With all the candidates fights over, it's time to vote for the winner.
All have done Australian boxing proud.
Looking at who's fought and who's won/lost, it's a tough 1.
I really think Rocky has etched his name into many Australians hearts, his win over Mitchell was great, and his performance against JMM very gutsy, he did only fight a total of 12 rounds and 2 fights for the year. Real quality Opposition. Record 1(1)-0.
Geale did beat Kariuki and Made and hell very convincingly, performance wise Kariuki beat a man who drew a world title fight with Sturm, Karmazin beat and got robbed against the current IBF middle champ in Sylvester, who IMO Geale schooled in the art of Boxing, only 2 fights tho.
Still, i would say that Geale is the most outstanding Australian fighter for 2010, and potentially has the best shot to grab an alphabet next year. Quality opposition. Record 2(2)-0
Zappa, has launched himself well and truly on the world scene, he won a rather debatable IB0 tile fight against tough South American Angulo, he smoked padded Indonesian Sumba in 2 and IMO the most impressive KO of the year by an Australian against very tough Korean Ji Hoon Kim in the IBF eliminator. Still IMO not Australia's fighter of the year.Still 1 of my favorite fighters tho. Record 3(2)-0
Darchinyan, he came of a lost right at the end of 2009, so a drop back down to the weight he owns at Superfly against a very game but inexperienced Guerrero saw him dominate the fight and Superfly convincingly for the last time, His win over tough Philipino Barcelona with a sore hand was impressive for the IBO Batam strap. His loss to Mares was gutsy and some have said 1 of the FOTY.it still does him a little bit of damage, because the other 2 opponents for the year were better than average but at best would be considered extremely gutsy fighters as opposed to talented. IMO not fighter of the year. Record 2(0)-1
Green, coming off a massive upset win late 2009 against RJJ, had a big task to top his 2009, first out was a another notch for Green as far as the ledger is concerned with Mundine, when he easily beat Manny Siacca, a man who beat Mundine 5 years a go. Next fight out had an awful lot of anticipation, as it could have been 1 of the great Australian fights of all time prime for prime, but Briggs came in not fit, and mentally not there, which led to 1 of the most talked about bouts in the world for 2010, Green KO 1, what else could he do, Paul Briggs name is on his record as a win, and that will be remembered. Greens first test at the full weight as a Cruiser saw him fight highly talked about unbeaten American BJ Flores, I personally thought he done it easily, against the much bigger fighter and in an impressive display of boxing skills fought his way to a UD 12, more rounds in 1 night than his last 2 years of work. really good year on paper. Record 3(2)-0
What about Wood
Kariuki, and Mundine, the most active fighter out of everyone, an extremely close victory over 1 top 10 Australian Supermiddle, and arguably the most known fighter in this country. Not a bad resume for the year and deserves on paper to be considered.
IMO not Australian fighter of the year. record 4(3)-0-1 a couple of padded fighters but Kariuki and Mundine not bad.
For me
1.Geale
2.Katsidis
3.Green
4.Zappavigna
5.wood
6.Darchinyan
