Rebooting.......

They say the brain is really a complex computer that commands every muscle, every memory and every intention of a living human or animal. If this is true then we are all subject to the same freezing, loading, shut down, interruptions that afflict your every day PC, MAC, Laptop, or Blackberry. These interruptions of service may come in the form of strokes, daydreams, 'blonde' moments, blackouts, etc, brought about by any number of traumatic circumstances or chemical stimulants. I, your humble caretaker of the Blackeyed View, experience just such an occurrence following a car accident in June of 2010.

Luckily no one was hurt but strangely it was enough to practically wipe out all the plans I had before or after the incident. I honestly couldn't remember what I had planned to do that weekend or some of the projects I set for myself before and after the fender bender. It only started coming to me weeks later in the form of clues that came across my path (an ad for BBQ ribs, the date of the 26th, limes) and it took me months to get it all sorted out. One thing is for sure, the whole experience set me back on this blog by months but like all good boxers I'm attempting the comeback and I'm starting it the only logical way that I can, by summing up the rest of 2010.

Since we are still in January I think I can get away with a look back at the year that just ended before I begin reporting on the current stuff. My brain, the complex computer that scientists claim it to be is rebooting.

When last I blogged, Miguel Cotto had won the WBA junior middleweight strap from Yuri Foreman at Yankee Stadium on June 5th so I will pick up from there. So without further adieu to the loyal and patient readers of the Blackeyed View I give you......

THE BEST OF THE REST OF 2010

June: The World Boxing Classic Super Six tournament raged on in California as Oakland's native son Andre Ward defended his WBA super middleweight belt by bullying Allan Green, who entered the Super Six as a replacement for the retired Jermain Taylor, into a unanimous decision defeat. Andre looked very impressive and earned his status as the favorite to win the tourney...... Emerging Puerto Rican featherweight superstar Juan Manuel Lopez once again took fans in San Juan on an exciting roller coaster ride in his fight on that island against Bernardo Concepcion of the Philippines. After dominating the early moments of the first round and dropping the Filipino with a left hook Lopez is himself felled to the canvas by a counter hook by Concepcion. Lopez gets up to drop his foe twice more bringing an end to the fight in the first round and setting up a big fight with Rafael Marquez down the road. The heir to Manny Pacquiao's throne in the Philippines, Nonito Donaire fought on the undercard impressively stopping Mexico's Hernan Marquez in the eighth round..... In a battle of junior middleweights Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. rumbled his way to a unanimous but competitive win over popular Irish fighter John Duddy at the Alamodome in Texas. It would turn out to be Duddy's final fight as he announced his retirement in January of 2011.... IBF light heavyweight champ Tavoris Cloud survived a spirited challenge from rugged veteran Glen Johnson by decision after stunning Johnson in the early rounds and surviving a rally by the Jamaican contender in St. Louis. in the main event of that card Devon Alexander making the first defense of his IBF & WBC junior welterweight belts had a gut check fight against former belt holder Andreas Kotelnik from the Ukraine. Kotelnik pressured the champ from bell to bell and Alexander had problems solving the Ukrainian's style. In what could be construed as home cooking for St. Louis' native son all three judge's cards read 116 to 112 in favor of Alexander who proceeded to call out WBO champion Tim Bradley.

FIGHTER OF THE MONTH: Juan Manuel Lopez

July: This month saw a dry spell for the sport of boxing as no fights of significance took place during this time.

NO FIGHTER OF THE MONTH

August: Tomasz Adamek faced off against Michael Grant. Adamek a former light heavy and cruiserweight champion continued his foray into the heavyweight division and looked to test himself against an opponent he felt most resembled the giant Klitschko brothers. Enter former world title challenger Michael Grant who at 6'5 and 260 pounds represented the biggest fighter Adamek has faced. The Polish boxer won his match but paid a physical toll for the experiment as his face was a lumpy mess from absorbing some powerful blows.... Canada was the stage for a battle between the top two light heavyweights in the world Chad Dawson and Jean Pascal. Dawson was the undefeated favorite but paid the price for never going in for the kill as Pascal's aggressiveness and busier punch output won him the judge's nod and recognition as the number one man at the weight....UPSET! Long reigning undefeated technician Ivan Calderon lost his first fight and junior flyweight title to Mexican underdog Giovani Segura by eighth round knockout in an exciting brawl in front of his home crowd in Puerto Rico.

