Breakthrough Fighter of 2013: Gennady Golovkin
Mark E. Ortega
December 25, 2013
December 25, 2013
A number of fighters enjoyed years in 2013 that may later be traced back to the beginning of their legacies. Here's who I deemed the breakthrough fighters of the year.
There are many that think Gennady Golovkin deserved to be in the discussion for this year's Fighter of the Year. The Kazakh monster boasted four stoppage victories, but none came against the elite of the 160 pound division--something that is of no fault to Golovkin.
Golovkin began 2013 coming off his debut HBO appearance the previous year. Heavily avoided by the top names at Golovkin, the fighter and his team elected to keep him busy. His activity helped keep him at the forefront of boxing fans' consciousness as he battered overmatched opponents regularly.
Golovkin's biggest test on paper came in the form of former title challenger Matthew Macklin. At his best, Macklin was a fringe top ten contender whose status rose after a gamer than expected performance against middleweight king Sergio Martinez. Off the loss, Macklin fought a single round in 15 months prior to meeting GGG. The rusty Irishman never had a chance to get untracked and was stopped early in Golovkin's signature performance to date.
The Golovkin hype machine has yet to be proven correct, but it looks as though 2014 will be the year in which he gets his opportunity. HBO has invested in the stock of Golovkin and will do their damnedest to try and line him up against a big name next year.
Runner-Up: Ruslan Provodnikov
Had Ruslan Provodnikov's lone appearance on the big stage been his losing effort against Timothy Bradley in their March Fight of the Year contender, Provodnikov would still be worthy of consideration for this award.
Labeled an "ESPN level fighter" by some prior to getting the call to fight Bradley, Provodnikov proved he belongs in the mix with the big names as he wound up on the losing end of a close and dramatic fight at the Home Depot Center in Carson. Provodnikov has benefited greatly from working with esteemed trainer Freddie Roach, and can be largely considered responsible for Roach even being considered as the year's best trainer.
Provodnikov fought on major television for the first time when he met Bradley on HBO--and never looked back. Though officially he was the loser, the fight did more for Provodnikov's stock in defeat than it may have done for Bradley in victory.
The network and fans were impressed by his performance enough so that he was lined up with a shot at newly crowned junior welterweight titlist Mike Alvarado in October in Alvarado's home near Denver.
Provodnikov proved that the move down in weight wouldn't hinder his performance as he walked through Alvarado, wearing him down to a brutal late round stoppage.
Provodnikov now operates as a titleholder in perhaps the deepest weight division in boxing. He's got the benefit of a neutral promoter in Artie Pellulo's Banner Promotions (though Pellulo has a penchant for working with Top Rank and a loyalty to HBO) and is as consistent of an action fighter in the sport right now.
Honorable Mention: Adonis Stevenson
Adonis Stevenson began the year by mowing down the recognized light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson in less than a round. He's ended the year a focal point of premium network HBO's boxing programming as he was featured in a showcase fight against Tony Bellew.
That Stevenson is getting this kind of push is an upset in and of itself. A fighter with far from the cleanest background, Stevenson helped prove again that you can make it in boxing if you're exciting, no matter how checkered a past.
Stevenson has received consideration as the year's best fighter by many an outlet, and for good reason. He's also on the verge of being in the mix for a serious money fight with Sergey Kovalev, a fight that ranks near the top of many boxing fans' Christmas lists. With a solid fan base in Canada, Stevenson could also target the winner of January's bout between Lucian Bute and Jean Pascal.
Honorable Mention: Evgeny Gradovich
Entering 2013, "The Mexican Russian" was on few people's radars. Gradovich is a fighter who wasn't pampered or built by anyone, and when an opportunity came his way, he seized it.
Gradovich got a late call to fight featherweight titlist Billy Dib. The fight was a headliner on ESPN, meaning it was likely for very short money. Gradovich and trainer Robert Garcia took the fight, and more importantly, came to take the title.
Gradovich's eye-opening performance made him a quick favorite of Bob Arum, who has stashed the promising 126 pounder on the Macau cards that HBO-2 aired this year. Gradovich more decisively beat down Dib in a rematch on the Pacquiao undercard, scoring a stoppage.
Gradovich is in a deep weight range, but his trainer Garcia also works with Nonito Donaire and Mikey Garcia, two of the more lucrative options out there. As well, Golden Boy controls Leo Santa Cruz, Abner Mares, and Gary Russell Jr., limiting some of Gradovich's future opportunities. Still, the fighter is in a position few saw himself being in when the year began.
Honorable Mention: Carl Frampton
Though he only fought a disappointing two times in 2012, Belfast junior featherweight Carl Frampton is on more people's radars than ever before.
Frampton began the year with a career best stoppage over Spain's Kiko Martinez in February. By virtue of Martinez later securing the IBF belt with an HBO televised stoppage of Jhonatan Romero, Frampton's stock rose as he sat at home watching on the telly.
Frampton had to overcome an injury before returning with a stoppage over the unheralded Jeremy Parodi, but his name is in the mix for a big fight in the first half of 2014.
Honorable Mention: Omar Figueroa
The 24-year old lightweight made his first appearances on major TV and didn't let them pass him by.
Figueroa blasted out Abner Cotto in one round to begin the year before later engaging in a Fight of the Year candidate against tough Nihito Arakawa in July on perhaps the best fight night of the year. Figueroa showed enough holes in his game that he'll be as interesting as they come, though he might not enjoy a lengthy career.
Figueroa's fight with Arakawa took place not far from the promising Mexican American's Weslaco, Tex., home, and has positioned himself to be the next big draw from the Lone Star State.
Golden Boy seems keen on matching him with former golden child Jorge Linares, which would be guaranteed fireworks. Expect Figueroa to be one of the big stars of 2014.
The next big fight at the Madison Square Garden will be held on June 8. Tune in live to watch Gennady Golovkin vs. Steve Rolls on FireStick.
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