2012 Boxing Awards

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Dec 19, 2012

2012 Boxing Awards

Fight of the Year

Most pundits argued there was no way that the fight between Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado would live up to the hype. By the end of the seven round battle, most agreed that the fight somehow topped the hype. Rios and Alvarado mostly traded in skill and technique so they could all-out brawl, but Rios showcased both his ability to work inside as well as land some thunderous punches. Rios eventually won in the seventh round after visibly injuring Alvarado, and the fight was almost instantly declared the fight of the year.

Round of the Year

Round 9: Fans in San Juan, Puerto Rico flocked to the WBO featherweight title rematch between two tireless fighters that already turned in one memorable battle. The ninth round of the second installment was unforgettable. Prior to the fight, Lopez made abundantly clear that he needed to do everything within his power to beat Salido. The ninth round was a flurry of body shots exchanged between both boxers ? Lopez delivered vicious hooks while Salido worked Lopez inside. It was gallant, courageous and narrated by Gus Johnson.

Comeback Fighter of the Year

It may not have been the most glamorous return, but Hatton still came back to the ring almost a full three years after Manny Pacquiao crushed him in 2009. One of the most popular boxers in the U.K.'s history, Hatton announced a comeback on September 14, 2012 against an unnamed opponent. Tickets sold out in two days. Hatton took on Vyacheslav Senchenko and started off strong, but faded as the fight went on. Hatton admitted that he needed one more fight to see if he had it left, and said afterward that he knew it was no more.

Prospect of the Year

The Philadelphia native had a busy 2012 and even took a fight on five days' notice (his 10-round victory over the previously undefeated Maurice Byarm). He would go on to win four other fights in 2012, winning once more by unanimous decision and the three other times by knockout. After his Dec. 9 victory over Bowie Topou (who he knocked out in five rounds), Jennings is now 16-0 and holds the title as the USBA Heavyweight Champion.

Upset of the Year

Lopez pulled of a rare feat in boxing; he was a replacement opponent that stepped in and knocked out the heavy favorite. Victor Ortiz was originally scheduled to fight Andre Berto in June, but Berto failed a drug test so Ortiz needed an opponent. In stepped Lopez, who had lost his last fight against Jessie Vargas in November 2011. Lopez would catch Ortiz with a vicious hook in the ninth round that broke the favorite's jaw, and the fight was eventually ruled a technical knockout in the tenth round.

Breakthrough Performance

Amir Khan is now angling, even craving for a rematch after Danny Garcia shocked the British star in the fourth round last July. The undefeated Garcia beat the old (and somewhat haggard) Erik Morales in his last fight, but was not expected to compete with the powerful Khan. The fourth round hadn't even finished before Garcia knocked Khan to the canvas. Now, Khan wants a rematch and is insisting he knows what he did wrong. He also insists that this time, it will be Garcia to hit the deck.