Top Rank Photographer Wins Major Award

Rafael Soto, Top Rank’s Mexican-based photographer, earned top honors in the Boxing Writers Association of America’s 2010 photo contest, taking a first place in the feature category and second in the action category. He is the only photographer to finish among the top three in both divisions.

Soto and other photographers placing in the top three will be acknowledged at the BWAA’s 86th annual Awards Dinner on May 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Winners of the BWAA’s writing contest, known as the “Barneys” in tribute to a former BWAA president, the late Barney Nagler, also will recognized then, although the final results of that competition have not yet been compiled.

Soto’s first-place entry in feature photography captures the joy of JORGE ARCE and the dejection of Angky Angkota when Arce’s points victory was announced. His second place in action shows ANTONIO MARGARITOclearly getting the worst of it in his bout with MANNY PACQUIAO.

Naoki Fukuda, shooting for RingTV.com, came away with the other first place, in the action categtory, for a shot of Timothy Bradley’s left hand sending a spray of sweat and water off the face of Luis Carlos Abregu.

Tom Hogan, shooting for Golden Boy Promotions, and Chris Cozzone, for Fightnews.com, were second and third, respectively, in the feature category while Emily Harney took third in the action category.

Honorable mentions went to Marty Rosengarten, Chris Farina and Tom Casino in the feature category and Hogan and Will Hart in the action category.

Sarah J. Glover and David Maialetti, staff photographers for Philadelphia Media Network, served as  judges.