Three major Boxing disappointments of 2011 – Boxing Special
For boxing fans, 2011 was not a pleasant year especially for the Brits, since they saw most of their favourite fighters get beaten brutally.
On one end, we had the Americans Cotto and Mayweather hoisting their flag; on the other hand, we had the Brits like Amir Khan and Carl Froch giving in to opponents that were not even of their calibre. However, not just the Brits went disappointed, there
were several occasions where other nations had to face the dishonour too. Quite an astounding year it was for those who had expected more from it. We had some of the biggest boxing tie-ups of our times, giving us the chills down our spine, yet we were left
baffled over the results.
Remembering the past year, here are the top three boxing let downs of 2011.
Cotto vs. Margarito – The Rematch
The reason why this one is on the top is that it was the most highly anticipated fight of the year with fans of both the boxers expecting high. Margarito had defeated Cotto in 2008, but Cotto blamed him of having hard glove padding.
The feud ended up with a rematch in 2011 which Cotto won successfully. However, what still remained bitter between both the parties was the fact that Cotto, to a certain extent, capitalized on Margarito’s previously fractured eye bone to make him bleed.
According to Margarito, he was all fit and ready to give it hard to Cotto by the end of the 11th round but his corner along with his doctor suggested that his eye could not take anymore. Fans of Margarito were disappointed, while fans of Cotto stood chesty.
It was one of the most thrilling fights of 2011 that ended up with a controversial decision, or at least a decision that no one expected.
Amir Khan vs. Lamont Peterson – The Most Controversial Fight of the Year
The post-fight scenario became so intensified that even the layman out there on the streets knows about it. The fight took place on December 10, when Amir Khan lost both his titles to Lamont Peterson, who was being considered the underdog for the fight.
Amir Khan called it an unfair decision and went on to appeal for it. However, most pundits and analysts were of the view that even though Amir Khan was undoubtedly better of the two, some of his blunders led him to this stage. Whatsoever happened, the fight
was a big letdown for Amir Khan’s fans. Nobody expected Lamont to win, not even Khan.
Marco Antonio Rubio vs. David Lemieux
Being better of the two, David Lemieux was the hot favourite of this fight, since it was being held in his hometown. Unfortunately, the results shocked everyone when Rubio pushed Lemieux to his limits, stopping him ultimately in the seventh round. Rubio
was on a 6 fight winning streak and it was expected of Lemieux to end it but he couldn’t. Instead, he turned out to be the black stone for his home crowd.
The past year was a year of glory for many underrated boxing superstars who proved to the world that even they can beat the big guns if they get the chance. Whereas, it as one of the most devastating years in boxing history for the big fishes, since they
not only lost their titles but they lost them in an embarrassing manner. This year, 2012, is coming up with some major fights as well such as the one between Mayweather and Pacquiao, which is not yet decided but has already stirred up the public.
With 2011 in mind, it can be said that even this year we might get to see some major downfalls of some of the biggest boxing names. Will that happen or will they be able to continue with their legacy?
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely of the writer’s and do not reflect bettor.com’s official editorial policy.
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