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By John Gregg and Steve Gregg
San Francisco, CA--
First up, it just flat out was a bad year for boxing. Bad fights, bad calls, scandals and death left a number boxing fans shaking their collective heads in dismay.
Several highly anticipated fights turned out to be less than brilliant and lacked drama. The initial unification of the heavyweight crown resulted in one of the worst decisions in ring history. Mike Tyson looked bad before stopping Frans Botha, with a stunning one-shot right hand to the chin. However, Tyson soon returned to the joint before being cut lose only to nail Orlin Norris after the bell. Tyson was in trouble again and informed that the boys didn't want him back in Vegas. With just three weeks to go before the 21st century, boxer Stephan Johnson died as the result of injuries suffered in a bout with Paul Vaden. And last but far from least, one of the three main organizations in the Byzantine world of boxing's ratings system is under indictment by the Federal government on 32 counts of bribery, corruption, and racketeering.
The showdown between two future Hall of Famers, Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad for the WBC/IBF welterweight title, turned out to be largely a tactical bout. The fight lacked fireworks but De La Hoya appeared to be winning the contest before he turned conservative, started giving up real estate, and let the victory slip away over the last two rounds.
In March, Evander Holyfield squared off against Lennox Lewis for the unification of all three heavyweight belts. What followed was a horrendous decision that resulted in the vilification of the sport in almost every medium. Lennox Lewis battered Evander Holyfield for 12-rounds but could earn no better than a draw on the judges' scorecards. Stanley Christodoulu of South Africa had the fight, 116-113, for Lewis. While Larry O'Connell of the United Kingdom scored it, 115-115, a draw. Amazingly, IBF appointed Judge Eugenia Williams scored the fight, 115-113, for Holyfield. Williams and the IBF would draw harsh criticism from the media for her lack of judging expertise. All though numerous investigating agencies from the city and state of New York, and even the Federal government got involved, the only thing that could be proven was ineptitude. However, the stench from the IBF headquarters in New Jersey would not go away.
Before it was all over, Robert Lee and three of his colleagues including his son, Robert Lee Jr. were indicated for allegedly rigging the IBF's ratings. Over the years, investigators charged that the IBF had pulled down over $338,000 to manipulate their rankings. Allegedly if you greased their hands with cash, the IBF would move your fighters up in the rankings. As we go to press, Lee awaits his day in court.
Boxer of the Year- WBC super bantamweight champion Erik "El Terrible" Morales (34-0, 28 KO's) is the Boxing Times Fighter of the Year. Holding to the motto, "Deeds Not Words," Morales' let his fists do the talking in 1999. Morales scored his seventh successful title defense by scoring a dazzling sixth round TKO over number-one rated contender Reynante Jamili, last July in his champ's hometown of Tijuana, Mexico. The 22-year-old Morales has quietly gone about the business of establishing himself as the next great Mexican champion. At 5'9", and 122-pounds, Morales is a brutally effective fighter with heavy hands. As in the fight with Jamili, Morales likes to work the body and after he starts caving in his opponent's ribs, the WBC champ will feint to the belly and then go upstairs with whistling right hands and sharp left hooks. Along with his stunning victory over Jamili, in February he scored a 2nd round knockout over Angel Chacon. In May, Morales recorded a 10th round TKO over Juan Carlos Ramirez, and closed out the year with his fourth successful title defense by winning a 12-round decision over former world champion Wayne McCullough. Morales faces the toughest test of his young career early in 2000, when he meets fellow world champion WBO 122-pound king Marco Antonio Barerra, on February 19th in Las Vegas. Nevertheless, in '99, Morales was the clear-cut winner of Boxer of the Year.
Honorable Mention-IBF middleweight king Bernard Hopkins successfully defended his title twice in two tough bouts. In February, Hopkins halted Robert Allen via a 7th round TKO and then came back in December to score a 12-round unanimous decision over a highly motivated and hard hitting Antwun Echols. Both Allen and Echols are jawbreakers but Hopkins showed enough poise, power, and ability to soundly defeat two younger guys.
