The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year

The Ring was established in 1922. Since 1928, it has named a fighter as Fighter of the Year, based on the magazine's writers' criteria. This award is a gold and silver medal given to the boxer, who, during the year previous, has by his conduct and fighting qualities "earned the esteem of the sports public." The four points which originally governed the award were:

• He must be foremost in his contribution to the skill and the science of boxing and he need not be a champion.
• The recipient must combine with his high place in the ranking of fighters a similar position as a sportsman.
• He must associate with the abilities as a fighter good public relations and a reputation for clean and moral living.
• The boxer receiving the award must be recognized as an example to the growing youth.

Here is a list of Ring magazine's Fighters of the Year:

Fighters of the Year by decade

1920s

• 1928 – Gene Tunney
• 1929 – Tommy Loughran

1930s

Barney Ross

• 1930 – Max Schmeling
• 1931 – Tommy Loughran (2)
• 1932 – Jack Sharkey
• 1933 – no award was given
• 1934 – Tony Canzoneri and Barney Ross
• 1935 – Barney Ross (2)
• 1936 – Joe Louis
• 1937 – Henry Armstrong
• 1938 – Joe Louis (2)
• 1939 – Joe Louis (3)

1940s

• 1940 – Billy Conn
• 1941 – Joe Louis (4)
• 1942 – Sugar Ray Robinson
• 1943 – Fred Apostoli
• 1944 – Beau Jack
• 1945 – Willie Pep
• 1946 – Tony Zale
• 1947 – Gus Lesnevich
• 1948 – Ike Williams
• 1949 – Ezzard Charles

1950s

• 1950 – Ezzard Charles (2)
• 1951 – Sugar Ray Robinson (2)
• 1952 – Rocky Marciano
• 1953 – Bobo Olson
• 1954 – Rocky Marciano (2)
• 1955 – Rocky Marciano (3)
• 1956 – Floyd Patterson
• 1957 – Carmen Basilio
• 1958 – Ingemar Johansson
• 1959 – Ingemar Johansson (2)

1960s

Muhammad Ali, who was named 'fighter of the year' more times than any other fighter. Was not awarded the honor in 1966 due to draft controversy. Ali won the award five times in total.

• 1960 – Floyd Patterson (2)
• 1961 – Joe Brown
• 1962 – Dick Tiger
• 1963 – Cassius Clay (aka Muhammad Ali)
• 1964 – Emile Griffith
• 1965 – Dick Tiger (2)
• 1966 – no award was given
• 1967 – Joe Frazier
• 1968 – Nino Benvenuti
• 1969 – José Nápoles

1970s

• 1970 – Joe Frazier (2)
• 1971 – Joe Frazier (3)
• 1972 – Muhammad Ali (2) and Carlos Monzón
• 1973 – George Foreman
• 1974 – Muhammad Ali (3)
• 1975 – Muhammad Ali (4)
• 1976 – George Foreman (2)
• 1977 – Carlos Zarate
• 1978 – Muhammad Ali (5)
• 1979 – Sugar Ray Leonard

1980s

• 1980 – Thomas Hearns
• 1981 – Sugar Ray Leonard (2) and Salvador Sánchez
• 1982 – Larry Holmes
• 1983 – Marvin Hagler
• 1984 – Thomas Hearns (2)
• 1985 – Marvin Hagler (2) and Donald Curry
• 1986 – Mike Tyson
• 1987 – Evander Holyfield
• 1988 – Mike Tyson (2)
• 1989 – Pernell Whitaker

1990s

• 1990 – Julio César Chávez
• 1991 – James Toney
• 1992 – Riddick Bowe
• 1993 – Michael Carbajal
• 1994 – Roy Jones Jr.
• 1995 – Oscar De La Hoya
• 1996 – Evander Holyfield (2)
• 1997 – Evander Holyfield (3)
• 1998 – Floyd Mayweather Jr.
• 1999 – Paulie Ayala

2000s

• 2000 – Félix Trinidad
• 2001 – Bernard Hopkins
• 2002 – Vernon Forrest
• 2003 – James Toney (2)
• 2004 – Glen Johnson
• 2005 – Ricky Hatton
• 2006 – Manny Pacquiao
• 2007 – Floyd Mayweather Jr. (2)
• 2008 – Manny Pacquiao (2)
• 2009 – Manny Pacquiao (3)

2010s

• 2010 – Sergio Gabriel Martinez
• 2011 – Andre Ward
• 2012 – Nonito Donaire
• 2013 – Gennady Golovkin
• 2014 – Sergei Kovalev

See also

• BWAA Fighter of the Year
• Best Boxer ESPY Award and its successor, Best Fighter ESPY Award
• Ring magazine Fight of the Year
• Ring Magazine knockouts of the year

References

• "Past winners of THE RING year-end awards". The Ring. December 19, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
• "Nonito Donaire is voted Fighter of the Year for 2012".