Boxing (Eventually) Gets One Right

Every now and then boxing rescues itself from the abyss and reminds its fans that there are actual adults in the room making decisions. Now these occurrences aren't necessarily frequent, but it's worth pointing out when the sport does the right thing, even when it doesn't have to. Such a situation transpired last Saturday in the Guido Vianello-Jonnie Rice fight.   

Vianello entered Saturday's fight as an undefeated heavyweight (10-0-1) and the one with the Top Rank contract. The Italian Olympian hadn't fully impressed in the early portion of his pro career, but still, he was signed to one of the biggest promoters in the sport for a reason. 

Rice was a late-replacement opponent and while many thought he had a decent chance of beating Vianello if he was in good shape, his lack of self-confidence, inconsistent motivation, and out-of-the ring habits have at times sabotaged his career. Rice had a professional record of 15-6, but with 10 knockouts. He also had a reputation of being a strong sparring partner, working with Luis Ortiz, Joe Joyce, Michael Hunter, Filip Hrgovic, Jared Anderson, and Efe Ajagba among many other notable heavyweights. 

Vianello won the first five rounds of Saturday's fight with ease. Pumping a jump and pressing the action, Vianello's activity level was much greater than Rice's and although Vianello didn't land many signature blows in the fight, he at least was working; Rice, for whatever reason, was reluctant to let his hands go. 

But in the sixth, the fight changed. Rice landed a blistering counter right hand that shook Vianello. More importantly, right after the punch landed, Vianello started to bleed profusely. There was now a large and deep horizontal cut directly above his left eye. 

Vianello was able to complete the round, but in the beginning of the seventh the cut again opened up. Referee Benjy Esteves halted the action and had Vianello examined by the ringside physician. Vianello was in bad shape and the doctor made the wise decision in recommending stopping the fight. 

Vianello's cut above his left eye
Photo courtesy of Mikey Williams

But then things started to get strange. After waving the fight off, Esteves instructed the judges to score the round, meaning, that the fight would go to the scorecards. He believed that the cut had been caused by a head butt and notified the judges accordingly. Viewers watching the broadcast didn't observe the type of head butt that would make such a gash, nor did the ESPN replays show such a moment. And what was particularly unusual about Esteves' ruling was that he didn't appear to notify the judges of the head butt in the sixth round directly after it happened or in the break between rounds, which are the usual standard practices when these cuts occur. 

Now, if the cut was ruled to be caused by a punch, then Rice would have won by technical knockout, but if it was deemed to be caused by a head butt, then the fight would have gone to the scorecards, where Rice would have been down at that point in the match and would have lost. So, as it initially stood, Rice looked like he was about to be screwed by Esteves, which as the B-side is something that certainly happens in the sport. 

But we're just beginning to get weird here. Within moments after instructing the judges to score the round, Carl Moretti, the Vice President of Operations for Top Rank, was talking with Esteves in the ring and mentioned that the ESPN broadcasters believed a punch had caused the cut and not a head butt (this exchange was captured on the broadcast). Then Dan Gustafson, the Executive Director of the Oneida Indian Nation Gaming Commission (the jurisdiction for Saturday's fight), suggested that Esteves might want to consider using replay to assess whether a head butt or a punch caused the cut. 

All of this was very ad hoc, with there not being firm rules about when the commission could and would use video replay. And to Esteves' credit, he listened to what was being said, left the ring and marched over to the ESPN broadcast table to review the replay angles. Within a few brief minutes, he had seen enough to change his initial ruling, thereby giving Rice the knockout victory. 

Jonnie Rice belatedly getting the victory
Photo courtesy of Mikey Williams

Two factors contributed to this unusual and yet satisfying conclusion. Carl Moretti's fighter in the bout was Vianello. Top Rank didn't have a long-term promotional contract with Rice, and it was to Top Rank's benefit (in theory) to have Vianello declared the winner. However, Moretti understood the optics. It did no justice to Rice, to the sport, to the commission or to the legitimacy of the whole enterprise for Vianello to win in that manner. The integrity of the sport trumped Top Rank's parochial interest in Vianello. Moretti was under no obligation to suggest to Esteves that a punch may have caused the cut, but he believed that it was the right thing to do; and it was. 

Also, credit must be given to Esteves for his desire to get it right. Esteves has been a solid ref for decades, but he got the initial call wrong. Refreshingly, he didn't double down on his mistake and that's certainly commendable. All referees will err, but Esteves understood that getting it right was more important than his ego. Yes, he had an off night, but he didn't compound his mistake by ignoring contradictory evidence. 

Ultimately, justice was done and Rice got his deserved win. The right decision was made, but there were still some icky moments in getting to the proper outcome that need to be addressed moving forward, with two questions in particular: 

1. Why was a representative of a promoter talking to the referee trying to influence the outcome of the fight? 

Yes, Moretti played a huge role in ensuring that the outcome was changed. He did the right thing. But surely these types of interactions could be rife for abuse. We can't assume that a promoter will always have the best interests of boxing in mind.

2. Why was it unclear whether replay could or should be used? 

For whatever reason, too many commissions refuse to utilize video replay as a tool or don't have the utilization of replay as part of their rules. Shouldn't the Association of Boxing Commissions (the ABC) have stronger guidance on the application of replay?

Ultimately boxing needs to get its act together. Every major sport uses replay for specific prescribed scenarios. And boxing could do the right thing by mandating replay for specific instances where there is doubt (knockdown vs. no knockdown calls or cuts caused by punches or head butts to name two).  

The powers that be got things right on Saturday and they should be congratulated for their conduct, but it would have been much easier for everyone involved if these types of rules had been codified by the commission. Boxing doesn't HAVE to be retrograde as a sport; it just often chooses to be. 

This issue is too important to leave it up to every jurisdiction or Podunk commission throughout the land. It's time to take some power away from these fiefdoms. Let's make a simple rule: If you want to hold world-class boxing, then you need to have replay. And then prescribe how and when it should be utilized.

Not every problem in boxing is intractable. In America, the ABC has the power to codify the utilization of replay. It's time to act like adults and gather the relevant parties together to make universal rules for replay's application. We should not have to count on a beneficent promoter or a forward-looking executive director to save an event. It's time to grow up. 

Adam Abramowitz is the founder and head writer of saturdaynightboxing.com. He's a member of Ring Magazine's Ring Ratings Panel and a Board Member for the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board. 

Email: saturdaynightboxing@hotmail.com

snboxing on twitter. SN Boxing on Facebook. 

