Boxing – A Look back on 2009
David Haye WBA Heavweight Champion
As the turn of the year fastly approaches, and the high streets are littered with mums, dads, sons, daughters, grandads, grandmas, uncles and aunts all looking for the perfect christmas gifts, we leave behind another memorable year for the sport of boxing.
2009 has seen both glorious highs and tragic lows in equal measures. We have, for example, seen the creation of the new super six tournament which has been welcomed by boxing the world over and is potentially a permanent and regular feature for each weight division. We have watched in amazement as Manny Pacquiao dismantled men much bigger than his starting fighting weight, and place himself in the history books forever!
However we also had the disgraceful plaster in wraps saga which saw Antonio Margarito and trainer Javier Capetillo suspended from the sport in February. Boxing also mourned the loss of Arturo Gatti, Darren Sutherland and Vernon Forrest all of which cherished in tragic circumstances and well before their time.
Domestically, Britain has seen the rise of several stars and new world champions. David Haye and Amir Khan lead the way becoming WBA champions in the Heavyweight and Light Welterweight Divisions respectively. Carl Froch has started off well in the Super Six tournament defending his WBC crown against former middleweight king Jermain Taylor. We have also seen a domestic heavyweight shake up with the Cinderella story of Irish cabbie Martin Rogan conquering for the Commonwealth title, bad mouthing Tyson Fury’s instant impact and Audley Harrison back on the scene after his Prizefighter glory. Veteran fighters Danny Williams and Matt Skelton suffered some big losses, while Sam Sexton is the new man to beat domestically and a target for prospects Derek Chisora and David Price.
In other divisions Kel Brook, Nathan Cleverly, Darren Barker and Rendall Munroe look set to step up to world level in 2010, after successful 2009 campaigns and Ryan Rhodes rolled back the years last time out to claim the European title and potentially step up to world level again next year. The nation will watch with interest and following their progress! Follow their progress with the latest boxing news sites here
2009 also saw the return of former universally recognised pound for pound number Floyd Mayweather, who convingly outpointed Pacman rival Juan Manuel Marquez. Manny Pacquaio continued his truly unbelievable legacy by dramatically knocking out light welterweight king Ricky Hatton in 2 rounds, forcing him into retirement and then forcing a stoppage of the tough Miguel Cotto to confirm Manny really is contender as the all time pound for pound greatest fighter.
2009 really has been a year to remember in the world of boxing, with its highs and lows, tragedies and newborn superstars.
What have been your best moments from 2009, and who are the ones to watch in 2010?