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WORLD BOXING COUNCIL NEWS
From WBC President Jose
Sulaiman:
AT
YEAR FOR BOXING!
What a great
year it has been for boxing! On behalf of all the members of the WBC, I would
like to congratulate all those involved in this great sport: all the boxers,
from four-rounders to world champions, all promoters, managers, trainers,
television networks, sanctioning organizations, media, and especially the
boxing fans around the world.
This year boxing
broke all existing records in pay-per-view, paid attendance and great shows in
many countries, and most importantly network television is coming back to cover
the sport in many countries of the world.
Following, you
will find the candidates for the WBC’s “Best of” in 2007:
FIGHTER OF THE YEAR:
Floyd Mayweather, Jr., USA :
unquestionable unanimous decision due to his historic battles in 2007,
defeating Oscar de la Hoya to win
the WBC super welterweight title, and knocking out previously undefeated
Ricky Hatton in a WBC welterweight
title defense. Mayweather has won five WBC belts in five different divisions
and is, without a doubt, the proudest WBC champion in the world. Floyd has
become the superstar of boxing and has found his well-deserved place in
history.
FIGHTER OF THE YEAR, HONORARY MENTION:
Cristian Mijares ,
Mexico: who defended the WBC super flyweight title five times, defeating
Katsushige Kawashima in Japan,
defeating former champion Jorge “Travieso”
Arce, and three other title defenses.
Chad Dawson ,
USA: won the light heavyweight WBC green belt
by defeating Tomasz Adamek, and
defended his title in two occasions.
Kelly Pavlik ,
USA: won a semifinal elimination, then
defeated Edison Miranda in a war
in a final elimination, and won the WBC middleweight championship knocking out
the great Jermain Taylor.
FIGHT OF THE YEAR:
Israel Vazquez vs. Rafael Marquez
– I and II: these two warriors
battled each other in March and then again in August, giving boxing fans around
the world 13 dramatic rounds in which both fighters were constantly hurt, cut,
and came back to win one fight each.
Kelly Pavlik vs. Jermain Taylor :
Taylor, making his WBC mandatory defense, had Pavlik
down and almost out in the second round and after several rounds of great
action and drama, Pavlik knocked out former champion Taylor in the eighth
round.
Floyd Mayweather vs. Ricky Hatton :
Mayweather defended his WBC welterweight belt against mandatory contender and
undefeated Hatton in an arena that was filled with British fans, which makes
that fight one of the greatest atmospheres ever in boxing. After nine rounds of
great courage and ability by both fighters, Mayweather knocked out Hatton in
the 10th round.
MOST DRAMATIC FIGHT:
Erik Morales vs. David Diaz :
Diaz defeated former three-time world champion Morales by split decision after
being knocked down in the first round, and finished with a closed eye in a
dramatic fight.
Samuel Peter vs. Jameel McCline :
Peter defended his WBC interim heavyweight championship in a dramatic fashion,
coming back from three knockdowns to win a unanimous decision.
Israel Vazquez vs. Rafael Marquez
– I and II: Please see
description in fight of the year.
Kelly Pavlik vs. Jermain Taylor :
Please see description in fight of the year.
Floyd Mayweather vs. Ricky Hatton :
Please see description in fight of the year.
KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR:
Jorge Linares vs. Gamaliel Diaz :
A tremendous one-punch knockout in
Cancun,
Mexico.
Floyd Mayweather vs. Ricky Hatton :
A dramatic knockout in one of the greatest promotions of the year.
David Haye vs. Jean Marc Mormeck :
A formidable knockout against former champion Mormeck, after visiting the
canvas.
Kelly Pavlik vs. Jermain Taylor :
Impressive knockout power vs. an undefeated superstar.
Junior Witter vs. Vivian Harris :
Impressive knock out by super lightweight champion in
England.
EVENT
OF THE YEAR:
Floyd Mayweather vs. Oscar de la Hoya :
A fight for the WBC super welterweight championship, which broke all existing
records of pay per view and live gate, billed as “The World Awaits.”
Joe Calzaghe vs. Mikkel Kessler :
A great unification fight between two European world champions, putting in the
line their championship belts and their undefeated records in front of 60,000
fans in Wales, UK.
Fists of Iron in
Cancun,
Mexico :
A great promotion held in paradisiacal Cancun, where Jorge Linares and Edwin
Valero defended their titles with the presence of many of today’s promoter and
media in
Cancun.
EMERGING STAR OF THE YEAR - WORLD CHAMPION:
Jorge Linares ,
from
Venezuela, who conquered the WBC featherweight
title by defeating long time former champion
Oscar Larios, and defended his title
against number one contender Gamaliel Diaz.
Kelly Pavlik ,
USA, who won a semifinal elimination then defeated in a war in a final
elimination Edison Miranda - who
was undefeated - and conquered the WBC middleweight championship knocking out
the great Jermain Taylor.
Chad Dawson ,
USA, who conquered the light heavyweight WBC green belt by defeating
Tomasz Adamek and defended his title
on two occasions.
Edgar Sosa ,
Mexico who conquered the WBC light flyweight
title, defeating former champion Brian
Viloria, and defended his championship three times during 2007.
PRELIMINARY STAR OF THE YEAR:
Julio César Chávez Jr. ,
Mexico, solidifying himself as a real
contender following his great father’s footsteps.
Cristóbal Arreola,
Mexico ,
has become a major contender in heavyweight division.
André Berto ,
from the
USA, has recently become the top contender in
the welterweight division and has created a great expectation in the fans
around the world.
Takahiro Aho,
Japan ,
has become one of the most recognized fighters in the Orient with a great
style, similar to Floyd Mayweather.
The results of the voting will
be announced during the first week of January, 2008.
I would like to take this
opportunity to wish you all, during this season of holy days, peace, harmony
and happiness, hoping that 2008 will bring health and many great boxing
matches.
Your friend,
Jose Sulaiman
Ch.
12-20-2007
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