The 2022 Saturday Night Boxing Awards

It's that time of year again, to hand out the annual boxing hardware. Although I don't believe that 2022 will be remembered as a particularly strong year for the sport, the winners deserve to be honored and commemorated. So, let's get right to it! 

Here are the 2022 Saturday Night Boxing Awards (the 12th annual edition), with accolades given for Fighter, Fight, Knockout, Round, Upset, Trainer, Promoter, Network and Referee. 

Fighter of the Year: Dmitry Bivol

Dmitrii Bivol entered 2022 having lost much of his career momentum. Once upon a time he was an HBO Boxing darling, with dominant victories over solid light heavyweights such as Sullivan Barrera, Isaac Chilemba and Jean Pascal. But he was hurt badly in a fight against Joe Smith in 2019 and after a lengthy time off during the pandemic, looked listless in scraping by with a win over unheralded Craig Richards. 

Bivol's first fight of 2022 was to be against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, the two-time Saturday Night Boxing Fighter of the Year (2019, 2021), who had just completed a tremendous run at super middleweight to become undisputed champ. In addition, Alvarez had already knocked out a light heavyweight champion (Sergey Kovalev) in 2019. So, did Bivol represent another instance of brilliant matchmaking from Canelo and his team, picking off a champion removed from his best, or would this be an example of Canelo biting off more than he could chew? 

Photo courtesy of Mark Robinson

The answer to this question became obvious within the first few rounds of their fight, where Bivol dominated with his speed and control of range. Bivol beat Alvarez during every phase of the fight. With his superior hand speed and pinpoint counters, he won almost all of the battles in the center of the ring. When Alvarez went to the ropes in the middle rounds, Bivol again demonstrated his superiority, by picking his shots beautifully and not getting sucked into a war. 

And it wasn't just a backfoot demonstration by Bivol. When he decided to go forward, he bested Canelo with quick combinations and avoided damage. Bivol did get hit with a handful of big shots throughout the match, but he took them well, and was never really troubled during the fight. Although the judges had the fight close (115-113), it really wasn't. Bivol defanged one of the top talents in the sport, and made it look easy. 

Later in the year Bivol dominated undefeated Gilberto Ramirez, a former super middleweight champ who had become a contender at 175 lbs. In the ring, the gulf in class between Bivol and Ramirez was vast. Bivol could do whatever he wanted. His speed and accuracy flummoxed Ramirez, who didn't feel comfortable letting his hands go. It was a masterful display of boxing and ring generalship. 

2022 was Bivol's year. He elevated himself from a champion, of which there are many in the sport, to the highest level in boxing: the elite of the elite. 

Previous SNB Fighters of the Year:

2021: Saul Alvarez
2020: Teofimo Lopez
2019: Saul Alvarez
2018: Oleksandr Usyk
2017: Srisaket Sor Rungvisai
2016: Carl Frampton
2015: Floyd Mayweather
2014: Naoya Inoue
2013: Adonis Stevenson
2012: Nonito Donaire
2011: Andre Ward

Fight of the Year: Leigh Wood-Michael Conlan 

What I'll remember most about boxing from 2022 is Leigh Wood (and pardon my French here) getting his shit kicked in for more than half his fight, close to being stopped on multiple occasions, and then somehow finding the internal fortitude to not just fight his way back into the match, but to knock Michael Conlan clear out of the ring in the last round. It was the stuff dreams are made of, fairy tale land. 

From the opening round, things started poorly for Wood (who was defending his secondary featherweight title). Conlan, a crafty switch hitter not necessarily known for his power, dropped Wood with an overhand left out of the southpaw stance. And it wasn't a flash knockdown; Wood was badly hurt. And Conlan kept going back to that same shot in the subsequent rounds, landing it at will.

Wood (left) and Conlan in an epic battle of attrition
Photo courtesy of Mark Robinson

But it was a strange performance from Conlan in that although he was hurting Wood, he didn't have the temperament to go for the finish. He was content to land a couple of big bombs a round instead of stepping on the gas to try to end the fight. 

By the middle rounds it became clear that Conlan only wanted to work in spurts. Perhaps he had spent a lot of energy unloading his big power shots; maybe the enormity of the moment, being the away fighter in the biggest opportunity of his career, got to him; but let's also give Wood credit for his body attack. Although Wood lost most of the rounds in the first half of the fight, whenever he could he would go to Conlan's body with his best power shots. 

As the fight progressed, Conlan wasn't landing with the same sting and Wood felt more comfortable imposing himself physically. Toward the end of the 11th, Wood scored a knockdown during a brief tussle in the middle of the ring. It was a flash knockdown and not the cleanest contact, but it was a 10-8 round for Wood. Could the fight still be on the table for him? 

In the final round, Wood kept marching forward behind his vociferous hometown support. In the concluding sequence of the fight, Conlan retreated to the ropes and Wood blasted through Conlan's defenses, knocking him out of the ring (more on this later).

Wood-Conlan is an advertisement for boxing at its elemental best, an epic battle of attrition. It's fights like this one that build and bind fans' allegiance to the sport. Wood-Conlan captured the spirit and magic of prizefighting at its best.

Previous SNB Fights of the Year: 

2021: Fury-Wilder III
2020: Zepeda-Baranchyk
2019: Inoue-Donaire
2018: Chisora-Takam
2017: Joshua-Klitschko
2016: Vargas-Salido
2015: Miura-Vargas
2014: Coyle-Brizuela
2013: Bradley-Provodnikov
2012: Pacquiao-Marquez IV
2011: Rios-Acosta

Knockout of the Year: Leigh Wood TKO 12 Michael Conlan

As referenced above, Wood was down early in his fight against Conlan and badly hurt multiple times, but he was able to crawl his way back into the match. Picking away at Conlan with body shots and lead hooks, Wood started to impose himself late in the fight. He scored a knockdown at the end of the 11th round and heading into the 12th, somehow, after all he had endured, he was the fresher fighter. 

With two minutes left in the 12th, both fighters exchanged power shots with Wood getting the better of the action. Wood's final right hook in this sequence forced Conlan back to the ropes. Wood pressed forward, trapping Conlan. 

Photo courtesy of Mark Robinson

Wood threw out four quick, pawing jabs that Conlan evaded, but Conlan only moved his head not his hands – one glove remained by his side while the other was below his waist. Wood’s jab flurry forced Conlan to lose his defensive posture, creating the perfect opening. Wood then landed a hard, short right hand on the right side of Conlan's face that turned out his lights and sent him crashing through the ropes. The action was so quick and sudden that multiple replays were needed to confirm how Wood was able to accomplish this stunning feat. 

