BoxRec

GGG-Canelo isn't debatable.

I see this honor a bit like P4P. Whoever you're a fan most of, obviously gets the award. And with that, no way the Thai fighter gets it.

Some of my strongest considerations were Ward, Joshua, Rungvisai, and Crawford. But I voted for Joshua.

Ward - Outboxed Kovalev a lot more decisively in the rematch, showed better stamina, and didn't get hurt. It was frankly a great performance against a great opponent.
Joshua - This is assuming he beats Pulev. But if he did beat Pulev and Klitschko in the same year, that would be pretty damned good. IMO, this would be the greatest suite of heavyweight wins for any heavyweight in a calendar year since at least 2003 or 1999.
Rungvisai - Two wins over Gonzalez is insane in a vacuum. The first decision wasn't a clear win, and Gonzalez wasn't really Gonzalez in the second fight. So I think that takes some of the shine off.
Crawford - First undisputed in 12 years. Hard to imagine the guy who gets this accomplishment not being that year's FOTY. But I did not consider Indongo nearly as great of an opponent as some of these other candidates' opponents.

I see that Lomachenko has a non-negligible presence in the poll, and I think his accomplishments so far this year don't nearly justify that at all, so I'm hoping that all of his votes are based on the assumption that he beats Rigondeaux.

Surely it's Crawford by some distance this year?

Crawford at this time. If Lomachenko break down Rigo he takes it.

If you think about it, even Spence has been "tested" more than Crawford. We have yet to see Crawford really have to work during a fight, and get gut-checked, so to speak. When he fights Thurman and Spence we will know. He will be better or worse than we first thought. Right now I consider him top 3 pfp.

Ward only has two votes? Figures. He did beat the monster twice so deserves to be on the poll. Probably the second most deserving guy on the poll though behind Rungvisal. Chocolito was on most folks pfp list. So was Kovalev.....But, many hate Ward so that explains it.

Lomo is kind of like Crawford, probably too good, and makes it look like he is in a weak weight class. Like Crawford, he needs to be tested to see how really good he is.

Joshua beat a 41 yr old guy that looked like dogshit his previous fight, and was coming off a loss. That's it? Yes, Wlad fought great, but it doesn't change the fact that he was at the end of his career.

Tanzio wrote:

Mexi-Box wrote:

Tanzio wrote: Hitman Jr is clearly fighter of the year so far, and P4P #1.

By unifying a weak division? It's not close between Crawford and Rungvisai/Golovkin. Both have a better argument then Crawford. Depending on how Rigondeaux looks, Lomachenko might be in the running.

It is only a weak division relative to Hitman Jr.

If Rigo plants Lomassiah, he would likely win it.

No, it's a weak division. Postol almost got stopped by a nobody. I have no idea how a guy like Indongo got two belts. Beltran was a better win than Indongo.

Badhusker wrote:If you think about it, even Spence has been "tested" more than Crawford. We have yet to see Crawford really have to work during a fight, and get gut-checked, so to speak.

Lots of fighters have been tested but that doesn't make them fighter of the year. Surely Crawford deserves it for his unification this year, seems a bit mean spirited to deny him that achievement

ewenhay wrote:

Badhusker wrote:If you think about it, even Spence has been "tested" more than Crawford. We have yet to see Crawford really have to work during a fight, and get gut-checked, so to speak.

Lots of fighters have been tested but that doesn't make them fighter of the year. Surely Crawford deserves it for his unification this year, seems a bit mean spirited to deny him that achievement

What about Rungvisai? He was an underdog in both fights against the consensus p4p #1 in Gonzalez. Knocked him out in the second fight.

Mexi-Box wrote:

ewenhay wrote:

Badhusker wrote:If you think about it, even Spence has been "tested" more than Crawford. We have yet to see Crawford really have to work during a fight, and get gut-checked, so to speak.

Lots of fighters have been tested but that doesn't make them fighter of the year. Surely Crawford deserves it for his unification this year, seems a bit mean spirited to deny him that achievement

What about Rungvisai? He was an underdog in both fights against the consensus p4p #1 in Gonzalez. Knocked him out in the second fight.

Yeah, I wouldn't be upset if he won foty either. I'd have him as a close no2 to Crawford. I just think unifications are so rare and almost impossible due to the politics that it should be recognised

Rungvisai, Crawford, Rigo if he beats Loma, AJ if he smashes Pulev, Breidis if he beats Perez. Just some off the top of my head, Rungvisai being my first choice...Horn, Linares, there's probably 20 guys who are deserving of a shout.

ewenhay wrote:

Mexi-Box wrote:

ewenhay wrote:
Lots of fighters have been tested but that doesn't make them fighter of the year. Surely Crawford deserves it for his unification this year, seems a bit mean spirited to deny him that achievement

What about Rungvisai? He was an underdog in both fights against the consensus p4p #1 in Gonzalez. Knocked him out in the second fight.

Yeah, I wouldn't be upset if he won foty either. I'd have him as a close no2 to Crawford. I just think unifications are so rare and almost impossible due to the politics that it should be recognised

Not if the opponent sucks, which is what Indongo was.

Mexi-Box wrote:

ewenhay wrote:

Mexi-Box wrote: What about Rungvisai? He was an underdog in both fights against the consensus p4p #1 in Gonzalez. Knocked him out in the second fight.

Yeah, I wouldn't be upset if he won foty either. I'd have him as a close no2 to Crawford. I just think unifications are so rare and almost impossible due to the politics that it should be recognised

Not if the opponent sucks, which is what Indongo was.

We'll have to agree to disagree. I thought Crawford was excellent and made him look worse than he normally is. I'd credit Crawford rather than discredit the opponent. You obviously take the opposite view

ewenhay wrote:

Mexi-Box wrote:

ewenhay wrote:
Yeah, I wouldn't be upset if he won foty either. I'd have him as a close no2 to Crawford. I just think unifications are so rare and almost impossible due to the politics that it should be recognised

Not if the opponent sucks, which is what Indongo was.

We'll have to agree to disagree. I thought Crawford was excellent and made him look worse than he normally is. I'd credit Crawford rather than discredit the opponent. You obviously take the opposite view

Indongo's best win was unproven Troyanovsky and a severely past-prime Ricky Burns. He wasn't that good to begin with, and Mikey would've KO'd him. Making GRJ look like an amateur is the definition of excellence.

By officially recognized accomplishments, Crawford. By rights, GGG.

squiggy wrote:By officially recognized accomplishments, Crawford. By rights, GGG.

Belts mean nothing. GGG beat his p4p contemporary.

Crawford is a great fighter, but he's been in two lackluster divisions. It's funny that people used to hate on GGG because MW was a weak division. Crawford cleans out two weak divisions and everyone is keen on him being p4p. I think it's an American bias.

Right now Anthony Joshua and Sor Rungvisai are the frontrunners. Joshua being in what most would call the Fight of the Year so far ain't hurting anything, and in all likelihood he gets another solid win over Pulev before the end of the year. Not sure if Sor Rungvisai will fight again before years end or not. I doubt it, but no matter what he does he's had a hell of a year.

gilgamesh wrote:Right now Anthony Joshua and Sor Rungvisai are the frontrunners. Joshua being in what most would call the Fight of the Year so far ain't hurting anything, and in all likelihood he gets another solid win over Pulev before the end of the year. Not sure if Sor Rungvisai will fight again before years end or not. I doubt it, but no matter what he does he's had a hell of a year.

Golovkin and Sor Rungvisai by a wide margin are the frontrunners. Rungvisai/Gonzalez: I is also a contender for FoTY. Rungvisai/Gonzalez: II contender for KoTY.

ValMar wrote:I have not any dilemma. Crawford's unification at LWW is the greatest achievement this year. I prefer HW and i enjoy much more watching Joshua than TC. I admit that competition at LWW is not the strongest possible, and 2018 might be very difficult for Crawford at WW, but for this year he ought to be undisputed #1.

When it comes to Crawford the achievement clearly outweighs the task. He just happened to be in a weight division in which the cold war between promoters didn't inhibit a fighters chance to fight the one with the other belts. Diaz and Indongo fights were a waste for fans eager to see Crawford in with the best fighters. He's clearly got the talent to be FOY but cherry picking titles doesn't get you there in my book.

Lol, you obviously don't know what cherry pick means. You can't cherry pick all the belts in a division.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:Lol, you obviously don't know what cherry pick means. You can't cherry pick all the belts in a division.

Yes !

caldo2025 wrote:

ValMar wrote:I have not any dilemma. Crawford's unification at LWW is the greatest achievement this year. I prefer HW and i enjoy much more watching Joshua than TC. I admit that competition at LWW is not the strongest possible, and 2018 might be very difficult for Crawford at WW, but for this year he ought to be undisputed #1.

When it comes to Crawford the achievement clearly outweighs the task. He just happened to be in a weight division in which the cold war between promoters didn't inhibit a fighters chance to fight the one with the other belts. Diaz and Indongo fights were a waste for fans eager to see Crawford in with the best fighters. He's clearly got the talent to be FOY but cherry picking titles doesn't get you there in my book.

Cherry picking titles? come on mann?!

Why isn't Joseph Parker in the poll?

I thought Jack shouldve won the Degale fight. That plus moving up to trash Clev wouldve made him a solid contender. A Pulev + Wlad year would be solid for AJ and make him a contender.Ward is worth a mention, but I dont believe just beating kovalev is enough, especially given the nature of the outcome. The first win was in 2016 so it doesnt boost his case.Sri made sure to lay out his P4P opponent in unquestionable fashion, and his first win was actually this year.

I dont think guys like Loma and Spence have any good argument up to this point. Loma beating rigo makes him worth a mention, but the size disparity limits the value of that.

Muhammad Ali WON Fighter of the Year in 1974 for his only fight of the Year a 8th round KO of George Foreman. A fight he was not expected to win.
So if thats the criteria... 2017 has to go to Jeff Horn.
Winning a fight he was not expected to win.

BIGDOUG58 wrote:Muhammad Ali WON Fighter of the Year in 1974 for his only fight of the Year a 8th round KO of George Foreman. A fight he was not expected to win.
So if thats the criteria... 2017 has to go to Jeff Horn.
Winning a fight he was not expected to win.

Umm... Srisaket Sor Rungvisai was the underdog both times against Gonzalez. He easily makes that criteria beating the best fighter on the planet once and then knocking him out in their second fight.