By Salvador Rodriguez
The World Boxing Council have announced their award winners for 2011. WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko received the award for "Fighter of The Year." He defended his championship twice in 2001, first against Odlanier Solis and then against Tomasz Adamek, and won both bouts by technical knockout.
WBC 154-pound champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez was recognized as the "Champion of The Year" after defending his title four times. Alvarez won the vacant green and gold belt against Matthew Hatton in March, and then defended the title three times against Ryan Rhodes, Alfonso Gomez and Kermit Cintron. Featherweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez also received an award for his four battles in 2011.
WBC Middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chávez Jr. received a special award for becoming the first fighter born in Mexico to hold the middleweight title and he later defended it successfully against Peter Manfredo.
The "Fight of The Year" was won by Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto. Both fighters went down twice before Ortiz captured a twelve round decision to win the welterweight crown.
"Knockout of The Year" was won by the Filipino Nonito Donaire, who needed two rounds to stop Mexico's Fernando Montiel to unify the bantamweight crown.
The "Return of The Year" was won by Floyd Mayweather Jr., who became the WBC welterweight champion by knocking out Victor Ortiz in four rounds in September.
Salvador Rodriguez cover boxing in Mexico for The Record.