There were better one-punch knockouts in 2022, but you aren't going to find a stoppage as dramatic as this one. Wood was just about done and dusted earlier in the fight and somehow had the perseverance, the will and, most importantly, the execution to send Michael Conlan through the ropes. It was an incredible turn of events. Wood's stoppage was 2022's signature boxing moment.  

Previous SNB Knockouts of the Year:

2021: Gabe Rosado KO 3 Bektemir Melikuziev
2020: (tie) Alexander Povetkin KO 5 Dillian Whyte and Gervonta Davis KO 6 Leo Santa Cruz
2019: Nonito Donaire KO 6 Stephon Young
2018: Naoya Inoue KO 1 Juan Carlos Payano
2017: Zolani Tete KO 1 Siboniso Gonya
2016: Hassan N'Dam KO 1 Alfonso Blanco
2015: Yenifel Vincente KO 3 Juan Dominguez
2014: Andy Lee KO 5 John Jackson
2013: Stephen Smith KO 5 Gary Buckland
2012: Juan Manuel Marquez KO 6 Manny Pacquiao
2011: Takashi Uchiyama TKO 11 Jorge Solis

Round of the Year: Mauricio Lara-Emilio Sanchez Round 3

Emilio Sanchez had been dropped by Mauricio Lara in the first round of their fight and hurt badly in the second. Instead of trying to outbox Lara, which Sanchez's trainer Manny Robles said was their game plan, Sanchez was determined to go toe-to-toe. In the third round, Sanchez changed the dynamic of the fight by landing a hard straight right hand in an exchange with just over two minutes left in the round. That punch tempered Lara's aggression. Sanchez then jumped on this opportunity, connecting with pulverizing uppercuts with both hands, landing four in quick succession. These shots took the wind out of Lara's sails and he spent most of the next minute trying to recuperate. 

Sanchez continued to apply pressure with his forward movement and lead jabs. When Lara finally was able to recover, he started winging power shots. But Sanchez then connected with a counter left hook that forced Lara back to the ropes. With Lara weakening, Sanchez flurried and Lara was unable to stop the onslaught. Desperate, Lara alternated between holding on and throwing whatever he could to keep Sanchez away. But Sanchez kept attacking Lara's body with wicked left hooks, causing further damage. 

Lara (left) and Sanchez in an unforgettable 3rd round
Photo courtesy of Ed Mulholland

A hook with 40 seconds left in the round hurt Lara so badly that he held onto Sanchez and walked him completely across the ring, eventually falling down when his balance gave out. It wasn't ruled a knockdown, which was the correct ruling, but Lara looked spent. When he got to his feet, referee Ray Corona warned him for holding and threatened to take away a point. 

With under ten seconds left in the round, Lara walked over to Sanchez, unconvincingly, but then uncorked a powerful left hook that stung Sanchez. He followed up with a right hand that forced Sanchez to take a backward step. Sanchez then retreated to the corner where Lara connected with a vicious double left hook combo to the body and head. Lara then cuffed Sanchez with a wild right hand and Sanchez moved back to the next available corner. With Sanchez's legs gone and Lara in hot pursuit, Lara connected with a hard right hand to the head, a left hook to the head, a right hook/uppercut to the head that began to send Sanchez down and a final left hook to the head that dropped Sanchez flat on his back below the bottom rope. Sanchez was done and Corona immediately stopped the fight. 

Within 30 seconds both fighters were in danger of being stopped. Lara ultimately had more firepower and better recuperative powers. It was an insane round of boxing where in an instant Sanchez went from springing the upset of his career to being a footnote in Lara's continued rise in the featherweight division. Thrilling stuff. 

Previous SNB Rounds of the Year:

2021: Kenshiro Teraji-Masamichi Yabuki Round 9
2020: Jose Zepeda-Ivan Baranchyk Round 5
2019: Anthony Joshua-Andy Ruiz Round 3
2018: Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury Round 12
2017: Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko Round 5
2016: Edwin Rodriguez-Thomas Williams Jr. Round 2
2015: Edwin Rodriguez-Michael Seals Round 1
2014: Thomas Williams Jr.-Cornelius White Round 1
2013: Tim Bradley-Ruslan Provodnikov Round 12
2012: Sergio Martinez-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Round 12
2011: Hernan Marquez-Luis Concepcion I Round 1

Upset of the Year: Hector Luis Garcia UD Chris Colbert

Chris Colbert was supposed to be a star. Hailing from New York, he was flashy in the ring and brash out of it. He had already starred in a documentary, "CounterPunch," and more than a few in the sport regarded him as a phenom. He could switch hit in the ring effortlessly, his punch placement was pinpoint, and the timing on his counters was special. 2022 was supposed to be his year. He was set to face Roger Gutierrez for a 130-lb. belt before Gutierrez had to withdraw on late notice. In stepped Hector Luis Garcia, who was a relatively unknown fighter from the Dominican Republic (just 2 of his 14 previous fights had been outside of the D.R.).

But no one told Garcia that he was there to be the "opponent." From the opening bell Garcia attacked Colbert relentlessly, yet he displayed significant craft. His onslaught wasn't crude, just merciless in its effectiveness. Garcia's success made the lightning-handed Colbert reluctant to throw. And as the fight progressed, Garcia demonstrated that his fast start wasn't a fluke. He kept hammering away at Colbert, bludgeoning him with big body shots and combinations to the head. In the seventh Garcia scored a knockdown and Colbert was reeling. 

Late sub Garcia (left) dominated the highly touted Colbert
Photo courtesy of Ryan Hafey

Garcia's beating of Colbert was so comprehensive that Colbert spent the championship rounds of the fight in pure survival mode, literally running away from contact, happy to make it to the final bell; he had been thoroughly dominated. 

To put an exclamation point on an incredible win, Garcia defeated Gutierrez later in the year to win a world title, but it was the Colbert performance that put him on the map. Garcia, a southpaw and an Olympian, displayed an intoxicating package of aggression and refinement.  I'm not sure if Colbert, who hasn't fought since the defeat, has yet to figure out what happened to him that night. He got run over by a freight train.

