Top Ten Fights of 2011: Best boxing moments from Cotto, Pacquiao and friends

Photo: Associated Press

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SAN DIEGO, Dec 26, 2011 – Boxing fans got twelve full months of superb competition plus plenty of controversy and a few surprises to spice up the Sweet Science in 2011.

We were treated to some extremely close fights between some of today’s greatest boxers. We saw a few rising stars continue their trip to the top. Revenge, comebacks, courage, and unpredictable moments all fill my Top Ten List of the Best Fights of 2011.

1.   Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito II – December 3, 2011

As predicted, it was an action-packed brawl filled with drama inside and outside the ring. Both fighters gave everything they had. Fans of the sweet science can’t ask for anything more. The script wasn’t written perhaps exactly the way Cotto wanted it, with the fight being stopped just seconds into the 10^th round after Margarito’s eye was too damaged to continue, but Cotto got revenge for his previous loss to Margarito two years earlier, tainted by the allegation that Margarito was fighting with loaded gloves. The trash talk leading up to the fight drove up the anticipation, creating a rare sellout at Madison Square Garden. Cotto, noted for his sportsmanship, said after the fight of Margarito, “He means nothing to me.” Cotto gladly takes the victory and moves on to an exciting future filled with crowd-pleasing fighters like Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, Julio Caesar Chavez. Jr., James Kirkland, and Canelo Alvarez.

Juan Manuel Marquez was thought by many to have won this fight. Associated Press.

2.   Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez III – November 12, 2011

The third, highly anticipated fight between two warriors with a long history and a score to settle lived up to expectations, but there’s still a big question to be answered. Pacquiao squeezed out a victory by a razor-thin margin, but many believed including me that Marquez won the fight. Pacquiao outpunched Marquez, but Marquez landed by far the better shots. The stage is already set for a rematch, sooner than later with Floyd Mayweather headed to prison.

James Kirkland and Alfredo Angulo put on the slugfest of the year. HoganPhotos.

3.   Alfredo Angulo vs. James Kirkland – November 3, 2011

As Angulo and Kirkland stepped into the ring, HBO ringside announcer Max Kellerman advised fans “Don’t blink.” No kidding. This full-on slugfest couldn’t be beat for sheer entertainment and excitement. The attack from both was fast and furious, with the highly-favored Angulo knocking down Kirkland seconds into the first round. But Kirkland got up, and urged up by his trainer Ann Wolfe, he came back and after five more rounds of relentless battle, knocked an exhausted Angulo out. It’s a stunning comeback victory for Kirkland, who triumphed over personal struggles including 18 months in prison. If Wolfe can keep him well-trained and motivated, we’re going to see some great bouts out of Kirkland this year.

Lamont Peterson thrilled a hometown crowd in Washington D.C. with his upset win over Amir Khan. Associated Press.

4.   Amir Khan vs. Lamont Peterson – December 10, 2011

The last major fight of the year provided a surprise win for the underdog Peterson in his hometown of Washington D.C. It was the first major fight held in Washington in 18 years and it was worth waiting for. Khan seemed increasingly shocked by Peterson’s attack, and though the victory was a close one it was a clear win. Did Khan schedule too many fights this year and run out of gas? Or is Peterson the real deal? A rematch is all but certain, and it won’t be on Peterson’s turf next time.

Bernard Hopkins defeats Jean Pascal in May 2011. Photo: Mullholland/HBO

5.   Jean Pascal vs. Bernard Hopkins II – May 21, 2011

After fighting to a draw with Pascal six months earlier, Hopkins defeated Pascal to become the oldest titleholder in boxing history at the age of 46 years, five months. Hopkins came to the fight in superb condition for a 26 year old, never mind a 46 year old. He outsmarted and out punched the 28-year-old Pascal this time until he plain wore him out. Hopkins has a chance to break his own record with a rematch ordered against Chad Dawson. Hopkins and Dawson ended up with a no decision after their October fight in which a fluke accident and poor assessment by the referee resulted in a TKO win for Dawson. The California State Athletic Commission later overturned his win.

