Category: Boxing Junkie Awards

2020 Boxing Junkie Awards: Fighter of the Year

Teofimo Lopez has been named Fighter of the Year by Boxing Junkie.

Editor’s note: This is the last in a six-part year-end award series. Today: Fighter of the Year.

***

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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2020 Boxing Junkie Awards: Fighter of the Year

Teofimo Lopez has been named Fighter of the Year by Boxing Junkie.

Editor’s note: This is the last in a six-part year-end award series. Today: Fighter of the Year.

***

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

[lawrence-related id=16833,16807,16761,16735,16730]

 

 

2020 Boxing Junkie Awards: Fight of the Year

2020 Boxing Junkie Awards: Jose Zepeda vs. Ivan Baranchyk is named Fight of the Year.

Editor’s note: This is the fifth in a six-part series. Boxing junkie will reveal one year-end award each day through Dec. 30. Today: Fight of the Year.

***

FIGHT OF THE YEAR

JOSE ZEPEDA KO 5 IVAN BARANCHYK

ZEPEDA AND BARANCHYK GAVE FANS one of those nights of which THEY often dream but rarely witness

Eight knockdowns in four-plus rounds. A brutal knockout to punctuate the mayhem. Genuine concern for a semi-conscious loser after the fact. Fans will never, ever forget what they witnessed on Oct. 3.

Jose Zepeda knocked out Ivan Baranchyk with a right-left combination in Round 5 inside the MGM Grand “bubble” in Las Vegas, putting him in a strong position to challenge for a 140-pound title. However, it was the drama – before and after the knockout – that had people talking afterward.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY2Re-tCzXk

First, there was a total of eight knockdowns — at least one in each of the five rounds. Zepeda went down twice in Round 1, they both went down once in Round 2, Baranchyk hit the canvas one time in both Round 3 and Round 4 and referee Kenny Bayless rule one more knockdown when the ropes saved Baranchyk from going down.

Then came the ending.

Baranchyk was on the attack, as he was the entire fight, when the left-handed Zepeda landed a hard overhand right and followed with a short, but powerful left that knocked Baranchyk onto his back, bending his right knee in an unnatural manner in the process.

There was no need to count. The fight was over 2 minutes, 50 seconds into Round 5.

Baranchyk, perhaps rendered unconscious before his body landed on the canvas, lay still when doctors jumped into the ring. It was one of those moments when your heart is suddenly in your throat, when you’re not certain the fallen fighter will be OK.

The Belarusian’s eyes were glassy but he responded to their questions, which was a good sign. Soon they had him sitting up. And then they helped him to his feet. He walked out of the ring to finally end an emotional roller coaster and was taken to a hospital for precautionary reasons.

Promoter Bob Arum, who has seen it all in more than a half century in boxing, was effusive after the fact.

“One of the best fights I’ve seen since Foreman-Lyle [in 1976]. Plain and simple,” he tweeted.

Fight of the Year might not do this brawl justice.

Runner up: Juan Francisco Estrada TKO 11 Carlos Cuadras

Tomorrow: Fighter of the Year

[lawrence-related id=16807,16761,16761,16735,16730]

 

 

2020 Boxing Junkie Awards: Fight of the Year

2020 Boxing Junkie Awards: Jose Zepeda vs. Ivan Baranchyk is named Fight of the Year.

Editor’s note: This is the fifth in a six-part series. Boxing junkie will reveal one year-end award each day through Dec. 30. Today: Fight of the Year.

***

FIGHT OF THE YEAR

JOSE ZEPEDA KO 5 IVAN BARANCHYK

ZEPEDA AND BARANCHYK GAVE FANS one of those nights of which THEY often dream but rarely witness

Eight knockdowns in four-plus rounds. A brutal knockout to punctuate the mayhem. Genuine concern for a semi-conscious loser after the fact. Fans will never, ever forget what they witnessed on Oct. 3.

Jose Zepeda knocked out Ivan Baranchyk with a right-left combination in Round 5 inside the MGM Grand “bubble” in Las Vegas, putting him in a strong position to challenge for a 140-pound title. However, it was the drama – before and after the knockout – that had people talking afterward.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY2Re-tCzXk

First, there was a total of eight knockdowns — at least one in each of the five rounds. Zepeda went down twice in Round 1, they both went down once in Round 2, Baranchyk hit the canvas one time in both Round 3 and Round 4 and referee Kenny Bayless rule one more knockdown when the ropes saved Baranchyk from going down.

Then came the ending.

Baranchyk was on the attack, as he was the entire fight, when the left-handed Zepeda landed a hard overhand right and followed with a short, but powerful left that knocked Baranchyk onto his back, bending his right knee in an unnatural manner in the process.

There was no need to count. The fight was over 2 minutes, 50 seconds into Round 5.

Baranchyk, perhaps rendered unconscious before his body landed on the canvas, lay still when doctors jumped into the ring. It was one of those moments when your heart is suddenly in your throat, when you’re not certain the fallen fighter will be OK.

The Belarusian’s eyes were glassy but he responded to their questions, which was a good sign. Soon they had him sitting up. And then they helped him to his feet. He walked out of the ring to finally end an emotional roller coaster and was taken to a hospital for precautionary reasons.

Promoter Bob Arum, who has seen it all in more than a half century in boxing, was effusive after the fact.

“One of the best fights I’ve seen since Foreman-Lyle [in 1976]. Plain and simple,” he tweeted.

Fight of the Year might not do this brawl justice.

Runner up: Juan Francisco Estrada TKO 11 Carlos Cuadras

Tomorrow: Fighter of the Year

[lawrence-related id=16807,16761,16761,16735,16730]

 

 

2020 Boxing Junkie Awards: Upset of the Year

Jeison Rosario’s knockout of Julian Williams to win two 154-pound titles in January is Boxing Junkie’s Upset of the Year.

Editor’s note: This is the third in a six-part series. Boxing junkie will reveal one year-end award each day through Dec. 30. Today: Upset of the Year.

***

UPSET OF THE YEAR

JEISON ROSARIO KO 5 JULIAN WILLIAMS

ROSARIO SHOCKED THE BOXING WORLD WHEN HE TOOK DOWN ONE OF ITS HOTTEST FIGHTERS in january

Julian Williams was a 19-1 favorite the day before the fight on Jan. 18, according to Forbes. He was coming off a sensational unanimous-decision victory over then-unbeaten Jarret Hurd, who seemed to be a rising star, to win two 154-pound titles. He had climbed onto to some pound-for-lists.

And Jeison Rosario destroyed him.

Those who had followed the career of the strapping Dominican knew he was a capable all-around fighter. He had slipped up against Nathanial Gallimore in 2017, losing by knockout, but he hadn’t lost since then and seemed to in groove going into his title challenge in Philadelphia, Williams’ hometown.

However, not many expected to see what would unfold in the ring.

Williams outboxed Rosario in the first round but things changed in the second, when a jab from Rosario opened a cut on Williams’ left eye lid. Suddenly, Williams was somewhat tentative because of the cut and, it seemed, Rosario was emboldened.

The fight was competitive until a single moment in Round 5, when Rosario landed a left hook that rocked Williams and then followed with an overwhelming onslaught of power punches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_RYUckR8ko&t=172s

Williams held Rosario in an attempt to remain on his feet but eventually fell. He got up but his eyes were glassy and his legs were unsteady. Moments later a vicious right uppercut, followed by a left hook, staggered Williams and prompted referee Benjy Esteves to jump between the fighters and stop the fight.

Esteves looked Williams in the eye and the now-former champion nodded, his way of saying that the referee made the right move.

Just like that a fighter whose impressive performance in his previous fight seemed to portend a long reign as champion was cut down by a fighter with whom few were familiar. The moment wasn’t lost on Rosario, who wept.

“I gotta keep crying because I’m so emotional in this moment right now,” he said through a translator. “When I lost my last fight I said I’d never lose again until I won the championship of the world and that’s what happened tonight.

“I came prepared. So I knew before the fight I was going to win it.”

Rosario would lose his titles to surging Jermell Charlo in his next fight but he will always be able to look back on his special moment in Philadelphia with pride.

Runner up: Alexander Povetkin TKO 5 Dillian Whyte.

Tomorrow: Knockout of the Year

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2020 Boxing Junkie Awards: Upset of the Year

Jeison Rosario’s knockout of Julian Williams to win two 154-pound titles in January is Boxing Junkie’s Upset of the Year.

Editor’s note: This is the third in a six-part series. Boxing junkie will reveal one year-end award each day through Dec. 30. Today: Upset of the Year.

***

UPSET OF THE YEAR

JEISON ROSARIO KO 5 JULIAN WILLIAMS

ROSARIO SHOCKED THE BOXING WORLD WHEN HE TOOK DOWN ONE OF ITS HOTTEST FIGHTERS in january

Julian Williams was a 19-1 favorite the day before the fight on Jan. 18, according to Forbes. He was coming off a sensational unanimous-decision victory over then-unbeaten Jarret Hurd, who seemed to be a rising star, to win two 154-pound titles. He had climbed onto to some pound-for-lists.

And Jeison Rosario destroyed him.

Those who had followed the career of the strapping Dominican knew he was a capable all-around fighter. He had slipped up against Nathanial Gallimore in 2017, losing by knockout, but he hadn’t lost since then and seemed to in groove going into his title challenge in Philadelphia, Williams’ hometown.

However, not many expected to see what would unfold in the ring.

