Press Release: From the office of WBC President Jose Sulaiman:

WBC NOMINATIONS FOR “THE BEST OF 2008” AWARDS

BOXER OF THE YEAR

* Vitali Klitschko , Ukraine . Came back as WBC Emeritus Champion after four years away from the ring to categorically defeat WBC world champion Samuel Peter to regain the WBC heavyweight championship of the world.

* Manny Pacquiao, Philippines. Won the WBC super featherweight world championship in a dramatic fight against Juan Manuel Marquez in March, and won the WBC lightweight championship of the world three months later with an spectacular knockout against David Diaz. Capped it off with a domination of Oscar de la Hoya.

* Edgar Sosa , Mexico . The most active champion with four title defenses in 2008, including the spectacular knockout in seven rounds against mandatory contender Juanito Rubillar.

FIGHT OF THE YEAR

* Israel Vazquez vs. Juan Manuel Marquez. The third fight, after two great previous battles, was a dramatic war between two great champions with Vazquez winning the fight by decision with a twelfth-round knockdown. [Editor's note: I must have missed Juan Manuel Marquez fighting Israel Vazquez. Maybe the WBC can send us some tape].

* Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez. A great fight between two great champions, full of emotion and drama.

* Vitali Klitschko vs. Samuel Peter. One of the greatest exhibitions by heavyweight champions in the history of boxing in a highly expected event.

 MOST DRAMATIC FIGHT

* Oscar Larios vs. Takahiro Aoh. A dramatic fight in Japan between the veteran Larios and the challenger Aoh.

* Chad Dawson vs. Glen Johnson. A great fight for the WBC light heavyweight championship.

* Edgar Sosa vs. Juanito Rubillar.  A bloodied Sosa showed his courage and knocked out Rubillar in 7  seven rounds.

KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR

* Vic Darchynian KO9 Cristian Mijares. Darchinyan knocked out the solid champion.

* David Haye TKO2 Enzo Maccarinelli. Haye wins unification fight.

* Manny Pacquiao TKO9 David Diaz. Pacquiao conquered the lightweight championship with a dramatic knockout.

* Antonio Pitalua KO6 Armando Santa Cruz . Pitalua demolishes Santa Cruz to win the mandatory position in the WBC lightweight division.

GREATEST PROMOTION OF THE YEAR

* Samuel Peter vs. Oleg Maskaev. The first heavyweight championship bout ever held in Mexico in paradisiacal Cancun , with the atmosphere of the bullring through the cameras of HBO.

* Samuel Peter vs. Vitali Klitschko. The greatest production shown in a telecast with spectacular camera angle in the O2 Arena from Berlin, Germany .