Pacquiao's Bid For "Fighter of the Decade Award" Hangs in Precarious Balance
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 28 Aug 2019
As the United States of America prides itself as the center of boxing universe, its various sports media outfits have traditionally been bestowing prestigious awards of distinction as "Fight of the Year," and most importantly, the milestone "Fighter of the Decade" award to boxers they deemed deserving.
There are just a few of these annual award giving bodies in the USA but the one looked up to as the prime authority is the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) which is comprised by predominantly American sports, mainly boxing, journalists although there are also a few coming from Asia, Europe and Latin America.
It was this same BWAA that deservedly conferred the awards as Fighter of the Year thrice to our Pambansang Kamao, Manny Pacquiao in 2006, 2008 and 2009 that made him the undisputed Fighter of the Decade in 2000-2009 over such equally dominant fighters as Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Vladimir Klitschko.
Despite a not too impressive 12-4-0 win, loss, draw record over the last ten years, Pacquiao is still seen as the strongest candidate for another Fighter of the Decade award for 2010-2019.
This is due to his better activity and longevity and the quality of his opposition as compared to his perceived closest rivals that included Mayweather and another undefeated American Andre Ward who have both retired just past midway through the current decade.
What bolstered Pacquiao's chances even more was his recent magnificent victory over erstwhile undefeated and highly rated American Keith "One Time" Thurman in their WBA world welterweight title clash, making him one of the oldest fighters to win and hold a world championship. That bout is also seen as a strong candidate for the Fight of the Year.
That, plus his one sided title fight win over former four division world champion and pound for pound lister Adrien Broner also made him a favorite for the Fighter of the Year award, his first this past ten years, boosting his chance for the Fighter of the Decade award .
However, if we will go by statements of noted American boxing authorities as Ring Magazine editor in chief and columnist Douglass Fischer and the recent actuations of media organizations as the BWAA itself, there are fears that Pacquiao's bid for another Fighter of the Year and Fighter of the Decade awards hangs in a precarious balance.
Responding to my query In a recent Monday Mailbag column in the Ring Magazine, Dougie Fischer while acknowledging Pacquiao's worthiness especially for the FOTD award, said that the American scribes are apt to vote for either Floyd or Andre Ward. That was clearly a prejudgment based a raw display of bias.
In the latest pound for pound ratings, while Pacquiao has been reinstated by both The Ring and Boxrec at #10 and by the Transnational at #8 in their top ten listings, Manny Pacquiao is absent in both the listings of the BWAA and ESPN.
Many Ring Magazine staff are members of the BWAA, while the ESPN boxing panel curiously includes Timothy Bradley who have no love lost for Manny and Teddy Atlas, a former Manny admirer with lately erratic views and opinions.
Let us just hope that America lives up to another of its historical claim--- as the bastion of truth, justice and fairplay.
The author Teodoro Medina?Reynoso?is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines.?? He can be reached at?teddyreynoso@yahoo.com?and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Rodrigo to challenge undefeated Sandoval in US
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 23 Aug 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Call to Action 12 Items for Boxers' Safety
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Fri, 22 Aug 2025Libranza vs Pangga headlines Elorde card on Aug 24
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 Aug 2025GM Antonio to compete in P100,000 top prize Rapid chessfest this Sunday in Roxas City, Capiz Province
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 22 Aug 2025AISAT Basic Ed football training starts
By Kim delos Reyes-Teves, Fri, 22 Aug 2025Josh Navarro Scores Another Win in Pomona, California
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 22 Aug 2025UNDEFEATED CRIZTIAN PITT LAURENTE SET TO FACE HEBI MARAPU FOR IBF PAN PACIFIC TITLE
Fri, 22 Aug 2025Dare To Enter: Undefeated WBC Interim Champion Vergil Ortiz to Defend Super Welterweight Title From Number 1 Contender Erickson “The Hammer” Lubin
Fri, 22 Aug 2025Euri Cedeno Takes on Willie Jones on Friday, September 5th at Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, PA
Fri, 22 Aug 2025COE AND HART CLASH ON BOOTS ENNIS CARD IN PHILADELPHIA
Thu, 21 Aug 2025‘There's nothing that he brings to the table that I've not got an answer for’ Sam Rennie on upcoming fight at Thunderdome 51
Thu, 21 Aug 2025JAMAINE "THE TECHNICIAN" ORTIZ TRAINING CAMP NOTES
Thu, 21 Aug 2025Gervonta Davis vs. Jake Paul: Exhibition Bout Announced for November
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 21 Aug 2025Legendary boxing coach John Brown Compares cornering Tommy Morrison & Rising young star Marco Romero
Thu, 21 Aug 2025World Kid to Host Meet-and-Greet and Open Workouts In advance of “The Return” on August 31 in Detroit
Thu, 21 Aug 2025