Williams outboxed Rosario in the first round but things changed in the second, when a jab from Rosario opened a cut on Williams’ left eye lid. Suddenly, Williams was somewhat tentative because of the cut and, it seemed, Rosario was emboldened.

The fight was competitive until a single moment in Round 5, when Rosario landed a left hook that rocked Williams and then followed with an overwhelming onslaught of power punches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_RYUckR8ko&t=172s

Williams held Rosario in an attempt to remain on his feet but eventually fell. He got up but his eyes were glassy and his legs were unsteady. Moments later a vicious right uppercut, followed by a left hook, staggered Williams and prompted referee Benjy Esteves to jump between the fighters and stop the fight.

Esteves looked Williams in the eye and the now-former champion nodded, his way of saying that the referee made the right move.

Just like that a fighter whose impressive performance in his previous fight seemed to portend a long reign as champion was cut down by a fighter with whom few were familiar. The moment wasn’t lost on Rosario, who wept.

“I gotta keep crying because I’m so emotional in this moment right now,” he said through a translator. “When I lost my last fight I said I’d never lose again until I won the championship of the world and that’s what happened tonight.

“I came prepared. So I knew before the fight I was going to win it.”

Rosario would lose his titles to surging Jermell Charlo in his next fight but he will always be able to look back on his special moment in Philadelphia with pride.

Runner up: Alexander Povetkin TKO 5 Dillian Whyte.

Tomorrow: Knockout of the Year

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2020 Boxing Junkie Awards: Comeback of the Year

Errol Spence Jr.’s ability to survive and then bounce back from an accident that could’ve taken his life was remarkable.

Editor’s note: This is the second in a six-part series. Boxing junkie will reveal one year-end award each day through Dec. 30. Today: Comeback of the Year.

***

COMEBACK OF THE YEAR

ERROL SPENCE JR.

SPENCE’S ABILITY TO SURVIVE AND THEN BOUNCE BACK FROM AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD’VE TAKEN HIS LIFE WAS REMARKABLE

Errol Spence Jr. could’ve been killed.

The welterweight champion’s speeding car hit a median and flipped multiple times, throwing him through the windshield, in the early morning hours of Oct. 10 in his hometown of Dallas. No one who saw the video of the crash, which went viral, will forget it.

The fact he was able to survive is miraculous. The fact he was able to fight again at his accustomed level was something beyond that.

Spence, who suffered only superficial injuries, was back in the gym a few months after the accident. A few months after that he was able to spar, which allowed him to test his body’s ability to absorb punishment and overcome any mental scars resulting from the crash.

Things went so well that he never really entertained the idea of facing a second-tier opponent in a comeback fight. He went straight to Danny Garcia, one of the best in the division.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03UHNuCmBFk

Thus, we all got to see whether he would be the dominating Spence of old or a somehow diminished version of that fighter. The former showed up for the fight on Dec. 5 at AT&T Stadium, in his backyard.

Spence outboxed and outworked Garcia to win a wide decision, retain his 147-pound titles and remove any doubt that he was fully recovered from an accident that still leaves us shaking our heads.

“It’s surreal, man,” he said immediately after the fight. “It’s a dream of mine, especially after my accident, coming back after a year and half layoff. I think I looked pretty good [even though] I got a little tired, I shook off the cobwebs.

“I’ll be ready to fight again in the summer time.”

It was a special comeback.

Runner up: Roman Gonzalez.

Tomorrow: Upset of the Year

[lawrence-related id=16730,16128]

 

2020 Boxing Junkie Awards: Comeback of the Year

Errol Spence Jr.’s ability to survive and then bounce back from an accident that could’ve taken his life was remarkable.

Editor’s note: This is the second in a six-part series. Boxing junkie will reveal one year-end award each day through Dec. 30. Today: Comeback of the Year.

***

COMEBACK OF THE YEAR

ERROL SPENCE JR.

SPENCE’S ABILITY TO SURVIVE AND THEN BOUNCE BACK FROM AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD’VE TAKEN HIS LIFE WAS REMARKABLE

Errol Spence Jr. could’ve been killed.

The welterweight champion’s speeding car hit a median and flipped multiple times, throwing him through the windshield, in the early morning hours of Oct. 10 in his hometown of Dallas. No one who saw the video of the crash, which went viral, will forget it.

The fact he was able to survive is miraculous. The fact he was able to fight again at his accustomed level was something beyond that.

Spence, who suffered only superficial injuries, was back in the gym a few months after the accident. A few months after that he was able to spar, which allowed him to test his body’s ability to absorb punishment and overcome any mental scars resulting from the crash.

