2012 NorCal Boxing Awards: Punch your ballot!

Share

Another year of Northern California boxing has come to an end, and local historians will look back on 2012 with particular fondness.

Over the past 12 months, seven local pros have held world titles of some sort, with all but one still in possession of their respective belts. (Our definition of a NorCal fighter is one who resides and represents any city from Bakersfield to the northern border.)

The amateur ranks in Region 11, the area encompassing Northern and Central California, yielded an Olympian, a world runner-up, a collegiate champion, and several national tournament medalists.

Even the amount of pro and amateur fight cards increased, giving rise to a plethora of exciting bouts, highlight-reel knockouts and the emergence of new faces.

It is time to recognize the tremendous efforts of those involved by announcing the finalists for CSN’s 2nd Annual NorCal Boxing Awards.

Fans, here’s your chance to be heard by voting on any or all of the categories.

VOTING INSTRUCTIONS:
1) Sign in to your CSNBayArea.com account, or create one.  It’s easy and FREE!
2) In the comments section below, leave the categories and names of the nominees you wish to vote for.  You may only vote once per category.
3) Deadline to vote is WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

The finalist in each category that ends up with the most readers' support will earn one composite vote that will count in the final tally along with the individual votes from our media panel.

EXAMPLE: If Robert Guerrero and Carina Moreno ended up with seven votes apiece among the media panel for Comeback Fighter of the Year, then the readers’ choice would end up being the tiebreaker, since it would count for one whole vote.

For more information on each finalist, go to Norcalboxing.net.  We will present the winners on CSNBayArea.com the last weekend of the year, so read on for your nominees and punch your ballot!


2012 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BOXING AWARDS
FINALISTS

POUND-FOR-POUND CHAMPION
For the fighter who finishes the year atop the CSNBayArea.com NorCal Pound-for-Pound Top 10 due to overall career body of work plus recent achievements.  This award is not to be confused with the Fighter of the Year Award, which is limited only to accomplishments in 2012.

FINALISTS: Nonito Donaire (San Leandro), Robert Guerrero (Gilroy), Ava Knight (Chico), Karim Mayfield (San Francisco), Andre Ward (Oakland)

MALE PRO FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
For the male professional fighter who has achieved the most success in 2012

FINALISTS: Nonito Donaire (San Leandro), Vicente Escobedo (Woodland), Robert Guerrero (Gilroy), Karim Mayfield (San Francisco), Andre Ward (Oakland)

FEMALE PRO FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
For the female professional fighter who has achieved the most success in 2012

FINALISTS: Ana Julaton (Daly City), Ava Knight (Chico), Melissa McMorrow (San Jose), Carina Moreno (Watsonville)

MALE AMATEUR FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
For the male amateur fighter who has achieved the most success in 2012 (Senior Open division only)

FINALISTS: Antwon Abron (Stockton), Mario Ayala (Sacramento), Eros Correa (San Jose), LaRon Mitchell (San Francisco), Jose Ramirez (Avenal), Gary Salazar (Fresno), Daniel Valdivia (Bakersfield), Brent Venegas III (Sacramento)

FEMALE AMATEUR FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
For the female amateur fighter who has achieved the most success in 2012 (Senior Open division only)

FINALISTS: Brenda Gutierrez (Sacramento), Jasmine Jones (Vacaville), Raquel Miller (San Francisco), Jamie Mitchell (Pacific Grove), Casey Morton (San Francisco), Marina Ramirez (Sacramento), Becky Villagran (Oakland)
 
PRO FIGHT OF THE YEAR
For the most exciting, competitive professional bout in 2012 from start to finish involving at least one Northern California fighter

FINALISTS: Manuel Avila TKO8 Ricky Lopez, Jonathan Garcia KO1 Pedro Arcos, Robert Guerrero UD12 Andre Berto, Alonso Loeza TKO3 Juan Martinez, Roman Morales UD8 Jonathan Arrellano, Joel Diaz Jr. TKO7 Guy Robb, Ulises Soriano D4 Gabriel Pineda

AMATEUR FIGHT OF THE YEAR
For the most exciting, competitive amateur fight in 2012 from start to finish involving at least one Northern California fighter (Senior Open division only)
 
FINALISTS: Brenda Gutierrez dec. Tatiana Almaraz, Mark Hernandez dec. Daniel Thomas, Paola Estrada dec. Casey Morton, Gary Salazar dec. Mario Ayala

ROUND OF THE YEAR
For the most exciting, competitive pro round in 2012 from the opening to final bell

FINALISTS: Robert Guerrero-Andre Berto (Rd. 12), Glenn Donaire-Omar Salado (Rd. 11), Jonathan Garcia-Pedro Arcos (Rd. 1), Guy Robb-Joel Diaz Jr. (Rd. 4), Ulises Soriano-Gabriel Pineda (Rd. 4)

KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR
For the most spectacular, stunning, and sensational pro knockout or referee stoppage of 2012 by a Northern California fighter
 
FINALISTS: Nonito Donaire KO3 Jorge Arce, Nonito Donaire TKO9 Toshiaki Nishioka, Vicente Escobedo TKO1 Lonnie Smith, Karim Mayfield TKO5 Raymond Serrano, Moris Rodriguez KO2 Bret De La Torre, Alan Sanchez TKO1 Artemio Reyes, Andre Ward TKO10 Chad Dawson

PRO TRAINER OF THE YEAR
For the pro trainer based in Northern California who has accomplished the most in 2012 with his/her fighter(s) from both a strategic standpoint and through individual development

FINALISTS: Ben Bautista (San Francisco), Eddie Croft (San Mateo), Max Garcia (Salinas), Ruben Guerrero (Gilroy), Virgil Hunter (Hayward), Rick Noble (Watsonville), Brian Schwartz (San Carlos)

