| |
NOMINEE |
THE SKINNY |
| Overrated |
The U.S. Olympic team |
This sweet-natured group of boxers was shaping up to be the biggest juggernaut since the 1984 U.S. team, which won nine gold medals in Los Angeles. Sadly, the 2000 squad, though talented, ran into the increase of stiff competition created by the breakup of the Soviet Union (Khazakistan, anybody?), and won zero golds. |
| Underrated |
Mike Tyson |
All the chaos he created on his world tour obscures an important point: In the current crop of heavyweights, where guys like David Tua and Michael Grant are promoted as world beaters, Iron Mike remains a potent force. |
| Annoying |
Oscar De La Hoya |
After losing two close fights this year, he retreated into his celebrity and, instead of clamoring for rematches, made a pop-leaning record album. This, on top of suing promoter Bob Arum to break his contract, which had made him the richest non-heavyweight and most popular boxer of his time. |
| Breakthrough |
Shane Mosley |
When Sugar Shane beat De La Hoya this summer, boxing dodged another bullet. Not that De La Hoya was a problem. It's just that it had been a while since anybody with fast hands, a big punch and a sweet personality had come onto the scene. |
| Uplifting |
Uplifting? |
I'm sorry. We're talking about boxing, right? |
| MVP |
Lennox Lewis |
The heavyweight champ fought four times in 12 months, not always with pizzazz, but always with professionalism and dignity. |
| Storyline to follow in 2001 |
Lewis-Tyson |
There is only one fight that everybody wants to see: Lewis-Tyson. But rival pay-per-view operators stand firmly in the way. Will the public get what it wants? Does it ever? |
