Even though Manny Pacquiao had another sterling year in 2010, the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) said the year simply belonged to Sergio Martinez of Argentina.
Martinez, like Pacquiao, lit up the ring with fistic fireworks, beating Kelly Pavlik and Paul Williams, a win that saw Williams falling like a tree, unconscious, after being struck to the jaw with a Martinez left.
The Gensan hitman scored landmark wins over Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito but these were not enough to earn the nod of BWAA.
This is the first time that Martinez will be receiving the coveted award, while Pacquiao has been accorded the distinction three times (2006, 2008 and 2009) by the BWAA.
As a consolation to Pacquiao, the beloved Freddie Roach, was named the recipient of the Trainer of the Year for the third straight time and fifth overall.
The BWAA is holding its annual banquet in Las Vegas on May 6, the eve of Pacquiao’s welterweight title clash with Shane Mosley at the MGM Grand.
Despite Martinez’s impressive run, the major publications and other sites that maintain pound-for-pound rankings, continue to list Pacquiao as the world’s best on the strength of his victories over marquee names through the years.(MB)
