Six Candidates for Boxing's 2010 Fighter of the Year

This hasn't been the most scintillating year for the sweet science. Though there are still four months to go, 2010 will likely be remembered mostly for the big fights that didn't happen (Mayweather-Pacquiao, obviously) as well as some that looked better on paper than they played out in real life (Marquez-Vazquez IV, among others).

Despite that, someone will still emerge as the 2010 Fighter of the Year. Eric Raskin of The Ring Magazine recently did his usual excellent job highlighting some of the most likely candidates to win the award, as well as some arguments for and against each one.

I took a look at his list, combined it with my own thoughts and came up with a half-dozen boxers who could still end up with the hardware. Read on to see who made the cut:

6. Manny Pacquiao

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NEW YORK - JUNE 05: Professional boxer Manny Pacquiao watches the bout between Yuri Foreman and Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico in the WBA world super welterweight title fight on June 5, 2010 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Cotto win

Sorry Pac-fans, but I don't think Manny can possibly rank any higher than this.

Yes, I expect him to be 2-0 for the year after his November 13 meeting with Antonio Margarito. That was good enough to earn him the award before, and supporters will tout the fact that a win in the fall will get Pacquiao a world title belt in his eighth different division.

But let's get real: Pac Man's victory over Joshua Clottey was a snoozer, and he'll be a heavy favorite against Margarito. Add in some bitterness over the Floyd Mayweather fight not taking place and I don't think voters will be thinking of Manny first at the end of 2010.

5. Andre Dirrell

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NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 17: Andre Dirrell attacks Carl Froch during their WBC Super Middleweight fight on October 17, 2009 at Trent FM Arena in Nottingham, England. (Photo by John Gichigi/Getty Images)

The Super Six World Boxing Classic recently took a hit when Mikkel Kessler withdrew due to injury, but that could benefit Dirrell, whose upcoming bout with Andre Ward may become one of the tournament semifinals.

The Matrix looked very impressive en route to handing Arthur Abraham his first professional defeat in March. If he knocks Ward from the ranks of the undefeated as well, that will likely be the most impressive accomplishment anyone will pull off in 2010.

Then why isn't Dirrell closer to the top of this list? It's simple, actually: I don't think he's going to beat Ward.

4. Rafael Marquez

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LAS VEGAS - NOVEMBER 27: Rafael Marquez celebrates after defeating Mauricio Pastrana for the IBF World Bantamweight Championship at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on November 27, 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Marquez defeated Pastrana by TKO after the 8th round

Marquez brought his thrilling series with Israel Vazquez to something of an anticlimactic end in May, stopping his rival in just three rounds. Though that was certainly a big win, most observers have attributed it largely to a decline for Vazquez.

Rafa is supposed to take on Juan Manuel Lopez in what promises to be an explosive fight, but minor injuries have already caused its September date to be called off. Reliable boxing sources have suggested that it will be rescheduled for November, but that's not set in stone just yet.

If Marquez gets by Juanma, he'll absolutely deserve serious consideration for Fighter of the Year. The twin possibilities that the fight will get pushed back to 2011 and that Rafa will be an underdog when it actually happens keep him in fourth place.

3. Fernando Montiel

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TOKYO - APRIL 30: Fernando Montiel of Mexico celebrates after knocking out Hozumi Hasegawa of Japan during the WBC Bantamweight Title Fight between Hozumi Hasegawa and Fernando Montiel at Nippon Budokan on April 30, 2010 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Koich

The WBC and WBO bantamweight titleholder has had the busiest year of all of the top candidates. He's already notched up three victories, all by stoppage, and he's rumored to be fighting again in September in his native Mexico.

Beating Hozumi Hasegawa in Japan was no easy feat, and Montiel did so emphatically. You have to wonder, though, if the quality of his other victories will be enough to swing voters his way.

He also doesn't have as much name recognition as the other boxers on this list, but that won't matter to the boxing writers who hand out the award. If some of the other candidates falter in their fall outings, little Montiel could make out big.

2. Sergio Martinez

Becoming the middleweight champion of the world and avenging a prior defeat to a top 10 pound-for-pound boxer sounds like a Fighter of the Year resume for sure. That's exactly what Martinez may have by December 31 and why Raskin is leaning toward him as the favorite.

I tend to agree. Martinez has already disposed of Kelly Pavlik,  and if he defeats Paul Williams as well, he should win.

That's if Martinez-Williams II is finalized, and it hasn't been thus far. That keeps me from elevating Sergio to the top spot.

1. Juan Manuel Lopez

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LAS VEGAS - DECEMBER 06: (L-R) Juan Manuel Lopez of Puerto Rico throws a left to the head of Sergio Medina of Argentina during their WBO junior featherweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena December 6, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Lopez knocked o

Even though he's undefeated and has won world titles in two different weight classes, Lopez still doesn't quite feel like a finished product. He still shows more vulnerability than you'd like, and he hasn't had a career-defining win.

Still, he has two impressive KO wins in 2010, taking out tricky Steven Luevano in January and emerging as the last man standing in a short but wild brawl with Bernabe Concepcion in July. Assuming his fight with Rafael Marquez is rescheduled for November, Juanma could boast a more impressive body of work than anyone.

I like his chances. In a year that no one has really grabbed and made his own, Lopez has an excellent shot at saying it belonged to him once the final bell rings.