Round of the Year 2008 – Holt vs. Ricardo II

December 29th, 2008

Round of the Year 2008 – Round 1 Kendall Holt vs. Ricardo Torres II – July 5, 2008

It had everything a fight of the year candidate should have: both fighters hit the canvas, a title changed hands, and redemption. All in all, the bout last just 61 seconds as New Jersey’s Kendall Holt rose from the mat twice to score a devastating first round knockout of Colombia’s Ricardo Torres to win the WBO junior welterweight title and redeem himself from a losing effort to Torres in their controversial first fight in September of 2007.

While maybe not the fight of the year, clearly in our eyes, it was the round of the year.

It didn’t take long for the action to begin: a looping right hand from Torres sent Holt crashing to the canvas just 14 seconds into the fight. Holt quickly rose to his feet leading to a wild exchange between both combatants. During the exchange, Holt was caught again and knocked down to a knee for the second knockdown of the fight.

Once again, Holt quickly got back to his feet. Less than a minute into the fight, Torres went in for the kill and found himself wildly slugging with the American challenger. An accidental clash of heads between the two seemed to stun Torres and a big Holt right hand rendered the defending titleholder unconscious. Kendall Holt had knocked out Ricardo Torres at 61 seconds of the first round to become the new owner of the WBO junior welterweight title. Doctors tended to Torres while Holt celebrated his victory.

In their first bout in September of last year, Torres successfully defended his title by knocking out Holt in the 11^th round of a controversial bout in Colombia. Amid a rowdy crowd, debris and beer bottles were thrown into the ring during the bout impacting the fight and leading to protests from the Holt camp that there be an immediate rematch. The rematch wasn’t immediate, but Holt made the most of it when it came with the first round knockout

Knockout of the Year:

Edison Miranda KO3 David Banks – January 11, 2008 – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Less than two weeks into the year, we had 2008’s most spectacular knockout.

A huge right hand from power punching Colombian super middleweight Edison Miranda landed cleanly to the side of The Contender season 3’s David Banks, sending half of Banks body outside the ring as he teetered on the 2^nd to bottom rope.

Before the referee finished counting, Miranda rushed to pose for his fans and celebrate while standing on the ropes in the corner and ESPN commentator Joe Tessitore marveled at the spectacle saying, “what a knockout!”

The referee reaching the count of 10 was merely a formality. Banks did his best to get to his feet, but didn’t in time and was in no shape to continue.

11 months later the visual still sticks in boxing fans minds as knockout of the year.

*Honorable Mention

Juan Urango KO4 Carlos Wilfredo Vilches – April 23, 2008 –Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

The Seminole Hard Rock was a good place to see good KO’s in 2008 as junior welterweight Juan Urango landed a picture perfect right hook to the side of Carlos Wilfredo Vilche’s face this past April and sent his opponent down for the count amidst trading punches.

Fight of the Year:
Israel Vasquez vs. Rafael Marquez III – Junior Featherweight World Championship
March 1, 2008 – Home Depot Center – Carson, CA

Concluding their epic trilogy, defending junior featherweight world champ Israel Vasquez and former kingpin Rafael Marquez battled for 12 brutal rounds in the 8countnews.com 2008 fight of the year.

After splitting their first two meeting, with both fights ending via TKO, the third meeting would prove to be their only fight to go the distance. However, bout was certainly not devoid of action.

Both fighters were hurt, both hit the canvas, and both will be remembered for this epic encounter.

In the 4^th round, challenger Marquez sent Vasquez to the canvas. He initially hurt him with a left hook to the head and then followed up with a flush right hand that sent the reigning champ to the floor. Vasquez would beat the count and return fire to hurt Marquez with an overhand right. The remaining seconds in the round looked like a live action version of rock em’ sock em’ robots.

The two combatants would continue to trade blows in close for the remainder of the fight. It was a nip and tuck battle that was incredibly close.

In the 12^th and final round, Vasquez was teeing off on Marquez when he suddenly hit him with a left hook that sent the challenger reeling into the ropes. While Marquez never hit the floor, referee Pat Russell correctly recognized that only the ropes kept him upright, and ruled it a knockdown.

It ended up being the difference in the fight.

Vasquez retained the world championship via split decision. Official scores were 114-11 and 113-112 for Vasquez and 114-111 for Marquez.

*Honorable Mentions

Tomasz Adamek vs. Steve Cunningham – Cruiserweight World Championship
December 11, 2008 – Prudential Center – Newark, NJ

Who ever said cruiserweights can’t fight?

Tomasz Adamek and Steve Cunningham proved that notion wrong with a thrilling 12 round war on December 11^th of this year for the recognized cruiserweight championship of the world.

During the all action slugfest, Adamek knocked down Cunningham three times. However, Cunningham threw and landed more punches.

After 12 rounds of nonstop action, the verdict came in: Tomasz Adamek won via split decision to become the new cruiserweight champ.

Hopefully 2009 will bring us a sequel to this classic encounter. The fans want it and Steve Cunningham certainly wants it. He’s started a website www.wewantarematch.com. Log on and let the promoters and networks know you want to see this again!

Antonio Margarito vs. Miguel Cotto – Welterweight World Title
July 26, 2008 – MGM Grand Casino – Las Vegas, NV

It was a big time PPV fight that certainly delivered.

With Floyd Mayweather Jr. retiring, the winner of this fight figured to be considered the new top dog in the welterweight division.

Through 6 rounds, it appeared that man would be Miguel Cotto. He used superior speed and boxing skills to consistently win rounds over the lumbering Margarito.

However, Margarito just walked through Cotto’s punches and kept pressing forward. Cotto would land more often but Margarito was landing with more authority.

The tide changed in the 7^th round when Margarito hurt Cotto with a couple of uppercut and at the conclusion of the frame, blood was trickling from Cotto’s nose.

In the 11^th round Cotto got on his bicycle looking to stay away from further punishment. However, as Margarito pressed forward Cotto voluntarily took a knee to avoid any more pain. After going down twice in the round, Cotto’s corner threw in the towel.

A rematch is being planned for the summer of 2009.

Joel Casamayor vs. Michael Katsidis – Lightweight World Championship
March 22, 2008 – Morongo Casino Resort & Spa – Cabazon, CA

After putting in a lackluster performance in his previous bout, then lightweight champ Joel Casamayor was looking to show that he still had something left in the tank.

He got right down to business early knocking down Katsidis twice in the first round.

Katsidis responded in the 6^th round by knocking Casamayor through the ropes.

Casamayor then rocked Katsidis with a left hook in the 10^th round putting the challenger on the canvas for the third time in the fight. Katsidis would beat the count, but was in no shape to continue.

Casamayor retained the world championship via 10^th round TKO.

Prospect of the year
Yuriorkis Gamboa

Upset of the year
Pacquiao over De La Hoya

Who is the 8CN Fighter Of The Year?