Pacquiao hinirang na Fighter of the Year ng Ring Magazine

MANILA, Philippines –  Makaraang piliin ng USA Today bilang “Fighter of the Year” ng 2010, tinanghal naman si Manny Pacquiao ng isang boxing magazine bilang top choice.

Kinilala ang Filipino world eight-division champion na si Pacquiao bilang 2010 “Fighter of the Year” ng Ring Magazine base sa isinagawa nilang fan poll.

Sa botohan na pinamahalaan ng tinaguriang “the bible of boxing”, ang 32-anyos na Sarangani Congressman ang naging ‘runaway winner’ para sa nasabing karangalan nang makakuha ng 71% total votes.

Nakatanggap naman si Argentine boxing champion Sergio Martinez, pinili ng halos lahat ng boxing websites bilang ‘Fighter of the Year’, ng 24% votes.

“Sergio Martinez’s decision over Kelly Pavlik to capture the middleweight championship of the world and one-punch knockout of Paul Williams clearly were more impressive than the accomplishments of any other fighter,” ani Ring Magazine writer Michael Rosenthal sa kanyang blog.

Binigyan rin ni Rosenthal ng importansya ang dalawang tagumpay ni Pacquiao kina Joshua Clottey ng Ghana at Antonio Margarito ng Mexico noong Marso at Nob­yembre, ayon sa pagkakasunod.

“We’re in the era of Manny Pacquiao, though. The world’s greatest fighter is so popular – particularly among his passionate countrymen – that we knew with certainty that he would be the runaway winner of the award. Facts be damned,” wika nito.

Napagtanggol ni Pacquiao ang kanyang hawak na World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown kontra kay Clottey via unanimous decision noong Marso 14.

Sinikwat naman ni Pacquiao ang bakanteng World Boxing Council (WBC) light middleweight weight belt nang bugbugin ang 5-foot-11 na si Margarito mula sa isang unanimous decision.

“We don’t think much of the alphabet titles but to be a dominating fighter in 8 of the 17 weight classes is remarkable,” wika ni Rosenthal.

Binigo naman ni Martinez si Kelly Pavlik para sa WBC middleweight title noong Abril 7.

Isinunod ng Argentine fighter si Paul Williams sa pamamagitan ng isang one-punch knockout noong Nobyembre 20.

Ayon kay Rosenthal, malaki ang bahagi ng boto ng mga fans sa pagdedetermina ng Ring Magazine “Fighter of the Year”.

“The fans are part of the equation, which is why many of us believe a fighter’s ability to entertain the masses is one factor in determining greatness,” ani Rosenthal.