Jab Hook's Best of Boxing 2019
2019 was a bitter sweet year of boxing. The profound loss of life shook the sport to its core. Jab closes the year by remembering to say their names to honor them: 27-year-old American Patrick Day,
21-year-old Bulgarian Boris Stanchov.
28-year-old Russian Maxim Dadashev.
23-year-old Argentine Hugo Alfredo Santillán.
Beyond those four tragedies, five other boxers were taken from the ring to the hospital for emergency neurosurgery to remove blood clots from their brains this year. These boxers exactly remind us that professional boxers put their lives on the line every time they step into the ring for our entertainment.
And in 2019 the “Sweet Science” did entertain and did deliver on world class matchups and amazing fights. In his brief list of superlatives below, Jab says thanks to these wonderful pugilists.
Boxer of the decade 2010-20:
Manny Pacquiao - At 41yo the champ is still kicking ass with boxing finesse and Pinoy pride.
Boxer of 2019:
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez - Today's king of boxing from Mexico and the Golden Goose of Golden Boy has developed steadily and achieved super star status. He is a real Champion for life.
Female-Boxer of 2019:
Katie Taylor - She is a great female champion in the ring and outside it. As a professional boxer her record speaks for itself, despite her hiccups in some fights. When her family situation became precarious in Ireland due to a criminal family member, she moved to Connecticut.
Fight of 2019:
Naoya Inoue versus Nonito Donaire – These two men created a masterpiece of the “Sweet Science”. When we say Champion, we mean boxers like them. The ebb and flow, give and take, respect and admiration, we witnessed a dialog spoken with fists between a young Japanese boxing phenomenon and veteran master of pugilism from the Philippines. There were no losers in the Super Arena, Saitama, Japan.
Knock out of 2019:
Deontay Wilder vs. Luis Ortiz II – They used to call him the “The Bronze Bomber”, but now he's “The Nuclear Bomber". Wilder does not count punches and points, he cares little for scorecards and judges. He is a ring terrorist with a nuke-pack strapped to his right fist. Game over, lights out, hasta la vista baby, call me when you wake up. That is how the man from Tuscaloosa dealt with his 10th WBC title defense in a rematch against Luis Ortiz.
Round of 2019:
1st round of Josesito Lopez vs John Molina Jr – If you want see heart, watch how a totally buzzed Molina fights back after the knockdown to survive a terrible 3 minute beating.
Upset of 2019:
Andy Ruiz Jr knocks out Anthony Joshua in New York's Madison Square Garden - Andy Ruiz Jr stopped Anthony Joshua to become the new triple Heavyweight World Titlist and he did it in style. It was far from a lucky punch that ruined AJ's USA debut. No, it was the upset of the year by an under-estimated heavyweight boxer. “Destroyer” Ruiz Jr broke down and overwhelmed “AJ” Joshua for his first loss.
Comeback of 2019:
Anthony Joshua avenged his only career loss to Andy Ruiz Jr, thereby regaining the belts he had lost 6 months before in Madison Square Garden. It was an excellent stick-and-run strategy that AJ managed to implement with good boxing, a lovely jab, and excellent physical conditioning. Jab had seriously doubted AJ heart, but Joshua did what champions do after a loss. He went back to the gym and prepared adjustments and corrections to enable a victory that has rehabilitated his career.
Prospect of 2019:
Vergil Ortiz Jr - If you like talented, young boxing prospects you will fall for Vergil Ortiz Jr. Undefeated with 15 wins and 15 KOs, this 21yo kid is on fire. Watch for him to make big boxing waves in 2020-2021!
Trainer of 2019:
Eddy Reynoso – The engineer of Canelo, his right hand man, his eyes in the corner, his advisor, his friend and one hell of a boxing mind.
Promoter of 2019:
Kathy Duva – A class act from A to Z, a kind tiger as a boxing a promoter who always finds a way to make the best fights happen. Kathy builds no walls and burns no bridges. Her excellent team at Main Events and her eye for boxing talent make her unstoppable. If you don't know her, maybe you have heard of Ward vs Gatti? Congratulations to Kathy Duva who will inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2020, right where she belongs.
Event of 2019:
Finale of the Bantamweight World Boxing Super Series for the Muhammad Ali Trophy and the IBF/WBA world bantamweight title unification in Saitama, Japan starring Naoya Inoue vs. Nonito Donaire.
Most inspirational of 2019:
Caleb Plant beats Uzcategui and it was Plant’s night of boxing history, his main event, his career comeback, and ultimately his IBF super middleweight title victory. The unending pain of losing his baby daughter Alia can never be compensated for inside the ring. But the man without a Plan B has achieved his life’s dream at 26 years old and will be able to better provide for his family.
Referee of 2019:
Jack Reiss – Jack's secret is an uncanny instinct for supervising championship bouts, which combined with his ring skills and experience make him an ideal ring official. Jack respects and protects the boxers in his ring. He takes no crap, and gives none. He let's them fight as long as possible, but has never hesitated to stop it when it was time. Bravo to referee Jack Reiss!
Ring Doctor of the year:
Dr Nitin Sethi – This guy is not just a normal neurologist from New York. He is a ringside MD for combat sports and the Chief Medical Officer of the State Athletic Commission. His leadership and dedication, and the work of all his ringside medical colleagues are crucial to keeping our sport safe. Dr Sethi faces occasional criticism not only from fans at fights, but from medical colleagues at conferences that do not support combat sports. Thank you for your service and please keep doing what you do so well.
Jab Hook really enjoyed watching and covering boxing in 2019 and is expecting an even better 2020.
Happy New Year boxing friends!
“Jab Hook”, aka “Diamond” Joe Healy, is a independent boxing writer, an analyst and commentator for DAZN.de, a licensed referee and judge in amateur boxing, and a professional cutman. A lifelong aficionado born in Brooklyn and living in Munich, “The Sweet Science” is his passion. Please feel free to contact him as Jab Hook on FaceBook or https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/jab-hook-box-aficionado/, also on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoxAficionado