Top twenty boxers of 2010

Written By: Cain Bradley

2010 is over and it has been a year of disappointment in terms of big fights if i’m brutally honest. The one most wanted didn’t happen and the one I wanted hasn’t happened yet. It has however been a great year for certain boxers. Here I count down the top 20 and my wishes for them next year. The top 20 is rated solely on this year and a fighters results this year.

Fighters that just missed out: Robert Guerrero, Andre Berto, Daiki Kameda, Vitali Klitchscko, Roman Gonzalez, Toshiaki Nishioka, Ricky Burns, Wladimir Klitchsko, David Haye

20. Lucian Bute

Record 2-0
Wins: Edison Miranda TKO 3; Jesse Brinkley TKO 9
Wish: Andre Dirrell or Kelly Pavlik until Super 6 is over.
It is quite unfair to Bute as he has took on the best challenger he realistically could have in Miranda. Miranda has proven himself to be quite limited especially when it comes to big fights and beating Miranda does not give us an indication of how he will fare against the best. Brinkley didn’t either

19. Michael Katsidis

Record 1-1
Wins: Kevin Mitchell TKO 3
Losses: Juan Manuel Marquez TKO 9
Wish: Lots of fights in 2011 and a rematch with Diaz

Michael Katsidis is never boring. You are never not going to watch Katsidis fight. This may have been why he is in here. Kevin Mitchell was over-hyped but frankly is one of the best fighters in a poor lightweight division. A few of the Australians bombs took Mitchell to pieces as he was savagely stopped. Katsidis then took on Juan Manuel Marquez in a fight of the year candidate. In a slugfest Marquez eventually prevailed after being knocked down in the third.

18. Ryol Li Lee

Record 3-0
Wins: Kazunori Takayama UD; Hishashi Amagasha UD;  Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym UD
Wish: Unification match

One for the real purists here.  Perhaps my ignorance of the really light weights but what seems a rather ordinary year changed on November 2^nd.  He fought one of the best fighters over recent years Kratingdaenggym. In a close decision he got the win through his counter-punching style. Will he hold on to his title in 2011?

17. Andre Dirrell

Record 1-0
Wins:  Arthur Abraham DQ
Wish: Recover

Unfortunately the result has rather been overshadowed by the ending and more recently by Carl Froch. Dirrell dominated Abraham for the majority of the fight. Abraham became warrior like swinging big bombs to end the fight. The fight ended sadly as Dirrell was punched while on the floor concussing him. He hasn’t been seen since and has pulled out of the super 6.

16. Tavoris Cloud

Record 2-0
Wins: Francesco Zuniga UD; Glen Johnson UD
Wish: Take on Dawson/Hopkins/Pascal

As one American light heavyweight prospect falters another prospers. Chad Dawson started the year as champion. Tavorious Cloud ends as champion. A serious of 3 good wins make Cloud a serious contender for number 1 in the division.

15. Carl Froch

Record 1-1
Wins: Arthur Abraham UD
Losses: Mikkel Kessler UD
Wish: Stay injury free

Carl Froch’s year has consisted of his stage 2 & 3 super six bouts. A win and a defeat meant he qualified as second seed. His first bout against Kessler was by no means a rout but all judges agreed Kessler had done enough. A loss to a top opponent was more than cancelled out by his incredible performance against another top contender. He dominated Abraham with great boxing.  He tore out the Germans heart and took a routine decision. He ends the year as he started it, the WBC champion and will take on Glen Johnson in the next round.

14. Devon Alexander

Record 2-0
Wins: Juan Urango TKO8, Andreas Kotelnik UD
Wish: Fight Bradley (happening). If he wins Khan!

Alexander the Great had a solid year. He defeated two top light-welterweight contenders. He was the first man to stop Urango, something Berto nor Hatton managed. His second title bout of the year was against the experienced Ukranian who was more accurate in his work. He got a decision inn his hometown of St Louis. One of the boxing moments that made me smile was seeing Alexander drop his IBF title belt to give the fans the fight they want to see. Bradley – Alexander has been set for the start of 2011 and has really made me respect Alexander even more.

13. Andre Ward

Record 2-0
Wins: Sakio Bika UD; Allan Green UD
Wish: Super six

Two solid wins over top 10 contenders in the Super Middleweight division. You can only beat what’s in front of you. If the Super six had of run perfectly he would have fought Taylor and Dirrell. Doubtless two wins there would have put him higher in this list. One thing that really strikes me about Ward is his lack of entertainment value. Compared to Kessler, Froch and Abraham to name a few he is very boring. I don’t know if he would sell well on PPV compared to the names mentioned above unless it was against a big opponent.

12. Mikkel Kessler

Record 1-0
Wins: Carl Froch
Wish: Return against Dirrell/Bute

Perhaps the biggest win in the Super six so far. He beat an unbeaten Froch at home. Mikkel took the WBC title and was in a good position to qualify to the semi finals but had to pull out with an eye injury. He is expected to return mid 2011 and will hopefully take on the best super middleweights outside of the Super six.

11. Yuriorkis Gamboa

Record 3-0
Wins: Rogers Mtagwa KO2, Jonathon Barros UD, Orlando Salido UD
Wish: World class competition such as Lopez or John

The young Cuban has excelled this year.  His defeat of Rogers Mtagwa was impressive in its speed compared to foe Juan Manuel Lopez. A defeat of Barros was solid but didn’t set the world alight. Neither did his final fight of they year against Saldio, although he did manage to unify the titles. 2011 could be a huge year for him in which he could make an impression on the pound for pound rankings.

