Manny wins twin ‘Fighter’ honors in US

By Roy Luarca
Philippine Daily Inquirer


MANNY PACQUIAO is last year's top boxer—and the decade’s finest as well. Taking into account the Filipino superstar’s awesome knockouts of his last two foes en route to a record seventh world title in as many weight divisions, the Boxing Writers Association of America on Sunday (Monday in Manila) chose Pacquiao as its 2009 Fighter of the Year and Fighter of the Decade.

The twin honors further buttressed Pacquiao’s reputation as pound-for-pound king and mirrored his earlier selection by ESPN.com and Ring magazine as 2009 Fighter of the Year.

Pacquiao, who will receive his fourth Sugar Ray Robinson trophy at the BWAA’s 85th annual banquet on June 11 in New York, topped the balloting among boxing chroniclers.

The vote noted the impact of his second-round demolition of Briton Ricky Hatton on May 2 and his 12-round annihilation of Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 for the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown.

Also nominated for Fighter of the Year were WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko of Ukraine, WBA super middleweight titlist Andre Ward of the United States, former two-time welterweight champion Paul Williams, also of the US, and Armenian-German super middleweight Arthur Abraham.

Pacquiao, who will stake his 147-pound title against Ghanaian Joshua Clottey on March 13 in Arlington, Texas, was also voted Fighter of the Decade (2000-09). The Filipino ring icon won six crowns in that span while taking over from Oscar De La Hoya as the face of boxing.

Other than De La Hoya, other sure future Hall of Famers who fell prey to Pacquiao’s punches were Mexicans Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez.

Bested by Pacquiao for the decade’s fighter honors were Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, who retired last year, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Shane Mosley, Marquez and Barrera.

For turning Pacquiao from a one-dimensional boxer into a wrecking machine, Freddie Roach will be honored as Trainer of the Year.

Like Pacquiao, Roach is no stranger to the award having won it in 2003, 2006 and 2008.

WBA-WBO lightweight titlist Marquez, beaten by Mayweather last year, and former 135 lb titlist Juan Diaz will share the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier award for Fight of the Year.

Source