Welcome to The Queensberry Rules’ annual year-end awards, continuing into this week. Here’s how we do it around these parts:
The major categories are Knockout of the Year, Round of the Year, Fight of the Year and Fighter of the Year. The final leg, which will finish next week, is a pu-pu platter of awards ranging from Trainer of the Year to more frivolous topics.
For each category, we give five finalists, with video and/or relevant info. You tell us if our finalists and honorable mentions are lacking, and give your vote on who you think should win. Maybe you sway us to adjust the list, and maybe you sway us on the eventual winner. On the second day after a category is introduced, we’ll give that winner and explain why.
So, up now: Fight of the Year candidates. Previously: Knockout of the Year candidates, Round of the Year candidates, Knockout of the Year and Round of the Year. On deck: Fight of the Year and Fighter of the Year candidates.
THE FINALISTS (IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER)
Steve Cunningham-Amir Mansour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV4WuxWkdA4
An undersized heavyweight and big puncher didn’t have any business collaborating on this kind of war.
Lucas Matthysse-John Molina (highlights)
It was supposed to be a “get well” fight for Matthysse, of sorts. It was, in fact, the opposite.
Terence Crawford-Yuriorkis Gamboa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyNI_tN-r_Q
This was the Gamboa we always wanted, albeit a little too small; he pushed Crawford to his limit.
Francisco Rodriguez, Jr.-Katsunari Takayama
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-vV0iqOtRk
If you’re snobby about boxing’s littlest men, you missed a treat.
Orlando Salido-Terdsak Kokietgym
Seven knockdowns in another always-dramatic Salido showing.
THE HONORABLE MENTIONS (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
Travis Dickinson-Matty Clarkson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lbkYtGcqqU
Rodrigo Guerrero-Daniel Rosas
Felix Sturm-Robert Stieglitz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2o8L8ueDHo
Lanardo Tyner-Angel Hernandez
http://vimeo.com/84526990
Robert Guerrero-Yoshihiro Kamegai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD5E3NwW4Cw
Anthony Crolla-John Murray
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEsJpDB6DQ4
Curtis Stevens-Tureano Johnson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSp1hMGxICU
Tommy Coyle-Daniel Brizuela
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWe1-Ktr8rI
Roman Gonzalez-Akira Yaegashi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nTiT4tNRXc
Monty Meza-Clay-Alan Herrera
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J9mJL5Q90w
Carl Froch-George Groves II
Jose Lopez-Roberto Castaneda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY0WJhzQf60
David Lemieux-Gabriel Rosado (highlights)