AMATEUR TRAINER OF THE YEAR
For the amateur trainer based in Northern California who has accomplished the most in 2012 with his/her fighter(s) from both a strategic standpoint and through individual development
 
FINALISTS: Ben Bautista (San Francisco), Marcus Caballero (Sacramento), Rob Fernandez (San Francisco), Blanca Gutierrez (Pacifica), Candy Lopez (San Jose), Armando Mancinas (Avenal), Rudy Puga Sr. (Salinas), Gilbert Salazar (Fresno)

COLLEGIATE FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
For the collegiate fighter who has achieved the most success in 2012

FINALISTS: Oscar Gomez (San Jose State), Jay Jimenez (Cal), Juan Ramos (Cal), Nargis Shaghasi (USF), Colin Schmitt (UC Davis)

PROSPECT OF THE YEAR
For the most accomplished pro fighter in 2012 who has not yet won a regional belt (minimum 8 bouts)

FINALISTS: Manuel Avila (Fairfield), Jonathan Chicas (San Francisco), Bruno Escalante (San Carlos), Jonathan Garcia (Watsonville), Oscar Godoy (Watsonville), Brandon Gonzales (Sacramento), Omar Henry (Oakland), Stan Martyniouk (Antelope), Guy Robb (Sacramento), Alan Sanchez (Fairfield)

PRO EVENT OF THE YEAR
For the most entertaining, well-promoted Northern California-based pro show in 2012; main event listed

FINALISTS: Vicente Escobedo-Lonnie Smith (May 12), Otis Griffin-Adam Collins (Aug. 24), Robert Guerrero-Selcuk Aydin (July 28), Yoshihiro Kamegai-Jorge Silva (Oct. 6), Paul Mendez-Lester Gonzalez (Dec. 15), James Page-Rahman Yusubov (Nov. 18), Andre Ward-Chad Dawson (Sept. 8)

AMATEUR EVENT OF THE YEAR
For the most entertaining, well-promoted Northern California-based amateur show in 2012

FINALISTS: Aleman Boxing Independence Day Show (July 7), Beautiful Brawlers 2 (Aug. 25), King’s Gym Holiday Showdown (Dec. 8), Northern California Junior Olympics (Apr. 22), Pacific Ring’s Showdown in Oakland 8 (Nov. 10), United Combat Association’s Battle of the Badges (Mar. 31), Velarde’s T.C. Show (Aug. 11)

CROWD OF THE YEAR
For the pro or amateur venue with the best overall atmosphere and fanbase of 2012

FINALISTS: Aleman Boxing Club (Fresno), Fairfield Sports Complex, HP Pavilion (San Jose), King’s Gym (Oakland), Oracle Arena (Oakland), Pacifica Moose Lodge, S.F. Ring of Fire, Sacramento Doubletree Hotel, Sacramento Four Points by Sheraton, Velarde’s Training Center (Fresno), Woodland Community Center

COMEBACK FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
For the male or female fighter, professional or amateur, who has best overcome adversity away from the ring in 2012 to achieve unexpected success
 
FINALISTS: Glenn Donaire (San Leandro), Robert Guerrero (Gilroy), Stan Martyniouk (Antelope), Carina Moreno (Watsonville), James Page (Pittsburg), Andre Ward (Oakland)

ROLE MODEL OF THE YEAR
For the fighter most exemplary to the Northern California community in 2012

FINALISTS: Vicente Escobedo (Woodland), Robert Guerrero (Gilroy), Ava Knight (Chico), Karim Mayfield (San Francisco), Paul Mendez (Salinas), Andre Ward (Oakland)

UPSET OF THE YEAR
For the most improbable and impactful win by a Northern California underdog in 2012

FINALISTS: Antwon Abron-Joseph Mitchell, Jonathan Alcantara-Walter Sarnoi, Robert Guerrero-Andre Berto, Karim Mayfield-Mauricio Herrera, Melissa McMorrow-Susi Kentikian, Carina Moreno-Susi Kentikian, Moris Rodriguez-Jonathan Chicas, Alan Sanchez-Artemio Reyes

MANAGER/ADVISER OF THE YEAR
For the Northern California-based manager/adviser who has done the most to put his/her fighter(s) in the best position to succeed in 2012 (minimum one show in the region)
 
FINALISTS: Ben Bautista (San Francisco), Eddie Croft (San Mateo), Kathy Garcia (Salinas), Repo Ric (Sacramento), Bob Santos (San Jose/Gilroy), Herb Stone/Johnny Nava (San Francisco)

PRO PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
For the professional promoter who has done the most for Northern California fans in 2012

FINALISTS: Don Chargin/Paco Presents, Golden Boy, Goossen Tutor, O.P.P. Presents, Paul Nave, Uppercut Promotions

AMATEUR PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
For the amateur promoter/gym who has done the most for Northern California fans in 2012

FINALISTS: Aleman Boxing (Fresno), Blanca Gutierrez/BabyFace (Pacifica), Caballero’s B.C. (Sacramento), Pacific Ring Sports (Oakland), United Combat Assocation (California), Velarde’s T.C. (Fresno)

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
For the person in the sport, participant or non-participant, who most deserves recognition for their contribution to Northern California boxing  

FINALISTS: Paris Alexander (San Francisco), Michael Dallas Sr. (Bakersfield), Charles King (Oakland), Candy Lopez (San Jose), Paul Nave (San Rafael)


CSN Bay Area Boxing Insider Ryan Maquiñana is a voting member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and panelist for Ring Magazine’s Ratings Board.  E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com, check out his blog at Norcalboxing.net, or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.



Contact Us