Floyd Mayweather won the “Best Fighter” Espy award in 2008. When Mayweather retired from boxing Manny Pacquiao won it the following year.
The Espy’s is an award show where the fans get to vote for their favorite athletes in different award categories. Floyd Mayweather had the fan advantage in the polls giving him the edge over his welterweight rival Manny Pacquiao and UFC welterweight champion Georges “Rush” St-Pierre.
Pacquiao won the BWAA (Boxing Writers Association of America) awards for “Fighter of the Year” and “Fighter of the Decade” which is voted on by members of the BWAA but Mayweather won the popularity vote when he bested Manny Pacquiao for the Espy.
This was interesting situation because Pacquiao is known for his rabid fan base and the stigma surrounding Mayweather was he didn’t have any fans and they only pay to see him lose, tonight’s Espy awards proved otherwise, Mayweather was the fan favorite tonight over Manny Pacquiao.
Did the negative impact of steroid accusations from the Mayweather camp ruin Pacquiao’s image among the fans or were they just more impressed with Floyd Mayweathers dominating performance over Sugar Shane Mosley and not with Pacquiao’s fight against Joshua Clottey?
Do think the right fighter won the award?
Check out the full list of winners below.
Winners are in bold.
BEST MALE ATHLETE
Drew Brees, NFL
Kobe Bryant, NBA
LeBron James, NBA
Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR
Albert Pujols, MLB
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
Maya Moore, NCAA Basketball
Diana Taurasi, WNBA
Lindsey Vonn, Skiing
Serena Williams, Tennis
BEST PLAY
Brian Kownacki, Fordham
Brett Favre, Vikings
Rajon Rondo, Celtics
Mark Buehrle, White Sox
ESPY PERSEVERANCE AWARD
George Karl, Nuggets
BEST CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCE
Drew Brees
Anthony Johnson
Michael Phelps
Shaun White
ARTHUR ASHE COURAGE AWARD
Aplington-Parkersburg (Iowa) High School Ed Thomas' family
BEST BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE
Brittney Griner, Baylor
Chris Johnson, Tennessee
Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
John Wall, Kentucky basketball
BEST COMEBACK
Kim Clijsters, Tennis
BEST RECORD-BREAKING PERFORMANCE
Usain Bolt
Brett Favre
Roger Federer
Connecticut Women's Basketball
Isner vs. Mahut at Wimbledon
BEST UPSET
Frankie Edgar over B.J. Penn, MMA
Hawaii softball upsets #1 Alabama
Northern Iowa shocks No. 1 Kansas, Men's Basketball
Y. E. Yang stuns Tiger Woods, PGA Championship
BEST GAME
Twins beat Tigers in Extra Innings (AL Central One-Game Tiebreak)
Canada edges USA in Olympic hockey championship game in overtime
Duke gets past Butler in Men's NCAA Championship
BEST MOMENT
Phil Mickelson, 2009 Masters
Joannie Rochette, Winter Olympics
New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV
Landon Donovan World Cup vs. Algeria
BEST TEAM
Alabama Football
Chicago Blackhawks
Connecticut Women's Basketball
Los Angeles Lakers
New Orleans Saints
New York Yankees
UNDER PRESSURE AWARD
Sidney Crosby in the Olympic Hockey Gold Medal Game
Brett Favre in his return to Green Bay
Landon Donovan World Cup vs. Algeria
Stephen Strasburg in MLB debut
BEST COLLEGE ATHLETIC PROGRAM
Duke Men's Athletics and Stanford Women's Athletics
BEST SPORTS MOVIE
Big Fan
Invictus
The Blind Side
The Damned United
The Karate Kid
BEST COACH/MANAGER
Geno Auriemma, Connecticut Women's Basketball
Joe Girardi, NY Yankees
Phil Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers
Mike Krzyzewski, Duke Men's Basketball
Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints
Nick Saban, Alabama football
BEST NFL PLAYER
Drew Brees, New Orleans
Brett Favre, Minnesota
Chris Johnson, Tennessee
Peyton Manning, Indianapolis
Darrelle Revis, New York Jets
Charles Woodson, Green Bay
BEST MLB PLAYER
Zach Greinke, Kansas City
