So in celebration of Christmas, I am going to make up a "Naughty and Nice" list of the sweet science for the year 2009. Usually when someone asks me if I want the good news or the bad news, I always start with the bad.
Now, as a boxing fan, I usually don't like to get negative about the sport of boxing, but let's be honest … it is boxing. I promise though, I won't call boxing dead or talk about how corrupt it is — there are plenty of other writers to bash the sport like that. I'm just going to cover the things that disappointed me most this year.
Honorable Mention
Wasted Talent: As Robert DeNiro's character Lorenzo in A Bronx Tale said, "The saddest thing in life is wasted talent."
This year, one of the most exciting fighters to come up through the ranks over the past few years, James Kirkland, was arrested on gun charges. In July, Kirkland (25-0, 22 KO) pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to federal prison for two years.
I won't make a judgment on Kirkland because I know that we live in very different worlds, but that doesn't mean it isn't sad to see him sitting out his prime in a jail cell. Lorenzo was right, it truly is sad to see his talent wasted.
5. Losses
Boxing lost a few soldiers this past year, and July seemed to be the biggest gut punch of all. In that one month, Arturo Gatti, Vernon Forrest and Alexis Arguello all passed away. All came in less than glamorous circumstances.
I had a few brief encounter with Gatti, which I wrote about after his death. He left me with some lasting memories both in and out of the ring. I have nothing but the greatest respect for anyone who finds his way through the ropes, and each deserves to be honored for the bravery and dedication to a sport that is relentless and brutal.
These were just three of the biggest names in 2009, but the sport lost many brave souls.
4. Decisions
Every year there are a pile of bad decisions, bad stoppages and other major mistakes that cost a deserving fighter the win. That's what happens when a sport depends so much on individuals' points of view. The year is over and there is nothing we can do about it now, but these ones really ruffled my feathers.
Joan Guzman draws Ali Funeka: Funeka (30-2-3, 25 KO) thoroughly battered and bloodied Guzman (29-0-1, 17 KO) for 12 straight rounds only to get a draw slapped across his face. If you had any question as to who won this fight, just look at the shock on Guzman's face when they announced the draw.
Paulie Malignaggi loses decision to Juan Diaz: Malignaggi (27-3, 5 KO) got what he thought he was going to get in the Lone Star State: a bad decision. He outboxed Diaz (35-3, 17 KO) only to find himself on the wrong end of the verdict. A few months later, Malignaggi would get the win he deserved in the first place, putting on a more lopsided showing in the windy city.
Chris John draws Rocky Juarez: John (43-0-2, 22 KO) showed the boxing public what he had already shown Juan Manual Marquez years earlier — he can box. Too bad the public wasn't judging, as the hometown officials let Juarez (28-5-1, 20 KO) get away with an undeserving draw.
Sergio Martinez draws Kermit Cintron: It seems Martinez (44-2-2, 24 KO) is one of those guys that can't catch a break. After thoroughly boxing the pants off Cintron (32-2-1, 28 KO), the judges saw fit to reward him with nothing. Cintron would later have a better showing against Alfredo Angulo, and Martinez would make another appearance on HBO against Paul Williams.
Sergio Martinez loss to Paul Williams: In yet another appearance on HBO, Martinez took on Williams (38-1, 27 KO) in what has to be considered a candidate for fight of the year. Although this wasn't an outright robbery, I thought Martinez controlled the action and deserved the nod. The only good thing about this decision is hopefully the public demands a rematch to this exciting first fight.
Andre Dirrell loses to Carl Froch: I put all blame from this loss on Dirrell (18-1, 13 KO). I thought Dirrel outboxed the veteran champion from Nottingham, England, but he didn't stand in and fight enough to put an exclamation on his performance. He could have taken two points in the Super Six tournament if he had let his hands go more and ran less. He even proved at the end of the fight he could hurt Froch (26-0, 20 KO) as he had him wobbled in the late rounds. Bad decision, but Dirrell should have known he wasn't going to get a fair shake in the other guy's town.
3. Heavyweight Division
It seems every year I have to talk about how dismal the heavyweight division is. The so called saviors to the division have done nothing for me this year. David Haye (23-1, 21 KO) laid and egg against Nikolai Valuev (50-2, 34 KO). Chris Areolla (28-1, 25 KO) gave a valiant effort in the ring against Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 KO), but he left me wondering what he could have done had he put in that same effort in the gym. Kevin Johnson (22-1-1, 9 KO) proved that he can dodge punches just as long as he doesn't have to throw any back (and I mean none!). I give the Klitschkos credit, they really are taking on all comers, but the problem is the heavyweight top 10 isn't exactly a who's who these days.
2. Got Pee?
Juan Manuel Marquez (50-5-1, 37 KO) shocked the world when he gulped a glass of his own urine, a ritual that he says he does while training for all his fights. I've read in several places that the stunt was staged, but I'm not so sure. I think Cleveland from Family Guy put it best: "That's nasty."
To make matters worse, Marquez lost a lopsided fight to Floyd Mayweather Jr. (40-0, 25 KO). So in the end, the glass of liquid sunshine was for nothing.
1. Cheat
The thing in 2009 that disgusted me the most was the loaded hand-wraps of Antonio Margarito (37-6, 27 KO). In a sport that is dangerous to start with, the act of putting what is the equivalent of cement in your gloves is unforgivable.
Margarito and his trainer, Javier Capatillo, were caught trying to load their hand wraps with "plaster of Paris" by Shane Mosley's trainer, Nazeem Richardson, just before their fight on Jan. 24.
Margarito, a guy known for his toughness, was blasted out in nine rounds by Mosley (46-5, 39 KO). Margarito was suspended stateside for one year by the California State Athletic Commission, a very lenient punishment if you ask me. This brings into question all of Margarito's wins, especially his dominant stoppages over Cintron and Miguel Cotto (34-2, 27 KO). Whether he was a first-time offender or a career-long cheater, his intent that night was to do irrevocable damage to another man. To me, this is unforgivable and he should be punished with a life-long ban.
Well, that's it for me. Those are my lows for 2009. I didn't like writing them down, as I always like to stay positive about the sport, but sometimes I suppose you have to get your hands dirty.
Stay tuned for my list of all things nice in the world of boxing for 2009.
