As 2011 Ended, I like many cannot help but to look back on the 2011 year in boxing, the good, the bad and unfortunately the ugly.
2011 as years past has its share of success and disappointment.
While many fans were hoping to see Mayweather face Pacquiao once again, it never came to fruition yet fans were treated to opponents they already faced or knocked out while the other fighter was trying to give hugs and kisses in the ring. Yes, boxing goes into 2012 farther away from a Mayweather-Pacquiao bout than ever before; part due to Floyd’s little date with the state of Nevada. However, the fight has already lost most of the steam it had 3 years ago that unless it can be made in the fall, it may not do the same numbers it would have done this year or last year (2010).
While Mayweather-Pacquiao fades into the boxing fans subconscious, a few new names have emerged to help carry the boxing torch for the next couple of years.
Andre Ward, Victor Oritiz, Abner Mares, James, Kirkland, and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, while all these names are familiar, 2011 was by far the biggest to date for all of them. In 2012, I expect all of these fighters to make a bigger name for them.
For Victor Ortiz, his 2012 starts in February as he faces Andre Berto in a rematch of my 2011 Fight of the Year. While Berto is no slouch himself, the fight hopefully will recreate what their first fight did this past April; great back and forth action for 12 rounds. The other guys should have opponents here in the next month as Kirkland’s fight has been rescheduled against Molina for April.
As of now, the highly popular and successful first week in May that has seen great matchups in years past is still TBD. Mayweather had secured the date, but with his sentence lasting 90 days, unless he gets out early and finds a late opponent to be named, the date may go unclaimed. However that is unlikely and I would expect Top Rank or Goldenboy to have a great card that weekend, with or without Mayweather. My wish for the May 5th weekend is a Canelo-Kirkland fight.
Sergio Martinez looks to change his 2012 by already calling out the WBC, HBO and Chavez Jr for all their “business practices” over the last couple of years with him and his promoter Lou DiBella. Here’s to Martinez facing, Mayweather, Chavez Jr, Hopkins at a catch weight, Cotto, or perhaps Felix Sturm.
Manny Pacquiao may get in the ring a fourth time with Juan Manuel Marquez, while the past three fights have been fairly even, sometimes enough is enough. In a division where there are so many possible names, a fourth fight between the future hall of famers is not one of them. My hope for Pacquiao is to face anyone not named Juan Manuel Marquez.
Top Rank and Goldenboy promotions are still the main two promotional companies in the US and while they do make decent fight cards once and a while, in 2012 I would like to see these two quit fighting over certain fighters and just make great fights that not only benefit both companies’ wallets, but also fights the fans can appreciate.
I am excited to see what 2012 has in store for fight fans as 2011 was a very successful year. Boxing for all the talk about it being boring or a dead sport those fans are not paying attention or really not fans at all. While boxing may not be what it was in the 70’s or 80’s, boxing still is a beautiful sport and no matter how you look at it can still make a 1 million PPV fight.
In 2012 my hope is that the USA Olympic boxing team has a strong showing. 2 gold’s would be nice.
Oscar De La Hoya to limit his twitter usage. Roy Jones to walk away from the ring; Bernard Hopkins too. Chavez Jr face real competition. HBO to remake 24/7. HBO and Showtime to stop having fights on the same night. Better undercards for the PPV fights. A legitimate American Heavyweight going into 2013. 140lb and 147lb 6 or 8 man tournament. And last, a continued grassroots effort to have fights in local areas with top world class talent.
Finally, I would like to pay my respects to all those we lost in the boxing world as well as in our personal lives. It’s never easy to say goodbye to our loved ones, so to all the ones we say goodbye to, I offer you one last 10 count for 2011. Grandma Chavez. I Love you.
So here is a toast, a salud, prost or a Gan Bei to 2012. In Boxing and in our lives, I wish you all the best.
2011 was a descent year, for starters FNFs was much better then 2010, A few PPVs were more than a main event with weak undercards. 2011 was the year of the upset as well there were many surprises. The only thing bad about this year was the multiple controversies especially in main event fights. All around 2011 was a descent year. Hopefully this year will be a better year and so far the scheduled fights have potential to really deliver and less Tim Bradley on PPV certainly wouldnt hurt either.
2011 had its ups and downs. I hope we see more fights of the Marquez vs Concepcion I, Rodriguez vs Wolak I, Nava vs Torres I caliber. Just to name a few…
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