Welcome to The Queensberry Rules’ annual year-end boxing awards, beginning 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 after, 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 you the winner and explain why.
So, up now: 2015 Fight of the Year candidates. On deck: 2015 Round of the Year candidates.
THE FIGHT OF THE YEAR FINALISTS (IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER)
Roman Martinez-Orlando Salido
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUzi2rhm7p8
It’s gotten to the point that you can’t have a Fight of the Year list without the ever-crusty Salido appearing on it — and Martinez was a great dance partner.
Lucas Matthysse-Ruslan Provodnikov
Even if you expected more from these two sluggers — and expectations were very high — you have to admit you got plenty.
Krzystztof Glowacki-Marco Huck
It had its lulls, but its high points were brutal, with both men down in the fight and a long-time divisional #1 getting upset.
Francisco Vargas-Takashi Miura
Pretty much nuts from start to finish, with neither man really missing a punch all night long.
Nonito Donaire-Cesar Juarez
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLVDNOH1VU4
The scorecards said it was a wipeout; Donaire’s bloody, bruised face said that it was anything but easy.
THE FIGHT OF THE YEAR HONORABLE MENTIONS (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
Chris Arreola-Curtis Harper
Andrzej Fonfara-Nathan Cleverly
Jean Pascal-Yunieski Gonzalez
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxLqUWjaZSc
Edwin Rodriguez-Michael Seals
James DeGale-Anthony Dirrell
Anthony Joshua-Dillian White
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3QqaDIgQhw
Jorge Linares-Kevin Mitchell
Victor Emilio Ramirez-Ola Afolabi
Sergey Kovalev-Jean Pascal I
Dave Ryan-John Wayne Hibbert II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpyTZa6iKTM
David Lemieux-Hassan N’Dam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r09r-ZzqOqk
Leo Santa Cruz-Abner Mares
Roman Martinez-Orlando Salido II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hotycn_wfTA