FIGHTER OF THE MONTH: Giovani Segura

September: Shane Mosley returned to the ring in what was expected to be a 'put him right back on track' fight against former junior middleweight champ Sergio Mora the winner of the first CONTENDER TV show on NBC. But Mora's slippery style proved too tough a nut to crack and Mosley had to settle for an unsatisfying draw in a fight that was as disappointing to the fans as it must have been for Mosley.... Rookie Saul Alvarez, who many are touting as the next big thing out of Mexico, impressively knocked out the iron chinned former welterweight champion Carlos Baldomir.... Even a rededicated and motivated Sam Peter could do nothing more than take punishment against the World heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko who had an easier go at it in this rematch breaking down the Nigerian into a tenth round KO defeat in Germany.

FIGHTER OF THE MONTH: Wladimir Klitschko

October: Former light heavyweight champ Antonio Tarver tried to rediscover his magic in the heavyweight division fighting in Miami against Dominican heavyweight Nagy Aquilera scoring a decision win in which he displayed little heavyweight power..... Canadian power puncher David Lemieux blew out Hector Camacho Jr. in the first round in Quebec to set himself up as a player in the middleweight division.....Lucian Bute continued to show why it was a mistake to leave him out of the Super Six by knocking out another tough opponent in Jesse Brinkley in defense of his IBF super middleweight title.... WBC heavyweight champ Vitaly Klitschko pounded on Shannon Briggs for 12 rounds to win a unanimous decision in a fight that most observers believe should have been stopped earlier.... Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. is proving to be every bit as solid as his father by taking out dangerous Ivan Hernandez in 11 rounds in defense of his WBO super bantamweight belt.

FIGHTER OF THE MONTH: Wilfredo Vasquez Jr.

November: Now we're talking! November was the hottest month of the year for boxing as there was no shortage of big fights lined up which kicked off with a huge bang in Las Vegas as Juan Manuel Lopez tested himself against Mexican warrior Rafael Marquez who came up in weight for this fight. Lopez enjoyed advantages in youth, speed, and size over his veteran foe but was stunned several times during the fight. Lopez survived some rough spots to overtake Marquez and force a stoppage in the eighth round after Marquez claimed a shoulder injury..... Glen Johnson entered into the Super Six tournament to replace the injured Mikkel Kessler and impressively knocked out Allan Green in 8 rounds eliminating him from the World Boxing Classic.... a recommitted Zab Judah survived a late knockdown to eke out a controversial decision win over Argentinean banger Lucas Mathysse.... British heavyweight David Haye stopped over matched Audley Harrison in three..... Boxing's pound for pound best Manny Pacquiao packed Dallas Cowboys stadium once more to defeat the much bigger Antonio Margarito and pick up the vacant WBC junior middleweight belt to win his eight championship in eight weight classes. Pac-man used his superior speed and boxing skills to dart in and out of danger and bust up Margarito who despite losing enjoyed some success against Pacquiao particularly to the body before losing by lopsided decision....The rematch for the Blackeyed View's 2009 fight of the year yielded a shocking result as World middleweight champion Sergio Martinez suddenly knocked out Paul Williams in the second round just as the action was heating up in Atlantic City......In a white wash, Carl Froch of England outboxed Arthur Abraham to win a decision in dominant fashion and recapture the vacated WBC super middleweight belt.....In a non-Super Six fight, Andre Ward defended his WBA belt in a tough fight against veteran Sakio Bika who gave Ward all he could handle in a decision win. Ward will next fight Abraham as Froch meets Glen Johnson in the next stage of the tournament.....Andre Berto blasted welterweight Freddy Hernandez in one round.....Jason Litzau sprung an upset decision victory over the favored Celestino Caballero in a battle of junior lightweights.... It took every bit of experience of a 17 year career for Juan Manuel Marquez to weather the storm of an inspired Michael Katsidis who dropped the the lightweight champion in the third round and gave him hell for the duration of the fight. The fight would last nine rounds as Marquez, ever the master boxer, made adjustments in the middle of some fierce exchanges to find the winning combination to subdue his challenger. In the case of Katsidis it was body work that set up vicious uppercuts that snapped the head of the challenger back in violent ways that eventually prompted the referee to stop the fight and give Marquez one of his most memorable wins to date.

