Terence Crawford Eyes Hall of Fame After Second BWAA Fighter of the Year Award

Eddie Hearn sits down with Tris Dixon ahead of Jaron "Boots" Ennis vs Xander Zayas at Barclays Center in New York. Hearn discusses why he believes Ennis can become the best fighter in the world, the future of Matchroom's biggest stars, Anthony Joshua's mindset, Zuffa Boxing, Dana White, Tom Aspinall and more.

Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic come face-to-face ahead of their huge heavyweight clash on August 29 at The O2 Arena. Hrgovic questions Itauma's rapid rise, claiming the British heavyweight has been "given everything," while Itauma fires back and insists he has earned every opportunity. Frank Warren compares the fight to a potential "Hagler-Hearns for heavyweights" as both camps predict fireworks.

Keith Connolly, Filip Hrgovic's manager, discusses Hrgovic's huge showdown with Moses Itauma on August 29, why Team Hrgovic accepted the risk, the game plan for the fight, potential cuts concerns, and what's next if Hrgovic wins. Connolly also talks Richardson Hitchins, Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia, Edgar Berlanga, Zuffa Boxing and teases major upcoming news regarding Teofimo Lopez.

Oscar Collazo speaks ahead of his latest world title defense as the unified minimumweight champion discusses his undisputed ambitions, future weight jumps, potential fights with Kenshiro Teraji and Ricardo Sandoval, the rise of the lower weight classes, and the financial advice he's received from Miguel Cotto.

Eddie Hearn sits down with Tris Dixon ahead of Jaron "Boots" Ennis vs Xander Zayas at Barclays Center in New York. Hearn discusses why he believes Ennis can become the best fighter in the world, the future of Matchroom's biggest stars, Anthony Joshua's mindset, Zuffa Boxing, Dana White, Tom Aspinall and more.

Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic come face-to-face ahead of their huge heavyweight clash on August 29 at The O2 Arena. Hrgovic questions Itauma's rapid rise, claiming the British heavyweight has been "given everything," while Itauma fires back and insists he has earned every opportunity. Frank Warren compares the fight to a potential "Hagler-Hearns for heavyweights" as both camps predict fireworks.

Keith Connolly, Filip Hrgovic's manager, discusses Hrgovic's huge showdown with Moses Itauma on August 29, why Team Hrgovic accepted the risk, the game plan for the fight, potential cuts concerns, and what's next if Hrgovic wins. Connolly also talks Richardson Hitchins, Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia, Edgar Berlanga, Zuffa Boxing and teases major upcoming news regarding Teofimo Lopez.

Oscar Collazo speaks ahead of his latest world title defense as the unified minimumweight champion discusses his undisputed ambitions, future weight jumps, potential fights with Kenshiro Teraji and Ricardo Sandoval, the rise of the lower weight classes, and the financial advice he's received from Miguel Cotto.

NEW YORK - One hundred and one years after heavyweight king Jack Dempsey became the first boxer to win the Boxing Writers’ Association of America Fighter of the Year award, Terence Crawford won it for a second time.

Crawford’s two victories came 11 years apart with his latest being down to his points victory over Canelo Alvarez last September.

The BWAAs were held at the Edison Ballroom just off Times Square last night and Crawford was the headline act, along with Mikaela Mayer, who won the women’s Fighter of the Year.

Brian Kenny hosted and, accepting his award, Crawford said: “I should have won it two other separate times [as well as the two he has won], but at least I got to win and end it [his career] the right way… I’ll see y’all in the Hall of Fame, baby.”

“This is only the beginning of the recognition of his greatness,” said BWAA president Joe Santoliquito.

Former USA Today writer Jon Saraceno won the Nat Fleischer Award for Excellence in Boxing Journalism but could not attend due to poor health. His friend, Wally Matthews, accepted the award in his place, and spoke about some of the great fights he and Saraceno watched from ringside, starring the likes of Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, and Mike Tyson.

BoxRec founder John Sheppard earned the Long and Meritorious award.

“BoxRec is a labor of love,” he said. “I’ve been doing it for 26 years. I love boxing and I love databases. People ask when are you going to retire, but if you do what you love, I’ve been retired for 26 years.”

“The first time I won this was a shocking moment, winning it again is a humbling experience,” he said. “I love boxing and I’m in a room with people who love boxing just as much as I do.”

He also accepted the Fight of the Year Award because neither Chris Eubank Jnr nor Conor Benn - who Connolly manages - were in attendance to accept the recognition of their April war. It was won by Eubank on points seven months before Benn gained revenge in the return.

Trainer Robert Garcia went one better than Connolly and Crawford by capturing his third Trainer of the Year title. He also won last year, and back in 2012.

“It’s another year, I work hard, I dedicate myself to my fighters,” he said. “We work hard and have been disciplined, this year I missed my son’s graduation because of boxing… but to be able to have great fighters we need to have a great team, this is not an award just for me but for my team…. Hopefully see you guys next year.”

Garcia thanked not just those he worked with in the gym, but his fighters and the other coaches in his gym.

Christy Martin gave a speech via video message to accept her Courage Award, which was accepted by biographer and former Boston Globe boxing writer Ron Borges.

Mayer, now with MVP, thanked Top Rank for their help through her career and said she feels like she is in the shape of her life.

“I feel the best is yet to come and I will finish my career fighting the best, challenging the best, and I gave the fans what they want to see,” Mayer said.

The BWAA writing awards were also handed out. This website featured on 21 occasions, with numerous placings and honourable mentions, which brought BoxingScene’s phenomenal BWAA haul to 38 awards over the last two years.