By Frank Warren
THIS year will go down as Brits on Tour with a record number of our boxers going in search of world title glory.
A total of SEVEN got out their passports — Ryan Rhodes, Matthew Macklin, Darren Barker, Brian Magee, Matthew Hatton, Martin Murray and John Murray.
Macklin was unlucky not to get the nod against Felix Sturm in Germany, and Martin Murray went closer with a draw — but ultimately they all fell short.
Our British world champions didn't fare well either.
David Haye surrendered his WBA heavyweight title to Wladimir Klitschko in July, while this month Amir Khan lost his WBA and IBF light-welterweight belts to Lamont Peterson, and last week Carl Froch surrendered his WBC super-middleweight title to Andre Ward.
Wales' Nathan Cleverly won the WBO light-heavyweight title this year, and Scotland's Ricky Burns, who began the year as WBO super-featherweight king, became a two-weight champ when he captured the interim WBO lightweight crown from Michael Katsidis.
There have been some domestic thrillers between Cleverly and Tony Bellew, James DeGale's defeat to George Groves, a small-hall classic between Liam Walsh and Paul Appleby, plus the fight of the year between Kevin Mitchell and John Murray. In the lower weights, bantamweight Jamie McDonnell beat Stuart Hall to hold the British, Commonwealth and European belts.
On the heavyweight scene, the Klitschkos dominated for another year, while Dereck Chisora lost a split decision in Finland against world-ranked No 1 Robert Helenius. But that will be forgotten if Delboy can cause an upset next February in Germany when he tackles big brother Vitali.
Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jnr continued on separate paths.
Pacman beat Shane Mosley and won a third fight against Juan Manuel Marquez, who many felt won. Mayweather beat Victor Ortiz, who he floored when his opponent went to touch gloves after a referee's warning.
Sadly, we lost heavyweight greats Joe Frazier and Sir Henry Cooper this year, also heavyweight contender Ron Lyle, Fitzroy Lodge Amateur Boxing Club trainer Mick Carney, former British heavyweight champion Gary Mason, Jackie Bowers and Gus Robinson MBE.