Previous SNB Upsets of the Year:  

2021: George Kambosos SD Teofimo Lopez
2020: Robert Helenius TKO 4 Adam Kownacki
2019: Andy Ruiz TKO 7 Anthony Joshua
2018: Rob Brant UD Ryota Murata
2017: Caleb Truax MD James DeGale
2016: Joe Smith Jr. KO 1 Andrzej Fonfara
2015: Tyson Fury UD Wladimir Klitschko
2014: (tie) James de la Rosa UD Alfredo Angulo and Tommy Karpency SD Chad Dawson
2013: Jhonny Gonzalez KO 1 Abner Mares
2012: Sonny Boy Jaro TKO 6 Pongsaklek Wongjongkam

Trainer of the Year: Derrick James

James, a previous SNB Trainer of the Year for 2017, had a sublime 2022. It's not just that his major fighters (Jermell Charlo, Errol Spence and Frank Martin) won their matchups this year, it's that they dominated excellent competition. With Charlo and Martin in particular, you could see them improve before our eyes, with Charlo finally becoming a finished product and Martin demonstrating that he's a serious contender in the lightweight division. 

I think James' greatest success this year was how he was able to raise Charlo's performance level in the rematch against Brian Castano. I think that Castano was unfortunate to get a draw when they fought in 2021. In the corner during that fight, James beseeched Charlo to stop looking for the knockout and box Castano more, yet Charlo often ignored those instructions, and it was to his detriment. 

Photo courtesy of Amanda Westcott

But in the rematch, Charlo implemented a number of adjustments. Most importantly, he stayed off the ropes, where Castano had his best periods of success in their first fight. Furthermore, Charlo demonstrated his full range of offensive gifts: leading and countering, using his jab to set things up, going to the body, utilizing all of his power shots. He wasn't left-hook happy or selling out for the knockout. He stayed within himself. He tried to win rounds. Ultimately, he dismantled Castano with a steady dose of debilitating power punches, especially body shots, and he stopped Castano in the tenth round. The knockout did come, but it was through Charlo displaying his manifold gifts, realizing that when employing his full arsenal, he could fight at a higher level than Castano, and James deserves credit for Charlo buying into this.  

James also had high-profile fights with Errol Spence against fellow welterweight titlist Yordenis Ugas and Frank Martin facing the undefeated Michel Rivera. In both matchups, James' fighter dominated proceedings and took away the opponent's best weapon. Ugas' counter right hand was rarely successful while Rivera never was able to establish his jab. James' fighters exhibited technical and tactical mastery over their opponents in the ring. He has become one of the best trainers in the sport

Previous SNB Trainers of the Year:

2021: Eddy Reynoso
2020: Teofimo Lopez Sr.
2019: Eddy Reynoso
2018: Anatoly Lomachenko
2017: Derrick James
2016: Shane McGuigan
2015: Peter Fury
2014: Freddie Roach
2013: Kenny Porter
2012: Robert McCracken
2011: Robert Garcia

Promoter of the Year: No Award Given  

Allow me to get on my soapbox for a moment. If we really want to memorialize boxing in 2022 then we have to remember that the year featured several big fights that didn't get made, such as Spence-Crawford, Joshua-Fury and Davis-Garcia. You will notice that all of the sport's major promoters in the U.S. and the U.K. had at least one boxer who was involved in these failed mega-fights. 

Certainly there were memorable fights in 2022, with great performances and thrilling action. However, the health of boxing is predicated on big events. They are crucial in elevating boxing beyond its hardcore base; they can capture the imagination of a larger sporting public. Mega-fights are vital in expanding the economic footprint of the sport, with fighters making career-high paydays and promoters, managers and networks taking their cut, ensuring that they remain engaged in maximizing boxing's economic potential. 

So, in this regard, the major promoters failed the sport in 2022. Boxing squandered several significant opportunities to expand its base this year and I hope that the powers that be in 2023 realize that cutting up a pool of imaginary money isn't the same thing as cutting up a pool of actual money. Boxing needs its promoters to be good stewards for the sport and to realize that "winning" a negotiation only matters if a big fight takes place. It was often frustrating to be a fan of boxing in 2022 and the promoters were a big reason why. There will be no award given for Promoter of the Year this year and none of the big promoters should feel particularly content with their overall contribution to the sport: They let their sport down. 

Previous SNB Promoters of the Year:

2021: Premier Boxing Champions
2020: Top Rank
2019: Matchroom Boxing
2018: Premier Boxing Champions
2017: K2 Promotions
2016: Matchroom Boxing
2015: Golden Boy Promotions
2014: Matchroom Boxing
2013: (tie) Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank
2012: Golden Boy Promotions
2011: Top Rank

Network of the Year: ESPN

2022 was the year where ESPN and its companion streaming format, ESPN+, demonstrated the power and breadth of their overall boxing offerings. In addition to ESPN's regular American-based Top Rank offerings (which were solid, but not spectacular), ESPN presented several meaningful fights and fight cards from around the globe. Whether it was Inoue-Donaire 2 or Teraji-Kyoguchi in Japan, Fury-Whyte or Joyce-Parker in England, or Yoka-Bakole in France, the overall quality of matchups presented by ESPN's platforms was excellent. 

Now, let's not be naive here. Understand that nothing gets put on ESPN without Top Rank's blessing and for that, the promoter deserves a lot of credit. I'm not going to pretend that promoters didn't do anything good in 2022. In this instance I think that ESPN (with Top Rank as its content provider and conduit to other major fights) delivered a lot of value for boxing fans. 

Previous SNB Networks of the Year:

2021: Showtime
2020: ESPN
2019: DAZN
2018: Showtime
2017: Showtime
2016: Sky Sports
2015: No award given
2014: ESPN
2013: Showtime
2012: BoxNation

Referee of the Year: David Fields

Perhaps it's time to rename this award after Fields, for this is the third time that he has taken home the honors in this category. In one night in November with two different fights, Fields once again showed why he is among the elite of his profession. 

In the main event, Fields made the unpopular but correct choice of disqualifying the hometown fighter, Montana Love, for throwing his opponent Steve Spark out of the ring. Now, there were a lot of political factors that could have mucked up a lesser referee's decision making. Love was in the highest-profile fight of his career, just after signing with Matchroom Boxing. In addition, Spark wasn't necessarily hurt by the infraction. 

Fields (right) gives Love a count after a knockdown
Photo courtesy of Boxingscene

But Fields wisely disregarded the outcome instead of the intention of the action. What Love did was inexcusable, far beyond the rules of professional boxing. His conduct could have led to significant bodily harm, and it was 100% intentional. The disqualification was the correct move. Fields demonstrated the professional judgment to make the correct call and the convictions not to backtrack on his initial assessment. It was decision unpopular with the hometown crowd and the house promoter, but it was absolutely correct. 

In an earlier fight on the card, Fields refereed a war between Thomas Mattice and Christian Tapia. Mattice knocked down Tapia in the second round and had him badly hurt at various points in the first four rounds of the fight. A lesser referee would have stopped the fight, but Tapia showed tremendous recuperative powers. Even after absorbing significant punishment, he kept coming and had moments of real success, winning several rounds in the back half of the fight. Mattice needed to fight his heart out to win the match, and he did just that. Because of Fields' expert professional judgement, fans were treated to a memorable war. Fields understood what he was looking at, that the fighter who was down, and badly hurt, still had more to give. And he was proven correct. Overall, these two fights showcased a referee at the absolute top of his game. 

Previous SNB Referees of the Year:

2021: Mark Lyson
2020: Michiaki Someya
2019: No award given
2018: Jack Reiss
2017: David Fields
2016: Raul Caiz Sr.
2015: David Fields
2014: Steve Smoger
2013: Tony Weeks
2012: Eddie Claudio

Adam Abramowitz is the founder and head writer of saturdaynightboxing.com. He's a member of Ring Magazine's Ring Ratings Panel and a Board Member for the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board. 

Email: saturdaynightboxing@hotmail.com

snboxing on twitter. SN Boxing on Facebook. 

Tim Bradley's Time

Tim Bradley had a great night on Friday. The ESPN commentator and former world champ provided a clinic in how a sharp boxing analyst can enlighten a broadcast. At the top of the show, Bradley pulled no punches when it came to discussing Oscar Valdez's failed PED test. In an emotional monologue, Bradley was adamant in how allowing Valdez to continue to fight despite the failed test helped erode the credibility of boxing and he condemned the powers that be in their failure to regulate the sport properly.  

And this theme was repeated throughout the extraordinary broadcast. Far too often we see boxing commentators and networks gently push unpleasantries aside. How often do we hear announcers nebulously refer to damaging behavior as "out-of-the ring difficulties" and just leave it at that, a mere footnote before the action commences? But ESPN and Bradley in particular went all in. Bradley didn't allow Valdez any wiggle room. To him a fighter was responsible for any substance he or she may use or ingest. And for proponents of a clean sport, Bradley was singing the perfect tune. 

ESPN Boxing Analyst Tim Bradley
Photo Courtesy of ESPN

Friday's broadcast was unusual in another aspect: ESPN was biting the hand that feeds it. ESPN has an exclusive contract with Top Rank to provide boxing content. And yet it was Top Rank that helped lead the charge to clear Valdez. However, Bradley, Andre Ward and Bernardo Osuna didn't succumb to those political considerations. In their mind, a wrong was committed, an egregious one, and it was more important to them to draw a line in the sand and stake a position on the clean side of the drug testing issue than to play nice with their corporate partners. 

In short, ESPN's commentators were being advocates for the sport, a position that HBO often held during its heyday, as well as former ESPN boxing analyst Teddy Atlas. To the ESPN broadcast crew, boxing's health and legitimacy were far more important than the transactional nature of broadcasting an Oscar Valdez fight or towing the Valdez/Top Rank company line for the reason for the failed drug test. It was refreshing to say the least. 

But it wasn't just the drug issue where Bradley shined on Friday. Throughout the broadcast he provided incisive commentary. During Gabe Flores' bout, where the young prospect was dismantled by Luis Alberto Lopez, Bradley shed light on a personality issue of Flores' that was contributing to his difficulty during the fight. Bradley relayed that he had asked Flores in Thursday's fighter meeting if he was going to work on keeping his left hand up more. To which, in Bradley's telling, Flores responded that he's going to be himself in the ring. In that answer from Flores, there was a hint of stubbornness, a refusal to examine criticism. After the fight, Flores, beaten up and demoralized, blamed himself for the loss saying that his dad provided him with the right instruction in the corner, but he had refused to listen. 

Bradley also pointed out additional aspects of Flores' style that he had failed to develop in his young career. While Flores maintained that he was getting more comfortable holding his feet and fighting on the inside, Bradley astutely pointed out that Flores resorted to backing up against the pressure fighter repeatedly, which invited even more aggression from Lopez. 

In the Xander Zayas fight, where the undefeated prospect was facing the toughest test of his young career against Jose Luis Sanchez, Bradley immediately saw that Sanchez could have success with his right hand over the top because of Xander's poor glove positioning with his left hand. And although Sanchez didn't win the fight, he repeatedly landed those right hands throughout the contest. It was a gut check fight for Zayas and he came through it well, but Bradley and Ward didn't act as a Greek Chorus marveling at the young fighter, as many broadcasters do. The commentators saw real issues and pointed them out. The final scores of the bout, which were a shutout for Zayas, didn't convey the competitiveness of the fight or the issues that Zayas still has to address. And it wasn't all negative. Bradley praised Zayas' skills, power and heart at points in the fight, but it was mixed with the type of reality check that he often gives as part of his commentary. 

The main event between Oscar Valdez and Robson Conceicao saw all three judges and the ESPN crew having Valdez at the victor, but many scoring at home thought that Conceicao had done enough to win. After a fast start from Conceicao, Valdez had more success in the back half of the fight. And as the rounds progressed, the number of authoritative punches from Conceicao started to drop. Yet Conceicao was dancing in the ring, holding his arms up, showboating. Bradley and Ward correctly pointed out that the judges may not respond well to that kind of display when the fighter isn't doing enough offensively to warrant it. There can be room for showboating in boxing, but it only works when one fighter is dominating the other. For Conceicao, he was playing with his food too much instead of putting more punches together, the kinds that can sway judges. 

It was no surprise to Bradley and Ward that the judges scored it for Valdez. And whether you agree with Bradley on who should have won the fight, the fact that he and his team pointed out that professional judges might not take kindly to a fighter (especially a challenger) who engages in those antics, and they were proven correct, is a point in their favor. They were right about how this behavior in the ring would be perceived, and that is what an astute analyst does – illuminate the action at hand. 

Tim Bradley is still growing into his role as a boxing commentator. Sometimes he can be overly negative on young fighters, wanting them to do things that are beyond their capabilities. Other times he, and his team at ESPN, can engage in too much hyping of a network favorite son. 

But he sees the action well. He's not afraid to be bold and he wants to matter in his position. Bradley understands that he has an ability to affect the sport and how it's perceived, and he takes that responsibility seriously. His performance of Friday was another sign that he possesses special qualities. I hope he continues to be bold and incisive. The sport has enough empty suits. 

Adam Abramowitz is the founder and head writer of saturdaynightboxing.com. He's a member of Ring Magazine's Ring Ratings Panel and a Board Member for the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board. 

Email: saturdaynightboxing@hotmail.com.

snboxing on twitter. SN Boxing on Facebook. 

The 2020 Saturday Night Boxing Awards

For many reasons 2020 will be a year long remembered. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, major boxing events shut down for almost a quarter of the year. However, the sport returned from its hiatus with a strong showing. As 2020 has come to an end, there was more than enough great boxing, even in this truncated year in the sport, to hand out the hardware. 

Here are the 2020 Saturday Night Boxing Awards (the tenth annual edition), with accolades given for Fighter, Fight, Knockout, Round, Upset, Trainer, Promoter, Network and Referee. 

Fighter of the Year: Teofimo Lopez

For a number of years the moniker "The Takeover" has been used by Teofimo Lopez's team and supporters when referring to his quest to become a top fighter. In 2020, that hope became a reality as he outboxed Vasiliy Lomachenko, one of the best talents in the sport. In the past, Lopez had displayed exceptional power and quick reflexes, but his performance against Lomachenko was something even greater. 

Lopez, who can be overly-emotional in the ring, fought with poise, focus and expert technical ability as he continued to put rounds in the bank in the first half of their fight. Realizing that Lomachenko's two main strengths were his ability to create angles and his daredevil forays into close range, Lopez stopped both. When Lomachenko tried to get to the outside to land odd-angled shots, Lopez turned with him and often met him with left hooks to keep Lomachenko at bay. When Lomachenko would dart inside, Lopez countered with quick rights and uppercuts to the body. Not only was Lomachenko ineffectual in the first half of their bout, but he barely let his hands go.  

Teofimo Lopez with a boatload of belts
Photo Courtesy of Mikey Williams

 

Lomachenko did have success in the second half of the fight. His psychological pressure and willingness to take risks resulted in Lopez fading in a number of rounds in the back half of the bout. However, Lopez left no doubt on the proceedings in the final round as he pasted Lomachenko with right uppercuts throughout the three minutes. And make no mistake; Lomachenko was significantly shaken up from Lopez's power shots. 

Ultimately, Lopez won by a wide unanimous decision, but it was not just about the upset victory which earned him the Saturday Night Boxing Fighter of the Year; it was the comprehensiveness of his performance. He demonstrated than he is much more than an explosive power puncher. Displaying excellent Ring IQ, athleticism, punch variety and technique, he established himself as one of the best fighters in the sport.  

Previous SNB Fighters of the Year:

2019: Saul Alvarez

2018: Oleksandr Usyk

2017: Srisaket Sor Rungvisai

2016: Carl Frampton

2015: Floyd Mayweather

2014: Naoya Inoue

2013: Adonis Stevenson

2012: Nonito Donaire

2011: Andre Ward 

Fight of the Year: Jose Zepeda-Ivan Baranchyk 

This matchup of top-ten junior welterweights was highly anticipated by the boxing cognoscenti, but few could have predicted the madness that would ensue. In five rounds the fight contained eight, yes, eight knockdowns, with each boxer hitting the canvas four times. And there was perhaps even a ninth knockdown that wasn't called by referee Kenny Bayless.  

The hard-charging Baranchyk started the fight like a house on fire, flooring Zepeda twice in the first round. Now neither of these shots landed 100% cleanly and arguments can be made that both hit Zepeda on the back of the head (which technically is illegal), but Baranchyk's counters were so fast that where they landed was almost imperceptible to the naked eye in real time. This was a new wrinkle in Baranchyk's game. Where in the past he had always had tremendous power, now he was focusing on speedy counters instead of big, telegraphed shots. It's not that Zepeda was badly hurt by these blows, but he couldn't defend them.  

In the second round, Zepeda worked his way back into the fight, displaying a blistering left hand, and more importantly the educated footwork to create space to deliver the shots. In fact, his footwork was so tidy that he landed a left uppercut from behind Baranchyk that wound up dropping him. Bayless didn't count the knockdown in that there was a previous right hook that clearly landed behind the head. Moments later Zepeda landed a chopping left counter that dropped Baranchyk officially for a knockdown. And unlike Zepeda in the first round, Baranchyk was seriously hurt. Zepeda sensed his opponent's distress. He rushed in as Baranchyk was against the ropes, but was met by a fierce Baranchyk counter right hand. Zepeda hit the canvas for the third time in the bout. This time there was no debate on whether it was a clean shot; it landed flush.  

As the fight progressed, Baranchyk continued to display menacing moments, but Zepeda was the one who was slowly gaining control of the action. A masterful series of left hands dropped Baranchyk in the third round and a couple of right hands followed by a left hook led to a knockdown in the fourth. Zepeda, a southpaw, threw all sorts of left hands throughout the fight – crosses, hooks, uppercuts. Baranchyk had difficulty in figuring out the trajectory and angle of many of these shots.  

In the fifth (more on this round later in the article), both fighters again exchanged knockdowns, but it was Zepeda's right hook/straight left combo that ended matters. In an all-out war, Zepeda was the last man standing. Zepeda-Baranchyk was an unforgettable night of boxing and one of the best fights of the past ten years. It's richly deserving of Fight of the Year.  

Previous SNB Fights of the Year:

2019: Inoue-Donaire

2018: Chisora-Takam

2017: Joshua-Klitschko

2016: Vargas-Salido

2015: Miura-Vargas

2014: Coyle-Brizuela

2013: Bradley-Provodnikov

2012: Pacquiao-Marquez IV

2011: Rios-Acosta    

Knockout of the Year (tie) Alexander Povetkin KO 5 Dillian Whyte, Gervonta Davis KO 6 Leo Santa Cruz 

Both of these bouts featured majestic, fight-ending left uppercuts. Povetkin's was part of a masterful intellectualized fight sequence while Davis' was an example of instinctive improvisational brilliance. Both were exceptional shots and can be used as textbook cases to teach aspects of the sport.  

By the end of the fourth round of his fight, Povetkin was in a lot of trouble. Dropped twice in the round, he looked only one of two shots away from being knocked out. But he opened the fifth with a bit of daring. Visualizing a sequence of punches before it even started, Povetkin executed a fight-ending knockout with mastery. He applied pressure on Whyte, which forced Whyte, who likes space to land his punches, toward the ropes. Povetkin then threw an ineffectual jab to which Whyte countered with a lazy right hand. But even before Whyte threw the right, Povetkin was starting to duck to his left. After Whyte missed with his right, Povetkin maneuvered himself into a position where Whyte was completely unguarded against the ropes. Povetkin then followed with a left uppercut straight up the middle. In an instant Whyte collapsed and landed under the ropes. He never saw the shot coming. It was a brilliantly conceived and executed fight sequence by Povetkin. 

Gervonta Davis throwing an uppercut
Photo Courtesy of Esther Lin/Showtime

Gervonta Davis and Leo Santa Cruz were waging a fierce battle over the first five-and-half rounds of their fight. Santa Cruz was flashing volume and clever shots from the outside while Davis was connecting with thudding power punches from close range. As the sixth round progressed, Santa Cruz had a lot of success with landing straight right hands off the ropes. However, he started to go to this well too often. Toward the end of the round he landed two straight rights, and then he threw a third. Davis evaded the shot and ducked down to his left. He cocked his left hand and followed through with an absolutely pulverizing uppercut. The shot was devastating and Santa Cruz remained motionless on the canvas for several seconds before coming to his senses. Davis' knockout was a wonderful display of making technical changes mid-round and mid-fight.  

Previous SNB Knockouts of the Year:

2019: Nonito Donaire KO 6 Stephon Young

2018: Naoya Inoue KO 1 Juan Carlos Payano

2017: Zolani Tete KO 1 Siboniso Gonya

2016: Hassan N'Dam KO 1 Alfonso Blanco

2015: Yenifel Vincente KO 3 Juan Dominguez

2014: Andy Lee KO 5 John Jackson

2013: Stephen Smith KO 5 Gary Buckland

2012: Juan Manuel Marquez KO 6 Manny Pacquiao

2011: Takashi Uchiyama TKO 11 Jorge Solis 

Round of the Year: Jose Zepeda-Ivan Baranchyk, Round 5 

In truth, the second round of the fight may have even been better than the concluding round, but the final minute of the fifth encapsulated the nature of this battle perfectly. Despite being knocked down in the third and fourth rounds, Baranchyk continued to come forward and throw blistering power shots. With 39 seconds left in the round he landed an overhand right with such force that Zepeda needed the ropes to hold him up. Baranchyk continued with follow up shots but referee Kenny Bayless correctly ruled that the right hand had caused a knockdown, which was the fourth one Baranchyk scored in the fight. 

As he had previously in the fight, Zepeda gathered himself after the knockdown and went back to work. Just 23 seconds later he connected with a right hook/straight left combination and...well, I'll let ESPN's Bernardo Osuna, who was doing play-by-play, take it from here: "Big left hand! He bends the leg! And this fight is done! What a knockout from Jose Zepeda!"  

This round demonstrated the almost insane recuperative powers of both fighters. In addition, these two warriors never stopped trying to impose themselves on the other, even if they had to eat big shots and couldn't fully trust their chin or legs. Neither would be denied. In the end, that final combination from Zepeda concluded matters, but both had to survive hell for five punishing rounds.  

Previous SNB Rounds of the Year:

2019: Anthony Joshua-Andy Ruiz Round 3

2018: Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury Round 12

2017: Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko Round 5

2016: Edwin Rodriguez-Thomas Williams Jr. Round 2

2015: Edwin Rodriguez-Michael Seals Round 1

2014: Thomas Williams Jr.-Cornelius White Round 1

2013: Tim Bradley-Ruslan Provodnikov Round 12 

2012: Sergio Martinez-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Round 12

2011: Hernan Marquez-Luis Concepcion I Round 1

Upset of the Year: Robert Helenius TKO 4 Adam Kownacki 

Entering 2020, undefeated Adam Kownacki was on the verge of receiving a heavyweight title shot. He had been in contention for a fight with Anthony Joshua in 2019 and there were rumors of him fighting Deontay Wilder some time in 2020. However, he had to beat Robert Helenius to keep momentum going in his career. Helenius, already 35, was a decent heavyweight prospect eight or nine years ago, but injuries and some ineffectual performances had dulled whatever star he once had. In his last major fight, he had been knocked out by Gerald Washington. So, on the surface, this matchup appeared to be nothing more than a marking time fight for Kownacki, who was perceived to be a couple of levels above Helenius at this point in their respective careers. 

The fight started out according to plan for Kownacki, who was fighting in front of his boisterous hometown support at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Featuring jabs to the body and hard right hands to the body and head, Kownacki imposed himself on the action in the early going. By the end of the first round, there was already redness on Helenius' nose. With the exception of a brief foray from Helenius midway through the second round, Kownacki continued to get the better of the fight, banging away with power shots.  

Throughout the first three rounds, Kownacki was clearly having his way, but Helenius executed a series of crafty maneuvers that would later pay off. At times he countered effectively off the ropes as Kownacki lunged in. He turned southpaw at the end of the third and hurt Kownacki with straight lefts. He would pot-shot as Kownacki rushed in to close the distance. Kownacki was winning, but he was making a lot of mistakes, which Helenius quickly identified. 

The fight turned for good in the fourth. After Kownacki lunged in, Helenius landed a blistering right hand with his back to the ropes. He connected with a number of solid follow up shots in the exchange and Kownacki stumbled to the canvas. Referee David Fields (who is usually excellent) did not award Helenius the knockdown, but it was clear that Kownacki wasn't on solid footing as the action resumed. Despite Fields disallowing the knockdown, Helenius knew what he saw: his opponent was hurt. He dropped Kownacki with the next right hand he threw. Kownacki beat the count, but there was a lot of the round still to go. Helenius charged forward and expertly placed right and left hooks around Kownacki's gloves, with each power shot taking more out of the contender. After a barrage of debilitating shots, Fields stopped the fight. In a few short moments Helenius went from supposed cannon fodder to notching the most impressive win of his career.    

Previous SNB Upsets of the Year:

2019: Andy Ruiz TKO 7 Anthony Joshua

2018: Rob Brant UD Ryota Murata

2017: Caleb Truax MD James DeGale

2016: Joe Smith Jr. KO 1 Andrzej Fonfara

2015: Tyson Fury UD Wladimir Klitschko

2014: (tie) James de la Rosa UD Alfredo Angulo and Tommy Karpency SD Chad Dawson

2013: Jhonny Gonzalez KO 1 Abner Mares

2012: Sonny Boy Jaro TKO 6 Pongsaklek Wongjongkam

Trainer of the Year: Teofimo Lopez Sr.  

Teofimo Lopez Sr. had his son prepared for whatever Vasiliy Lomachenko was going to bring to their fight. They were ready for Loma stepping to the outside, for his forays into the pocket, for his circling. And for every move by Loma in the first seven rounds of the fight, Lopez had an almost perfect response or countermeasure.   

Even more than technical proficiency, Lopez Sr. instilled in his son the method of how they were going to win the fight: focus, patience, opportunism and moderation. Perhaps the most impressive part of Lopez's victory was his poise in the ring. His mistakes were few. He was content to land single shots instead of take unnecessary risks opening up. He knew when to go to the body and why a left hook would work in a given circumstance.  

But maybe the most important lesson that Lopez conveyed to his son for the fight was not to be greedy. Don't force things. Land your punch and move on. The knockout won't be the key to winning the fight. And that his son, a knockout artist, did buy into the plan of patience and moderation speaks wonders of Senior's ability to formulate a strategy and convince his pupil to believe in it. Teofimo Lopez Sr. helped author the biggest win of 2020. It was an upset performance, yet, in the ring, it was his 23-year-old who was the more prepared in the ring, and able to execute on the grand stage.

Previous SNB Trainers of the Year:

2019: Eddy Reynoso

2018: Anatoly Lomachenko

2017: Derrick James

2016: Shane McGuigan

2015: Peter Fury

2014: Freddie Roach

2013: Kenny Porter

2012: Robert McCracken

2011: Robert Garcia

Promoter of the Year: Top Rank   

Top Rank had many of the best and/or biggest fights of 2020, including Wilder-Fury 2, Moloney-Franco 1, Zepeda-Baranchyk and Lomachenko-Lopez (for a number of these fights they acted as co-promoters with other organizations).  And although Top Rank certainly deserves credit for their slate of fights during the year, it's what they did during the pandemic that cements their role as Promoter of the Year.  

Fury celebrating after his victory over Wilder
Photo Courtesy of Mikey Williams

As every major network and promoter decided to sit out a large portion of the year during the pandemic, Top Rank took it upon themselves to be leaders in the industry. Not only were they the first major promoter back after the pandemic started, but they worked with the Nevada Athletic Commission to come up with protocols for how the sport could proceed safely given the myriad challenges associated with COVID-19. These subsequent protocols were made available to other networks and organizations to help them restart their own boxing programs. Top Rank wound up returning in June, months before many of their competitors did.  

Throughout much of June and July Top Rank programmed two live fight cards a week. By the end it became almost comical with how many main events had been cancelled due to COVID or injury, but it was truly amazing, given the circumstances, how many competitive fights were broadcasted during those initial "Fight Bubble" telecasts. Furthermore, Top Rank opened up their fight cards to dozens of unsigned fighters, a number of whom proved to be quite talented.  

Bob Arum, Brad Jacobs (who was point man in establishing the COVID protocols), Brad Goodman (their matchmaker), and the whole Top Rank team deserve credit for working to bring boxing back after the hiatus, and filling the schedule with a number of memorable fights. The company believed that the show must go on, and they were leaders when the sport needed someone to fill the leadership void. Kudos to them for a great year.  

Previous SNB Promoters of the Year:

2019: Matchroom Sport

2018: Premier Boxing Champions

2017: K2 Promotions

2016: Matchroom Sport

2015: Golden Boy Promotions

2014: Matchroom Sport

2013: (tie) Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank 

2012: Golden Boy Promotions

2011: Top Rank 

Network of the Year: ESPN 

During the pandemic ESPN turned to boxing and Top Rank to help fill the void in its programming schedule. Throughout most of June and July, the network featured at least two live fight cards a week. And throughout the rest of the year, boxing was a regular presence on the network. But more than that, they had several excellent fights (listed in the Promoter of the Year Award section). ESPN also worked with Top Rank to program a number of themed nights of classic boxing, including several fights with Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao that were welcome additions to the televised classic fights canon.  

On the telecast side, ESPN has finally gotten its act together. Pairing down its main broadcast team to Joe Tessitore, Andre Ward and Tim Bradley, the trio has gelled and improved as a unit. Bradley mixes in funny and profound thoughts on the sport. Ward supplies the right amount of cold water on the proceedings with his demanding sense of excellence. And when Tessitore calls the action straight, he can be incisive. The network has also found useful roles for Bernardo Osuna (who is also excellent whenever he does play-by-play) and Mark Kriegel. There was no close second to ESPN in 2020. The other major boxing networks had poor years overall (in fairness the pandemic had much to do with this).   

Previous SNB Networks of the Year:

2019: DAZN

2018: Showtime

2017: Showtime

2016: Sky Sports

2015: No award given

2014: ESPN

2013: Showtime

2012: BoxNation

Referee of the Year: Michiaki Someya 

This award was won on the last day of the year, with Michiaki Someya's perfect stoppage and flawless technique during the Kazuto Ioka-Kosei Tanaka fight on Dec. 31st. In an interview I conducted with Hall of Fame referee Steve Smoger a few years ago, he talked about the concept of a tight perimeter. Meaning, for certain fights, or at certain portions or moments of a bout, a referee needed to be much closer to the action. Two scenarios in particular where this applied were matches that included a lot of fouling and bouts where one fighter had already taken a substantial amount of damage.  

Kosei Tanaka, a three-division champion who was moving up to fight for a title at 115 lbs., had already been knocked down twice heading in to the eighth round. However, he kept pressing forward and was landing his fair share of power shots. Suddenly, Ioka, the defending 115-lb. champ, connected with a vicious right hand/left hook combination; Tanaka was immediately out on his feet. Not only did Someya wave off the fight before Tanaka hit the canvas, but Tanaka never did hit the canvas a third time; Someya was there to prop him up and prohibit him from taking a dangerous fall. Someya then patiently walked Tanaka back to his corner where he would receive proper medical attention from the ringside medical staff.  

Someya's sound judgement coupled with his immediate actions may have helped Tanaka avoid serious harm. On this day, Someya helped protect a fighter and performed his duties in an exemplary and exceptional manner. He is a deserved winner of the Referee of the Year.  

Previous SNB Referees of the Year:

2019: No award given

2018: Jack Reiss

2017: David Fields

2016: Raul Caiz Sr.

2015: David Fields

2014: Steve Smoger

2013: Tony Weeks

2012: Eddie Claudio

Adam Abramowitz is the founder and head writer of saturdaynightboxing.com. He's a member of Ring Magazine's Ring Ratings Panel and a Board Member for the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board. 

Email: saturdaynightboxing@hotmail.com.

snboxing on twitter. SN Boxing on Facebook.