As in the previous year, 2009 proved to be a challenging time for many families north, and South of the border. As the burden and rigors of everyday life overwhelmed us all, we spent the year in search of an escape, an outlet- anything that could help take our minds off of the current economic struggle. For many Latinos, sports proved to be that outlet. Senator Barbara Boxer said it best last January when she honored the 2008 San Diego Chargers with a statement that was published in the congressional record. In it, she wrote “During difficult economic times, as they face hardships and uncertainty, millions of sports fans across America turn to their hometown teams for solace and inspiration.” Despite the current tumultuous state of Mexican boxing, many Latinos from coast-to-coast turned out in record crowds to lend support to their fighters. For their devotion, and dedication they were rewarded with some of the biggest fights of 2009. 

Top 5 stories in 2009

5.) Changing of the guard? We don’t need no stinking changing of the guard

2009 was supposed to be the year of the changing of the guard. It was to be the year that names such as Victor Ortiz, Juan Diaz, and Alfredo Angulo were to step up and replace some of the older names such as De La Hoya, Marquez, and Mosley. In 2009 Old Guy’s definitely ruled as fighters such as Marquez, Mosley, Klitschko, and Hopkins showed their dominance against younger fighters.

4.) Marquez on the big stage

After living in the shadows of Mexican greats Marco Antonio Barrera, and Erik Morales for most of his career, many were happy to see Juan Manuel Marquez get the nod against the returning Floyd Mayweather Jr. For Marquez it was the fight that he had always dreamed about, on the biggest stage of his career. Despite being a 4-1 underdog, Marquez managed to capture the hearts of Mexican fans everywhere. The fight played out as many suspected it would, with Mayweather being too big, too strong, and too fast for the smaller Marquez. Mayweather would go on to win via unanimous decision, and the fight would go on to generate over a million pay-per-views, thanks to Dinamita’s Mexican fan base.

3.) “The Nightmare” goes for history (September 26, 2009)

Never in the history of boxing has there been a heavyweight champion of Mexican ancestry. 26-year-old Cristobal The Nightmare Arreola was looking to change that when he challenged Vitali Klitschko for the WBC heavyweight title. Entering the fight, many believed that the great brown hope possessed the speed and power to dethrone Klitschko. The fight proved to be a nightmare for Arreola as he was outclassed, and outpunched by a wide margin. Klitschko would go on to connect 301 times to Arreola’s 86 en route to a 10 round TKO victory.

2.) Oscar De La Hoya hangs up the gloves (April 14, 2009)

When boxing historian write about the sport a hundred years from now, the career of Mr. Oscar de la Hoya will certainly receive a prominent chapter.  A ten-time World Champion in six weight divisions, the “Golden Boy” decided to hang up his gloves and retire from the fight game at the age of 36 on April 14, 2009 after a storied career that began at the age of five and that will certainly land him in Canastota’s International Boxing Hall of Fame. “This is the love of my life, boxing is my passion, boxing is what I was born to do,” said De La Hoya, who also won an Olympic Gold Medal in 1992. “When I can’t do it anymore, when I can’t compete at the highest level, it’s not fair. It’s not fair to me, it’s not fair to the fans, it’s not fair to anybody.” Winner of World Championships in every weight class from junior lightweight to middleweight, De La Hoya’s final 39-6 (30 KO’s) record includes fights against a Who’s Who of the sport.

1.) Margo-Cheato (January 24, 2009)

After Antonio Margarito defeated Miguel Cotto on July 26, 2008, in a hellacious battle, many Mexicans believed that they had finally found a successor to Julio Cesar Chavez’s throne. His rise was meteoric, in the months following the Cotto beat down; Margarito had reached rock star status. Everywhere he went he was mobbed by fans, it seemed as though everybody wanted a piece of The Tijuana Tornado, everyone except for the other fighters in the welterweight division. Due to his match with Cotto, Margarito was dubbed as the sport’s most feared fighter; he even appeared on the cover of the November 2008 issue of The Ring Magazine under the caption “Why would anyone want to fight this man?” Last January, Sugar Shane Mosley bravely decided to stand in the eye of the tornado. Coming off a lackluster performance against Ricardo Mayorga, Mosley was seen as a heavy underdog, many even saw Mosley’s challenge of Margarito as a desperate attempt to recapture past glory. In the wake of Margarito’s destruction of Cotto, there were those who even feared for the safety and health of Mosley. It turns out, that people should have feared for the safety and health of Margarito. In front of a record crowd of 20,820 (the biggest crowd in Staples Center history) 36-year-old Mosley turned back the clock and gave Margarito the worst beating of his career, the pounding was so bad that the fight was stopped in the ninth round. The bigger story was discovered before the fight, when Mosley’s trainer Naazim Richardson discovered what appeared to be a plaster of paris like substance in Margarito’s hand wraps. Margarito is currently serving a one-year suspension, and will be able to apply for reinstatement this coming February. 

