BoxRec

I think it's been a good year for good fights, so even though it is a little early i have jotted down a few of the fights i have enjoyed for whatever reason. I have probably missed some out and hopefully they were all this year, it's been a long year so bare with me


Jamie Moore V Michael Jones III - British fight of the year, a real war.

Eric Morales V Manny Pacquaio - Morales handles the livewire Pacquaio with a classy display.

Guillermo Jones V Wayne Braithwaite - Controversial ending but a give and take battle with both men in with a punchers chance until the end.

Mahyar Monshipour V Shigeru Nakazato - I know i am going to use the word "war" a lot but these two just gave it everything for six rounds, Nakazato looked like going every round but punched himself upright!

Diego Corrales V Jose Luis Castillo 1&2 - The first fight needs no introduction, one of the greats, the second made the headlines for the wrong reasons but still a good ending.

Wladimir Klitschko V Samuel Peter - Will Wlad stay upright against the next big thing? Just about.

Ian Napa V Martin Power - None puncher Napa nearly stops relentless Power but loses the decision.

Esham Pickering V Michael Hunter - Pickering knocks Hunter down twice but Hunter's fitness carries him through.

Paul Briggs V Tomasz Adamek - Briggs power has Adamek hurt but the Pole outslugs the Aussie in a classic brawl.

Clinton Woods V Rico Hoye - Clinton finally wins that world title by outlasting the puncher.

Ronald "Winky"Wright V Felix Trinidad - Wright schools Trinidad and makes him look one dimensional!

Roman Karmazin V Kasim Ouma - Karmazin paced the fight brilliantly and made a mockery of the hype surrounding Ouma.

Floyd Mayweather Jnr V Arturo Gatti - Mayweather barely put a foot wrong while dismantling Gatti.

Ricky Hatton V Kostya Tszyu - Ricky does the job on a great night for British Boxing against the divisions No. 1.

Miguel Cotto V Ricardo Torres - Cotto shows his balls in an up and downer.

Oscar Larios V Wayne McCullough - Both men throw loads of punches from start to finish.

Masamori Tokuyama V Katsushige Kawashima III - Tokuyama boxes clever against the aggressive Kawashima to win this rubber match.

Ponsaklek Wonjongkam V Daisuke Naito - One of the best low weight fighters, not a classic but takes Naito apart in Japan to show his class.

Brian Viloria V Eric Ortiz - Shaping up nicely before Viloria ended things in round one!

Eagle Kyowa V Katsunari Takayama - The fitness levels of these two is unbelievable, neither man gave ground in this WBC Minimumweight clash as Kyowa won back his title!

Anything i've missed??

You beat me to it Steve, I was going to make a post about what a good year it's been. After a shitty 2004, where we were all complaining about crap WBU bouts, and not being able to see the top fights from the States, it's been a damn good 12 months.

I think you've covered most of the major bouts, but I'm sure there a few more: Jennings-Pryce domestically, and the first Arce-Hussein fight worldwide are just 2 that spring to mind. Easy to forget some, because it's been a top year, certainly compared to the last few we've endured. Right now we've got some good fights at light-heavy, supermiddle is coming to life finally, a new era at middle, and all change at lightwelter, and the lighter weights have some truly exciting fighters: Larios, Martin Castillo, Rafael Marquez, etc. The only downer is the continued mess that is the heavyweight division.

If 2006 is as good as 2005 , I'll be a happy man.

Between the two of you, think you've got all the major ones covered.

One of my faves (for purists reasons) was Kelly vs Napa - masterclass from Kelly.

Liked the Arslan vs Cruzat Cruiserweight fight shown live on Eurosport.

Power vs Robinson.

Earl vs Bennett

Morales vs Raheem - world wide upset of 2005 by miles.

Meager vs Watson I heard was a classic, I haven't seen it.

I also liked the Tyson vs McBride fight - good action, if not the best quality.

Best atmosphere of 2005 wasn't Hatton in Manchester IMO, but Spinks in St Louis vs Judah.

stujones wrote:Between the two of you, think you've got all the major ones covered.

One of my faves (for purists reasons) was Kelly vs Napa - masterclass from Kelly.

Liked the Arslan vs Cruzat Cruiserweight fight shown live on Eurosport.

Power vs Robinson.

Earl vs Bennett

Morales vs Raheem - world wide upset of 2005 by miles.

Meager vs Watson I heard was a classic, I haven't seen it.

I also liked the Tyson vs McBride fight - good action, if not the best quality.

Best atmosphere of 2005 wasn't Hatton in Manchester IMO, but Spinks in St Louis vs Judah.

Saw that, he came out with a rapper - was it Usher? Great atmosphere and surprising to see the support for a fighter like Spinks.

johnswan1 wrote:

stujones wrote:Between the two of you, think you've got all the major ones covered.

One of my faves (for purists reasons) was Kelly vs Napa - masterclass from Kelly.

Liked the Arslan vs Cruzat Cruiserweight fight shown live on Eurosport.

Power vs Robinson.

Earl vs Bennett

Morales vs Raheem - world wide upset of 2005 by miles.

Meager vs Watson I heard was a classic, I haven't seen it.

I also liked the Tyson vs McBride fight - good action, if not the best quality.

Best atmosphere of 2005 wasn't Hatton in Manchester IMO, but Spinks in St Louis vs Judah.

Saw that, he came out with a rapper - was it Usher? Great atmosphere and surprising to see the support for a fighter like Spinks.

I believe it was Nelly, not that I am fan of that plaster wearing short arse.

The Beck vs Barrett fight as chief support was also a fun little heavyweight fight.

It was Nelly, AKA Cornell Haynes of St. Louis. Shite rapper, BTW. Although I don't know how many of the British board are into hip-hop.....

I think my favourite fight of 2005 was Lamon Brewster vs Luan Krasniqi. Very competitive, lots of big bombs being traded and had the referee counted properly would have included the knockout of the year.

The Michael Jennings-Bradley Price fight and Bobby Pacquiao- Carlos Hernandez fights were good ones.

My personal favourites were probably the 2 Corrales-Castillo fights.

Good shout with Pacquiao vs Hernandez.

Hopkins-Taylor, best stare-out since i took my gilfriend's cat the distance last week.

split_decision wrote:I think my favourite fight of 2005 was Lamon Brewster vs Luan Krasniqi. Very competitive, lots of big bombs being traded and had the referee counted properly would have included the knockout of the year.

Yeah i was thinking about including it but forgot when i compiled the list. Krasniqi boxed well but Brewster found that big punch when it was needed, sounded like a great atmosphere too.

Worst fight? Has to Byrd-Williamson.

Worst fight...the list is endless, but Hopkins/Taylor and Hopkins/Eastman are main contenders. Yeah, basically Hopkins fights.

DK2112 wrote:Worst fight...the list is endless, but Hopkins/Taylor and Hopkins/Eastman are main contenders. Yeah, basically Hopkins fights.

Calzaghe vs Ashirazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

was a contendor though.

Takaloo vs Melis another super bore.

split_decision wrote:I think my favourite fight of 2005 was Lamon Brewster vs Luan Krasniqi. Very competitive, lots of big bombs being traded and had the referee counted properly would have included the knockout of the year.

Waiting for Abraham-Ikeke and Valuev-Ruiz. But so far the two best fights with a European boxer were Hatton-Tszyu, where I had the pleasure to be at the MEN Arena, and Luan vs Brewster.

Watch Abraham get his ass handed to him, Ikeke isn't a murderous puncher, but he's slick and throws a lot of shots.

I think Ikeke is better than Taylor too.

Can add Mosquera/Natanchai to the list. Heck of a fight. Made the trip to the Garden worth it.

Domestic scene good fights I seen

Moore v Jones 3
Jennings v Pryce
Hunter V pickering
Power V napa
Bennett v Earl



World
hatton v tzyu
Krasniqu v Brewster (good heavyweight fight not many of them)
Cotto v torres
Woods v hoye
Pacaqaio v Hernadez

The best of the year

Corrales v Castillo 1 & 2

Stinker of the year

Byrd V williamson

Does anyone else think Corrales-castillo was overated as fight of the year? Neither fight tried any tactics it was just head down slugging which in a way is a little repetitive for my liking. I much prefer the Barrera-Morales and Gatti-Ward trilogies. I never got to see Morales-Pacman but I'm sure from what I saw (2 rounds) I'd rate it above Castillo-Corrales (its annoying that he doesn't use a jab and fight at range).

I actually think Torres vs Cotto was my fight of the year.

I actually think the Gatti-Ward trilogies are overrated even the first fight, i'm not disputing the guts displayed by both men but i think Castillo-Corrales I was better and Barrera-Morales I was better than either

In terms of technique certainly yes.

In terms of technique yes, but it's just my opinion i have never particularly warmed to the Gatti-Ward fights, i prefer Ward-Burton and Gatti-Robinson...fussy bugger that i am

In any other year Cotto/Torres would be my choice, a helluva fight that left you guessing right up to the final punch. Plus Morales/PacMan was another.

But you can't beat Corralles/Castillo 1 - even if the first 9 rounds hadn't been so intense, that ending was just out of this world.

steve689 wrote:
Brian Viloria V Eric Ortiz[/i] - Shaping up nicely before Viloria ended things in round one!

Anyone got a link to that fight? Don't think it was televised on HBO though...

Trying to think of ones left off...

Barrett-Beck
Brock-McCline
Mormeck-Braithwaite
Bell-Brown
Lacy-Williams
Maussa-Harris