2013 Rookie of the Year - Jose Ramirez

2013 Boxing Rookie of the Year - Jose Ramirez
Mark E. Ortega
December 19, 2013


I've always wondered why boxing outlets never appoint a Rookie of the Year. To determine rookie status, a fighter must have turned professional in 2013. But, like in baseball, where if you didn't reach a certain amount of plate appearances, for this award you could qualify if you fought twice or less total in years previous.

With that in mind, I thought I would designate my own Rookie of the Year for 2013, adding a couple of honorable mentions.

Raymundo Beltran tops Ji-Hoon Kim, overcoming a knockdown

Raymundo Beltran tops Ji-Hoon Kim, overcoming a knockdown
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
December 7, 2012

LAS VEGAS -- In a topsy-turvy lightweight bout, Raymundo Beltran and Ji-Hoon Kim engaged in an entertaining battle in the 10-round main event at the Mirage Hotel & Casino on a special Thursday edition of ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. It was the first fight at the Mirage in more than 15 years, and Beltran won the unanimous decision.

The opening round was as crowd-pleasing as they come as Beltran was dropped hard in the opening minute but was able to battle back and put Kim on the canvas in the final seconds of the round.

Beltran carried that momentum into the 2nd. He battered Kim for much of the salvo and would have finished the job of he had five more seconds as Kim was out on his feet but was saved by the bell.

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