Juan Manuel Marquez’s masterful ninth round TKO of Juan Diaz is our pick for fight of the year

  Five fights I’d like to see in 2010 other than Mayweather vs. Pacquiao:

 • Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz vs. Humberto Soto  – Lightweights 135 pounds

These two have recently called out the lineal champion Juan Manuel Marquez. With Marquez vacating the lightweight division and moving to Jr. Welterweight, these two should face each other. Having made a recent unsuccessful bid at Jr. Welter, Juan Diaz will drop back down to the lightweight division. A bout vs. Humberto Soto could be just what the Baby Bull needs to get back on top of the lightweight division. Stylistically this would be a match made in heaven. What you would see is two Mexican warriors going toe-to-toe in the center of the ring, reminiscent of the wars between Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales.

•Juan Manuel Marquez vs Paul-ie Malignaggi  Jr. Welterweights 140 pounds

If Marquez is unable to land a bout with Ricky Hatton, than the next best thing would be for him to face Malignaggi. I know what you’re thinking, that this would be a boring fight based on Malignaggi’s style. Technically, I can see the styles of both men meshing, making for an intriguing back-and-forth chess match. A win over Malignaggi would set up a plethora of big fights for Marquez, and would give him the opportunity of competing for a title, and a chance for him to be the first Mexican fighter to win four titles in four different weight classes. Either way, this bout would serve as a great barometer as to whether or not Marquez belongs in the Jr. Welterweight division. (As of press time, a bout between Manny Pacquiao and Paulie Malignaggi was reportedly set to be in the works for March 13.)

• Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito II   Welterweights 147 pounds

Revenge would be the name of the game for Miguel Cotto if he were to rematch Margarito in 2010. Although Cotto has publicly stated that he has no intentions of facing Margarito ever again, money talks, and it’s a match that both Bob Arum and Margarito want. If Margarito wouldn’t have been caught with doctored hand wraps, these two would have met this past June, at Madison Square Garden. I expect Arum to make up for lost time once Margarito comes off of his suspension in a couple of months and push hard for this rematch to happen. If Miguel Cotto really plans on calling it quits in 2010 as he has stated there would be no better way of going out than to defeat the man who robbed him of many years of what could’ve been a legendary career.

•Alfonso Gomez vs. Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez Welterweights 147 pounds

On paper this isn’t a bout that jumps up at you. Many of you might not have even heard of Alvarez, but you will. At just 19-years-old, the man-child known as Canelo is primed to be the next big thing in Boxing. The young man from Jalisco, Mexico has stayed busy this year fighting seven times, winning all seven of those bouts- six by knockout. He’s hungry, and he’ll be looking for a title shot next year. Before he could contend for a title, he will need to be tested, and introduced to the American audience. The Contender alum, Alfonso Gomez would serve to be a stern test for Alvarez. Gomez is riding the wave of a three fight win-streak, and has engaged in some pretty entertaining bouts like his fight against Juan Manuel Buendia this past May. Never ones to shy away from a battle, Gomez and Alvarez could set off fireworks-much to the delight of fight fans everywhere.

• Cristobal “The Nightmare” Arreola vs. David Haye – Heavyweights

A bout between these two could quite possibly be the most exciting heavyweight fight in some time. For Cristobal Arreola a match vs. Haye would also give him the opportunity to compete for Haye’s title, and give him a chance to fulfill his dream of becoming the first heavyweight champion of Mexican descent. There is no doubt that to have any chance against the speedy Haye, Arreola would have to come in much slimmer than the 263 pounds that he carried in his last bout vs. Brian Minto. Might be easier said than done, as Arreola’s weight woes seem to be getting worse. Haye’s promoter Oscar De La Hoya has also expressed interest in this fight, and has stated that he would like for it to take place in Las Vegas.