Canelo Alvarez: is he the Manny Pacquiao of the future? Associated Press.

6.   Canelo Alvarez vs. Michael Hatton – March 5, 2011

Redheaded Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is already a superstar in Mexico and quickly becoming a favorite of U.S. fans. Nearly 12-thousand fans in Anaheim, California and a record breaking HBO audience watched Alvarez demolish Hatton in a lopsided decision. The hard-punching 21-year-old fights with amazing maturity and patience, but when he decides to unleash some power his speed and accuracy are impressive. He’s only going to get better and if he starts systematically meeting and taking out opponents like Kirkland, Julio Caesar Chavez Jr., and eventually Martinez and Cotto, he’ll be the heir apparent to the popularity title worn by Manny Pacquiao.

7.   Amir Khan vs. Zab Judah - July 23, 2011

Khan is the only boxer who made the list twice. Give him credit, Khan likes to fight often and he never says no to a match. He was the 2010 Boxing Writers Association Fighter of the Year after a slugfest with Marcos Maidana. In this contest, he took apart Zab Judah, knocking him out in the fifth round to unift the junior welterweight (140-pound) title in Las Vegas. He made it look easy, making his loss to Peterson a few weeks ago all the more shocking.

Victor Ortiz turned his fight with Andre Burto around from seeming defeat to victory. Associated Press.

8.   Andre Berto vs. Victor Ortiz – April 16, 2011

The appealing young Mexican-American fighter Ortiz put himself on the map with this action-packed, crowd pleasing upset win over Berto. Ortiz was knocked down early by Berto and it looked like it would be over quickly, but Ortiz came back in impressive fashion to notch the victory. Talk of a rematch began almost immediately and fans won’t have to wait long. Berto-Ortiz II is officially set for February 11 in Las Vegas. We should have an early candidate for our Top Ten list next year with this one. These young fighters are hungry and want a piece of each other again soon.

9.   Sergio Martinez vs. Sergiy Dzinziruk – March 12, 2011

Martinez can deliver a hell of a knockout punch, but the undefeated Dzinziruk refused to let Martinez keep him on the canvas. Dzinziruk recovered from four knockdowns and got up after a fifth knockdown in round 8, but the referee had finally seen enough to stop the bout and give Martinez the TKO victory.

Marcos Maidana got the victory, but veteran Erik Morales might have been the real winner. Associated Press.

10.   Marcos Maidana vs. Erik Morales – April 9, 2011

The much-respected Mexican champion Morales wasn’t expected to last long at age 34 against the aggressive 28-year-old Maidana. But he did and he thrived despite a badly swollen shut eye. The veteran’s fighting heart and smart thinking allowed him to land hard shots against Maidana just when he needed them to stay alive. Morales may have lost on the judges’ scorecards but he earned much respect in the fourth fight of his comeback after retiring in 2007, and in many ways was the real winner by beating expectations. The fans won too with a fight that shows you still need to put the combatants in the ring and see how it all plays out despite the predictions. 

Was it a cheap shot, or within the rules? Associated Press.

Bonus Pick: Floyd Mayweather vs. Victor Ortiz – September 17, 2011

This fight produced the single most discussed knockout of the year. Fighters won’t take the admonition to protect themselves at all time lightly after Victor Ortiz got lit up by Mayweather in an unguarded moment. Was it a cheapshot, or a smart move? Either way, Mayweather put Ortiz on the canvas at the end of the fourth round after Ortiz apologized for an intentional head butt. The pro-Ortiz crowd was furious and the trash talk underway before the fight resumed immediately. Sadly we won’t see a rematch of this bout anytime thanks to Mayweather’s bad behavior outside the ring. 

Limited to ten, I’ve left out several runners up including Julio Caesar Chavez Jr. vs. Sebastian Zbik, Wladimir Klitschko vs. David Haye, Antonio DeMarco vs. Jorge Linares, and Fernando Montiel vs. Nonito Donaire. This is the kind of problem fans would like to have again in 2012.

HBO Boxing put together a fast paced two-minute retrospective of the year in boxing. HBO’s picks don’t always match mine, but this is an entertaining recap well worth watching.