2014 fighter of the year so far

[victor-romeo]

I voted for Kovalev..He reminds me of the old school style of excellence aka someone like Tommy Hearns fighting in Kovalev's new unique way.

[jujigatame]

Right now I lean towards Mayweather, just because I think Maidana x2 is slightly better than Bradley and Algieri.

Kovalev beat Hopkins but his other 2 wins were mediocre. Similar situation for Walters, he had a huge win over Donaire but Darchinyan was way past it. Gonzalez had a big win over Yaegashi but his other 3 opponents were no-hopers. Very similar situations for Golovkin and Brook as well.

Assuming he beats Beltran I think Crawford is a solid choice but 135 is really not too deep right now so I dunno if his level of competition has been comparable to the above. Depends how you feel about Gamboa I guess.

[crusader]

Right now I lean towards Mayweather, just because I think Maidana x2 is slightly better than Bradley and Algieri.

Kovalev beat Hopkins but his other 2 wins were mediocre. Similar situation for Walters, he had a huge win over Donaire but Darchinyan was way past it. Gonzalez had a big win over Yaegashi but his other 3 opponents were no-hopers. Very similar situations for Golovkin and Brook as well.

Assuming he beats Beltran I think Crawford is a solid choice but 135 is really not too deep right now so I dunno if his level of competition has been comparable to the above. Depends how you feel about Gamboa I guess.

Really?? FOTY because of two wins over Maidana, one of which was fairly close and hence led to a rematch?

I don't see how Maidana x2 is better than a lopsided win over an arguably top 5 P4P fighter like Bradley, a 120-106 rout over Hopkins, or a combo of wins like Gamboa, Burns, and Beltran. What has Maidana done to be rated so highly? Less than a year before he faced Mayweather the first time he was hurt by and trailing on the cards against Josesito Lopez, shortly before that he went life and death with Karass, and immediately before that he didn't win a round on two cards against Devon Alexander. Obviously the Broner win--considered a sizable upset arguably in part due to how mediocre Maidana looked in his prior couple of fights--was good, but I don't see how that elevates Maidana to a position in which two wins over him = FOTY.

[jujigatame]

I don't rate 2 Maidana wins THAT highly. I just think most of the alternatives are even worse. Taken on their own, I think Pac's win over Bradley and Kovalev's win over Hopkins are probably the biggest victories of the year, but their other opponents were crap.

The Burns/Beltran/Gamboa combo is very nice (assuming Crawford beats Beltran) but I think Burns and Beltran are just above average and I tend to devalue the Gamboa win a bit because of how uneven his career has been.

[crusader]

Well you do seem to think they compose the most impressive collection of accomplishments in the sport this year, and I'd say that's a fairly high rating.

I think Mayweather only deserves limited credit for beating the same opponent twice. Two wins over Maidana is not more impressive in my view than Kovalev's win over Hopkins or Pacquiao's victory over Bradley, because the reason for the second fight was the competitiveness of the first fight. Conversely, Kovalev and Pacquiao beat opponents who I think were better than Maidana so convincingly that immediate rematches would've been nonsensical. Let's say that instead of destroying Agnew and Caparello then shutting out Hopkins, Kovalev's 2014 was composed of the win over Agnew, an MD over Hopkins, then a clear decision over Hopkins in a rematch that occurred because of the competitive nature of the initial fight; in your view would this strengthen Kovalev's claim to FOTY compared to what it is now? I don't think someone should be rewarded as such for not getting things right the first time...

[hurricanemitch14]

i picked other because

Mayweather held his spot at #1
GGG based on the impact he has made in the sport
Kovalev beating Bhop and looking plain awesome.


I can't flat out pick one because Kovalev's biggest win is against a 50 yr old.......a freakish 50 yrs who I thought was going to win but still a 50 yr old.

GGG has looked amazing but there isn't anyone at 160 to really prove to me that he deserves fighter of the yr.

Mayweather is douche but he's undefeated still and still holding the #1 p4p til proven otherwise.

[JCS]

1. Gonzalez
2. Crawford (if he wins)
3. Kovalev
4. Pacquiao
5. Golovkin
6. Mayweather
7. Walters
8. Cotto

It's tough to balance achievements and activity over the span of a year.

Gonzalez won 4 times and picked up THE Flyweight championship in Japan. All KOs. The first two wins weren't great... but you can't argue too much with a year like that.

[hurricanemitch14]

Gonzalez had a very good yr..... fighting at flyweight gets him overlooked imo. I bet he gets overlooked by the big dogs also.

[zorndeslammes]

Gonzalez for me. 4 wins, all decisive. You can argue the level of competition, sure. But then look at those records for Kovalev and Golovkin a little harder. If Canelo had another fight in the chamber for this year against relevant competition, I'd consider him too.

[Tarkus]

I'll wait till Saturday. If Crawford wins with style, as I expect, he will become an easy pick.

[Badhusker]

I voted for Crawford. He is definitely a rising star, and it will be exciting to see him compete at 140 after this fight. What he did to Gamboa was impressive.

[the4thlion]

Golovkin - how any man can receive a punch like that from Geale, and not be fazed at all, reacting immediately with a counter punch K/O; deserves the acclaim for that fight alone

[ikorolev]

Mickey Rourke. Undefeated at 62

[jewboypgh]

In 2014, Sammy Vasquez went 6-0 with 6 KOs. All against good competition.

[Andrew]

If Crawford wins in style tonight I'm voting for him.

[Blodhemn]

No clear cut #1 really, as every resume can be dissected as it's been for the last few years it seems impossible nowadays to get top opposition in the ring on a regular basis.

Kovalev/Pacquiao had 2 of the single biggest wins, but everyone knows Pacquiao already beat Bradley.
Walters had 2 KOs of some of last gens best lower weights, but they were really past it.
Crawford is etching a name for himself with steady competition, but 135 has been one of the weakest divisions in the sport.
Golovkin destroyed Geale, but not much competition elsewhere.
Gonzalez is buzzing through his peers, but I have still yet to watch the fights...

I don't really see how anyone else could be considered.

[Impractical Poster]

For me, either one of these four have a legitimate claim...

Kovalev
Crawford.. (as long as he gets past Beltran)
Gonzalez
Walters

These four have done more at a top level than anyone else this year.

[jewboypgh]

Sammy Vasquez. This war vet went 6-0 in 2014 with KOs all against good competition. Most of his foes were undefeated. Top that

[JCS]

1. Gonzalez
2. Crawford (if he wins)
3. Kovalev
4. Pacquiao
5. Golovkin
6. Mayweather
7. Walters
8. Cotto

It's tough to balance achievements and activity over the span of a year.

Gonzalez won 4 times and picked up THE Flyweight championship in Japan. All KOs. The first two wins weren't great... but you can't argue too much with a year like that.

ESPN gave it to Crawford and ranked it..

1. Crawford
2. Kovalev
3. Pacquiao
4. Golovkin
5. Cotto
6. Gonzalez

[crusader]

I agree with the Crawford pick.

I think Kovalev's shutout of Hopkins and Pac's domination of Bradley were more impressive than any of Crawford's wins, but the latter had a very well-rounded year and overall I think he deserves it. Should Inoue fairly beat Narvaez I think he'd be among the strongest contenders too, though obviously that wouldn't be considered by those who are choosing a winner before that fight occurs.

[Boxing Prospect]

I agree with the Crawford pick.

I think Kovalev's shutout of Hopkins and Pac's domination of Bradley were more impressive than any of Crawford's wins, but the latter had a very well-rounded year and overall I think he deserves it. Should Inoue fairly beat Narvaez I think he'd be among the strongest contenders too, though obviously that wouldn't be considered by those who are choosing a winner before that fight occurs.

Or by those choosing the "awrawards for the year" before the end of the year... I'm disappointed by every site that has already published their awards for the year. Especially with a potential FOTY involving Yaegashi, a prospect of the year contender (Matsumoto) and a fighter of the year contender...

[Horse]

Or by those choosing the "awrawards for the year" before the end of the year... I'm disappointed by every site that has already published their awards for the year. Especially with a potential FOTY involving Yaegashi, a prospect of the year contender (Matsumoto) and a fighter of the year contender...

I don't see why they can't wait for January.

We should start a new thread about this next month and do it properly as well.

[eastezrider]

Gennady Golovkin

[thunderfromdownunder]

Crawford for me
Kovalev, pacquiao and golovkin all have a strong case for second

[squiggy]

Definitely Naoya Inoue. Won a title by knockout, defended it by knockout, then moved up two weight classes to steal another title by knockout, this time from a tough longtime champion who had never been KOed. This is why it's silly that people decide these things before the year is over!
The sad part, though, is that he wouldn't get the recognition he deserves anyway, as he fights in the smallest weights and has about the least Western name in the world.