the legal tug-of-war began over which promoter would cash in on him.
If 2006, its end fast approaching, was a good year for fans and pundits alike, we can allow the ball to drop, but only if the good times continue to roll.
But before 2007 can begin, we must bring 2006 to its proper end. Without further delay, this year’s Fighting Awards:
The “I Should’ve Used Onterrio Smith’s Original Whizzinator Award,” for positive drug tests: to Ricardo Mayorga, Rosendo Alvarez, Orlando Salido, Omar Nino, Julius Long and Michel Trabant.
The “Too Much Information Award”: to junior welterweight contender DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley. In a May interview with Greg Leon, Corley mentioned a commercial venture of his. “I’m working on my own women’s line of underwear,” Corley said. “I’m going to get models to model it for me, and I’m going to model it as well.”
The “His Spidey-Sense Must’ve Been Broken Award”: to Russell Jordan, who wore a Spider-Man mask to the ring in February but found that superpowers weren’t included. Jordan lost to Oscar Diaz via fifth round stoppage.
The “They Argued Until They Were Blue in the Face Award”: to middleweight titlist Arthur Abraham and the folks who own the rights to the Smurfs. Prior to his September defense against Edison Miranda, Abraham received a cease-and-desist letter that stopped his traditional ring entrance, in which Abraham wears a golden Smurf hat and is backed by a singing of the cartoon’s theme.
The “What, Me Worry? Award”: to promoter Murad Muhammad, who publicized a $20 million offer for Wladimir Klitschko to face Evander Holyfield, though simultaneously Muhammad was bouncing checks to fighters, a promoter and businesses involved with Holyfield’s November pay-per-view against Fres Oquendo.
The “Roberto Duran Award” for strangest reason to quit a fight: to Andrew “Six Heads” Lewis, who quit in the seventh round of his April bout against Kenny Dalton with something much worse than stomach cramps. Lewis, after all, desperately needed to go to the bathroom.
The “It’s Not Like I’m Doing Something Important Here Award”: to Don House, who, while working Kevin Kelley’s corner in Kelley’s June knockout loss to Bobby Pacquiao, held a microphone while talking to his charge between the first and second rounds.
The “Paula Jones Award,” for worst celebrity boxer: J.P. Flaim, a radio personality from WJFK morning talk show “The Junkies.” According to the Washington Examiner, Flaim trained for seven weeks in preparation for a bout on the undercard of a December show headlined by former Contender contestant Jimmy Lange. Flaim’s opponent, Jay Watts, was recently out of prison and had a 1-8 record with his last six losses by way of knockout. Flaim reportedly came out fast, but flamed out even more quickly, as Watts dropped him four times in the opening stanza before the referee halted the bout. Give it to Flaim, though, he not only had the courage to step into the ring, but he also got up from multiple knockdowns.
The “Flavor Flav Award,” for knowing what time it is: to all the so-called journalists who tossed ethics codes in the trash and took free watches offered by Floyd Mayweather following the welterweight champion’s November defeat of Carlos Baldomir.
The “If Kirstie Alley Can Do It, Why Can’t I? Award” for issues with weight loss: to Jose Luis Castillo, Diego Corrales, Jorge Barrios, Joan Guzman, Luis Perez, Luis Bolano and Robbie Peden.
The “Joe Paterno Award,” for forgetting old age and retirement by instead pursuing one final shot at glory: to Evander Holyfield, who knocked out Jeremy Bates in August and took a decision win over Fres Oquendo in November, but whose goal of becoming “undisputed heavyweight champion of the world” in an era of four sanctioning bodies means that the first alphabet group he will belong to will be the AARP.
The “Michael Jordan Award,” for neither being able to stay continuously in one’s sport, nor being able to stay retired: to Michael Moorer, who once announced his comeback while working as studio guest on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights, only to change his mind after hearing from former trainer and current ringside color commentator Teddy Atlas. Moorer, however, returned to action this December, knocking out Cliff Couser.
The Boxer Behaving Most Badly: In a list that includes Naseem Hamed, Amir Khan, Andrew Golota, Peter McNeeley, Roger Mayweather, Scott Harrison, Danny Romero, Ron Siler, Charles Tanner, Graciano Rocchigiani and James Wayka, the worst offender may have been former heavyweight contender Clifford Etienne. In March, Etienne was convicted on charges stemming from an August 2005 crime spree, including, according to the Associated Press, two counts of armed robbery, attempted carjacking, two counts of second-degree kidnapping, attempted second-degree murder and two counts of attempted manslaughter.
The Boxing Journalist Behaving Most Badly: Dale S. Hausner, a photojournalist, was arrested over the summer was one of two men allegedly connected with a 15-month shooting spree in Phoenix.
