Nonito Donaire KO of Fernando Montiel Named ‘Knockout of the Year’ by Sports Illustrated

Nonito Donaire KO of Fernando Montiel Named ‘Knockout of the Year’ by Sports Illustrated

Sports Illustrated named Nonito Donaire’s second-round knockout of Fernando Montiel last February 20 as the Knockout of the Year.

This is what Sports Illustrated said about Donaire’s Knock Out moment:

"Yes, Montiel got up from the crushing overhand left that nearly caved in half his face. But he only lasted a few more seconds before the referee stepped in to save him. Couple that with the significance of the matchup — both Donaire and Montiel were pound-for-pound guys going at it in a highly anticipated super bantamweight fight — and Donaire’s savage knockout becomes that much more impressive."


Other winners in SI.com’s Boxing Awards include:

Fighter of the Year:
Andre Ward

Fight of the Year:
Pawel Wolak vs. Delvin Rodriguez I

Comeback Fighter of the Year:
Antonio Tarver

Prospect of the Year:
Gary Russell Jr.

Upset of the Year:
Nobuhiro Ishida KO1 James Kirkland

Round of the Year:
James Kirkland vs. Alfredo Angulo, Round 1

Trainer of the Year:
Robert Garcia

Photo Credit: AP