Fighter of the Year

[JimmyMoore]

I just wanted to get everyone's opinion on fighter of the year. I think this year should be a close one. I was gonna make this a poll, but wasn't smart enough to figure out how. Here's how I see it.

”Pretty Boy” Floyd “Money” Mayweather “Knobgobbler” - Fought twice this year. His first bout in May against De La Hoya, was billed as “The Fight to Save Boxing” and set a new record for Boxing PPV buys. PBF then dismantled an undefeated Ricky Hatton with a 10th round KO, proving that he is, without a doubt, the top pound-for-pound fighter in the game right now. If I had to put $ down, I would have to go with Floyd walking away with it.

Miguel Cotto- Fought 3 times this year. In March, Cotto successfully defended his title for the first time in a match against Oktay Urkel. The match had an anticlimactic finish, however his other two more than made up for it. In June, Cotto took out a very fast Zab Juda in the 11th in what is definitely a candidate for fight of the year. Cotto finished up 2007 by giving a boxing lesson to none other than Sugar Shane Mosley, beating him by unanimous decision.

Kelly Pavlik- Fought 3 times this year. Pavlik started out the year by dropping Jose Luis Zertuche face first to the mat with an uppercut in the 8th. He then established himself as the undisputed #1 contender at middleweight by dropping a very dangerous Edison Miranda twice, before stopping him in the 7th. These victories lead to the instant classic against unbeaten, universally recognized middleweight champion Jermain Taylor. Pavlik came back from being dropped and badly hurt in the 2nd, to knock Taylor completely unconscious in the 7th.

Pavlik has my vote, but there is definitely an argument to be made for each of these guys.

[Harlem]

I wold have to say Floyd. He generated the money, interest, and his fight with hatton was spectacular.

[Dork8503]

Originally Posted by harlemhustla145

I wold have to say Floyd. He generated the money, interest, and his fight with hatton was spectacular.

He generated what money. Why are people just assuming that Floyd is the only reason for those 850,000 buys.

Floyd may be the best an go down as one of the best ever but i feel Hatton is just as big may even be bigger.

Kelly is fighter of the year. He fought 3 times. One of those fights coming against Miranda who was suppose to beat him and he knocked him out, then against Taylor who dropped him 2 times only to come back an knock him out.

Kelly hands down imo is fighter of the year.

Second is Cotto.

Floyd might have been in some big fight with ppv draws but Cotto and Kellys fights were action packed an never a dull moment.

[Brutus]

Originally Posted by Dork8503

He generated what money. Why are people just assuming that Floyd is the only reason for those 850,000 buys.

Floyd may be the best an go down as one of the best ever but i feel Hatton is just as big may even be bigger.

Kelly is fighter of the year. He fought 3 times. One of those fights coming against Miranda who was suppose to beat him and he knocked him out, then against Taylor who dropped him 2 times only to come back an knock him out.

Kelly hands down imo is fighter of the year.

Second is Cotto.

Floyd might have been in some big fight with ppv draws but Cotto and Kellys fights were action packed an never a dull moment.

Agreed, PBF generated a ton of buys but he had help from opponents. Kelly is my choice as well.

[dofking]

The public doesnt know pavlick or cotto. Fuck i dont even know them either except for recently. Floyd gained the most exposure and cash money, thats what makes him fighter of the year.

[Dork8503]

Originally Posted by dofking

The public doesnt know pavlick or cotto. Fuck i dont even know them either except for recently. Floyd gained the most exposure and cash money, thats what makes him fighter of the year.

I think Fighter of the Year goes to the fighter who has overcame the odds and put on shows. Mayweather didn't over come anything seeing he was favored in both of his fights, and his fights were good but not near as good as the fights Cotto an kelly put on. Kelly was the underdog in both of his last fights and won them both by a very nice KO.

[DonFrye]

I'd have to go with Cotto, although I completely disagree on him "giving Shane Mosley a boxing lesson." He had a great year and beat 2 very well respected fighters who were actually HIS competition, unlike PBF who had people moving all over the weight classes to fight him.

My vote would go to Pavlik for "Breakout Fighter of the Year", but not for fighter of the year.

[Salvy_Mic]

My fighter of the year is Miguel Cotto. He pushed over that cusp of being capable of doing great things to actually doing them and becoming one of the top fighters in the world and the biggest threat to Mayweather. Cotto made himself a true star in boxing and took on incredibly tough opposition in Zab Judah and Shane Mosley, back to back too, I may add. Mayweather on the other hand, did what he was supposed to do in defeating Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton; there were doubts about the outcome of the Judah and Mosley fights and Cotto proved himself to be an elite fighter. Money and hype do not a Fighter of the Year make. My runner up would be Kelly Pavlik, for KOing tough to elite competition in each of his fights, and being exciting in the process, while being an underdog in the two biggest fights of his career.

[Dork8503]

Originally Posted by Salvy_Mic

My fighter of the year is Miguel Cotto. He pushed over that cusp of being capable of doing great things to actually doing them and becoming one of the top fighters in the world and the biggest threat to Mayweather. Cotto made himself a true star in boxing and took on incredibly tough opposition in Zab Judah and Shane Mosley, back to back too, I may add. Mayweather on the other hand, did what he was supposed to do in defeating Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton; there were doubts about the outcome of the Judah and Mosley fights and Cotto proved himself to be an elite fighter. Money and hype do not a Fighter of the Year make. My runner up would be Kelly Pavlik, for KOing tough to elite competition in each of his fights, and being exciting in the process, while being an underdog in the two biggest fights of his career.

exactly.

Hatton moving up in weight to fight Mayweather means little to me on fighter of the year seeing Kelly fought 2 big mw's an knocked them both funny. Came back in the Taylor fight, after being knocked down 2 times, came back an won the fight in impressive fashion.

Cotto beat Zab and Shane, both very good boxers who he was i believe the underdog in, an proved he was a gamer.

Its so hard to choose but Mayweather deff is not it. Cotto then Kelly or Kelly then Cotto, they proved so much more this year then Floyd. They had better fights. To me Mayweather shouldn't even be in the same category with those 2.

[DonFrye]

The saddest thing about this is that Calzaghe had an awesome fight against Kessler, but his only other fight was with Manfredo. If he had beated Lacy this year, he would be hands down in my book. But, he didn't, and he didn't fight outside of the UK either, so F him.