The Boxing Publicist Being Most Creative: The creative genius behind Jeff Lacy’s press releases. In February, one month before Lacy’s unification bout with Joe Calzaghe, media received e-mail with the heading, “Punxsutawney Phil Predicts Lacy Victory.”
Trainer of the Year: Emanuel Steward. Between heavyweight titlist Wladimir Klitschko, middleweight champion Jermain Taylor, welterweight titlist Kermit Cintron and cruiserweight contender Johnathon Banks, Steward had a good year that serves only to further his Hall of Fame credentials. But when you add in his other job commentating for HBO Boxing, one is quite thankful for the respite he provides from having Lennox Lewis on the headset.
Upset of the Year: Carlos Baldomir’s unanimous decision over Zab Judah in January. Not only did Baldomir shake Judah’s legs and make the Brooklynite shuffle, but Baldomir also shook up the welterweight ranks, nearly derailing Judah’s April pay-per-view with Floyd Mayweather. Baldomir was able to cash in with paydays against Arturo Gatti and Mayweather, stopping the former in July before being easily outpointed in November by the latter.
Near-Upset of the Year: Allan Green’s April knockout of Donnie McCrary. With a potential challenge of super middleweight king Joe Calzaghe on the horizon, Green merely had to get by former sparring partner Donnie McCrary in a showcase bout on ESPN2’s Wednesday Night Fights. In the third round, Green floored McCrary with a body shot. After McCrary rose, Green went in for the kill, but McCrary caught Green with a left hook below the eye that stunned him badly, and a series of punches sent Green to the canvas. Green, though, got up and recovered, finishing McCrary off in the sixth with a beautiful left hook.
Worst Decision(s) of the Year: Not only did Juan Manuel Marquez take the short money and travel to Indonesia to take on Chris John in March, but he came up on the short end of the stick, with the three judges somehow tallying John as the victor.
Knockout of the Year: Calvin Brock KO6 Zuri Lawrence. Sometimes the best knockouts are the most frightening, and from the moment a Brock left hook impacted on Lawrence’s face, rolling the journeyman’s eyes back into his head, one knew the bout was over. Thankfully, so, too, did referee Jay Nady, who immediately waved his arms and promptly ensured that Lawrence received medical attention.
How-Could-They-Call-That-A-Knockout of the Year: A tie, between Kirk Johnson’s loss to Javier Mora and Alonzo Butler’s stoppage of Terry Porter. In March, Johnson injured his left knee when Mora stepped on his foot and jabbed. Johnson dodged but fell to the mat, legitimately unable to get up. Referee Tony Crebs awarded the bout to Mora, but thankfully the California State Athletic Commission later changed the result to a no contest. No such luck for Porter, who checked in at 197 pounds for his February challenge of the 253-pound Butler. In the third round, a pursuing Butler knocked Porter out of the ring with his rear end. Porter’s head slammed against the ringside table, and officials ruled him unable to continue. But to those Tennessee regulators, that was somehow enough to give the win to Butler.
Fight of the Year: Mahyar Monshipour-Somsak Sithchatchawal. It amazes me to read about the number of boxing writers who simply haven’t seen this all-action junior featherweight slugfest, even though it took place in March and had been available on the Internet almost immediately thereafter. After reading some of the selections made by fans and writers for this year’s best fight, it has become apparent that we all too often limit our view to what takes place on American television and not gems like Monshipour-Sithchatchawal, which was broadcast out of France.
Prospect of the Year: Andre Berto. It’s still exceptionally early in this welterweight’s career, but the 16-0 Berto fought seven times in 2006, knocking out each of his opponents. His last appearance was a stoppage of Miguel Figueroa on the Dec. 16 undercard of HBO’s Boxing After Dark, a win that should get the 23-year-old Berto enough publicity and momentum to make 2007 and 2008 the years he transitions from prospect to contender.
Fighter of the Year: Manny Pacquiao. With two knockout wins over Erik Morales and a unanimous decision over Oscar Larios, this was the year of the Pac-Man. In his three victories, Pacquiao demonstrated an ability to become a more fully rounded Filipino Firebomber while retaining his exciting style. That Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions are both trying to build a franchise around Pacquiao show his marketability, but one hopes that the litigation doesn’t keep Pacquiao out of the ring.
R.I.P.: Trevor Berbick, Jack Fiske, Tommy Gomez, Matt Jimenez, Dimitris Livadas, Jack Palance, Enrique Palau, Floyd Patterson, Willie Pep and any other boxers and boxing journalists who died in 2006.
The 10 Count will return next year.
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