Fighter of the Year: James Toney off the 'comeback' successes following inactivity. The Jirov performance a vintage win that set stage for Holyfield stoppage. Had never placed Jirov at level the media experts did but he always showed to do battle. Toney earns the honors with 21st century version of 20th century elitist Archie Moore without the "wrap-around" defense. The ability to relax ... the superb defense without running in circles ... the gifted natural power punching with technique says it all. The Holyfield shocker the convincer in edging Jones Jr. for the nomination.
Most Skilled Fighter of Year: Floyd Mayweather Jr. gets my vote ... stands alone at top in the text-book skills of the pugilistic science ... bonus is the speed of hand and feet that he utilizes on both sides of the line.
Fight of Year: Casamayor - Corrales ... edge over Toney-Jirov ... both dropped ... both returned fire once upright ... gets nod here on drama and ability to put the other away.
Upset of Year: More surprise than upset with both Toney and 'Vander proven career special ones. Toney scores the win and moves on with Jameel
McCline come Feb. 7 over Showtime.
*** Briefly considered offering a Worst Refereed Assignment prize ...
but then rethought it ... would not have been in spirit of holiday season.
Novelty award to Worst
Refereed Assignment ~ envelopes
pleeze.
**Candidate
one: Joe Miller of Conchee, Oklahoma & Johnny Carson look-a-like fame.
Qualifier: Working prelim mismatch with Chris Smith pitching and hapless
Grover Wiley catching ~ Wiley down round two blanked entering round five
down, up, down, up, down, up, down, up, down, up does simpleton Miller pull
the plug? Of course not. Finally, round six and Wiley down again equally
hapless Wiley corner finally halts massacre.
**Candidate two: Eddie Cotton, established pro on
an off nite.
Qualifier: Setting is Bushkill, PA at Pocono Mountains honeymoon resort
seconds into opening bout hes showing entire country hes man in charge of
the ring action - big Ed is all over the jr. welters like a store dick onto
couple kid shoplifters... I mean it was clear to all but bumbling Cotton that
when relative novices get it on, with one a southpaw, it is rarely a silky
smooth affair. Hopefully for our man Eddie, the culprit was wrong medication
while lost in the wilds of Poconosville.
**Candidate three: Gary Rosato working on same
card as big Eddie.
Qualifier: Style hints of a Cotton wannabe but also displays a Dr. Jekyl-Mr.
Hyde persona.
Works a debuting four round prelim much like a raving lunatic from start to
finis it is nonstop interference with gatling gun verbal idiocy come main
event Gary baby is a MIA. Still, if the above named are all in the running for
the booby prize, the choice here is one who truly earns anonymity came to us
over ESPN from Corpus Christi, Texas.
**Mr. No-Name had his proverbial 15-minutes of
infamy while screwing up a Jeremy Williams-Andre Purlett heavyweight affair
that was pivotal for the winners career.
Round two a one of a kinder Purlett down courtesy of a stinging jab and
then a second time ~ enter Ring Doc on a house call Ref hack gives way to
Dr. Hack who gives Andre green light to continue.
Final touch of sick humor from the strange one with body language never before
seen from ring official comes in final candle Jeremy teeing off big time
Purlett mouthpiece sails into the cheap seats ref no-name halts the abuse
while calling for a search party to hunt down the rubber.
Enuf already think we got ourselves a winner!
ALADDIN
FREEMAN'S NOMINEES:
Fighter of the Year: James Toney
Trainer of the Year: Freddie Roach
Fight of the Year: Toney vs. Jirov
Upset of the Year: Corrie Sanders TKO Wladimir Klitschko
Round of the Year: Corrales vs. Casamayor Round 4
SHARKIE'S
MACHINE BY FRANK GONZALEZ JR'S NOMINEES:
Most Exciting Fighter of the Year: Ricardo Mayorga - He might have proved to
be a fluke in December but he was the most exciting fighter from January 26th
until meeting Corey Spinks who out boxed him in December 2003.
Trainer of the Year: Buddy McGirt ... Arturo Gatti actually has defensive skills under McGirt. Too
bad he couldn't get Antonio Tarver to keep up the pressure.
Best Fight of the Year: Gatti vs. Ward III
Worst Fight of the Year: Bernard Hopkins vs. Morrade Hakkar
Upset of the Year: Corey Spinks vs. Ricardo Mayorga and Corrie Sanders dismantlement of the very hyped
Vladimir Klitschko
Biggest Robbery of the Year: Shane Mosley vs. Oscar de la Hoya- Oscar clearly won the most rounds, Mosley didn't do
enough and the Judges gave the decision to Mosley though Oscar scored more and
at a higher percentage all through the fight. Also... Fres Oquendo got robbed
against Chris Byrd, who was clearly beaten in a fight where Byrd got the
judges' nod.
Most Over Rated Fighter:
Shane Mosley, who hasn't really won a fight in a couple of years now.
Bravest Performance: Wayne McCollough who was beaten in every round against Scott Harrison but
never gave up and gave his all until the final bell.
Most Cowardly Performance: Derrick Gainer running from Juan Manuel Marquez until he effectively quit
after seeing his own blood on Nov 1, 2003.
Most Exposed Fighter of the Year: Roy Jones Jr. who was getting beat up by Tarver whenever Tarver actually did
anything. #1 Pound for pound... I don't think so. Also...Joe Mesi exposed by the
reluctant Monty Barrett who showed how good Mesi really isn't.
Worst Conditioned Fighter: Kirk Johnson.
Best Conditioned Fighter: Bernard Hopkins. Too bad his
opponents are so blah.
Come Back Fighter of the Year: Believe it or not... John Ruiz
for beating Rahman in almost every round of their December fight.
ELISA
HARRISON'S NOMINEES:
Most Exciting Fighter of the Year:
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (down to the chinchilla adorned trunks and robe...by
Grant)
Fight of the Year:
Trainer of the Year:
Best Ringwear Designer: Elvis
Grant
Worst Fight of the Year: Hasim
Rahman vs John Ruiz (UGH!) and Zab Judah vs DeMarcus 'Chop Chop' Corley
(didn't these two really have it in for each other.. what happened?)
Most Outrageous Decision of the Year:
Shane Mosley over Oscar de la Hoya - Chris Byrd over Fres Oquendo
Most Over Rated Fighter of the Year:
Joe Mesi
Most Disappointing Performance of the
Year: Derrick Gainer (sorry, Smoke, but you stunk the place out!)
Upset of the Year: Corrie Sanders TKO Wladimir Klitschko
My personal 'SHAME ON YOU' Award goes
to: 1) ESPN for withdrawing its support of the sport of boxing by
refusing to pay the customary licensing fees. 2) Sports Illustrated -who from
the look of their pages- must not consider boxing a sport worth covering on a
regular basis.
KENNY
PERRAULT'S NOMINEES:
How about worst fight of the year? Wouldn't be hard since it's all fresh in
our memory.. RUIZ RAHMAN!
DANNY
SERRATELLI'S NOMINEES:
Fighter of the Year: 1.) James Toney - 2.)Vitali Klitschko
Trainer of the Year: Freddie Roach
Fight of the Year: Vitali Klitschko- Lennox Lewis and Gatti-Ward III
Upset of the Year: Corrie Sanders-Wladimir Klitschko
Round of the Year: Joel Casamayor- Diego Corrales 4th
KO of the Year: Ricardo Mayorga- Vernon Forrest I
Publicist of the Year: Don Tremblay (Main Events)
Worst Fight (biggest letdown): Zab Judah vs DeMarcus Corley
Brought to you by Saratogamist
copyright 2001-2004
GEO
ELSASSER'S
NOMINEES: