THE WBC’S “BEST OF 2008 AWARDS”

The World Boxing Council’s Board of Governors has voted on the awards for the “Best of 2008,” and the results are as follows:

BOXER OF THE YEAR

Manny Pacquiao, Philippines: Manny won the World Boxing Council super featherweight world title by decision against defending champion Juan Manuel Marquez in March, then won the WBC lightweight world title by TKO against defending champion David Diaz three months later in June. Manny finished the year in December with a sensational TKO win against Oscar De La Hoya in the welterweight division.

HONORABLE MENTION BOXER OF THE YEAR

Edgar Sosa, Mexico: Edgar successfully defended the WBC light flyweight world title four times, defeating top level opponents which included mandatory challenger Juanito Rubillar of the Philippines in November.

COMEBACK OF THE DECADE

Vitali Klitschko, Ukraine: He came back as WBC Emeritus Champion in the heavyweight division in October after almost four years without fighting. He won the WBC heavyweight world title for the second time with an impressive performance in his TKO win against defending champion Samuel Peter in October.

FIGHT OF THE YEAR

Israel Vazquez vs. Rafael Marquez. The third fight between these two great Mexican champions in March was a spectacular battle. Vazquez was knocked down in the fourth round, but came back to knock down Marquez in the twelfth round and retain the WBC super bantamweight world title by decision.

MOST DRAMATIC FIGHT OF THE YEAR

Carl Froch vs. Jean Pascal. Froch, the new British sensation, won the vacant WBC super middleweight world title by decision against Canadian warrior Pascal in an intense and dramatic fight in December.

KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR

Vic Darchinyan, Australia. The new WBC super flyweight world champion knocked out talented and accomplished defending champion Cristian Mijares of Mexico, and fulfilled his dream of winning the green and gold belt.

GREATEST PROMOTION OF THE YEAR

Samuel Peter vs. Oleg Maskaev. For the first time ever, a heavyweight world championship fight was held in Mexico - it was a top-notch promotion and great success in paradisiacal Cancun in March. The atmosphere in the bullring was electric with a capacity crowd in attendance, and the broadcast on HBO was excellent. Interim champion Peter, a native of Nigeria living in Las Vegas, Nevada, won the WBC heavyweight world title with a ninth-round TKO against defending champion Maskaev, a native of Russia living in Sacramento, California.