BOXING

• The Envelope Please: One Man's Awards for 2009

  
  

  By Lyle Fitzsimmons, Contributing Boxing Editor Ocala, FL (Sports Network) - I'm sure it's been on the minds of faithful weekend readers as 2009 approached 2010.

  "Sure, we know Fitz likes Floyd Mayweather Jr. And sure, we realize he's a champion of the IBO and its computerized ratings system. But gosh darnit, we can't go on for another minute if we don't find out what were his picks as the best moments of the year gone by." Rest assured, huddled masses... I hear your calls.

  Enjoy the initial offering of... FitzHitz and Misses -- 2009.

  The envelopes, please: Fighter of the Year -- Manny Pacquiao Based on the comments that follow a lot of my columns and the e-mail I get from those who decide to take commentary a step beyond, you'd think I rate Pacquiao no better than a four-round club fighter.

  But nothing could be further from the truth.

  On the contrary, I'm amazed by what the Filipino dynamo has done in the five years since dropping a 12-rounder to Erik Morales at 130 pounds. I thought he had little chance against Oscar De La Hoya when that fight was announced, and, while I picked him in subsequent showdowns against Hatton and Cotto, it hasn't cut into the amazement level at how dominant he was against both men. And while I still think Mayweather beats him if and when their superfight ever happens -- I think it will, maybe around Labor Day -- he was clearly the best of '09.

  Fight of the Year -- Marquez-Diaz While I can't imagine a lot of otherwise-directed consensus on the previous award, this one is prone to more dissent. Still, of the several fights that I've seen mentioned on this and other sites, none for me tops the sustained action of the WBA/WBO title clash last February in Houston.

  Though he'd firmly established himself as an elite through two battles with Pacquiao and elsewhere, Marquez hadn't been through the grind at 135 beyond an impressive -- if not exactly punishing -- TKO of a fading Joel Casamayor late in 2008. In Diaz, he was meeting a guy just two fights removed from a three- belt reign at lightweight and one sure to provide a hectic night with all-out pressure.

  As it turned out, the matchup didn't disappoint. Each had their moments, but Marquez had more, scoring the win and earning a well-deserved -- if not ultimately successful -- payday with Mayweather.

  Elevator of the Year (Going UP) -- Andre Ward "Sure, he won a gold medal, but who's he fought?" Such was the standard qualifier applied to Andre Ward as the 2004 Olympian headed into his fifth full year as a professional in 2009. But it's been replaced this year by a slightly better tagline -- WBA super middleweight champion.

  Few experts gave Ward much of a chance to rise in class and handle once-beaten Dane Mikkel Kessler, but the 11-round clinic the Californian put on served notice that he -- as much as Carl Froch, Arthur Abraham or anyone else -- is the man to beat in Showtime's "Super Six" event at 168. And in my opinion, it couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Sure, his religion-first mantras may rub some the wrong way, but there's no denying he's a solid human being in spite of the violent nature of his full-time gig. That's to be celebrated, no matter your worship of choice.

  Elevator of the Year (Going DOWN) -- Roy Jones Jr.

  A single loss to a world-class belt-holder in one's first foray into a new division isn't usually indicative of an awful year. But in the context of "Superman," it was.

  Just a tune-up away from an overdue rematch with Bernard Hopkins, Jones went to Australia to sell a few seats, sign a few autographs and swipe Danny Green's IBO cruiserweight title before returning home to prep for "The Executioner." Instead, he was rudely dumped in a Chuck Woolery Special -- 2 minutes, 2 seconds -- and left to claim that it was unfairly manipulated hand wraps, and not the bigger man's punches, responsible for doing him in.

  Now going on 41 and with legacy secure, there seems little reason for him to continue.

  And while I still think he could beat 95 percent of the pros out there, I just don't see a need for it.

  "C'mon, You're Not Really Serious..." of the Year -- Evander Holyfield Let me be the first to say, I have zero issue with guys like Holyfield -- and Jones -- continuing to fight after most have deemed them in danger of damaging legacies.

  I've always believed that argument to be nonsense, so long as a prison term or other nonsense isn't involved -- see Simpson, O.J. and Rose, Pete.

  That said, hearing a guy who'd toppled names like Douglas, Bowe and Tyson to win heavyweight titles in the past now claiming that he'll get No. 4 with a win over Francois Botha is a bit hard to digest. "I am going to win and I will cherish the WBF title. I'm very much looking forward to going to Uganda and I expect a tough fight against Francois Botha." Ick.

  While I'm all for following a dream and refusing to surrender and all the other tenets upon which "The Real Deal" has made a claim for greatness, this one has me feeling the need to shower. Sure, I hope the guy wins... but anyone using the term "world heavyweight champion" alongside his name for a defeat of Botha ought to be pummeled to death with his own keyboard.

  I Hope At Least Some of This Happens in 2010 1. Manny and Floyd... Drop the lawsuits, stop the posturing, get in the ring.

  2.

  Bernard Hopkins... Fight someone worthwhile -- Chad Dawson, for example -- or go away.

  3.

  Kelly Pavlik... Glad to hear your hand's better. This is Paul Williams. Please sign a contract.

  4.

  Nate Campbell... Get a title shot and win a belt. It's getting boring without you.

  5.

  Eddie Chambers... Win a title, bring it back to Philly and keep being a great role model.

  6.

  Timothy Bradley... Keep beating the drum. I think people are starting to notice.

  7. Ed Levine... See No. 6.

  8.

  Chris John...

  Fight someone not named Rocky Juarez or risk perpetual anonymity.

  9. Klitschko Brothers... C'mon, at least consider it, huh? 10. Ring Magazine... Please cancel my subscription.

  Other weekly news...

  Those anticipating history in early 2010 -- courtesy of Anthony Mundine -- are out of luck.

  The incrementally shrinking Australian, a former two-time WBA champion at 168 pounds who won the IBO middleweight belt with a defeat of countryman Daniel Geale in May, will apparently not be adding a 154-pound crown to his collection any time soon.

  Mundine was scheduled to meet Robert Medley for the vacant IBO junior middleweight belt on January 11 in Sydney, but the fight will now be contested at 160 pounds -- if at all -- courtesy of a dust-up between the fighter and the sanctioning body, or Mundine's simple inability to make the lower weight.

  The latter part depends on who you ask.

  A January 6 story on the Sydney Morning Herald's Web site indicated Mundine was changing his plans due to angst with the IBO over its handling of a protest by the Geale camp regarding the result of the aforementioned match last spring in Brisbane.

  According to the story, Mundine claimed Geale's manager, Bill Tracey, was "encouraged"to lodge an official protest against the decision after allegations that an English judge was verbally intimidated by a pro-Mundine spectator.

  Mundine won a split decision and Geale's title, taking two cards by scores of 114-113 and 116-113, while dropping the other by a 115-112 count.

  The story said the IBO asked three new judges to view a replay of the bout and re-score it, resulting in two of them awarding the fight to Geale. However, it continued, "Geale's appeal was dismissed, as the result had to be unanimous for the original decision to be overturned." Aconnectionwas also madebetween Mundine and recently-beaten IBO cruiserweight title challenger Roy Jones Jr., saying "the treatment of Jones, a close friend and mentor of Mundine's, is believed to have had an influence on the Australian's decision not to fight under the IBO." Jones was stopped in one round by incumbent champion Danny Green in December, then subsequently lodged a complaint with the New South Wales Combat Sports Authority, asking that the result be changed to a disqualification due to Green's illegal use of hand wraps.

  IBO President Ed Levine called portions of the Morning Herald's story "total nonsense and completely incorrect," saying the IBO had no intention of overturning the initial Mundine-Geale result and would have only withdrawn title recognition or ordered an immediate rematch had the reviewing judges "unanimously and clearly by a wide margin scored the bout for Geale." Levine said the review gave Geale the "win" by split scores of 115-112 and 114-113, with one judge seeing it 115-113 in Mundine's favor. Levine himself saw the replay as a 114-114 draw.

  "Clearly it was a closely contested and controversial fight, deserving of a rematch but not in any way improperly scored," Levine said. "A mere close unanimous re-scoring of the contest would have led to Geale being made a mandatory fight for Mundine.

  "Effectively, the close re-scoring getting a narrow split decision to Geale resulted in the same decision, a mandatory position for Geale but not in an immediate and direct rematch.

  Mundine was given the opportunity for an intervening optional defense." Instead, according to Levine, Mundine relinquished the middleweight title as a condition of the IBO's sanction of the would-be title match with Medley at 154.

  "Our opinion is that Mundine's current failure to honor his contractual obligations to the IBO and Medley are purely based on his inability to make the weight and/or his reluctance to accept two international officials and the costs attendant to putting on a world title fight," Levine said.

  "All dealings with Anthony Mundine and his management have been extremely difficult.

  Nevertheless the IBO has always tried to take the honorable path and uniformly enforce its rules and to respect all participants."This week's title-fight schedule: SATURDAY WBOsuper middleweighttitle-- Magdeburg,Germany Robert Stieglitz (champion) vs.

  Ruben Eduardo Acosta (No.

  11 contender) Stieglitz (36-2, 22 KO): First title defense; Lost one of 32 fights in Germany (31-1, 20KO) Acosta (23-3-5, 7 KO): First title fight; Unbeaten since 2007 (7-0, 4 KO) Fitzbitz says: Stieglitz by decision MONDAY WBA superfeatherweight title-- Tokyo,Japan Juan Carlos Salgado (champion) vs.

  Takashi Uchiyama (No.

  3 contender) Salgado (21-0-1, 15 KO): First title defense; Won two straight in first round Uchiyama (13-0, 10 KO): First title fight; Five defenses of regional (OPBF) belt Fitzbitz says: Salgado in 7 WBA superbantamweight title --Tokyo, Japan Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym (champion) vs. Satoshi Hosono (No.

  10 contender) Kratingdaenggym (39-1, 28 KO): First title defense; First fight in Japan Hosono(16-0, 12 KO): First title fight; First fight at 122 pounds Fitzbitz says: Kratingdaenggym in 10 Lastweek'spicks:Nofightsscheduled Overall picks record: 157-57 (73.3 percent) Lyle Fitzsimmons is an award-winning 21-year sports journalist, a full voting member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and willing to undergo random tests to ensure he's not a blood relative of any member of the Mayweatherclan.

  Reach himatfitzbitz@msn.com, followhimat twitter.com/fitzbitz or read him at fitzbitzonfights.wordpress.com.

  01/07 14:23:28 ET