World Boxing News 2010-2013

Boxing fans from around the world avoided falling off the Fistical Cliff by doing their civic duty.  Fans were invited to vote for their favorite nominees in the 2012 Top Rank Facebook poll (www.facebook.com/trboxing) and boy did they respond.  The categories were Fighter of the Year, Fight of the Year and Round of the Year. FIGHTER OF THE YEAR:  NONITO DONAIRE WWW.TOPRANK.COM/VIDEOS/NONITO-DONAIRE   In a breakout year for the Filipino Flash, Donaire (31-1, 30 KOs) extended his 11-year winning streak to 30 bouts by winning all four of his junior featherweight world title fights.  On February 4, Donaire captured the vacant WBO 122-pound title, winning a gritty split-decision battle over former world champion Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr. He unified the title on July 7, winning a dominant unanimous decision over defending IBF champion Jeffrey Mathebula. He followed that with another legacy-making victory, a ninth-round stoppage of WBC Diamond Belt super bantamwe...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Raging Bull’ switches codes following agreement Entertaining fighter Pawel Wolak is finally ready to move to MMA following an agreement with Top Rank to release him from his binding contract early to pursue the switch from boxing. The Polish-born puncher, who is based in New Jersey, lost to Delvin Rodriguez last December in a rematch of their ‘Fight of the Year’ bout five months prior and decided to call it a day following a one-side defeat at Madison Square Garden. The 31 year-old, who ended his boxing career with a record of 29-2, with 19 KO’s, had planned to make the shift to Mixed Martial Arts earlier this year, but was blocked as his contract with Top Rank was still valid. The ‘Raging Bull’ has now come to an amicable agreement with his previous employers at Top Rank and will concentrate on his new career immediately with an expected fight in the coming months. “I have been training for MMA since December as well as keeping up ...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor “Golden Boy” in heart felt tweet to Pacquiao and Arum Golden Boy Promotions boss Oscar De La Hoya has issued an apology to rivals Top Rank in a four-part Twitter message that was posted recently. The 38 year-old former six-weight world champion has been fighting his own demons lately, but took time out to issue this statement to his competitors. Dear Bob Arum, First, I would like to humbly apologize for any pain I have caused to you and or your family. I also want to apologize to manny paquiao for any wrong doing in my part. You are a great champion. I have realized that by accepting my mistakes everyone around me will hopefully forgive me. With great humility I ask we work together for the good of the sport we dearly love. It is not fair to the fans and to the fighters, so today, let's move forward and put on the best fights possible and show the world what we are capable of doing. Thank you Bob. Your friend Oscar. De La Hoya is c...