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Finally, wrapping up the year-end reports with …

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1941 POUND-FOR-POUND RANKINGS (Perf Pts listed, with Changes from Prior Year and Number of Years on List in Parens)

1. Henry Armstrong, WBA WW Champion, 2026 (+2) (3)
2. Joe Louis, WBA HW Champion, 1996 (NC) (6)
3. Tony Canzoneri, WBA LW Champion, 19491 (-2) (10)
4. Max Schmeling, EBU HW Champion, 1828 (NC) (9)
5. Tony Zale, WBA MW Champion, 1675 (+2) (2)
6. K. O. Morgan, WBA BW Champion, 1579 (new) (1)
7. Panama Al Brown, BW (No Title), 1570 (-1) (7)
8. Cocoa Kid, LABF WW Champion, 1525 (new) (4)
9. Jersey Joe Walcott, NABF HW Champion, 1490 (NC) (2)
10. Teddy Yarosz, MW (No Title), 1455 (new) (1)

Dropped out from last year:

Johnny King (was #5); Maxie Rosenbloom (was #8); Holman Williams (was #10)

Comments: “Homicide Hank” crosses the 2000 Perf Point barrier and heads the PFP list for the first time. Louis remains at #2, with Canzoneri dropping to third. Cocoa Kid returns to top the list after a year's absence. Brown is the senior member of the group, as his first appearance on the PFP list dates back to 1928. .

YEAR-END AWARDS:

Fighter of the Year: Henry Armstrong

Comments: Once again, the top three contenders for this award are Louis, Armstrong, and the ever-present Tony Canzoneri, with MW Champ Tony Zale garnering some support as well. The fact that Armstrong was able to retain his WBA WW title and then successfully challenge two top 10 MWs when moving up in weight tips the balance in “Homicide Hank” ‘s favor. It is the second time Armstrong has won this honor; he was also named Fighter of the Year for 1939.

Fight of the Year: Tony Canzoneri SD 15 Chino Alvarez (Oct. 11, WBA LW title)

Comments: Another tough call, with three outstanding candidates, all three in WBA title bouts: Zale vs Overlin (MW), June 26 (see post #1296 above), Jurich vs Wolgast (FLY), Nov. 1 (see post #1305 above), and this bout (see post #1303 above). In addition, two ring wars for the NABF LH belt between Archie Moore and Billy Conn (one a SD for Moore and, the other, a draw) were also given strong consideration. This bout garnered top honors by virtue of the fact that the wily veteran Canzoneri, put under extreme pressure, had to rally to win the final two rounds to clinch the win.

Upset of the Year: Tom Smith KO 12 Johnny King (May 24, GBU BW title)

Comment: Not a huge number of big upsets when comparing boxer ratings, so – kind of by default – this bout, ending Johnny King’s reign as GBU BW Champ, takes the prize.

Newcomer of the Year: BW David Kui Kong Young

Comments: A number of strong candidates in this category, including new CBU LH Champ Jack A. Johnson (still unbeaten), WW Jackie Wilson, and Petey Scalzo, who zoomed up the FW ranks with a series of impressive wins. Kui Kong Young is selected based on a solid base of eight straight wins over the past two years, showing some power in defeating a number of top contenders and prospects in the BW division. With an impressive 23-1-1 record, he is yet to taste defeat since reaching his Prime career stage in late 1940.