Pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao, three-time winner of the “Fighter of the Year” award has lost out to world middleweight champion Sergio Martinez in this year’s poll by the prestigious Boxing Writers Association of America.
BWAA president Jack Hirsch informed the Inquirer that the BWAA voted Martinez over Pacquiao, the fighter who achieved an incredible record of eight world titles in eight different weight divisions.
Hirsch said “while his star pupil Pacquiao was runner-up in the “Fighter of the Year” award, trainer Freddie Roach maintained his perennial position as “Trainer of the Year” to win the award for the third time in a row and the fifth time overall. The award has always had special meaning for Roach as it is named after his mentor Eddie Futch.”
Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz told the Inquirer that Pacquiao wished to “congratulate Martinez and all the other winners and nominees for the efforts they put in, especially all of the winners. They deserve it.”
Koncz said “its not upsetting that somebody else had a chance. Manny has received so many accolades that he is not one to be disappointed if he doesn’t win something. He appreciates them when we do but he’s not disappointed when we don’t.”
WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan who was pushed to the limit in winning a unanimous twelve round decision over Marcos Maidana last December shared the “Ali-Frazier” award for “Fight of the Year.”
Khan trained alongside Pacquiao as the Philippines national sports hero prepared for his vacant WBC light middleweight/super welterweight title fight against Antonio Margarito last November at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas . Pacquiao pulverized Margarito to win by a twelve round shutout.
The award itself is linked to the Philippines as it was at the Araneta Coliseum on October 1, 1975 that Muhammad Ali defeated Joe Frazier in an epic battle considered the greatest heavyweight championship fight of all-time.(philboxing.com)
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