Boxing’s Best of 2007: The Top Five Fights of the Year

I am assuming that you have already read and agree with my Fighter of the Year post, judging by the lack of comments that I have received. Now that I have that out of the way, I present my list of the year’s best fights. Like my fighter of the year criteria, I place a heavy emphasis on quality of opposition, based largely on each fighter’s Ring rating, as well as what is at stake in terms of title belts. Most importantly, the fight must be exciting, with an element of drama. By drama, I mean that at some point during the fight its outcome must have been in doubt. Many were qualified, but only five were worthy.

Check out my selections below.

#5 Sakio Bika TKO 8 Jaidon Codrington
For what these fighters lacked in boxing ability, they made up in terms of heart, punching power, and (lack of) defense. No world title was on the line here, but the combatants were closing out season three of the Contender reality television series. And close it out is just what they did, as viewers were treated to the greatest Contender fight ever. Watch the final two rounds.

#4 Floyd Mayweather, Jr. TKO 10 Ricky Hatton
Few superfights matched this one in terms of intensity inside the ring as well as outside of it. The year’s final superfight played out like a classic novel. The rising action, HBO’s pre-fight reality show and televised weigh-in created the buzz, while Floyd Mayweather’s blazing fists closed the show.

#3 Miguel Cotto TKO 11 Zab Judah
Like Mayweather-Hatton, this fight was fairly one-sided (in favor of Cotto) yet exciting. As usual, Judah shocked and awed with his speed and power early on. Cotto ultimately weathered the storm and systematically beat Judah into submission like no fighter had ever done before. Judah’s wild hay-makers and Cotto’s shaky chin kept fans on their toes for 10 rounds, until Judah finally succumbed in round 11.

#2 Israel Vazquez TKO 6 Rafael Marquez II
Forgive me for missing this fight live, and forgive me more for not posting an article on it. But give me "props" for acknowledging it here. Were it not for both men weighing less than an eighth grader and being as recognizable as Ja Dawson, this fight would be #1 on my list. Don’t believe me? Check out these highlights.

#1 Kelly Pavlik KO 7 Jermain Taylor
What do you get when two undefeated fighters meet, in their physical primes, for the undisputed middleweight championship of the world? You get the 2007 fight of the year. Kelly Pavlik got off the floor in round two, and the rest, Jermain Taylor included, was history. If Floyd Mayweather, Jr. was the shining star of boxing in 2007, Kelly Pavlik sure was its fastest rising one. I don’t know about you but I can not wait until next year!