FIGHTER OF THE MONTH: 3 way tie between Sergio Martinez/ Juanma Lopez/ Juan Manuel Marquez

December: The month started out with a scorcher that was featured on the undercard but easily surpassed the main even in terms of action as Humberto Soto defended his WBC lightweight title against tough man Urbano Antillon who let it all hang out in an all out effort to capture the belt. Antillon elevated his game to levels he had never shown before to match the skills of Soto and produce a fight of the year candidate worthy of a Rocky movie only to lose by decision...... Young junior middleweight Saul Alvarez continued his development by taking on the durable Lovemore Ndou who extended the youngster for 12 rounds in a tough fight which was won by Alvarez....The heavyweight experiment of Tomasz Adamek continued as he chose a fighter much closer to his size in brawler Vinny Maddalone after his rough experience with the giant Michael Grant to fight with and it paid off in the form of an exciting 5th round KO victory for the Polish hope..... Amir Khan stepped up to the plate putting up his WBA junior welterweight title against murderous puncher Marcus Maidana. After hitting the deck in the first round from an Amir Khan body shot and later being deducted a point for throwing an errant elbow, Maidana rallied his way back into the fight by the middle rounds and Khan started to wilt under the intense pressure. In the tenth round Maidana had the champ out on his feet but Khan did all he could to survive to here the next bell. he kept up with Maidana in the next two rounds and managed to get the points win in a gutsy effort..... Looking to improve on their boxing tournament concepts, SHOWTIME launched its bantamweight tournament opting for an elimination round robin style as opposed to the points system of the Super Six using four of the best in that division. In the first round we had Abner Mares overcoming a knockdown and cuts to outpoint Vic Darchinyan and Joseph Agbeko regaining the IBF title he previously lost to Yohnny Perez in a rematch by decision.....The month's action ended in Quebec, Canada as the light heavyweight champion of the world Jean Pascal took on the challenge of the wily former champ Bernard Hopkins who at the age of 45 was looking to become the oldest fighter to ever win a major title. After scoring knockdowns in the first two rounds, Pascal had to weather the storm that back at him as Hopkins used his experience to adjust and take over the fight by the fourth round with an aggressive attack that hasn't been seen from him in years. Unfortunately for the challenger he could not overcome the early knockdowns on the judges cards and the bout was declared a draw after 12 rounds with the champion retaining his title.

FIGHTER OF THE MONTH: Bernard Hopkins

And now the Blackeyed View selects the best of 2010

2010 Prospect of the year

It's hard to call a fighter with over 30 fights under his belt a rookie so we will agree that young Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez the prized prospect of Golden Boy Promotions had a breakout year in 2010. Alvarez engaged in five fights this year, four of which he won by stoppage. his last two fights where significant wins as they both tested him and built him up as a fighter on the rise with a grueling decision win over durable opponent Lovemore Ndou and a chilling 6th round knockout of the highlight reel kind of iron jawed Carlos Baldomir that has gotten everyone high on the potential of 'Canelo'.

2010 Round of the year

When Juan Manuel Marquez and Michael Katsidis tangled for the first two rounds of their lightweight championship bout they set a pace for a classic brawler versus boxer matchup. But in the third round when Katisidis landed a left hook that put Marquez on his back that set the pace for World War 3 in the form of nine hellish rounds that was won by Marquez and won their firestarting third round the round of the year honors.