Fight of the Year-This bout was also the Upset of the Year, as Fort Worth, Texas native Paulie Ayala scored a unanimous 12-round decision over previously undefeated Johnny Tapia. With the victory over Tapia, Ayala captured the WBA's 118-pound belt in a bantamweight blazer. Both guys traded leather with reckless abandon but Ayala proved to be quicker and stronger on the inside and that was the difference in this memorable bout.
First Runner-up goes to a bout staged earlier in the year when Thomas Tate and Merqui Sosa engaged in an all-out war. Seemingly from the opening bell both guys connected with rockets. Left hooks, right crosses and whistling uppercuts landed with regularity as both guys traded heavy artillery. Both warriors were rocked and wounded before Tate eventually went on to halt Sosa.
Second Runner-up-Oscar De La Hoya scored a narrow 12-round split decision over challenger Ike Quartey in a bout that featured three knockdowns and a number of changes in momentum. The same fight also was the winner of the Round of the Year-- De La Hoya dropped Quartey in the 6th, with a lead right hand to the chin followed by a searing left hook to the jaw. Quartey careened backwards and hit the deck after doing a quick two-step. With 2:00 to go in the 6th, De La Hoya stepped right into a crushing left hook to the jaw and ended up on the seat of his trunks. Both men continued to fire and score until the bell. De La Hoya rallied in the last round and floored Quartey again with yet another right cross and a sharp left hook to the head. De La Hoya trapped Quartey in the corner and hammered away at the former world champion as referee Mitch Halpern came within an eyelash of halting the bout.
Heavyweight Fight of the Year-In November, Derrick Jefferson and Maurice Harris engaged in an IQ shaving war with both men on the deck and looking to go out on their shields on several occasions. The 6'6" Jefferson prevailed in the sixth round and scored a KO over hard-luck Harris.
Prelim of the Year-June 20 at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California, two young light heavyweights went to war over eight-memorable rounds. Julio Gonzalez scored a unanimous decision over Reggie Roberts but both guys teed off for the entire 24-minutes. The difference was Gonzalez' right hand but Roberts did significant damage with a sharp-left hands.
Ugliest Fight of the Year-Easy call. Prince Hamed versus Cesar "Night of the Living Dead" Soto in a title fight that was half Roller Derby, half pro rasslin. Hamed body slammed Soto and then drove a well-placed knee to the challenger's face. One round later, Hamed shoved Soto through the ropes in the 6th, landed on top of him and this time drove a knee into the challenger's groin. Soto excelled at head butting for the entire 12-rounds, but also tossed in some rabbit punches and low blows.
Runner-up-Luis Perez scored an 11th round TKO over Pat Thorns but not before drilling his opponent with a half dozen wicked low blows. He lost three points on fouls but could have just as easily been DQ'd. Thorns also was guilty of straying south of the border but the night belonged to Perez.
Best Right Hand of the Year-Mike Tyson's eleven-inch jackhammer right hand that floored Frans Botha like a white buffalo.
'99 Observation-Vernon Forest is to Thomas Hearns as Vivan Harris is to Milton McCrory.
Trainer of the Year-Miguel Diaz
Referee of the Year-Mitch Halpern for general overall excellence. Runner-up, the veteran Joe Cortez.
Ring MD of the Year-Dr. Flip Homansky, steady, consistent, always looks out for the fighter's welfare.
Favorite Interview of the Year-Prior to the second Vinny Pazienza-Dana Rosenblatt encounter, Paz was interviewed on ESPN2 a week before the bout. Pazienza wearing a dark turtleneck and looking like a throwback to a fighter out of the 1930's looked dead into the camera and said in effect, "Rosenblatt, I'm going to knock the piss out of you." As producers attempted to cut away from Pazienza, the former champion said, "What…..I can't say piss on camera."
Worst judging by a boxing official-The IBF appointed Eugenia Williams, who had Holyfield over Lewis in their first bout, 115-113. She hasn't worked a bout since her fiasco. In future years, this category will be known as the "Eugenia."
Tommy Morrison Dead from the Neck Up Award-Ike Ibeabuchi hands down. Ibeabuchi remains behind bars awaiting trial on alleged sexual assault and kidnapping charges in Nevada. In the case of Morrison--"Hands Up." As we go to press, Morrison had his bond revoked by an Arkansas judge, who considers the ex-WBO heavyweight king a flight risk. Morrison was arrested on Thanksgiving for public intoxication, possession of marijuana, criminal impersonation, carrying a concealed weapon.
Worst referee job in '99-December 11th in San Antonio, TX, at the Freeman Coliseum Robert Gonzalez turned in one of the worst efforts of 1999. Working the WBU junior featherweight title fight between champ Carlos Navarro and Carlos Contreras, Gonzalez repeatedly missed low blows. He failed to take a point away from Navarro in the 4th for a shot that was considerably south of the border. The blow was brutally low and almost appeared intentional. Throughout most of the fight Gonzalez lacked sound judgement and had a number of veteran ring observers shaking their heads. As the fight wore on, he missed several more fouls, broke the rhythm of the fight while trying to replace a mouthpiece, and seemed more concerned about getting the water out of the corner, or off the ring canvas rather the action right in front of him. He was absurdly bad.
Runner-up-Referee Dale Grable did a poor job in the Hamed-Soto encounter. Grable let the fight get out of hand. While he continued to threaten to take points away, nevertheless, he didn't do squat.
Two Impressive Champions-Two young fighters really came on in 1999 and won titles. IBF king Paul Spadafora (28-0, 14 KO's) captured his title by upsetting heavily favored Israel Cardona in August and then successfully defended the crown in December by scoring a 11th round TKO over Renato Cornett. Spadafora excels at spinning and turning guys. He beats people with brains rather than brawn.
The other young champ that really came on in '99 was IBF junior lightweight king Diego Corrales. The native Colombian, who fights out of Sacramento, California, is a tall rangy banger, with 25 knockouts in thirty pro fights. Corrales recorded a seventh round TKO over durable Roberto Garcia in October and then defended his title six weeks later by scoring a 12-round unanimous decision over the veteran John Brown.
Sad Note-After thrilling boxing fans for more than thirty -one years the Forum closed their doors to boxing. The good news is the cards will now be seen down the road at the Pond, in Anaheim.
Don Dunphy Awards-This goes to two guys that share a passion and a love for the sport of boxing. Both Teddy Atlas and Max Kellerman bring insight, knowledge, and enthusiasm for boxing on their weekly ESPN2 broadcasts. Thank heavens for the deuce.
Best Riot of the Year-Tough Night for the Old Girl--Atlantic City Convention center November 6th. The Russian version of George Chuvalo, Oleg Maskaev, nailed Hasim Rahman with a brutal right hand to the jaw in the 8th round of their heavyweight encounter. The shot drove Rahman through the ropes and as he exited head first, HBO's Jim Lampley attempted to break his fall but as Hasim crashed to the floor he took out the Compubox monitor in his rapid descent. Ringside doctors started working on Rahman almost immediately but he didn't even start to sit up until the count reached 15. Referee Eddie Cotton tolled 20 and ruled Maskaev the winner on a knockout. Within seconds, Rahman supporters and unhappy gamblers opened up with a salvo of folding chairs as all-hell broke out ringside. Veteran official Steve Smoger was conked on the back of the head by flying metal, as a vintage wild melee ensued. It would take almost 15 minutes to get everything under control as a number of fans departed the evening wearing steal bracelets and accompanied by New Jersey's finest.
Worst Entrance of the Year-This year's the "Prince" goes to Fernando Vargas and his white tiger act in Oregon prior to his bout with Winky Wright. First up, none of the fans could see Vargas, or the tiger in the cage. Second, the whole "Ferocious" production looked so cheap it was somewhat embarrassing. Vargas' advisors have forgotten what really thrills fight fans. It isn't flashy sequin robes, elaborate ring arrivals, or musical numbers. The real art is throwing hooks and depositing your opponent on the canvas.
Knockouts of the Year-
Gone But Not Forgotten-Jerry Quarry.
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