Derek Jeter, New York Yankees
Tim Lincecum, San Francisco
Joe Mauer, Minnesota
Albert Pujols, St. Louis
BEST NHL PLAYER
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh
Ryan Miller, Buffalo
Alexander Ovechkin, Washington
Henrik Seden, Vancouver
Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay
BEST DRIVER
Kyle Busch
Dario Franchitti
Ron Hornaday
Jimmie Johnson
Tony Schumacher
BEST NBA PLAYER
Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City
Dwight Howard, Orlando
LeBron James, Cleveland
Dwyane Wade, Miami
BEST WNBA PLAYER
Tamika Catchings, Indiana
Becky Hammon, San Antonio
Lauren Jackson, Seattle
Candace Parker, Los Angeles
Diana Taurasi, Phoenix
BEST FIGHTER
Floyd Mayweather
Manny Pacquiao
Georges St. Pierre
BEST MALE GOLFER
Ernie Els
Phil Mickelson
Tiger Woods
BEST FEMALE GOLFER
Cristie Kerr
Lorena Ochoa
Jiyai Shin
BEST MALE TENNIS PLAYER
Roger Federer
Juan Martin del Potro
Rafael Nadal
BEST FEMALE TENNIS PLAYER
Kim Clijsters
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
BEST MALE COLLEGE ATHLETE
Blake Geoffrion, Wisconsin Hockey
Mark Ingram, Alabama Football
Evan Turner, Ohio State Basketball
John Wall, Kentucky Basketball
Garrett Wittels, Florida International Baseball
BEST FEMALE COLLEGE ATHLETE
Tina Charles, Connecticut Women's Basketball
Megan Hodge, Penn State Volleyball
Megan Lagenfeld, UCLA Softball
Maya Moore, Connecticut Women's Basketball
BEST MALE ACTION SPORT ATHLETE
Bobby Brown, Freestyle Skiing
Ryan Dungey, Motocross
Mick Fanning, Surfer
Garrett Reynolds, BMX
Shaun White, Snowboard
BEST FEMALE ACTION SPORT ATHLETE
Torah Bright, Snowboarding
Ashley Fiolek, Motocross
Jen Hudak, Freestyle Skiing
Stephanie Gilmore, Surfing
Ashleigh McIvor, Freestyle Skiing
BEST JOCKEY
Calvin Borel
Julien Leparoux
Mike Smith
BEST MALE ATHLETE WITH A DISABILITY
Steve Cash
Rudy Garcia-Tolson
Andy Soule
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE WITH A DISABILITY
Linnea Dohring
Alana Nichols
Amy Palmiero-Winters
Stephani Victor
BEST BOWLER
Kelly Kulick
Bill O'Neill
Walter Ray Williams Jr.
BEST MALE US OLYMPIC ATHLETE
Apolo Anton Ohno, Speedskating
Shani Davis, Speedskating
Evan Lysacek, Figure Skating
Bode Miller, Skiing
Shaun White, Snowboarding
BEST FEMALE US OLYMPIC ATHLETE
Hannah Kearney, Skiing
Julia Mancuso, Skiing
Lindsey Vonn, Skiing
BEST MLS PLAYER
Connor Casey, Colorado
Jeff Cunningham, Dallas
Landon Donovan, Los Angeles
Shalrie Joseph, New England
Kasey Keller, Seattle
BEST TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE
Usain Bolt
Allyson Felix
Sanya Richards
Winners are in bold.
BEST MALE ATHLETE
Drew Brees, NFL
Kobe Bryant, NBA
LeBron James, NBA
Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR
Albert Pujols, MLB
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
Maya Moore, NCAA Basketball
Diana Taurasi, WNBA
Lindsey Vonn, Skiing
Serena Williams, Tennis
BEST PLAY
Brian Kownacki, Fordham
Brett Favre, Vikings
Rajon Rondo, Celtics
Mark Buehrle, White Sox
ESPY PERSEVERANCE AWARD
George Karl, Nuggets
BEST CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCE
Drew Brees
Anthony Johnson
Michael Phelps
Shaun White
ARTHUR ASHE COURAGE AWARD
Aplington-Parkersburg (Iowa) High School Ed Thomas' family
BEST BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE
Brittney Griner, Baylor
Chris Johnson, Tennessee
Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
John Wall, Kentucky basketball
BEST COMEBACK
Kim Clijsters, Tennis
BEST RECORD-BREAKING PERFORMANCE
Usain Bolt
Brett Favre
Roger Federer
Connecticut Women's Basketball
Isner vs. Mahut at Wimbledon
BEST UPSET
Frankie Edgar over B.J. Penn, MMA
Hawaii softball upsets #1 Alabama
Northern Iowa shocks No. 1 Kansas, Men's Basketball
Y. E. Yang stuns Tiger Woods, PGA Championship
BEST GAME
Twins beat Tigers in Extra Innings (AL Central One-Game Tiebreak)