Things went so well that he never really entertained the idea of facing a second-tier opponent in a comeback fight. He went straight to Danny Garcia, one of the best in the division.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03UHNuCmBFk

Thus, we all got to see whether he would be the dominating Spence of old or a somehow diminished version of that fighter. The former showed up for the fight on Dec. 5 at AT&T Stadium, in his backyard.

Spence outboxed and outworked Garcia to win a wide decision, retain his 147-pound titles and remove any doubt that he was fully recovered from an accident that still leaves us shaking our heads.

“It’s surreal, man,” he said immediately after the fight. “It’s a dream of mine, especially after my accident, coming back after a year and half layoff. I think I looked pretty good [even though] I got a little tired, I shook off the cobwebs.

“I’ll be ready to fight again in the summer time.”

It was a special comeback.

Runner up: Roman Gonzalez.

Tomorrow: Upset of the Year

[lawrence-related id=16730,16128]

 

2020 Boxing Junkie Awards: Trainer of the Year

Boxing Junkie has named Teofimo Lopez Sr. as its 2020 Trainer of the Year.

Editor’s note: This is the first in a six-part series. Boxing junkie will reveal one year-end award each day for the next six days, starting with Trainer of the Year today.

***

TRAINER OF THE YEAR

TEOFIMO LOPEZ SR.

Teofimo Lopez Jr. made sure with his upset of Vasiliy Lomachenko that dad would get his recognition

This was a tough one.

A strong argument can be made for the talented Derrick James, who guided Jermell Charlo and Errol Spence Jr. to big victories over Jeison Rosario and Danny Garcia, respectively. That would’ve been more than enough to earn Trainer of the Year honors in most years.

However, Teofimo Lopez Jr. made sure this wasn’t like most years.

Many observers believed the gifted 23-year-old had a chance to beat the naturally smaller Vasiliy Lomachenko on Oct. 17 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. However, most thought he’d have to do it by knockout.

A decision over the boxing savant Vasiliy Lomachenko? Unthinkable. And then it happened.

Lopez outboxed and outworked the No. 1 fighter in the world and then fought off a late rally to win a wide unanimous decision – 119-109, 117-111 and 116-112. And the architect of that effort was none other than his trainer and father, Teofimo Lopez Sr..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaaISwTD9ZY

Lopez and Lopez did brilliant work in the gym and then in ring, which is what dreams are made of. The only thing the younger Lopez failed to do was knock out Lomachenko, perhaps ironically.

That certainly didn’t matter to the Lopez family, who leaped to the top of the boxing world on an unforgettable fall night. The elder Lopez predicted as much.

“He just couldn’t figure out my son,” senior said during the post-fight news conference. “My son was the better man today. We did something that everybody thought we couldn’t do – we out-boxed him.

“You know, we gave him a clinic. You know, and I’m just so glad, man, that everything that I said came into existence.”

Runner up: Derrick James.

Tomorrow: Comeback of the Year

 

2020 Boxing Junkie Awards: Trainer of the Year

Boxing Junkie has named Teofimo Lopez Sr. as its 2020 Trainer of the Year.

Editor’s note: This is the first in a six-part series. Boxing junkie will reveal one year-end award each day for the next six days, starting with Trainer of the Year today.

***

TRAINER OF THE YEAR

TEOFIMO LOPEZ SR.

Teofimo Lopez Jr. made sure with his upset of Vasiliy Lomachenko that dad would get his recognition

This was a tough one.

A strong argument can be made for the talented Derrick James, who guided Jermell Charlo and Errol Spence Jr. to big victories over Jeison Rosario and Danny Garcia, respectively. That would’ve been more than enough to earn Trainer of the Year honors in most years.

However, Teofimo Lopez Jr. made sure this wasn’t like most years.

Many observers believed the gifted 23-year-old had a chance to beat the naturally smaller Vasiliy Lomachenko on Oct. 17 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. However, most thought he’d have to do it by knockout.

A decision over the boxing savant Vasiliy Lomachenko? Unthinkable. And then it happened.

Lopez outboxed and outworked the No. 1 fighter in the world and then fought off a late rally to win a wide unanimous decision – 119-109, 117-111 and 116-112. And the architect of that effort was none other than his trainer and father, Teofimo Lopez Sr..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaaISwTD9ZY

Lopez and Lopez did brilliant work in the gym and then in ring, which is what dreams are made of. The only thing the younger Lopez failed to do was knock out Lomachenko, perhaps ironically.

That certainly didn’t matter to the Lopez family, who leaped to the top of the boxing world on an unforgettable fall night. The elder Lopez predicted as much.

“He just couldn’t figure out my son,” senior said during the post-fight news conference. “My son was the better man today. We did something that everybody thought we couldn’t do – we out-boxed him.

“You know, we gave him a clinic. You know, and I’m just so glad, man, that everything that I said came into existence.”

Runner up: Derrick James.

Tomorrow: Comeback of the Year