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This is an annual tradition of mine, where at the end of every year, I rank and rate the top 20 fighters, comment on the best fights and just have a general chin wag. Feel free to join in with your opinions (at the time of writing, there is still a major card left in Japan featuring Takashi Uchiyama for the WBA super-featherweight title which will not be included in this analysis).
So, without further ado, a quick list of the top 20 (the top 10 has been updated from my first post earlier this year):
1. Floyd Mayweather Jr. The most sublime technician on the planet.
2. Andre Ward, much like Hopkins before him, highly under appreciated in his prime.
3. Timothy Bradley, a resume almost second to none with tonnes of heart to back it up. Update: moved up 1 place due to excellent win over Marquez
4. Manny Pacquiao, still one of the greatest fighters ever who will soon prove he still has some fire in the engine. Update: Put on a clinic vs Rios.
5. Guillermo Rigondeaux, his dissection of a supremely gifted fighter such as Donaire is THE performance of 2013. Update: A very good year sees the Cuban move up 2 places
6. Wladimir Klitschko, the most underrated heavyweight champion I have had the opportunity to cover.
7. Sergio Martinez, the third best middleweight I have ever seen live. Update: drops out of the top 5 due to an inactive year
8. Carl Froch, the best fighter from these shores since a young Calzaghe.
9. Danny Garcia, this young man has all the tools to be something special.
10. Adonis Stevenson, for his domination of two of the best 175 pound fighters on the planet, he deserves this spot. Update: Add Bellew to the list of dominating victories.
11. Nonito Donaire, looked slow and disinterested last time out but still possesses great power and ability. Maybe it was a fluke, I'm banking on that as he just misses out on being top 10.
12. Mikey Garcia, young and mighty impressive, his poise and boxing IQ are beyond his years. Probably the best fighter at super featherweight.
13. Gennady Golovkin, Pound for Pound, no one hits as hard and no one is as avoided. The soon to be crowned middleweight champion of the world.
14. Roman Gonzalez, can anyone handle this man's power? 2013 answers an emphatic no.
15. Lucas Matthysse, it's easy to forget after the Garcia war, that Matthysse has had a spectacular couple of years. Still capable of beating a number of light-welterweights and possibly welterweights on the world stage.
16. Erislandy Lara, enters the top 20 for the first time, straight in at 16, following a year in which he stopped the rugged Angulo and made Austin Trout look like a messy slob.
17. Takashi Uchiyama, drops a place due to an inactive year but retains a top 20 place due to previous showings.
18. Bernard Hopkins, wins yet another title against a game opponent. An ageless wonder.
19. Juan Manuel Marquez, looks to be showing signs of losing his quality, coming off the worst defeat of his career.
20. Marcos Maidana, arrives in the top 20 on the back of a hugely successful year, capped off with a wide UD victory over Adrien Broner.
Marco Huck drops out.
My Fighter of the Year pick is:
Adonis Stevenson, in a sport with too many titlists and very few champions, Stevenson is arguably the outright champion of the light heavyweight division. A year featuring wins over Boone, Dawson, Cloud and Bellew, all by stoppage. You can't ask for more.
My Fight of the Year pick is:
Timothy Bradley v Ruslan Provodnikov, there is something about the Rocky story that fascinates all of those who watch this brutal and at times unfair sport. Provodnikov, for at least one night, was our Rocky, showing heart and determination in a bid to beat a champion who was supposed to provide a showcase. The champion, Bradley, for his part never gave in to the mounting pressure and managed to pull out the win of the year.
What are your opinions on what has been a terrific year for boxing?
So, without further ado, a quick list of the top 20 (the top 10 has been updated from my first post earlier this year):
1. Floyd Mayweather Jr. The most sublime technician on the planet.
2. Andre Ward, much like Hopkins before him, highly under appreciated in his prime.
3. Timothy Bradley, a resume almost second to none with tonnes of heart to back it up. Update: moved up 1 place due to excellent win over Marquez
4. Manny Pacquiao, still one of the greatest fighters ever who will soon prove he still has some fire in the engine. Update: Put on a clinic vs Rios.
5. Guillermo Rigondeaux, his dissection of a supremely gifted fighter such as Donaire is THE performance of 2013. Update: A very good year sees the Cuban move up 2 places
6. Wladimir Klitschko, the most underrated heavyweight champion I have had the opportunity to cover.
7. Sergio Martinez, the third best middleweight I have ever seen live. Update: drops out of the top 5 due to an inactive year
8. Carl Froch, the best fighter from these shores since a young Calzaghe.
9. Danny Garcia, this young man has all the tools to be something special.
10. Adonis Stevenson, for his domination of two of the best 175 pound fighters on the planet, he deserves this spot. Update: Add Bellew to the list of dominating victories.
11. Nonito Donaire, looked slow and disinterested last time out but still possesses great power and ability. Maybe it was a fluke, I'm banking on that as he just misses out on being top 10.
12. Mikey Garcia, young and mighty impressive, his poise and boxing IQ are beyond his years. Probably the best fighter at super featherweight.
13. Gennady Golovkin, Pound for Pound, no one hits as hard and no one is as avoided. The soon to be crowned middleweight champion of the world.
14. Roman Gonzalez, can anyone handle this man's power? 2013 answers an emphatic no.
15. Lucas Matthysse, it's easy to forget after the Garcia war, that Matthysse has had a spectacular couple of years. Still capable of beating a number of light-welterweights and possibly welterweights on the world stage.
16. Erislandy Lara, enters the top 20 for the first time, straight in at 16, following a year in which he stopped the rugged Angulo and made Austin Trout look like a messy slob.
17. Takashi Uchiyama, drops a place due to an inactive year but retains a top 20 place due to previous showings.
18. Bernard Hopkins, wins yet another title against a game opponent. An ageless wonder.
19. Juan Manuel Marquez, looks to be showing signs of losing his quality, coming off the worst defeat of his career.
20. Marcos Maidana, arrives in the top 20 on the back of a hugely successful year, capped off with a wide UD victory over Adrien Broner.
Marco Huck drops out.
My Fighter of the Year pick is:
Adonis Stevenson, in a sport with too many titlists and very few champions, Stevenson is arguably the outright champion of the light heavyweight division. A year featuring wins over Boone, Dawson, Cloud and Bellew, all by stoppage. You can't ask for more.
My Fight of the Year pick is:
Timothy Bradley v Ruslan Provodnikov, there is something about the Rocky story that fascinates all of those who watch this brutal and at times unfair sport. Provodnikov, for at least one night, was our Rocky, showing heart and determination in a bid to beat a champion who was supposed to provide a showcase. The champion, Bradley, for his part never gave in to the mounting pressure and managed to pull out the win of the year.
What are your opinions on what has been a terrific year for boxing?
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