Fighter of the year so far?

[boxasmash]

If Calzaghe beats RJJ with the Hopkins win in the same year, he should get it regardless of the circumstances.

especially if hopkins manages to beat pavlik

[joshyp18]

margaritos win over cotto tops pacmans

[MaYaN_SuN]

I can't believe Margartio might be able to take this..

I mean clear KO's over 2 highly thought-of fighters, that's impressive. lol And the fact it's against 2 of Puerto Rico's "best," lol Well...that's just priceless.

[MaYaN_SuN]

margaritos win over cotto tops pacmans

lol Tops every fighter that got a win in the year 08.

[JOM'S]

imho at this point it is still pacman ...

win or loose the looming fight with odlh cast a very big shadow ...

[Naps]

Pac-man takes it for me.

[niceguy45]

margarito will be if he defeats clottey........
or pacman if he defeats dlh

[JoartCC]

I have to say Margarito.

His KO wins over Cintron and Cotto are a rarity.

Pac comes in a close 2nd.

[Allucard]

Who is the front runner for fighter of the Year upto now?

Antonio Margarito must be up there with his wins over Cintron and Cotto.

Maybe Manny Pacquiao who has 2 good wins so far against Diaz and JMM.

Any thoughts.

Pacquiao definitely, can't come up with a second name.. He has fought twice so far and gone up in weight in the process. He retains his p4p king status and best of the year title.
Edit: 2nd Margarito, i had forgotten he fought twice this year too

[mspiegelo]

Here are the front runners imo! I also added an element of what they will need to accomplishby the year's end to get Fighter of the year.

1) pacman if he can beat oscar for beating (albeit narrowly) the super featherweight champion, and his biggest threat; for capturing a belt in a new weight division, and for striving to personify the true meaning of pound for pound!....

2) margarito because of his victories over the champ cintron, and cotto, the recognized king of the welterweight division and a top 5 lb-4-lber on many top critics lists. If he fights again this year against a shane mosley, paul williams, luis collazo or other champion or top contender and wins impressively, he might be a lock....

3) then pavlik (if he beats hopkins impressively) because he will have two victories over elite fighters, 1 dominant destruction of a top contender, and very good activity in general with 3 fights in the year


other candidates with possibly two impressive victories would be:

4) casamayor (if he can impressively beat jmm) for his foy candidate performance over a top, undefeated contender, and a victory over a top 5 lb-4-lber. also, the santa cruz debacle was last year, so he can't be penalized for that!

5) Joe Calzaghe (if he beats Roy) for beating a legend (albeit controversially and unimpressively), and for beating another legend (once again, IF he can win) in Roy, one of the most dominant fighters ever to lace up gloves (albeit at a stage way past his prime). He also gets points for getting the ring trinket at light heavy, even if it doesnt truly define where him or b-hop stand against true light heavies like dawson, johnson, shaun george, etc....

6) also nate campbell (if he beats guzman) for two wins over the real lightweight champion (in the opinion of most non-gbp-affiliated fans/critics who stand by the worthless ring belt), juan diaz, and joan guzman- one of the most avoided, talented, speediest boxers on the scene. this scenario may be unlikely because guzman is an absolute beast, but i will never count nate out of a fight!

7) Last but not least, Roy Jones. You get points for the scale of your victory. If Roy can come back and beat the (at worst) #2 lb for lb fighter in the world in impressive fashion, his stock will sky-rocket. his first win over tito wasn't really top light-heavy/super middle elite competition, but he was impressive against a once-great fighter with big-name-recognition and the fight did sales. this could be the case (once again IF roy wins), and pac, pavlik, casa, and nate all lose AND margarito fails to fight again (or fights again and loses).... its a long shot though.