2010 Knockout of the year

In this category there was no competition, there was no doubt from the moment Paul Williams hit the canvas face first in the second round of his rematch with Sergio Martinez that this was the knockout of the year.

2010 Fight of the year

There was so many fight candidates in this category particularly towards the end of the year that its almost forgivable to overlook some of the gems that took place earlier in the year like the clash of Europeans Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler in March won by Kessler who pulled it out with everything on the line in the dramatic last round. Other contenders included Juanma Lopez's savage coming of age win against Rafael Marquez, Manny Pacquiao's exciting domination over the larger Antonio Margarito that was rife with danger, Amir Khan's life and death struggle against Marcus Maidana and Juan Manuel Marquez's masterful performance against the younger Katsidis.

But it was a fight between boxers who are known mostly to the hardcore boxing fans that was featured on the undercard of a canceled Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. card that took top prize in this category. WBC lightweight champion Humberto Soto, a long time avoided threat in the lighter weights who has hovered around the top 20 pound for pound fighters in the sport for years defended his belt against perennial contender Urbano Antillon who was facing perhaps his last title opportunity after previous failed attempts. Soto was looking to showcase himself as a future opponent for the bigger names in and around his weight class but Antillon was looking to fight for his very existence as a pro boxer and put up a fight he'd never before exhibit against a fighter that was a level or two above him. Soto retained his title by close decision but Antillon gained a rematch and a second life as a fighter in glorious defeat.

2010 Fighter of the year

Without a doubt Manny Pacquiao has been the face of boxing for the past three years and although he could not make the biggest possible fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., he still carried the sport on his shoulders by shining the spotlight of the sports world on boxing. He made an event of fighting at Dallas Cowboys stadium twice this year dominating his two opponents and in the process made history by winning his eighth title in as many weight classes.

His rival Juan Manuel Marquez had a tougher assignment as he looked to restore his image after being shut out by Mayweather in a welterweight bout in 2009. He succeeded in glorious fashion by returning to the lightweights where he is king to successfully defend his throne against two young lions in Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis in exciting fashion to prove his worth and retain his position as Pacquiao's number one threat.

Juan Manuel Lopez had a breakout performance against Rafael Marquez along with two thrilling wins this year. Givoani Segura upset the previously unbeaten Ivan Calderon and Fernando Montiel won and defended championships to emerge at the top of his division.

But the boxer who accomplished the most in 2010 was the marvel from Argentina, the current middleweight champion of the world Sergio Martinez who went up in weight from the junior middleweights (where he is still a beltholder) to unseat Kelly Pavlik for the crown and thenavenged his previous loss to Paul Williams by 2nd round knockout to retain his middleweight title. While Pacquiao faced boxers who were physically bigger than him, his superior speed and skills made mismatches of those fights as Joshua Clottey was reduced to a trigger shy target and Margarito a lumbering punching bag. Juan Manuel Marquez was favored to win both of his fights this year and in Juanma's biggest win over Rafael Marquez he was faced with an opponent who was coming up in weight and thought to be shot after many wars. Meanwhile the 35 year old Martinez faced off against younger and bigger foes at their primes or close to it. The powerful Pavlik had only one loss coming into the fight and managed to drop Martinez before the Argentinean stepped on the gas to outbox Pavlik. Willaims also came into his fight with Martinez with one loss and many expected him to respond in the same way he did with the last boxer who gave him problems; a quick knockout. But it was Williams who was rubbed out early in a stunner that boosted Martinez into the top three pound for pound fighters in the world and secured his position as the fighter of the year.

Whew! That was a lot of catching up. That's all for now. The next post will be on Thursday where I will offer my thoughts on the upcoming Miguel Cotto vs Ricardo Mayorga match up in March, offer my review of the film THE FIGHTER, and pick my winner of this Saturday's unification clash between junior welterweight champions Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley.