Manny Pacquiao Joins the Elite Fighter of the year club

Manny Pacquiao has been named 2009 fighter of the year by The Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA).  The Filipino sensation joins an exclusive club of five men who have been awarded the trophy.

Other three time winners, Muhammad Ali (1965, 1974 and 1975), Joe Frazier (1969, 1971 and 1975), Sugar Ray Leonard (1976, 1979 and 1981), Evander Holyfield (1990, 1996 and 1997).

The Filipino sensation wrapped up the previous year of 2008 with a win over Oscar De La Hoya at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, on December.  In May of 2009 Pacquiao squared off against Ricky Hatton in a fight many believed would be a possible fight of the year candidate.  This was Pacquiao’s first fight in the Light Welterweight division, Hatton was undefeated as a light welterweight, his solitary loss came in 2007 when he stepped up to the welterweight division to challenge Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Pacquiao needed only two rounds to dethrone the Englishman, Hatton lay motionless on the canvas for several minutes after the devastating knockout.
Some critics were still not convinced Pacquiao could hold his own with a true welterweight, when he announced his November date with Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto; the boxing world was split as to who they thought would win.  Cotto looked in tremendous shape, many thought the Filipino had bitten off a little too much this time.  The Puerto Rican was in his prime and had been competing in the welterweight division for several years.

Pacquiao dominated the fight dropping Cotto in the third and seventh round, during the fight Pacquiao silenced and critics almost deliberately taking Cotto’s shots to prove a point.  There is no doubt Cotto was in shape for this fight, the opening two rounds where competitive and the Puerto Rican looked in the zone and completely ready for the fight.

Pacquiao was also voted fighter of the decade beating of challenges from Floyd Mayweather, Bernard Hopkins, Shane Mosley, Joe Calzaghe, Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera.

The Filipino has won six of his record seven world titles over the past decade while compiling a record of 24-1-2.  He is regarded as the greatest Filipino boxer of all time, and arguably the best southpaw to ever grace a ring.

Trainer, strategist and confidante Freddie Roach won the trainer of the year for a record fourth time Roach has picked up the award 2003, 2006 and 2008.  Both trainer and fighter may just be the most successful duet the sport has ever seen.

By Mark Leroy: