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Thursday, January 30, 2014

2013 Northern California Boxing Awards: Vote Now!

Andre Ward returned in November to defeat Edwin Rodriguez. 
Is he NorCal Fighter of the Year?
Northern California boxing endured a rocky 2013, and the locals will remember the year for the scene's early pitfalls and gradual resurgence.

In the pro game, several fighters lost their grip on their world titles with only Andre Ward and Melissa McMorrow maintaining their possession of world championship gold, but several up-and-coming prospects emerged. (Our definition of a NorCal fighter is one who resides in and represents any city from Bakersfield to the northern border.)

The amateur ranks in Region 11, the area encompassing Northern and Central California, saw a youth movement take hold. Several locals made waves in the Junior Olympic division.

It is time to recognize the tremendous efforts of those involved by announcing the finalists for Norcalboxing.com's 3rd Annual NorCal Boxing Awards.

RELATED: [PAST AWARD WINNERS FROM 2011 AND 2012]


Fans, here’s your chance to be heard by VOTING on any or all of the categories below. You can vote as many times as you like.

The finalist in each category that ends up with the most readers' support will earn one composite vote that will count in the final tally along with the individual votes from our media panel.

EXAMPLE: If Melissa McMorrow and Ava Knight ended up with seven votes apiece among the media panel for Role Model of the Year, then the readers’ choice would end up being the tiebreaker, since it would count for one whole vote.

Voting ends TUESDAY, FEB. 4, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Good luck to all the finalists!

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MALE PRO FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
Nonito Donaire Jr. (San Leandro)
Bruno Escalante (San Carlos)
Brandon Gonzales (Sacramento)
Karim Mayfield (San Francisco)
Paul Mendez (Salinas)
Alejandro Perez (North Salinas)
Andre Ward (Oakland)
poll creator

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FEMALE PRO FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
Ana Julaton (Daly City)
Ava Knight (Chico)
Melissa McMorrow (San Francisco)
Martha Salazar (Pacifica)
Poll Maker

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MALE AMATEUR FIGHTER OF THE YEAR (ELITE)
Leon Brown (Richmond)
Eros Correa (San Jose)
Jasper McCargo (Oakland)
Edwin Sandoval (Bakersfield)
Daniel Thomas (Concord)
Poll Maker

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FEMALE AMATEUR FIGHTER OF THE YEAR (ELITE)
Marlen Esparza (San Carlos)
Raquel Miller (San Francisco)
Jamie Mitchell (Pacific Grove)
Casey Morton (San Francisco)
Poll Maker

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MALE AMATEUR FIGHTER OF THE YEAR (YOUTH)
Izaiah Bautista (San Francisco)
Joseph Cuellar (Tulare)
Amisael Jimenez (Sacramento)
Aaron Katzman (Menlo Park)
Suray Mahmutovic (Daly City)
Isidro Ochoa (Fresno)
Angel Rios (Sacramento)
Evan Sanchez (Fresno)
Charlie Sheehy (South San Francisco)
Brandon Trejo (Napa)
Ruben "Dracula" Villa (Salinas)
Poll Maker

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FEMALE AMATEUR FIGHTER OF THE YEAR (YOUTH) 
Odalys Camacho (Bakersfield)
Iris Contreras (Corte Madera)
Martha Fabela (Oakland)
Marisol Lopez (Stratford)
Katrina Nahe (Antioch)
Graciela Ortega (Sacramento)
Poll Maker

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PRO FIGHT OF THE YEAR
John Abella (Sacramento) TKO4 Christian Cartier
Benjamin Briceno (San Leandro) MD4 Mario Ayala (Sacramento)
Nonito Donaire Jr. (San Leandro) TKO9 Vic Darchinyan
Bruno Escalante (San Carlos) MD8 Joseph Rios
Paul Mendez (Salinas) D10 Louis Rose
Martha Salazar (Pacifica) UD6 Sonya Lamonakis
Poll Maker

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AMATEUR FIGHT OF THE YEAR
Marlen Esparza (San Carlos) dec. Virginia Fuchs
Katrina Nahe (Antioch) dec. Odalys Camacho (Bakersfield)
Leshawn Rodriguez dec. Daniel Thomas (Concord)
Queen Underwood dec. Stalacia Leggett (Alameda)
Joshua Zydonis (San Francisco) dec. Joe Ryley (San Francisco)
Poll Maker

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PRO ROUND OF THE YEAR
Benjamin Briceno (San Leandro) vs. Mario Ayala (Sacramento) - Rd. 4
Jonathan Chicas (San Francisco) vs. Adolfo Landeros - Rd. 2
Bruno Escalante (San Carlos) vs. Michael Ruiz Jr. (Fresno) - Rd. 5
Paul Mendez (Salinas) vs. Louis Rose - Rd. 8
Darwin Price (Salinas) vs. Luis Sanchez - Rd. 1
Poll Maker

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PRO KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR
Jonathan Chicas (San Francisco) KO2 Rodolfo Armenta
Nonito Donaire Jr. (San Leandro) TKO9 Vic Darchinyan
Bruno Escalante (San Carlos) KO2 Christian Salgado
Karim Mayfield (San Francisco) TKO8 Christopher Hernandez
Alejandro Perez (North Salinas) KO7 Edgar Riovalle
Jose Ramirez (Avenal) KO1 Eric Hernandez
Poll Maker

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PRO TRAINER OF THE YEAR
Ben Bautista (San Francisco)
Eddie Croft (San Mateo)
Max Garcia (Salinas)
Virgil Hunter (Hayward)
Al LaGardo (Vacaville)
Brian Schwartz/Mike Bazzel (San Carlos)
free polls

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AMATEUR TRAINER OF THE YEAR
Ben Bautista (San Francisco)
Rob Fernandez (San Francisco)
Armando Mancinas (Avenal)
Angelo Merino (San Francisco)
Oscar Ortiz (Napa)
Rudy Puga (Salinas)
Miguel Rios (Brisbane)
Omar Sanchez (Fresno)
Gary Sullenger (Concord)
Poll Maker

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MALE COLLEGIATE FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
Oscar Gomez (San Jose State)
Evan Kamei (Cal)
Fabian Rivera (UC Davis)
Gabriel Sanchez (San Jose State)
Colin Schmitt (UC Davis)
free online polls

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FEMALE COLLEGIATE FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
Adrianna Boursalian (USF)
Nargis Shaghasi (USF)
Poll Maker

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PRO PROSPECT OF THE YEAR
Manuel "Tino" Avila (Fairfield)
Aaron Coley (Hayward)
Jonathan Garcia (Watsonville)
Stan Martyniouk (Antelope)
Jose Ramirez (Avenal)
Aldwayne Simpson (Richmond)
Guy Robb (Sacramento)
Andy Vences (San Jose)
Poll Maker

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PRO EVENT OF THE YEAR
Manuel "Tino" Avila vs. Jose Angel Cota (Redwood City SportsHouse)
Juan Carlos Burgos vs. Yakubu Amidu (Thunder Valley Casino)
Aaron Coley vs. Mike Alexander (Placer County Fairgrounds)
Bruno Escalante vs. Michael Ruiz Jr. (Redwood City SportsHouse)
Stan Martyniouk vs. David Rodela (Woodlake Sacramento Red Lion Hotel)
Paul Mendez vs. Dashon Johnson (Redwood City Fox Theater)
free polls

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AMATEUR EVENT OF THE YEAR
Aleman Boxing's Independence Day (Fresno)
Battle at the Kennel #4 (San Leandro)
Beautiful Brawlers III (Pacifica)
California Silver Gloves at Rock Boxing (Salinas)
Georgie Duke Fiesta Days (Vacaville)
King's Gym Anniversary Show (Oakland)
LA Boxing Cornfest (Brentwood)
NorCal Silver Gloves at Ring of Fire (Brisbane)
Pacific Ring Sports Showdown in Oakland #10
Third Street Gym's Friday Night Fights (San Francisco)
Poll Maker

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CROWD OF THE YEAR
Aleman Boxing (Fresno)
Fox Theater (Redwood City)
Pacific Ring Sports (Oakland)
Placer County Fairgrounds (Roseville)
Rock Boxing (Salinas)
SportsHouse (Redwood City)
Woodlake Red Lion Hotel (Sacramento)
Poll Maker

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COMEBACK FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
Jonathan Chicas (San Francisco)
Ricardo Pinell (San Francisco)
Martha Salazar (Pacifica)
Andre Ward (Oakland)
Poll Maker

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SY SHERMAN ROLE MODEL OF THE YEAR
Nonito Donaire Jr. (San Leandro)
Bruno Escalante (San Carlos)
Robert Guerrero (Gilroy)
Ava Knight (Chico)
Melissa McMorrow (San Francisco)
Carina Moreno (Watsonville)
Andre Ward (Oakland)
Poll Maker

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UPSET OF THE YEAR
Brandon Gonzales D10 Thomas Oosthuizen
Alejandro Perez UD10 Art Hovhannisyan
Daniel Thomas dec. Jonathan Esquivel (amateur)
Richard Torrez dec. Elijah Green (amateur)
Poll Maker

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MANAGER/ADVISER OF THE YEAR
Laron Mayfield/Marlon Sullivan
Rick Mirigian
Repo Ric
Bob Santos
Herb Stone
Kathy Garcia
Poll Maker

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PRO PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Don Chargin/Paco Presents
Golden Boy Promotions
O.P.P. Presents
Thompson Boxing
Uppercut Promotions
Poll Maker

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AMATEUR PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Frank Aleman (Fresno)
Marcus Caballero (Sacramento)
Eddie Croft (San Mateo)
Joseph Garcia (Brentwood)
Roberto Garcia (Oakland)
Blanca Gutierrez (Pacifica)
James Jimenez (Salinas)
Arvin Jugarap (San Leandro)
Charles/Celeste King (Oakland)
Angelo Merino (San Francisco)
Gary Sullenger (Concord)
John Velarde (Fresno)
Paul Wade (San Francisco)
United Combat Association
Poll Maker

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LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Paris Alexander (San Francisco)
Nonito Donaire Sr. (San Leandro)
Candy Lopez (San Jose)
Michael Hodgins (Fresno)
Oscar Ortiz (Napa)
Poll Maker