Fighters Who Had an Outstanding Year, but didn't win 'Fighter of the Year'?

Bob Foster in 1972.

Larry Holmes in 1978.

 

Ezzard Charles in 1947. Gus Lesnevich won it on merit of wins over Tami Mauriello (twice), Billy Fox and Melio Bettina. Charles in 1947 beat Lloyd Marshall, Jimmy Bivins, Fritzie Fitzpatrick (twice), Archie Moore and by the judgement of most at ringside, Elmer Ray. He was also the number one, and highly avoided, contender go Lesnevich himself who refused to fight him.

Charles should've won it IMO.

 

Personally I thought Sor Rungvisai beating Chocolatito twice was enough to earn him Fighter of the Year 2017.

 

Kid Gavilan beat Tiger Jones, Carmen Basilio, Chuck Davey, and Johnny Bratton in 1953, despite having 1 loss out of 10 fights that year. I think that could have gotten him Fighter of the Year instead of Bobo Olsen (who would later beat Gavilan the following year).

 

I had him losing the first match. That could've played a part.

 

Lennox Lewis lost out to Tito Trinidad in the year 2000. Thought he'd be awarded with wins over Grant, Botha and Tua but Trinidad had a tremendous year beating Reid, Thiam and Vargas (combined record 67-1).

 

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2008 Antonio Margarito- beat better fighters than Pac.

 

I'd have probably given it to Donaire instead of Marquez in 2012.

 

1977 - Saensak Muangsurin defended his jr. welterweight title 6 times against quality opposition (Monroe Brooks, Ishimatsu Suzuki, Perico Fernandez, Mike Everett, Saoul Mamby and Jo Kimpuani). Ring mag gave it to Carlos Zarate who fought Alfonso Zamora, Juan Rodriguez and Danilio Batista. Only the Zamora fight was a good win, the other two were nothing.

To put it in perspective, do you know how many years it would take Gary Russell to defend his title 6 times? The answer is 6 years.

 

Also,

1973 - Antonio Cervantes - Defended his 140 lb. title 5 times against Josue Marquez, Nicolino Loche, Alfonso Frazer, Carlos Gimenez and Lion Furuyama and also threw in a couple of non-title wins to boot. The heavyweight loving Ring mag gave it to Foreman for blowing away Joe Frazier and journeyman Joe Roman. That was a shame.

 

I'll go with a couple light heavys.

Matt Franklin in 1979 - Winning the light heavyweight title in an epic fight with Marvin Johnson and defending it in an epic fight John Conteh ... both all-time great fights. Leonard won for beating a bunch of knockovers and Benitez.

Michael Spinks in 1985 - Becoming the first world light heavyweight champion to beat the world heavyweight champion. For some reason, they gave co-winner awards to Curry for beating McCrory in two rounds and Hagler for beating Hearns, who was moving up, in three. They didn't give it to the guy who moved up two divisions and went 15 rounds and defeated the undefeated champion with 20 title defenses and an eight-year reign and accomplished something that never happened in boxing history. Insane.

 

In what world are Pops and Conteh ATGs?