Canada edges USA in Olympic hockey championship game in overtime
Duke gets past Butler in Men's NCAA Championship
BEST MOMENT
Phil Mickelson, 2009 Masters
Joannie Rochette, Winter Olympics
New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV
Landon Donovan World Cup vs. Algeria
BEST TEAM
Alabama Football
Chicago Blackhawks
Connecticut Women's Basketball
Los Angeles Lakers
New Orleans Saints
New York Yankees
UNDER PRESSURE AWARD
Sidney Crosby in the Olympic Hockey Gold Medal Game
Brett Favre in his return to Green Bay
Landon Donovan World Cup vs. Algeria
Stephen Strasburg in MLB debut
BEST COLLEGE ATHLETIC PROGRAM
Duke Men's Athletics and Stanford Women's Athletics
BEST SPORTS MOVIE
Big Fan
Invictus
The Blind Side
The Damned United
The Karate Kid
BEST COACH/MANAGER
Geno Auriemma, Connecticut Women's Basketball
Joe Girardi, NY Yankees
Phil Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers
Mike Krzyzewski, Duke Men's Basketball
Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints
Nick Saban, Alabama football
BEST NFL PLAYER
Drew Brees, New Orleans
Brett Favre, Minnesota
Chris Johnson, Tennessee
Peyton Manning, Indianapolis
Darrelle Revis, New York Jets
Charles Woodson, Green Bay
BEST MLB PLAYER
Zach Greinke, Kansas City
Derek Jeter, New York Yankees
Tim Lincecum, San Francisco
Joe Mauer, Minnesota
Albert Pujols, St. Louis
BEST NHL PLAYER
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh
Ryan Miller, Buffalo
Alexander Ovechkin, Washington
Henrik Seden, Vancouver
Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay
BEST DRIVER
Kyle Busch
Dario Franchitti
Ron Hornaday
Jimmie Johnson
Tony Schumacher
BEST NBA PLAYER
Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City
Dwight Howard, Orlando
LeBron James, Cleveland
Dwyane Wade, Miami
BEST WNBA PLAYER
Tamika Catchings, Indiana
Becky Hammon, San Antonio
Lauren Jackson, Seattle
Candace Parker, Los Angeles
Diana Taurasi, Phoenix
BEST FIGHTER
Floyd Mayweather
Manny Pacquiao
Georges St. Pierre
BEST MALE GOLFER
Ernie Els
Phil Mickelson
Tiger Woods
BEST FEMALE GOLFER
Cristie Kerr
Lorena Ochoa
Jiyai Shin
BEST MALE TENNIS PLAYER
Roger Federer
Juan Martin del Potro
Rafael Nadal
BEST FEMALE TENNIS PLAYER
Kim Clijsters
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
BEST MALE COLLEGE ATHLETE
Blake Geoffrion, Wisconsin Hockey
Mark Ingram, Alabama Football
Evan Turner, Ohio State Basketball
John Wall, Kentucky Basketball
Garrett Wittels, Florida International Baseball
BEST FEMALE COLLEGE ATHLETE
Tina Charles, Connecticut Women's Basketball
Megan Hodge, Penn State Volleyball
Megan Lagenfeld, UCLA Softball
Maya Moore, Connecticut Women's Basketball
BEST MALE ACTION SPORT ATHLETE
Bobby Brown, Freestyle Skiing
Ryan Dungey, Motocross
Mick Fanning, Surfer
Garrett Reynolds, BMX
Shaun White, Snowboard
BEST FEMALE ACTION SPORT ATHLETE
Torah Bright, Snowboarding
Ashley Fiolek, Motocross
Jen Hudak, Freestyle Skiing
Stephanie Gilmore, Surfing
Ashleigh McIvor, Freestyle Skiing
BEST JOCKEY
Calvin Borel
Julien Leparoux
Mike Smith
BEST MALE ATHLETE WITH A DISABILITY
Steve Cash
Rudy Garcia-Tolson
Andy Soule
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE WITH A DISABILITY
Linnea Dohring
Alana Nichols
Amy Palmiero-Winters
Stephani Victor
BEST BOWLER
Kelly Kulick
Bill O'Neill
Walter Ray Williams Jr.
BEST MALE US OLYMPIC ATHLETE
Apolo Anton Ohno, Speedskating
Shani Davis, Speedskating
Evan Lysacek, Figure Skating
Bode Miller, Skiing
Shaun White, Snowboarding
BEST FEMALE US OLYMPIC ATHLETE
Hannah Kearney, Skiing
Julia Mancuso, Skiing
Lindsey Vonn, Skiing
BEST MLS PLAYER
Connor Casey, Colorado
Jeff Cunningham, Dallas
Landon Donovan, Los Angeles
Shalrie Joseph, New England
Kasey Keller, Seattle
BEST TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE
Usain Bolt
Allyson Felix
Sanya Richards
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