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by David P. Greisman - In the grand scheme, the annual Fighter of the Year awards are an honor, but they are otherwise not as important as we might think.
That’s because a fighter’s legacy is judged for how he performs beyond predefined 365-day stretches. He is judged for winning and losing streaks, for title reigns and for significant victories and defeats. There are no seasons in boxing, and so a boxer need not judge himself by how one calendar year’s worth of work compares to his accomplishments in another, or whether his 2014 was better or worse than another fighter’s. His goals are title shots and television spots, to come out on top and to get paid well while doing so.
But as with many things in boxing, pondering who should be the Fighter of the Year can make for a fun debate. And as with several recent years, that debate can be a frustrating one.
That’s because this hasn’t been the kind of year in which one or many fighters put together awe-inspiring campaigns. Once again, a remarkable number of big-name fighters are expected to step into the ring only twice in the course of this calendar year. Often times, only one of a boxer’s wins will be a big one, with the other will come over a lower-level opponent. [Click Here To Read More]
That’s because a fighter’s legacy is judged for how he performs beyond predefined 365-day stretches. He is judged for winning and losing streaks, for title reigns and for significant victories and defeats. There are no seasons in boxing, and so a boxer need not judge himself by how one calendar year’s worth of work compares to his accomplishments in another, or whether his 2014 was better or worse than another fighter’s. His goals are title shots and television spots, to come out on top and to get paid well while doing so.
But as with many things in boxing, pondering who should be the Fighter of the Year can make for a fun debate. And as with several recent years, that debate can be a frustrating one.
That’s because this hasn’t been the kind of year in which one or many fighters put together awe-inspiring campaigns. Once again, a remarkable number of big-name fighters are expected to step into the ring only twice in the course of this calendar year. Often times, only one of a boxer’s wins will be a big one, with the other will come over a lower-level opponent. [Click Here To Read More]
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