UNDERDOG PERFORMER: MARCOS MAIDANA VS ADRIAN BRONER
and how up until that point everything was handed to ‘The Problem’ and it would ultimately be his downfall. From the first bell he set out his stall, refusing to take a backward step. He pushed, harried and bullied ‘The Problem’ beating him up to the point Broner couldn’t wait to get out of the ring after the final bell had rung. With the rematch clause now evoked they will do it all over again in 2014…the question is will Broner have learnt anything…or is Maidana simply better than he has perhaps been given credit for.
‘The Problem’ was the heir apparent to Floyd Mayweathers throne. Pushed by the Goldenboy banner, a star in the making…he supposedly had everything needed to be the next big P4P star for the sport. Maidana meanwhile was a man known for never being in a dull fight, but also for being someone who fell short of the truly elite. He had form for upsetting the apple cart, a win over Victor Ortiz; yet very few gave him a chance against the brash upstart from Cincinnati. Yet when the dust settled on the last card of the year the Argentinian had once again handed a loss to a Goldenboy prodigy. He had said in the build up that it would come down to who wanted it more, he spoke of his desire being bigger than Broners
V2 OUT OF THE SHADOWS AWARD: RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV
Every year boxing seems to throw up an unheard of fighter who suddenly thrusts himself into the spotlight. Think Sergio Martinez or Carlos Baldomir. Well last year it was the star turn of Ruslan Provodnikov. The hard hitting and iron chinned Russian went toe to toe with Tim Bradley in a contest which was worthy of fight of the year honours. Whilst he fell just short in that contest, an outcome which some dispute, he made sure there would be no controversy in his 2nd contest of 2013. Having already been involved in one humdinger, he would put it all on the line again against Mike Alvarado. Despite losing the a couple of the opening rounds Ruslan begin to walk down his opponent and after 10 punishing toe to toe rounds Alvardo retired on his stool; giving Provodnikov his first World title and with it ensuring he is a major name between 140-147 for 2014.
V2 VIRTUOSO PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR:
GUILLERMO RIGONDEUX
Those who make the sport look so easy can often miss out on critical acclaim. When a fight is so one sided it is easy to label it boring. Whilst to the casual fan it may not have the edge of your seat excitment as a brawl which ends in a KO, to the purists their is nothing better than seeing a boxing clinic. Mayweather again just missed out on this award for his performance against Saul Alvarez; whilst it was about as pure a boxing performance one will see, Rigondeux was simply in with a better opponent in Donaire. To pick apart and counter, an at the time P4P Top 5 opponent with such ease showed the sweet science in it's purest form.