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1950 YEAR-END PFP RANKINGS (based on Perf Points, with change from last year, number of years on list, first year on list in parens)

1. Joe Louis, HW (WBA Champion), 2419 (NC) (14) (1936)
2. Archie Moore, LH-HW (WBA Champion, NABF HW Champ), 2004 (NC) (5) (1944)
3. Ike Williams, LW (WBA Champion), 1920 (+3) (3) (1948)
4. Dave Sands, MW (WBA Champion), 1765 (+4) (2) (1949)
5. Jimmy Sherrer, WW (WBA Champion), 1704 (new) (1951)
6. Ray Robinson, MW, 1616 (+3) (6) (1946)
7. Holman Williams, MW, 1585 (new) (5) (1940)
8. Willie Pep, FW (WBA Champion), 1580 (+2) (2) (1949)
9. Joe Brown, LW (NABF Champion), 1551 (new) (1) (1950)
10. Jake LaMotta, MW, 1546 (new) (2) (1948)

Dropped Out from Last Year:

Charley Burley, MW (was #4)
Henry Armstrong, WW (was #5), retired
Bob Montgomery, LW (was #7)
Marcel Cerdan, MW (was #10)

Re-entry from Prior Years:

Holman Williams, MW (last #3, 1944)
Jake LaMotta, MW (last #8, 1948)

Comments: Louis retained the top spot in the PFP rankings for the 10th consecutive year, and, once again, six of the eight WBA titleholders make the list (with only thte BW and FLY divisions not represented). LH Champ Archie Moore has announced a move up to HW, so that WBA belt is likely to be vacated in early 1951. All-time great Henry Armstrong fell off the list after a 10-year run in the PFP rankings. Jake LaMotta and aging vet Holman Williams made their way back on to the list, which means there are now four MWs compared to just two HWs (counting Moore among the higher weight class at this point).

ANNUAL YEAR-END AWARDS

FIGHTER OF THE YEAR: Jimmy Sherrer
FIGHT OF THE YEAR: Ike Williams KO 14 Joe Brown (for WBA LW title) (Dec. 16, see post #1648)
TOP NEWCOMER: Rocky Marciano (HW)
UPSET OF THE YEAR: Laurent Dauthuille KO 5 Marcel Cerdan (for EBU MW title) (Aug. 12, see post #1636)
COMEBACK FIGHTER OF THE YEAR: Dave Sands (MW)

Comments:

As in recent years, there were a number of candidates for Fighter of the Year honors, but the nod went to Sherrer, who ended the career of all-time great Henry Armstrong, then went on the defend three times, often versus top contenders, in particular Kid Gavilan, then wrapped up his 1950 campaign with a first round blowout of Tippy Larkin. Other strong candidates include Joe Louis, Willie Pep, Ike Williams and Fernando Gagnon, who retained their respective WBA titles while extending long unbeaten streaks.

Once again, there were several strong contenders for the Fight of the Year honors, including Sherrer’s conquest of Armstrong (see post #1622) and a couple of regional title bouts, notably Peter Kane taking a split duke over Maurice Sandeyron for the EBU Flyweight title (see post #1641) and Norm Gent coming off the deck to retain the Commonwealth LW title versus countryman Vic Patrick (see post #1644). However, a dramatic WBA LW title clash which saw both fighters being knocked down that ended in a 14th round KO earned top honors.

For Top Newcomer, it is hard to argue with the selection of HW Rocky Marciano who, despite winning even a regional title, managed to wrap up his Pre-Prime stage with a perfect 20-0 (20) record, including wins over some solid fighters, including “Tampa” Tommy Gomez, John Holman, Roland LaStarza, Phil Muscato and Pat Comiskey. In the absence of Marciano’s rapid ascent up the HW ranks, the honor might go to others, including LW Phil Kim (19-0-1 career start), LH Yvonne Durelle (17-0 career start) or two guys who won regional titles: Commonwealth FW Champion Keith Francis or his countryman, OPBF BW Champ Elley Bennett.

Upset of the Year went to Dauthuille’s shock KO win over former WBA Champ and long-time EBU MW titleholder Marcel Cerdan; despite Cerdan’s being at Post-Prime, it’s unusual to see a “6” rated fighter take out a “12.” Other candidates were Holman Williams' shocking win (by DQ) over "Sugar" Ray Robinson for the WBA MW title (see post #1626), and Black Pico's TKO win versus Teddy Gardner for the WBA Fly title (see post #1645).

Comeback Fighter of the Year goes to Sands, who bounced back to capture the WBA MW title for the second time. Other possible recipients of the honor include FW Tsuneo Horiguchi, who regained the OPBF FW title and then made two successful defenses; BW Manuel Ortiz, a former WBA Champion who bounced back to claim the NABF BW title and the #1 contender spot; and Flyweight Peter Kane, another former WBA Champ who went 4-0 during the year, scooping up three regional titles in the process.