Beltway Boxing 2009 -- Beltway Boxer of the Year!

This is the award that made this year-in-review so late in coming. Many of the leading candidates had important bouts late in December that needed to be factored into my decision.

When the smoke cleared,however, one boxer stood out. This man went undefeated, won a regional title, got himself ranked in the world ranks and has continued to make a national name for himself. One well-known boxing writer says he is one of the best prospects of the year. One boxing site called him THE prospect of the year. Yes, he is from the farthest reaches of the Beltway region, but he has represented this area and has earned this title.


Digital's Choice for the 2009 Beltway Boxer of the Year is:

Fernando Guerrero, middleweight, Salisbury, MD (17-0, 14 KO's)

The 23-year-old former amateur standout has positioned himself to do some great things in the middleweight division in 2010. Guerrero went 5-0, three KO's in 2009 and established himself as a franchise boxer, fighting three times in his hometown and drawing crowds of five to eight-thousand for each show. Guerrero fought opponents with a combined won-loss record of 80-25-2 in 2009.

Guerrero captured the interim NABO Middleweight title in front of the 8,000 crowd at Arthur Perdue Stadium in Salisbury and appeared on national TV twice, including his eight-round unanimous decision win over Gabriel Rosado in Salisbury on February 6. Guerrero ended 2009 with a fourth-round nationally-televised TKO victory over Jessie Nicklow on December 18.

Guerrero fought some adversity during those five wins as he was dropped in both the Rosado and Duran victories. However, in some ways, that's what makes Guerrero fun to watch. He is an exciting boxer who will take chances and that makes him fan and TV-friendly. Guerrero was slated to make his fifth appearance on national TV in February, however, a recent press release does not have him on the card anymore.

In a year of solid accomplishments throughout the Beltway region, Fernando Guerrero -- who is now ranked 11th in the world by the WBO -- stood out among the rest.


The Beltway Boxing Fans Choice for Beltway Boxer of the Year is:

Mark "TNT" Tucker -- See Prospect of the Year choice.


Other Boxers Deserving Consideration:

Lamont Peterson, junior welterweight, Washington, DC (27-1, 13 KO's)

The 2008 co-Beltway Boxer of the Year fought only twice in 2009, but they were very important bouts. His April 24 seventh-round stoppage over Willy Blain gave him the interim WBO Junior Welterweight title and earned him a shot at WBO champion Timothy Bradley.

While Peterson fought well in that December 12th bout, Bradley was on top of his game on that evening and Peterson lost by unanimous decision. Peterson is still a force in the 140-pound class and it will be interesting to see how he bounces back.


Tim "Pit Bull" Coleman, junior welterweight, Baltimore, MD (17-1-1, four KO's)

Coleman deserves the award for the Comeback Beltway Boxer of the Year. After fighting nine times in 2007 (and being named BATB's Prospect of the Year), Coleman fought just once in 2008 -- a nationally-televised loss to James De La Rosa in Salisbury, MD. Coleman spent most of 2008 dealing with managerial and training issues.

But 2009 was a different story. Coleman spent a lot of time in England training with Ricky Hatton and fought three times this year. All were strong performances. Coleman looked very sharp in a third-round TKO victory over Carlos Cisneros on April 10 then followed that victory by winning a rematch over the always-tough Martinus Clay.

Coleman ended the year in grand fashion and surprised many in the process by winning the USBA Junior Welterweight title with a 12-round split decision over Mike Arnaoutis in front of a nationally-televised audience in New York City. The victory earned him a number 15 ranking in the IBF and an IBF Title Elimination bout against former world champion Kendall Holt in February. This year could be a banner one for Coleman.