27.12.08

WBC 2008 Boxing Awards; SI's 2008 Boxing Awards

WBC BOXER OF THE YEAR - Manny Pacquiao, Philippines: Manny won the World Boxing Council super featherweight world title by decision against defending champion Juan Manuel Marquez in March, then won the WBC lightweight world title by TKO against defending champion David Diaz three months later in June. Manny finished the year in December with a sensational TKO win against Oscar De La Hoya in the welterweight division..

WBC HONORABLE MENTION BOXER OF THE YEAR
Edgar Sosa, Mexico: Edgar successfully defended the WBC light flyweight world title four times, defeating top level opponents which included mandatory challenger Juanito Rubillar of the Philippines in November.


WBC COMEBACK OF THE DECADE
Vitali Klitschko, Ukraine: He came back as WBC Emeritus Champion in the heavyweight division in October after almost four years without fighting. He won the WBC heavyweight world title for the second time with an impressive performance in his TKO win against defending champion Samuel Peter in October.

WBC FIGHT OF THE YEAR
Israel Vazquez vs. Rafael Marquez: The third fight between these two great Mexican champions in March was a spectacular battle. Vazquez was knocked down in the fourth round, but came back to knock down Marquez in the twelfth round and retain the WBC super bantamweight world title by decision.

WBC MOST DRAMATIC FIGHT OF THE YEAR
Carl Froch vs. Jean Pascal: Froch, the new British sensation, won the vacant WBC super middleweight world title by decision against Canadian warrior Pascal in an intense and dramatic fight in December.

WBC KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR
Vic Darchinyan, Australia: The new WBC super flyweight world champion knocked out talented and accomplished defending champion Cristian Mijares of Mexico, and fulfilled his dream of winning the green and gold belt.

WBC GREATEST PROMOTION OF THE YEAR
Samuel Peter vs. Oleg Maskaev: For the first time ever, a heavyweight world championship fight was held in Mexico - it was a top-notch promotion and great success in paradisiacal Cancun in March. The atmosphere in the bullring was electric with a capacity crowd in attendance, and the broadcast on HBO was excellent. Interim champion Peter, a native of Nigeria living in Las Vegas, Nevada, won the WBC heavyweight world title with a ninth-round TKO against defending champion Maskaev, a native of Russia living in Sacramento, California.


HOPKINS, MARQUEZ AND ORTIZ WIN BIG IN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED’S 2008 BOXING AWARDS

LOS ANGELES, December 22 - As a spectacular 2008 boxing campaign comes to an end, Golden Boy Promotions is pleased to congratulate three of its top fighters on the awards they received from the world-renowned and respected Sports Illustrated.

Named on SI.com’s 2008 Boxing Awards list were future Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins, whose stirring victory over Kelly Pavlik on October 18, 2008 was voted Upset of The Year; pound-for-pound superstar Juan Manuel Marquez, whose knockout of Joel Casamayor on September 13, 2008 earned Knockout of The Year honors; and rising star Victor Ortiz, who went 3-0, 3 KO’s in 2008 was celebrated as SI’s Prospect of The Year.

“I’d like to congratulate Bernard, Juan Manuel and Victor on their well deserved awards,” said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “It was an exciting year for all of us at Golden Boy and we’re gearing up for an even bigger 2009.

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