10. Bernard Hopkins

Record 1-0-1
Wins: Roy Jones Jr UD
Draws: Jean Pascal MD
Wish: Rematch with Pascal

Bernard Hopkins continues to defy time. At 45 years old he proved he is still one of the best competitors in the light heavyweight division. He took on Roy Jones Jr in a rematch 17 years after the original. Hopkins was the better fighter dominating the majority of rounds and taking an easy decision. He then took on Jean Pascal, the divisions number 1 fighter, at the end of the year. Hopkins would be knocked down twice but would do well in exchanges and earned a majority draw with only Steve Morrow giving him the win. In 2011 he will aim to become the oldest world champion at 46.

9. Juan Manuel Marquez

Record 2-0
Wins: Juan Diaz UD, Michael Katsidis TK09
Wish: Move up and take on bigger and better fighters.

In recovering from the beat down inflicted upon him in 2009 by Floyd Mayweather he took on old foe Juan Diaz in a rematch. The second was not as exciting as the first with Marquez out punching Diaz on the way to a unanimous decision. He then took on the Aussie warrior Michael Katsidis. In an all out war, Marquez stopped him in the 9th after being knocked down early..

8. Fernando Montiel

Record: 4-0
Wins: Ciso Morales TKO1, Hozumi Hazegawa TKO4, Rafael Concepcion KO3, Jovanny Sato KO2
Wish: Fight Nonito Donaire

Fernando Montiel has had a big year and has shown himself as the clear best Bantamweight in the world. After winning the WBO title off Morales, he took on the best Bantamweight in the world, Hazegawa. He brutally stopped him before finishing his next two opponents. He will take on Donaire in a bout to determine the best fighter in the lower weight classes.

7. Manny Pacquiao

Record 2-0
Wins: Joshua Clottey UD, Antonio Margarito UD
Wish: Sergio Martinez or Floyd Mayweather Pacman has had two near shut-out victories over good opposition. He is not in my top 5 because overall I think those above him fought better opposition or with better quality. Pacman really needs to take another world class performer.

6. Floyd Mayweather
Record1-0
Wins: Shane Mosley
Wish: Someone who can compete with him – Paul Williams?

Floyd Mayweather delivered an absolute master-class against Shane. Hurt in the 2nd round, he survived. He dominated every other round, with one of the greatest performances against a fellow top fighter that boxing has seen in recent years. His year was overshadowed by two arrests in unconnected incidents.

5.Jean Pascal

Record 1-0-1
Wins: Chad Dawson TD
Draws: Bernard Hopkins MD
Wish: Fight top contender (Cloud or Hopkins or Dawson or Bute)

Jean Pascal took on Dawson, the best light heavyweight, at the start of 2010. He took the decision after working really well in early and middle rounds. The fight was stopped in the 11th round due to cuts from a head butt. In his next fight Pascal took on the other top contender in his weight, Bernard Hopkins. Despite knocking Hopkins down twice, Pascal struggled to control the fight and the decision was a majority draw.

4. Giovanni Segura

Record 4-0
Wins: Walter Tello TKO 3, Ronald Ramos RTD4, Ivan Calderon KO8, Manuel Vargas RTD7
Wish: Wonjongkam or Calderon or Gonzalez

The lightest fighter in my list established himself as a top quality this year. He beat Ivan Calderon, the highest defeat of a pound for pound fighter this year. His other wins continued showing his power and quality. He is a top fighter whether at flyweight or light flyweight and will look to prove himself as the best this year.

3. Amir Khan

Record:2-0 
Wins: Paulie Malignaggi TKO11, Marcos Maidana UD
Wish: Unification

In 2010 Khan cracked America. A big win over Malignaggi in which he stopped him in the 11th, a feat that Miguel Cotto couldn’t manage and Ricky Hatton only could due to Malignaggi’s corner. Amir dismantled Paulie. In his second fight that year he begun his assault on the divisions elite. He took on Marcos Maidana. Khan dominated the fight early  with his superior boxing and knocked Maidana down early with body shots. He then proceeded to brawl with Maidana. He answered doubts over his chin in the 10th round in which he survived a barrage of destructive punches. He took a decision and Oscar De La Hoya described it as ‘fight of the decade’.

2. Juan Manuel Lopez

Record 3-0
Wins: Steven Luevano TKO7, Bernabe Concepcion TKO2, Rafael Marquez RTD8
Wish: Gamboa or John or JMM

The young Puerto Rican has had an incredible year. He took on one of the best featherweights in the world in Steven Luevano. He hurt Luevano in the 7th and proceeded to stop him. He then took on contender Concepcion and showed his power knocking him out early. He then took on Mexican legend Rafael Marquez. Lopez dominated the fight for the majority of rounds and put Marquez in trouble. He won by KO when Marquez didn’t come back out for the 9th round. Juan Manuel Lopez is looking to consolidate himself in a p4p position come 2011.

The fighter of the year

1. Sergio Martinez

Record 2-0
Wins: Kelly Pavlik UD, Paul Williams KO2
Wish: Pacman

Sergio Martinez is the undisputed number 1 middleweight. His two wins were over top quality opposition and came in brutal fashion. His first fight of 2010 was against the number 1 middleweight in the world, Kelly Pavlik. Kelly Pavlik was bigger + stronger but Martinez cut him above both eyes. Martinez was given the decision. In one of the best decision of the year Sergio would fight a rematch against the most avoided man in the world, Paul Williams. In the first fight Williams took a split decision, Martinez was determined this wouldn’t go the same way. In the second round Sergio Martinez threw a hook which caught Paul Williams knocking him out clean. Martinez solidified his case as the number 1  middleweight and a pound-for-pound contender!

Please give me your thoughts




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