BWAA “Barneys” Photo Awards Announced

Naoki Fukuda, who shoots for RINGTV.com, was the biggest individual winner in the Boxing Writers Association of America photography contest, known as the “Barneys” in honor of the late BWAA president, Barney Nagler.

Along with those placing in the BWAA writing contest, the photographers whose work was judged mostly highly by the photo staff of the judges, from Philadelphia Media Holdings, will be recognized at the 87th annual BWAA Awards Dinner on June 6 at the Copacabana in New York City.

Fukuda took first place in the Action Photo category, for a shot of a face-contorting punch landed by Erislandy Lara against Paul Williams in their July 9, 2011, bout in Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall. He also was second in the Feature Photo category, for a shot of Nonito Donaire bounding around the ring after his second-round stoppage of Fernando Montiel on Feb. 19, 2011, at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

Will Hart, of HBO Sports, took top honors in the Feature Photo category for his picture of a prone and semi-conscious Craig McEwan having his mouthpiece removed by the referee in a March 12, 2011, bout at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn.

Chris Cozzone, of Fightnews.com, like Fukuda placed in both categories, taking second in Action for a shot of Gilbert Gastelum’s mouthpiece flying after being nailed by a right hand from Mike Lee in their May 6, 2011, fight in Las Vegas, and a third in Feature for his shot of a victorious Jorge Arce being lifted into the air while TKO victim Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. is attended to in the foreground.

Also placing in the top three is Showtime’s Tom Casino in the Action Photo category.

ACTION PHOTO
1.Naoki Fukuda, RINGTV.com
2. Chris Cozzone, Fightnews.com
3.Tom Casino, Showtime
Honorable Mention
Marty Rosengarten, Ringside Photos; Miguel Salazar
FEATURE PHOTO
1.Will Hart, HBO Sports
2.Naoki Fukuda, RINGTV.com
3.Chris Cozzone, Fightnews.com
Honorable Mention
Tom Hogan, Golden Boy Promotions; Al Bello, Getty Images