As we come out of the maddest year in boxing and most people's lives the Birmingham Boxing Column looks at who will be the Bbcolumn’s Boxer of the Year for 2020. With all the Small hall shows being canceled this year it was up to the big promotions and streaming channels to give us our fix of boxing. With Queensberry, Matchroom, and Hennessy Sports Promotions airing shows on their respective channels and with Fight stream and IFL tv streaming on the Internet. Birmingham and Black Country boxing were being very well represented on these shows as Managers Jon Pegg and Errol Johnson helped match pick for the shows. The Column was going to have another hard choice this year.
For the first time, the Column will be giving the fans a voice in who wins the big award, Boxer of the Year. We have picked a few fighters from Birmingham and the Black Country who have fought this year and that have showcased Birmingham’s and the Black Country’s talents.
Boxer of the Year 2020
We have picked five fighters who we think are front runners for the Boxer of the Year award but feel free to choose someone who is not on the list.
In alphabetical order
Rachel Ball. The 29-year-old female fighter from Aldridge grabbed the opportunity that was given to her with both hands by going in the away corner taking on Matchrooms unbeaten hot prospect Shannon Courtenay (27) on one of the fight camp shows at Matchrooms HQ. Ball who had won 5 of her six fights at the time dropped Courtenay in the first round but let the unbeaten fight off the hook which ended in a cracking 8 round contest with Ball getting her hand raised at the end. Ball was then signed by Matchroom to fight for the WBA Bantamweight World title but then after her opponent was injured and her new opponent Jorgelina Guanini couldn’t make Bantamweight, Ball contested for the WBC interim World Super Bantamweight Title on the undercard of Katie Taylor World title fight live on Sky Sports. Ball won convincingly on points winning the title and being the first female fighter to enter the Bbcolumn ‘Hall of Fame’.
Liam Davies. The 24-year-old from Telford was tipped by the Column in 2019 as a Boxer to Watch and would be at least fighting for a Midlands area title this year. The unbeaten fighter who was 7 without defeat at the time went 1 better contesting for the English Bantamweight title live on Sky Sports on a Matchroom show. Davies won the title in style against Sean Cairns as he retired in his corner at the end of the sixth round. This young fighter has a great future ahead of him and the Column can see a British title in his future.
Ben Fields. ‘The 0-Taker’ has got to be one of the most inspirational fighters to come out of the Midlands in recent times. The 31-year-old from Birmingham only turned pro to go on the road as a journeyman but no one told him he was supposed to lose. He has beaten 7 unbeaten fighters which has earned him the nickname ‘The 0-Taker’. Fields fought this year in his first title fight in Derby against Alex Fearon for the Super Lightweight Midlands area title beating him on points in a relentless performance. This inspirational fighter's story is straight out of a movie, coming from the darkest points of life to the heights of fighting for titles. He will be taking on the hard-hitting Kaisee Benjamin for the Welterweight Midlands area title but win or lose this inspirational boxer is worth mentioning.
Brad Foster. The 23-year-old fighter from Litchfield was the 2019 Bbcolumn boxer of the year and has made a big claim for this year. The unbeaten British and Commonwealth Super Bantamweight champ who has had 15 fights winning 13 and drawing 2 was on the first Queensberry promotions show after lockdown taking on the unbeaten 2 time Midlands area champion Jamie’s Beech jr. Foster beat Beech Jr in a cracking contest on points to retain his titles and winning the British title outright. Foster is now looking destined to fight for European and World titles In the near future.
Shakan Pitters. The 31-year-old Birmingham fighter has taken the Light Heavyweight division by storm. Pitters is unbeaten in 14 fights and has claimed the ultimate Boxxer golden robe, the Light Heavyweight English title, and this year the British Light Heavyweight title. Pitters took on Chad Sugden live on Channel 5 with a near-perfect performance beating Sugden convincingly on points. Pitters will be putting his British title on the line against mandatory challenger Craig Richards on the 18th of December and in my eyes if he wins that he will have a great chance of becoming Bbcolumn’s Boxer of the Year 2020.
So here are 5 options for you to choose from but if you want to vote for anyone else please feel free. To make your vote you can either comment on the website or on posts on social media I.E Facebook and Instagram. I look forward to hearing from you all.