2010 Boxing Fight, Fighter, and Knockout of the Year

Before I list my fight of the year, fighter of the year, and knockout of the year, I leave you with the following caveat. All of the winners that were selected are limited to fights that I predicted in the past year, so if you see any notable omissions based on my selections, you will know why.

However, I think that you will find my 2010 boxing award honorees more than worthy.

Without further adieu I announce Fight Insight's 2010 Honors: 

Fight of the Year

For my money, HBO's last significant fight of the year was its best. That's right, I'm riding with the Amir Khan (24-1-1, 17 KOs) vs. Marcos Maidana (29-2, 27 KOs) super lightweight title fight as the Fight of the Year. It had everything you want in a great fight—one man (Maidana) nearly knocked out early to then come on and seriously hurt his opponent (Khan) in the late rounds, only to come up short in a close (and controversial to some) decision.

Fighter of the Year

This one was easy. It starts with a win over Kelly Pavlik for the lineal middleweight championship, and ends with a scintillating knockout of the best fighter (Paul Williams) this side of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. That's right, Sergio "Maravilla" Martinez (46-2-1, 25 KOs) was clearly the best fighter in 2010. And it is not even close.

Knockout of the Year

This was not a close call either. Paul Williams vs. Sergio Martinez II was supposed to give us the Fight of the Year, but it instead yielded the Knockout (of Williams) of the Year. I was as shocked by the outcome as Williams was by the Martinez left hand that felled him.

In a year which we unfortunately never got to see the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao fight materialize, nor did we get to see any of the Klitschkos fight David Haye, we were at least able to witness the continued ascent of Amir Khan, Andre Ward, and Juan Manuel Lopez.

The future indeed looks bright, starting with Devon Alexander vs. Timothy Bradley for the undisputed, Ring Magazine junior welterweight crown on January 29, 2010.

Check back in two weeks for my prediction on that one!