Editor’s note: This is the last in a six-part year-end award series. Today: Fighter of the Year.
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FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
TEOFIMO LOPEZ
LOPEZ DID THE UNTHINKABLE BY OUTBOXING A BOXING WIZARD TO BECOME UNDISPUTED LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION
One could argue that Teofimo Lopez had advantages over Vasiliy Lomachenko when they met on Oct. 17 Las Vegas.
Lomachenko was too small for Lopez, many believed. The 32-year-old Ukrainian had begun to decline, another notion that some had floated before the fight. And his 14-month layoff had to play a role, although Lopez had been out the ring for 10 months.
Here are the facts: Lomachenko was Boxing Junkie’s No. 1 fighter pound for pound and in the Top 10 on everyone’s list. Also, he was around a 4-1 favorite, wide odds by boxing standards.
Still, the brash 23-year-old Brooklynite not only delivered a clear victory, he fought Lomachenko’s fight to do it, outboxing the ultimate boxing wizard to win a unanimous decision and become undisputed lightweight champion.
For that reason, the selection of 2020 Fighter of the Year was a no-brainer.
Most pundits thought Lopez would have to knock out Lomachenko to beat him. A decision over a boxer of Lomachenko’s ability seemed next to impossible.
Then it happened. Lopez, fighting behind his jab, outboxed and outworked Lomachenko in the first half of the fight. The loser landed only 31 of 79 punches through seven rounds, which made him more of a spectator than a participant.
“Hi-Tech,” recognizing the urgency, rallied late in the fight but it was too late. Lopez had built an insurmountable lead. He won by scores of 119-109, 117-111 and 116-112.
Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs) seemed to be fighting back tears when he was interviewed immediately after the fight.
“I have to thank God. I had to dig deep,” he said. “… It feels good.”
Lomachenko (14-2, 10 KOs) recently said that he believes the judges were bribed. Well, if that’s so, then whoever bribed the judges also paid off millions of others who watched the fight and thought Lopez won.
The 119-109 card of Julie Lederman probably was too wide but few thought Lomachenko was robbed. Indeed, Lopez earned the victory and Fighter of the Year recognition.
Runner up: Tyson Fury
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